This is a collaborative post
When it comes to studying and completing exams, it can always be a difficult time for both parent and child. With the main exams beginning at the end of secondary school with GCSEs, students get a taste of what exam periods are like. However, given that most subjects are compulsory to take, the pressure of choosing which subjects to study and pursue later on in life, isn’t really there.
The process of choosing A-level subjects can be a combination of both exciting and extremely unnerving, as it quite literally will carve out the path the student will take in their future. As a parent, it is important that you support your child during this time and ensure they make good decisions when it comes to deciding the subjects they will study for the next 2 years. Below is a guide advised by this private sixth form in Cambridge, that discusses how to help your child choose their A levels.
Be open minded
When it comes to studying A levels, and the process of choosing the subjects that they will study for the next couple of years, it is important that you and your child try to be open-minded. Whilst it is great for students to have a clear idea of what they would like to study, or what career path they would like to take, it is still important to stay open-minded at the beginning of the process. The reason for this is that students can set their heart on something to end up realising that their strengths don’t actually lie in that field of work. It’s extremely important for young ones to choose subjects that align with their strengths and one’s that they enjoy. Choosing a subject that they have already struggled with at GCSE is not the way to go as it will only cause further complications and difficulty later on.
Ask your child the right questions
Sit down with your child and ask them to clear their mind, regardless of if they have already decided what they would like to study. Ask them to make a list of what they see themselves doing in the future and if it correlates with their interests. This could be wanting to travel, work with others or even make a lot of money. There really is no wrong answer. Then ask them what subjects they enjoyed at GCSE and if they would consider studying them further. Discuss different career paths too as your child may be unaware of how vast the industry of work actually is. Ensure they are making the decision for themselves and not for their friends as this can be the case with many individuals. Remind your child that this is their journey, and every decision must be catered to themselves.