Mistakes for Specific Degree Subjects - Woodlands...

The Mistakes Students Make When Choosing

Their A-Levels:

Mistakes for Specific Degree Subjects

Mistakes for Specific Degree Subjects2 www.oxford-royale.co.uk

Aside from our guide to the common general mistakes students make, which you have already received, we have also produced an article on which A-level choices are best suited to each university subject — so we are not going to reiterate that here.

Why single out Maths? In our experience, a remarkable number of A-level mistakes concern Maths, from either extreme, whether it’s students who fret that their innumeracy will prove fatal for their Drama degree, or students who claim to be keen Physicists who are scared of equations. So we’ve gone through the most popular degree choices, and let you know whether or not you should be taking Maths. Of course, even if Maths is entirely non-essential, as a facilitating subject and currently the most popular A-level choice of all, it will very seldom hurt to have it on your CV.

Welcome to our second PDF guide to the mistakes students make when choosing their A-levels.

Instead, we are going to look at the most common mistaken choices that students make, if there is an ideal combination of subjects for this subject, and whether or not you should take Maths.

Archaeology and AnthropologyArchitectureBiochemistryBiologyBiomedical ScienceBusiness StudiesChemistryClassicsComputer ScienceDentistryEconomicsEngineering English LiteratureEnvironmental Science Fine ArtGeography GeologyHistoryHistory of ArtLanguagesLawLinguisticsMathematics MedicineMusic NursingPharmacy Philosophy Physics PoliticsPsychology Religious Studies/TheologySociology Veterinary Science

The subjects:

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What are the most common mistakes?

Mistakes students make when applying for architecture usually concern their portfolio rather than their A-levels — for instance, not taking specific universities’ portfolio requirements sufficiently into account.

Is there an ideal combination of subjects?

No, but it’s advisable to have Maths and Art in there.

Do I need to take Maths?

Yes; while it’s not compulsory for all Architecture courses, if you don’t like Maths, you won’t get on well with Architecture.


Some students try to take Biology all on its own, which will not suffice for taking it to degree level — it should be paired with Chemistry at the very least, and it’s helpful to have Maths as well.


Yes — Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics, though there are a variety of other options that are nearly as good.


It isn’t compulsory, but it’s desirable.


The classic mistake for prospective students of Arch and Anth is that their studies will be just like Time Team, like the CSI of History. Arch and Anth requires patience, attention to detail and tolerance of mud; there is not much glamour. However, the misconceptions students make usually don’t reveal themselves at the A-level choices stage.


No, but you should have a mixture of arts and sciences.


It is not essential, but it might help.


While some science degrees only require you two of your four subjects to be in the sciences, Biochemistry perhaps more than any other subject rewards students who take as many sciences as possible.


All three sciences and Maths.


After Biology and Chemistry, it should probably be your third subject.

Architecture

Biology

Archaeology and Anthropology

Biochemistry




Business Studies is often seen as the easier little brother of Economics, and the mistakes made are much the same: learning about business concerns soft skills like management and so on, but it also require hard math-ematical understanding, and for that you need A-level Maths.


No, and remember that Business Studies A-level is by no means necessary or even desirable.


Yes. If it isn’t compulsory, it should be.


Some students may think it’s necessary to have studied Classical Civilisations (it isn’t). Then there’s the assumption that having studied Latin or Greek at A-level is necessary, when there are many ab initio courses available.


Some combination of Latin, Greek, modern languages, English, History and Maths would be best.


No, but having a good understanding of logic is useful.


Although Biomedical Science contains many of the same requirements as Medicine, while being rather less demanding in terms of grades or work experience as a less competitive course, candidates who assume that this makes it an easy alternative to Medicine will be in for a shock.


Taking three sciences and Maths certainly won’t harm your chances, though they aren’t all essential.


It will help a lot.


Taking Biology instead of Maths or Physics. People who think they like Chemistry who don’t like Maths or Physics don’t really like Chemistry.


Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths.


Yes.

Business Studies

Classics

Biomedical Science

Chemistry




Like Medicine, Dentistry is an insanely competitive course. Trying to get into Dentistry with anything other than three science subjects (preferably four) is a quick route to failure.


Yes — Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Physics.


You need three science subjects, one of which can be Maths.


The options at A-level for Engineers are relatively limited, with Maths and Physics being absolutely vital. As there are a range of other useful A-levels (Chemistry, Further Maths and Design Technology all being desirable) taking more than one non-relevant A-level is a very bad idea.


Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.


Definitely!


Many students think that they need to take A-level Computer Science (which is desirable but not essential) or A-level ICT (which is related to Computer Science only in that they both involve a computer). Don’t take ICT (unless you have a burning desire to learn more about databases), and don’t worry if your school doesn’t offer Computer Science.


Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and whichever facilitating subject takes your fancy.


Yes — it’s the only compulsory subject for Computer Science.


There are a heap of Economics-related A-levels that can mislead students into thinking that they need to take them in order to study Economics at university. But you don’t need to take any of Economics, Business Studies or Accounting, and if you take all three you will look like a lightweight.


Maths, Further Maths and some combination of History, Geography, Economics and languages.


Yes.

Dentistry

Engineering

Computer Science

Economics




Students may think that as Environmental Science ends in the word “science”, taking straight sciences would be advisable. While that isn’t entirely wrong, Geography and Geology are also excellent subjects to take.


Geography, Biology and two of Chemistry, Physics and Maths.


It is desirable but not essential.


Students sometimes fail to note that Geography can be a BA or a BSc; students applying for BSc courses will want to have at least one science subject on their application, whereas students applying for BA courses may be better off with something like History.


No; many universities don’t even require A-level Geography, so long as you can justify its absence on your personal statement.


No, but it’s helpful.


The biggest mistake is taking English Language and Literature A-level if pure English Literature A-level was available.


No, but taking at least two essay subjects is advisable.


No.


Focusing too much; taking exclusively Art and Design subjects is not desirable — while A-level Art should definitely be included, you should give yourself more breadth. You will probably have to take a foundation year, during which you can focus exclusively on Art.


No; the breadth can come from whichever subjects you like.


No, but it may prove more useful than you think.

Environmental Science

Geography

English Literature

Fine Art




Not taking more than one essay subject. While one essay subject (namely History) is all that most universities will require in order to accept you, students who have not had copious practice during their A-levels of researching and writing essays are likely to find the requirements of a History degree quite daunting.


No, History with another essay subject and whichever other two subjects take your fancy is fine.


No; GCSE-level arithmetic is all you’re likely to need.


As most English schools teach only French, German and Spanish, some students end up thinking that all languages are just as easy to learn as the closely related Indo-European ones they’ve been exposed to at school. In fact, any language A-level that is taken more often by native than non-native speakers is going to be very challenging; for instance, picking up Mandarin Chinese at A-level is phenomenally tough.


No, though your ability with languages should be in evidence somewhere.


No.


Not taking Geography; it’s a requirement for many university courses. You may well need to take another science or two. Geology A-level, on the other hand, isn’t essential.


Geography plus any three of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geology.


No, but it’s helpful.


Students might make the mistake of thinking they need History of Art A-level, which only 17 state schools in the UK offer.


Some combination of History of Art, Art, History, English, Religious Studies and languages (whether modern or classical).


No.

History

Languages

Geology

History of Art




Thinking you have to take English Language. It is useful for clarifying whether or not a Linguistics degree would suit you, but that’s all.


No, though any languages will help.


No, but it may well prove useful.


Students assume Medicine is a degree like any other. It isn’t — its ruthlessly competitive nature means you have to stand out from the crowd in every way possible, which means preparing elements of your application years in advance. The course crams an enormous amount of technical content into a few years, for which those of us on the patient side of the equation should be profoundly grateful. Only those very committed to a future as a doctor should apply.


Yes — Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths.


It is desirable as one of your three essential science subjects; take it unless you have a very strong preference for Physics.


The idea that A-level Law is desirable or even, worryingly, essential. In fact, if you’re serious about studying Law (rather than wanting an overview to help out for studying, say, History) you should avoid A-level Law. It’s a case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing; Law professors explain that they would rather start with entirely ignorant students than spend ages correcting all the misapprehensions that A-level Law imparts.


No, but at least one essay subject is essential.


No, but it is a popular subject among Law applicants.


Not taking Further Maths. While some Maths courses don’t ask you to have Further Maths (given that not all schools offer it, universities don’t want to exclude potential candidates for reasons beyond their control), if your school offers it, you should definitely be taking it. After all, if double Maths doesn’t appeal to you, why on earth would you want to do a Maths degree?


No — once you have Maths and Further Maths, it doesn’t really matter what your other subjects are, though Physics is a popular third choice.


Yes, and you should take Further Maths as well if your school offers it.

Linguistics

Medicine

Law

Mathematics




Thinking that what is appropriate for Medicine is also appropriate for Nursing. In fact, social sciences like Psy-chology and Sociology are frequent choices for Nursing applicants, and would be rather less desirable on a med-ical school application. Nursing applicants would still do well to take the Medicine standard of Biology, Chemistry and Maths, though.


No, though Biology is virtually essential.


It is desirable but not essential.


A variety of different exam boards offer a variety of subjects with ‘Philosophy’ somewhere in the name, but it is a classic mistake to think that any of these are essential to studying Philosophy at university. Yes, any of them would probably be helpful, but so too might anything that helps you with logic and critical analysis, even the much-derided Critical Thinking.


No, so long as there are essay-based subjects that hone your analytical abilities.


No, but modern Philosophy involves more Maths than you may expect.


Not being good enough at Music. Music should be a consuming passion and your Grade 8 Distinction should have been a walk in the park if you’re thinking of studying Music at university.


No — prospective musicians have one of the broadest ranges of possible subject choices.


No, though the overlap between Maths and Music is greater than many people realise.


Thinking that you can study Pharmacy with only two sciences — most courses in fact require three, asking for Chemistry plus two of Biology, Maths and Physics.


As with so many science subjects, the tetrad of Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Physics is ideal.


It is desirable, and should certainly be a subject that you enjoy.

Nursing

Philosophy

Music

Pharmacy




Though Government and Politics A-level is among the respected-but-non-facilitating A-levels (rather than the just-don’t-bother A-levels), it’s still not essential for studying Politics. Not taking History, on the other hand, can make studying Politics very difficult.


No, but History is very desirable.


No, but it is a good complement to a set of A-levels that is otherwise primarily humanities-based.


Thinking that Religious Studies is a requirement (it isn’t) or indeed that A-level Religious Studies will have anything much to do with a Theology degree.


No, but at least one essay subject is a must, and lan-guages are more helpful than many students realise.


No.


Some students somehow manage to think they will be able to do well on a Physics degree without Maths. This is painfully mistaken.


Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry.


Definitely.


Psychology is a science, and many students forget that you need to take other science subjects in order to be fully prepared to for a Psychology degree.


No, but as per the above, there should be at least one other science subject in the mix.


It is desirable; if you don’t like Maths, reconsider Psychology.

Politics

Religious Studies/Theology

Physics

Psychology




Most potential vets are well aware of the need to study sciences. However, some neglect the work experience that is also required for this competitive field.


As for Medicine and Dentistry, taking Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics is best, though taking three out of the four is good too.


It can be one of your three science A-levels but it doesn’t need to be.


Students forget that social sciences are sciences; that there is data collection, experiments and statistical analysis to be carried out. Therefore, while A-level sciences are not normally a requirement for Sociology degrees, those who hate the sciences are unlikely to do well in Sociology.


No, Sociology is a very broad church.


It is desirable but not essential; investigate your course of choice before you decide against taking it.

Veterinary Science Sociology


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