17/01/19

Choosing your A-level subjects

Picking your A-level options for some people might be an easy question, yet for others this can be very tricky. At GCSE, a lot of your subjects are chosen for you, such as English and Maths, then the others tend to be things that you enjoy, such as Spanish or Music. However at A-level it is completely your choice, things start to get real. Narrowing down your selection might seem daunting, but don’t panic - I was completely indecisive with what I wanted to take and changed my mind many times. Now I am really enjoying Sixth Form and wondered why I ever worried! This will be the same for you.

The simple thing to first think is what are you good at? Knowing what core subjects you’re good at can really help you pick new ones that you might take in Sixth Form. If you already have a real aptitude for Maths, you might well be a good fit for for computing and the sciences. On the other hand, if you like essay writing then any humanities subject will be right for you. My whole way through school I never enjoyed numerical subjects like Maths and was always much better at English. This was the first subject that I knew I definitely wanted to study at A-level due to already having a good understanding of it.

What career do you want when you leave school? This is not essential so do not worry if you have no idea; most people at 16 do not know. When I started Sixth Form, I still had no clue at what I wanted to do, although since starting I am now able to slowly narrow down the area that I want to go into due to my love for Geography. If you already know what career path you want to take, then this can make choosing your subjects much easier. For example if you want to go into Journalism, then picking English Literature would be a helpful one to choose.

If you want to go to university after Sixth Form, consider what university this is. Not all subjects are equal in the eyes of universities and may have a list of subjects that they do not take into consideration when evaluating you as a candidate. For example they may have a preference to students taking more traditional subjects, such as Maths and English over Drama and Computing. This is where it is up to you - search their websites for the information that you need. Still not 100%? Just ask; contacting the admissions departments to check or just asking teachers as some might know. Always remember there is no harm to ask for help.

Something very important that can have a big influence on many people’s decisions is opinions from family and friends. It is always beneficial taking other people’s opinions into account as sometimes they will have a valid point. However do not be swayed by any negative or conflicting opinions of others. More often than not, they are just worried that you have not thought things through - reassure them so that they can support your choices. Additionally, if your best friend is not choosing the same subject as you and you’re worried about being in a class alone, I can guarantee you that you will make many new friends and speak to people you never thought you would have before. In the end, it is your education and will always have time to speak to them at break or lunch.

And lastly… do something that you love! I think that this is by far the most important factor that you should consider as you are going to spend two years studying these subjects, and the work will be a big change from your GCSEs. Doing subjects that you have a real passion for can make it much easier. The induction days in the summer will help you to gain an idea of what you will enjoy. Before this I did not consider studying Psychology, however I found it extremely interesting and it is now one of my favourite subjects!

Good luck!

Lucy

Year 12