Up and down the country GCSE students are considering their next steps, whether this means going onto a Sixth Form or College to study vocational qualifications or A-Levels, it is a lot for students to consider. If students decide to go down the A-level route, the next step is to decide which A-levels to take. This is not a decision to take lightly as this choice can seriously impact future career options and the overall experience in Year 12 and 13. At Crescent Tuition, we want all students to enhance their prospects, which is why we have compiled a list of what to consider when choosing A-levels.
Number of A-levels to Take
The majority (if not all) universities will give offers to students based on three A-level subjects. Although, it is important to acknowledge that Universities often don’t acknowledge subjects such as General Studies and Critical thinking when offering places. Therefore, when deciding whether to do three or four A-levels it is important to acknowledge whether students want to undertake these excluded subjects and their own ability. The jump from GCSEs to A-levels is a significant one requiring a lot more time and effort, so students should bear this in mind before committing. Some students may find it appropriate to start with four A-levels, see how they cope, and then either drop one or continue with the four.
Previous Qualifications Needed
Some educational facilities have expectations and GCSE requirements, in order for students to progress onto A-level courses. These requirements vary from college to college but often students will need to achieve at least four passes and sometimes this is up to six passes either grade 4 or 5. The grade requirement is often increased for the subject students are wanting to take at A-level, usually a grade 5 or 6. This may limit the number of subjects the student is able to take at the next level. Due to this, Crescent Tuition offers tuition at GCSE level in order for students to gain those vital passes and the grades needed to progress to the next step.
University Course and Recommendations
If the student is aware of what they are planning to study at university, it may assist in choosing A-level subjects. Universities often have entry requirements on their website for each course, if the student is aware of the general area they are interested in going into, they should check the requirements at more than one university, in order to have an awareness of the expectations of the course. Sometimes, universities publish a list of preferred A-level subjects and areas such as a Humanity, Science, or Language.
If the student is unaware of what they are wanting to do in their next stages, it would be advisable to take what is known as facilitating subjects. Russel Group Universities list the following subjects which are designed to help not narrow student’s future options and prospects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Geography
- History
- Maths
- Modern and Classical Languages
- Physics
What you Enjoy
Arguably, one of the most important factors to consider is what subject the student thoroughly enjoys. Not only is this important for mental health reasons but students that enjoy a subject often produce higher quality work, resulting in higher grades achieved.
