A-level Choices
Choosing your A-levels
If A-levels are the next step for you on the way to your chosen career, you must now decide which courses to take.
Parents and students will need to have investigated which A-levels are required for entry to the university or further education course of their choice, and in turn they will need to know what is available in the school's sixth form in order to decide on a move to Sixth Form College, or whether to stay on at your current school.
When choosing your A-levels, your future career plans may dictate the subjects to take, but if your plans are not yet fixed, it's wise to choose subjects that will leave your options open later. Generally speaking, two subjects should be complementary (two arts/social sciences or two sciences) and of course you can combine arts and sciences.
Good results at GCSE usually mean that you will do well in the same subjects at A-level and a genuine interest in a subject will make it easier to remain motivated throughout your course.
Sometimes your chosen combination of subjects may cause timetabling issues at school, so it will then be a case of deciding whether to change your choice, or move to a different school or college that can offer what you require.
What professional advice is available for choosing A-levels?
Although success at GCSE will undoubtedly influence A-level preferences, the majority of students attend Sixth Form College in order to go to university and thus you need to have a reasonable idea of what university course and/or career may be planned. Often, you can get advice from the Careers Officer at your previous school, but independent advice is extremely valuable in this situation.
Independent advice services available from Gabbitas Educational Consultants include career profiling and assistance with choice of college or continuing at school, applications and information on scholarships or bursaries that may be available at 16+.
