Choosing The Right A-Level Subjects For Your Future Career

Choosing the right A Level subjects can be a crucial decision that has far-reaching effects on your future career prospects. Widely recognised by universities and employers, A Levels can play a significant role in shaping your future academic and professional path. If you are still in the process of choosing your A Level subjects and struggling to make the right decision, this guide is just what you have been looking for. In it, we share our tips and suggestions on choosing the right A Level subjects for your future career.

How to Choose Your A Levels: Our Top Tips and Suggestions

By following the tips and suggestions below, you can maximise your chances of choosing A Level subjects that will be beneficial to your career in the future:

• Consider Your Career Goals – The obvious place to start when trying to choose A Level subjects that will help you in your future career is to consider what that career may involve. Think about what your long-term career goals are right now and what you will need to achieve them. Think seriously about the type of career you are interested in and the subjects that are relevant to that field. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics may turn out to be very important to you in the future. On the other hand, if you are interested in a career in business or economics, subjects like Economics, Business Studies and Mathematics may be more relevant and useful. Research the prerequisites and recommended subjects for your desired career and choose A Level subjects that are most likely to align with those requirements.

• Identify Your Strengths and Interests – Your career goals are of paramount importance when considering how to choose your A Levels but your strengths and interests come a close second. By carefully considering your strengths and interests when choosing your A Level subjects, you can focus on those subjects in which you have a natural advantage: the subjects that you actively enjoy and already excel in. Choosing subjects that you are passionate about and have a natural aptitude for can make your A Level studies infinitely more enjoyable and may increase your chances of achieving high grades too. If your strengths and interests also align with your future career choice, so much the better. For example: if you are strong in English and enjoy reading and writing, English A Levels, followed by a career in journalism, communications or literature, could be a very good fit for you.

• Keep Your Options Open if Necessary – While it is usually advisable to choose A Level subjects that align as closely as possible with your future career goals and your current interests, it’s sometimes a good idea to keep your options open. This is especially the case if you don’t yet have a clear idea of what your future career is likely to look like at this stage in your life. If this is the case, it’s okay to explore different subjects to broaden your knowledge and skills. Opting to study a combination of subjects from a variety of different disciplines will provide you with a well-rounded education and enable you to keep your future career options open. A combination of subjects like Mathematics, English and Physics could provide a solid foundation for such an approach and could prepare you for a wide range of career paths, from engineering and finance to academia.

• Research University Requirements – If university figures in your future career path, it’s important to research the requirements of the courses or programmes in which you are interested. Different universities and programmes may have different A Level subject requirements: it’s very important to choose subjects that will help you to meet the stated requirements if you intend to enrol in these programmes. Some universities may also prioritise certain A Level subjects over others, so it’s worth researching each individual university to see if you can identify any such preferences. Keep in mind that some of the more competitive programmes may require specific A Level subjects at a certain grade level and plan your subject choices and study schedule accordingly.

• Seek Advice and Guidance if You Need It – Don’t be afraid to seek advice and guidance from teachers, parents, career counsellors and other adult mentors when selecting your A Level subjects. Any and all of these people may be able to provide you with valuable insights, information and guidance based not just on their experiences but on their assessments of your strengths, interests and career goals too. Depending on who you know, some of these people may have valuable knowledge about specific subject requirements for certain careers that you are currently unaware of. For this reason, it is also a good idea to try and talk to some professionals that are working in your desired field. While they may have no personal knowledge about you, they will be able to clarify qualification requirements and provide you with an inside perspective on your chosen career.

• Be Aware of Your Limits – A Levels can be very demanding so it’s important to be mindful of the anticipated workload when deciding which subjects to do. Part of the challenge of choosing the right A Level subjects is to find the right balance between study and free time. Some subjects may require more time and effort than others and taking on too much work could have a negative effect on your overall performance. If you can maintain a healthy work-life balance whilst studying for your A Levels, you will stand a much better chance of achieving the grades that you need.

Before making your final decision, remind yourself that A Levels are an important stepping stone towards your future career and the subjects you choose may influence the opportunities that come your way in the future. Make an informed choice and set yourself up for success.