CHOOSING A-LEVEL SUBJECTS

UNIVERSITY PREPARATION

In Year 12 you will have two periods a week dedicated to preparation for university. This will tie in with our Beyond Harrow programme which is the sixth form equivalent of Facing Challenges in earlier years. During this time you will be given information about universities around the world. We will show you how to research your options and maximise your chances of acceptance. There will also be presentations from representatives of different institutions. Our aim is to equip you with essential life skills so that once you have completed your education at Harrow you will feel confident to go out and take your place in the world as a true global citizen.

CHOOSING A LEVEL SUBJECTS

It is important that you choose your subjects wisely. On the whole, your best choices will be the subjects that you enjoy most and in which you think you are most likely to have success. However, there are some subjects that are either essential, or at least very important, for some careers. If you have plans at this stage to follow a particular career, you must find out what subjects are needed so that you do not drop the wrong ones now. The main factors you should consider in your decision-making are:

YOUR LEVEL OF INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT

Does a subject really interest you and why? You need to be interested in the subject matter and enjoy the skills involved in it. For example, does it involve extended writing? Is it a more practical subject? In addition, take into account how the subject will be assessed - will there be any coursework? Some subjects, such as Economics, Computer Science, Psychology and Politics, are new subjects offered in the Sixth Form that you will not have met before and consequently you need to find out even more about them, at the very least by attending the taster sessions.

YOUR ABILITY IN THE SUBJECT

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Look at your latest school report and be clear about the subjects in which have you been most successful so far, and why? What skills come more easily to you?

UNIVERSITY COURSE AND CAREER CHOICES

It is vital that you consider the implications of the choices of the subjects which you may elect to study. Some subjects are necessary if you wish to read certain degrees. For pupils interested in studying in the UK, the current university websites are the best guides. Other useful websites and publications include:

www.ucas.com www.russellgroup.ac.uk/for-students

In summary, when you finally make your decisions, bear the following in mind:

DO CHOOSE A SUBJECT BECAUSE:

• You will enjoy it • You have a strong interest in it • You are good at it • It will help you in your future career aspirations and plans • You believe that you will succeed in it

DO NOT CHOOSE A SUBJECT BECAUSE:

• Your friends have chosen it • You think it will be easy • You have been told it involves less work • Relatives or friends tell you to do it without a good reason • It is something new • You like your current teacher

THE EPQ

At Harrow Hong Kong all pupils are required to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). It provides an opportunity for pupils to study a topic of their choice and to make their university application stand out by gaining additional UCAS points and demonstrating a true passion in their chosen area. Universities look positively at an EPQ for its rigorous academic content as well as the self-discipline and independent research involved. The same is true of US applications where they are looking for evidence of academic rigour and students who have elected to challenge themselves in their studies. For applications to the most competitive courses, there is evidence that a very good EPQ can be a definite advantage in helping to select the best pupils as it demonstrates intellectual curiosity. The pattern emerging in the UK is for pupils to take three A Levels plus the EPQ. We need our pupils to be able to compete with those UK pupils for places at top universities. Pupils are supported with a series of taught skills such as independent learning, time management, project proposal, project management and presentation skills. They also have a project supervisor to guide them through the whole process. Previous projects have included: • Rewriting a scene from Shakespeare’s King Lear from a feminist perspective. • An investigation into the manufacturing of biodegradable starch-based plastic for less-developed countries. • An overview and evaluation of the RSA cryptosystem. • Should we use animals for testing cosmetics? • To what extent has foreign aid in the Kingdom of Swaziland increased access to modern day healthcare?

STUDY PERIODS

You will find that you have several study periods on your timetable once you join the Sixth Form. You will be given guidance at the beginning of Year 12 about how to maximise the use of this time. The Sixth Form zone has a silent working area, a collaborative working area and space to socialise.