News| Education


downsmail.co.uk Choose yourA levelswisely


SECONDARY school students are currentlyweighing up theirAlevel subject options –which to keep and which to drop. Doug Kempster studies expert advice…


YOU stagger from the exam room. Years of study, months of revision and hours of toil over your paper have finally ended.You have a brief, if anxious respite before the results come through. Then the biggest ed- ucational decision of your life hits you – what subjects do you drop andwhat do you pursue atAlevel? Your choice will not only impact


your degree or apprenticeship op- tions but also, ultimately, the direc- tion of your career. It’s a tough call.At 16, you might


have a rough idea ofwhere your life is going, but fewofus, if any, have it allmapped out in detail. However, while aspirations


change, academics agree there are smart actions you can take to ensure you have the best chances in your academic life. A group of leading universities


and colleges in the South of Eng- land, the Western Vocational Pro- gression Consortium, recommends students research their options by talking to teachers, family and


friends. “A levels are a big step up from


GCSEs – they are harder,” it says. “So choose your subjects wisely. Your career or degree ideas may change so make sure you choose subjects which you like and can do well in. “ResearcheachAlevel thoroughly


– talk to your teachers to find out what is involved in the course. Talk to students who are already taking that subject. Findouthowthe course will be assessed and whether this


will suit you and your strengths. Ask for some honest feedback from your teachers as to how they think youwould do atAlevel. “Don’t assume you will like the


subject at A level just because you liked it at GCSE – it could be really different.” Academics agree that one of the


wisestmoves any student canmake is tomaintain a goodmix of studies, regardless of whether they have a degree or career inmind. That mix should include at least


one “facilitating subject”. These are qualifications that all universities andemployerswill accept –English, maths, foreign languages, geogra- phy, biology, chemistry,physics and history. The more you choose, the more


degreeswill be open to you. Someuniversitiesholdlists of sub-


jects they will not accept. For in- stance, students should be wary of taking a selection of creative or vo- cational A levels like history of art, law,media studies and sociology in isolation. It’s better, says Which? University, to take these in conjunc- tionwith facilitating subjects. And if you still can’t choose, look


at your grades and ditch your low- est, says careers adviserAndyGard- ner. “If the degree course you’re look-


ing atwill consider applicantswitha wide range of A level subjects, grades should trump subject choice whenit comes topicking yourAlev- els. This will give you the best chance of getting into uni,” he says.


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14 Malling November 2018


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