Helping your child choose the right A levels

It’s reaching the end of yet another academic year, with students working hard towards revising for their end of year exams and GCSEs. With most of the attention here, the future seems far away, with another burning question buried at the bottom of the pile: what will my child do after this academic year? In the UK, students are expected to carry on with education until the age of 18, meaning that they need to have something in place for when they return to education after the summer. The most popular progression choice amongst those who complete their GCSEs, is A Levels. However, the decision for these subjects needs to ideally be made before they start their new course. It can definitely come across as an agonising process given the number of options there are to choose from. With some students wanting to study towards a future career and others just wanting to enjoy their time studying subjects they like, it can be difficult to know what advice to give your child. Continue reading for some advice from this independent school in Surrey on helping your child choose the right A levels.

Keep an open mind

When it comes to choosing A level subjects to study, the first piece of advice anyone will ever give you and your child is to always keep an open mind. It actually comes as a worry to many teachers when they come across students who are dead set on what they want to study. This is because many of these students set their heart on studying something from a very young age, such as medicine, only to find out that their strengths don’t actually lie in that area of learning. When it comes to A levels, it is so important for students to choose subjects that they are strong in, and of course, enjoy. Choosing a subject that they don’t really like or struggled with at GCSE, is most likely to cause further difficulty during A levels. This will probably be the case when they move on to higher education as well. Ensure your child is prepared to change their lifelong aspirations in exchange for something that they will enjoy and be able to use in their future.

Ask questions

Some parents may think that asking their child questions during this difficult time in their child’s life may only aggravate them, however, this is actually the time to ask as many questions as possible. It’s better your child gets upset now over having to make a big decision rather than months down the line when they are already studying subjects that they may not have necessarily wanted. Begin by asking your child to start off with a blank slate. Ask them to make a list of all the things in the world that matter to them. This could be helping people, making a lot of money, being challenged, travelling the world etc. There really is no wrong answer at this point so allow their minds to run wild. Then ask them which subjects they like studying at school. Encourage them to dig deep by asking them questions such as which pieces of homework do they find the most interesting to complete. This will really get them thinking. This is one of the simplest ways for both you and your child to get a true idea of which direction will be best for your child to take when it comes to studying their A Levels.

Remember, everyone goes through this struggle with their children. It’s okay if your child ends up choosing their three subjects and then gets to college and decides it’s not for them. Colleges and sixth forms expect this which is why they have taster sessions in place to help students get the best feel for subjects. Focus on your child’s well-being, enjoyment and future. The rest will eventually fall into place.