How-to guide: choosing A-Levels

May 21, 2019

• A Levels

For some students, choosing A-Levels will be a simple process. They may know which career they would like to pursue in the future, which may require to them to choose particular A-Level subjects. However, for the majority of students who will struggle with the decision, here are some helpful tips to make the process slightly easier:

1 Do not simple choose the same A-Level subjects as your friends

This sounds like an obvious point to make, however it can be tempting to coordinate with you friends in the hope that you will be able to spend more time together throughout the school day. In reality, even if you do choose the same A-Level subjects as one another, you may still end up in different classes, depending on how the timetable is arranged. There will still be plenty of time to catch up with your friends outside of lessons. In addition, you may get to know different people from your year group.  

2 Consider whether you would like to study a vocational course at university

Some courses require certain A-Level subjects to be taken in order to apply. Here are some examples:

• Medicine: this varies between universities (so make sure that you check different university websites to make sure), however many require chemistry, and either biology, physics or mathematics
• Engineering: again, this varies between universities, but most require mathematics and physics (and chemistry for chemical engineering)

Please note that for some vocational courses such as Law or Psychology, there are often no essential subjects, however sometimes universities will have ‘preferred subjects’, so it is important that you check their websites before choosing A-Levels.

3 Consider what sort of university you would like to go to, and which course you may take

If you decide against a vocational course, you will still need to have a think about which type of university you would like to go to. Oxbridge and other prestigious universities often have higher regard for certain subjects, and may look less favourably on others. Most university websites will have sections dedicating to answering these sorts of questions, or will have the contact number of somebody who can answer them.  

4 Choose the subjects that you enjoy, rather than the ones that you find easy

All subjects become harder at A-Level, however in some ways they become more accessible, as you spend more time on each one. If there is a subject that a student is particularly weak in, often their school will advise against them pursuing this subject at A-Level, which is generally a good idea. However, A-Level students will spend a lot of time studying each subject, so a fondness for each one is helpful.

5 Talk to your teachers, or current A-Level students

Your teachers are often the best sources of advice when choosing A-Levels, as they can give a personalised response. Current A-Level students can also give tips on what to expect from your A-Level subjects, such as what the course structure is, and how the exams are laid out.