Considering the fact that the IGCSE course includes compulsory core subjects, and students are at liberty to choose the rest as they please, things are slightly different when it comes to A Levels.
At the age of 16, high school students in Britain are required to make a huge decision in selecting their subjects for the final stage of schooling, before moving on to higher education. Thinking about how to pick A Level subjects can be daunting, especially at such a young age, and we can go through everything you need to consider before taking this step.
1) Research university courses
Depending on your career options, you may want to check out the relevant courses at your universities of choice, and make sure to find out if there are specific requirements when it comes to subjects. At the end of the day, it makes little sense to choose artistic subjects if you want to take a veterinary course at a university. Equally, though subjects like mathematics and physics are valued very highly, there isn’t much use for them if you are looking at a career in performing arts or humanities.
2) Don’t exclude your teachers
If there is anyone out there who may have an insight into your strengths and weaknesses, it’s the teachers who taught you during GCSEs. They are the best people to ask for insight when it comes to subject choices, as well as offer a great pairing of subjects when it comes to your field of choice. Subjects like physics, product design, mathematics and art, are a potential pairing for a career in architecture, whereas psychology, biology, chemistry and sociology may be great options for the field of psychiatry.
3) Consider your preference
You will feel like the next two years of your education are an absolute torture, if you select subjects, you have never had any interest in. Yes, some subjects may be necessary for your preferred university course, but it is important to find a healthy balance between subjects you need and subjects you love. Once again, though an A Level in mathematic may be a necessity in the field of finance, you may not necessarily need to study further maths, which also includes aspects of physics (and let’s be fair, a very heavy workload)!
What happens if you made the wrong choice?
Fear not, A Levels provide you with an intensive and valuable head start in higher education, and there are always options when it comes to changing fields. Regardless of what you pick, there are universities which provide equally great courses, with more flexibility on subject choices or they may offer a 1 year foundation program with a more relevant program to your course.
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