How to choose the best combination of A levels or IB subjects for university entrance

What qualities and skills would you want your doctor to have? Well, of course you would want him or her to have an extensive knowledge of medicine. But you might also want the doctor to have good communication skills, to be good at problem-solving since not all patients have symptoms that lead to only one possible diagnosis, and to be able to analyse information and to appreciate the fact that there may be multiple causes of a medical problem – which might involve social, psychological or environmental factors as well as physical.

Similarly, Economists work in the real world, solving real world problems. Economic changes are caused by political decisions or geographical factors (for example, the earthquake in Japan) as well as by what is happening in stock markets and banks. So Economists need to be able to appreciate different sides of an argument and to be able to look for creative solutions.

So when university admissions staff are looking at applications from potential students, they want to be reassured that the successful candidates possess the qualities that will not only ensure that they work hard and can reach a high level of academic attainment, they also want evidence that the students have the other qualities necessary to be successful in their chosen fields.

This is why choosing the right subjects at A level or IB is so important, and particularly so at the most competitive UK universities where there may be 10 or more applicants for every place. Many students are disadvantaged when they apply for UK university courses because they are not aware of the advice that the universities provide over the question of subject choice.

Often, students rely on the advice of their parents or teachers about subject-choice, and they in turn might base their advice on what was true when they or their friends were applying for university. Of course, taking advice is very important, but equally so is doing research into what your chosen universities are looking for. And the good news is that they make this advice very easy to access via their websites and prospectuses. The bad news is, therefore, that students who do not bother to read about the course requirements before applying are much less like to be made an offer.

Look at the three quotes below, from three university websites:

Medicine, UCL

“Previous study of Chemistry and Biology is required. Those also offering a contrasting arts subject will be looked on favourably.”

(www.ucl.ac.uk)

Engineering, Imperial College

“Although Further Mathematics is not a course requirement, it is an advantage and is encouraged.”

(www.imperial.ac.uk)

Economics, LSE

“Further Mathematics taken at A level is strongly preferred and is seen as an additional or fourth subject. Thus a combination of Mathematics, Further Mathematics and one other subject is not seen as providing the required breadth of knowledge and skills. No other specific subjects are required at A level, but we prefer traditional academic subjects to subjects such as Communication Studies, Accounting, Business Studies or Media Studies.”

(www.lse.ac.uk)

The medicine quote uses the phrase “Those also offering a contrasting arts subject will be looked on favourably.” And so students who take subjects such as History or English Literature are being encouraged to apply; and those students will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse written information, to put together coherent arguments backed up by reference to evidence, and to see different sides of an argument – essential skills for a doctor. Of course, a student studying Physics or Mathematics as a third subject might also possess these qualities but it is harder for them to demonstrate this on a UCAS application.

The Engineering extract mentions Further Mathematics as being “an advantage” and that students are “encouraged” to study it. With so many good applicants for a limited number of places, students who take the advice given by the university will almost certainly have an advantage.

Another reference to Further Mathematics is seen in the Economics passage, but this time it makes it very clear that although the subject is beneficial, it should not be chosen alongside Mathematics instead of an alternative, but as a fourth subject. So a student choosing Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Economics as the three A level subjects will be at a disadvantage. The quote also mentions “traditional” academic subjects, often called “preferred” subjects: subjects such as History, Geography, a language. “New” or “non-preferred” subjects such as Media Studies or Graphical Communication demonstrate an alternative range of abilities and so would make very good fourth subjects, alongside, for example Mathematics, Economics and Geography; but not instead of one of these.

IB students have a better opportunity than A level students to demonstrate breadth since they choose six subjects, but they still need to ensure that they are taking the recommended subjects to the highest level; and to ensure that they choose carefully: many medical schools, for example, require both Biology and Chemistry.

The question many students will ask is “I have already chosen my subjects – does it mean I cannot get a place at a top university if I have not followed the advice in the prospectuses?” Under these circumstances, it is still possible to get offers but this might involve taking extra subjects in the final year of A level or IB studies, or by presenting a very convincing case in the UCAS Personal Statement that you possess the necessary skills and qualities by outlining the evidence for this, such as extra courses or other extracurricular achievements.

This article was written by James Burnett, International Director of MPW Colleges. Catch his seminar on the same topic at British Council’s Education UK Exhibition at the KL Convention Centre. Log on to www.educationuk.org.my to view our full seminar schedule.