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Is History of Art a good option

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:43 pm
by another mother
DD is completely stuck on final A level choice. Definitely English and History but then either
History of art and Maths, plus Italian GCSE and poss the AS in year 13
Or History of Art and French and prob not Italian
Or French and Maths

Slightly amazed she is considering French and Maths at all but her teachers both very keen she continues. She is aiming high for uni - and probably to read English though possiby with something (eg Italian or Hist of Art and Architecture). At the point of just sticking in a pin! MOst of her teachers say Hist of Art not a soft subject and academic/well respected. Maths teacher not so convinced!

Thoughts welcome.

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:31 pm
by KB
I would check out the requirements for Architecture if she is considering this. I believe iti pretty competitive & has quite specific requirements (Maths has something to do with it but not sure if A grade at GCSE is sufficient & History of Art/Art possibly.)
Sorry not more specific - just from a friend applying a few years ago.

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:52 pm
by another mother
Hi K B - it wouldn't be architecture itself (sadly - might make her employagble!!) but history of art and of architecture.
Looks now as though she'll start doing all 5 ASs and then decide which one to drop. The school is advising not taking all 5 (and she should already have critical thinking not that it seems to be worth anything) - but to leave yourself open to 4 A2s possibly. If she has to do 4 then Maths might be the best thing to drop now, but Hof Art clearly the weakest otherwise.. so hard!!

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:10 pm
by KB
Because of the way Maths is arranged the A level isn't that hard if she is any good at it & is relativley easy to get an A* grade if she is an able student (compared with more of a lottery in some other subjects).

Jump from GCSE to A level can be quite hard for alot of good students so taking on 5 'proper' AS subjects is quite a big ask.
I would recommend making a choice of 4 if at all possible.

Doing Maths might be a good choice along with other subjects that require lots of reading/essays?

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:02 pm
by another mother
Hi KB
Yes I think maths has quite a lot going for it - and her teacher is fairly confident of her ability. I just think she doesn't like it enough (despite enjoying the classes at the mo) to want to do another 2 years - and maybe only get a B? that said, it is very well taught at her school and she is doing the IGCSE - which means she'll have covered much of the AS syllabus already which is tempting!