How to Choose A-levels: Full Advice Before Selecting your Subjects

November 20, 2023 |  5months | General

Choosing A Levels? All the advice for an accurate decision

Finishing high school and having to decide which path to choose for your future is definitely a challenging task. The start of university education can be overwhelming, but, fortunately, students have an intermediate stage where they can prepare for further studies: A-levels. A-level exams are a requirement for university entrance, but they also offer a chance to get to know yourself better, as you can discover what subjects you are best at or like the most, thanks to the possibility of choosing which subjects to take. But how do you choose those subjects? There are a few considerations to keep in mind, such as university requirements, personal preferences and previous experiences.

For a quick summary, here is a list of the main Do’s and Don’ts you should keep in mind when choosing the right A-levels for your professional career.

Do:

Talk to teachers and students who can give you insights on those subjects you would like to enrol in to make an informed decision.
Keep in mind that A-levels are considerably more difficult than GCSEs, so be prepared for challenges.
Be honest with yourself about your weaknesses and strengths and don’t push yourself too hard.
Consider your personal preferences to make sure you stay motivated along the preparation course.
Research what universities offer the degree you want to pursue and their entry requirements to know which subjects to choose in A-levels.
Get insights into how A-levels work to avoid stressing about the enrolment process.
Keep your options open by choosing facilitating subjects, especially if you are uncertain about what you want to study at university.

If you already have a career in mind

The main distinction to consider is whether or not you have already decided on a career path. This is the easiest way to determine which A-level subject you can choose, as you only need to base your selection on university requirements.

Best A Levels for IT careers

According to popular belief, IT careers are the careers of the future. System analysis, programming, app development and many more are now present in all aspects of our lives due to the implementation of new technologies and smart devices. To gain access to these university courses, we recommend selecting Mathematics (regular or Further versions), Physics and Chemistry, as they provide a logical approach that you will find useful in your professional and academic career. Other related subjects, such as Electronics and Computer Science are also suggested as they can give you insights into the specific topics in these university courses.

Best A Levels for Law careers

If you want to be a lawyer, there are no specific A-levels that you need to take, since university requirements are, in this case, only focused on the final marks you achieve. However, there are certain subjects we recommend taking: Law, for obvious reasons, as it will give you insights into the topics you will later learn at university; English language and/or Literature, as you will develop your essay writing and argumentation skills; and Maths. Although it is not directly related to this degree course, Maths can help you keep your university options open to different choices and will also enhance your logical thinking. Other options include History and Geography, which will also equip you with a more open framework for the topics you will study later.

Best A Levels for Medicine careers

The two essential subjects to choose if medicine school is your choice are Chemistry and Biology. However, we highly recommend including Maths and Physics in the list, as this combination will open the doors to all universities without restrictions.

Best A Levels for Architecture

Studying Architecture means combining Physics and Maths with design and creativity. Creating a modern and aesthetic building means nothing if it cannot stand upright. That’s why, starting your career path with Maths, Physics and Art A-levels can be the best choice to meet all these skill requirements.

Best A Levels for Engineering

Engineering is a wide umbrella term that can include several areas. For instance, students can choose Civil, Electronic, Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering, among others. The desired specialisation will determine the specific subjects that must be chosen. However, the core subjects needed for any of these degrees are Maths (ideally Further) and Physics, which can be combined with Statistics, Chemistry and Computer Science.

Best A Levels for Economics

In the same way that Architecture combines Physics and Design, Economics merges social and hard sciences, as it includes how monetary equations affect people and vice versa. For this reason, studying Maths (regular or Further), Economics and Politics can be a good combination to prepare for this degree.

If you don’t know what to do next in your career path

Although having a clear career path is the best way to decide on which A-levels to take, it is true that many students are unsure of the degree they want to pursue. This is not necessarily a negative situation, since students under these circumstances can have their options open for the future and can find out which subjects they like the most while preparing for A-levels. Here are some tips to help you make a decision that will not limit you in the future when you finally make a choice.

Explore facilitating subjects

Many universities require students to pass examinations in specific subjects, but others only expect students to perform well in general subjects that can provide them with a set of skills and knowledge they can apply to any degree course. These subjects are called facilitating subjects and include Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Literature, Geography, History, Maths, Physics and Languages. Combining them properly can be a good option for admission to different universities and courses.

Recommended combinations: A Levels that go well together

If you are uncertain about the university course you want to embark on but have an idea of the area, you can select sets of subjects that are interrelated and that can give you an academic profile that matches your desired career path. For example, sitting for Maths, Further Maths and Physics shows that you have clear mathematical skills, which are valuable in engineering, computer and data science courses. For students aiming for degrees in finance, economics or accounting, studying Maths, Economics and Business Studies can be a great combination, while studying English Literature, History and Psychology can offer you a more social approach to studying Sociology, Law, and similar degrees.

Choosing A Levels advice

Whether you know what you will study at university or not, the goal is to make an informed selection of subjects, aware of what they will represent for your academic and professional future.

Identifying career aspirations

The ideal way to choose A-level courses is to have a well-defined academic roadmap for the future and select them accordingly. Therefore, you should first try to determine what you want to study at university and what kind of job you aspire to in the future, as different professions usually imply different working conditions. For instance, would you like to work in a company? Run your own business? Participate in scientific research? Work from home? Asking yourself these types of questions and talking to people with varied professional backgrounds can help you make a decision.

Researching university and course requirements

Universities in the UK require their students to fulfil certain criteria to access courses. To find out more, enter their websites, visit their campuses or contact fellow students and choose your A-levels based on the information you collected. This will also help in terms of motivation, as you will realise that not all universities expect outstanding results in the most difficult subjects and that access to prestigious universities is not impossible.

Consulting with Educational Advisors

If you are still somewhat confused about your academic and career goals, you can always contact educational advisors who will guide you along the process, bring you new perspectives to consider, and help you identify your strongest and weakest areas.

Assessing personal strengths and weaknesses

A-levels are the continuation of an academic journey that starts as soon as you enter the education system. Since then, students develop skills, strengths and weaknesses. These elements combined can be used as a guide to help you determine what university course you would like to take in the future and thus select your A-levels. For instance, Maths is a difficult subject for most students, as it includes many complex interconnected topics. For this reason, it might be advisable for these students not to choose Further Maths, as it can be too challenging and may even lead to frustration. If you feel more confident with subjects such as Modern Languages or English Literature, go for it! We all have different abilities and the best we can do is embrace them.

Keeping in mind your personal preferences

Last but not least, consider your own tastes and preferences. Studying subjects you don’t really like can be very challenging for most students, not only in A-level courses but also at university. For this reason, we recommend considering this factor in the equation too.

Things to take into account

Here are some extra considerations that will come in handy in relation to how A-levels work in general.

When do you choose A Levels?

Students in traditional schools start preparing for A-levels after sitting for their GCSEs, at the age of 16. However, at CloudLearn, students do not have enrolment limitations, as they can start their A-level online courses whenever they want. Request a callback from our student advisors for more information about how to prepare for your A Levels online.

How many A Levels can you take?

Technically, you can take as many A-levels as you want, as there are no limitations, especially in online courses. But, how many A-levels do most students take? The majority of students select 3 A-levels, and some take 4. In traditional schools, the limit is 5, but very few students choose such a large amount because of the total study hours needed to achieve good results.

Which A Levels do universities like?

What are the most respected A-levels at prestigious universities? The truth is there are no specific A-levels which are most appreciated, but “facilitating” A-levels are more commonly accepted by all universities and open the doors to a bigger variety of courses.

What are the hardest A Levels?

Although the difficulty of exams depends on each student’s perspective, it can also be determined by what A level has the lowest passing rate. Based on this metric, Maths and Further Maths are considered the most difficult subjects.

What is the most popular A Level to take?

Because of their wide acceptance, facilitating subjects are the most popular, especially English and Maths, as they are taken by most students at GCSE stage, and all STEM-related subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Keep in mind, however, that these subjects include Practicals aside from written exams, which represent a higher enrolment price.

I think I’m oriented… what’s next?

How to get started with A-level courses? Once you have decided to prepare for A-levels, you need to enrol in preparation courses.

At CloudLearn, access our website and enrol easily just by filling in a form. During working hours, you will receive an e-mail with your login information within 15 minutes to start right away.

Preparing for A-levels with CloudLearn allows you to adapt your study plan to your schedule, fast-track the traditional 2-year study span to just a few months and contact your exclusive tutor whenever you need to ask for advice, extra explanations and test your knowledge with mock exams. Have a look at our 13 available 100% online courses and enrol now!

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