• Question: what A levles did you do to get the job you are doing.

    Asked by anon-383477 on 7 Feb 2024. This question was also asked by anon-391199, LejaM, part1vac.
    • Photo: Erin Pallott

      Erin Pallott answered on 7 Feb 2024:


      I knew I wanted to do biology at university, so I chose biology, maths, and chemistry. But all uni courses, jobs and apprenticeships will have different requirements. If by the end of GCSE, you have an idea what you want to do, you can have a look around at different requirements to help you make a choice.
      There are many routes into science so there is no correct set of choices for A Level!

    • Photo: David Bremner

      David Bremner answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I got Higher level Biology, Chemistry, English and History. I didn’t go to university full time, i started working and then through day release study classes got my ONC, my HNC then finally my degree in Applied biosciences and chemistry.

    • Photo: John Grasmeder

      John Grasmeder answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I did maths, chemistry and physics because I wanted to be a chemist.

    • Photo: Bruno Silvester Lopes

      Bruno Silvester Lopes answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      Physics, Chem, biology, maths. Did this in India. Now I’m Asst Professor of microbiology at Teesside University 😃

    • Photo: Alexander De Bruin

      Alexander De Bruin answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I did A levels in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, with AS levels in Music and Biology. My first degree was Chemical Physics, so I needed all three of my A levels to get onto my course.

    • Photo: Emma Weir

      Emma Weir answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I did biology, chemistry, maths and psychology because I wanted to study biomedical sciences or psychology, but when I did my A-levels I realised I really didn’t enjoy psychology!!

    • Photo: Hannah Fawcett

      Hannah Fawcett answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I work as a psychologist in a university. To get this role the important qualification was my psychology degree and postgraduate qualifications. Most psychology courses accept a range of a-level (and vocational) qualifications but I studied psychology, biology and geography.

    • Photo: Ben Dryer

      Ben Dryer answered on 8 Feb 2024: last edited 8 Feb 2024 10:04 am


      I loved the sciences – I did Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computing and my school made me do General Studies but I’m not sure I learned anything… Ended up going to physics with industrial experience at university.

    • Photo: Rachel Edwards

      Rachel Edwards answered on 8 Feb 2024: last edited 8 Feb 2024 10:37 am


      I was aiming for physics / engineering, so I took physics and maths (because you need maths to study physics – in fact a lot of what you do in maths is what we do in physics at degree level!). My school persuaded me to take further maths as well, which was useful in the end. I chose to do graphic design as my final main A-level, and it was incredibly useful for learning how to communicate well with other people, and how to design new equipment.
      (My school also made me take general studies, but I just sat the exam in that instead of going to lessons…)

    • Photo: Kirsty Ross

      Kirsty Ross answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Art

    • Photo: Martin McCoustra

      Martin McCoustra answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I never did A Levels… I did Scottish O grade and Highers. In my last year at school, I did Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English and History (getting 5 As) plus I crashed a two year Engineering Drawing O grade getting an A as well. I then did my Chemistry Degree (1st Class Honours) and PhD at Heriot-Watt University. You need a PhD, plus lots of other experience, to become a university professor.

    • Photo: Michael Schubert

      Michael Schubert answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      My high school was in Canada, so we didn’t have GCSEs and A levels. Instead, I did the IB diploma programme. This meant that I had to do six subjects: English, French, maths, history, and two sciences. In the end, I decided to do a third science as an “extra,” so I did biology, chemistry, and physics. (We were also allowed to study arts subjects as extras without doing exams in them, so I did music and drama for fun!)

    • Photo: Jonathan Shaw

      Jonathan Shaw answered on 8 Feb 2024:


      I did Maths, Chemistry and Biology.

      I dropped Physics at AS Level but I wish I dropped Biology instead because honestly it got quite difficult for me.

      Chemistry is the obvious option if someone wants to get into a Chemist role. However, it doesn’t have to be A-levels as I am sure many job opportunities are accepting other forms of qualifications to do the same roles. Have a read and try decide what’s best for what you want to do.

    • Photo: Chigozie Onuba

      Chigozie Onuba answered on 9 Feb 2024:


      I did Chemistry, Biology and Physics and then proceeded to Uni for Biomedical Science degree and clinical placement to enable me get my registration and start practising as a Biomedical Scientist.

    • Photo: Mike Langford

      Mike Langford answered on 11 Feb 2024:


      I’m a Biomedical Scientist. So A levels to get onto the degree. Chemistry, Biology and Maths..

      Never stopped study though!!

      At the moment I am an apprentice to be a professional coach

    • Photo: Laura Barker

      Laura Barker answered on 12 Feb 2024:


      Maths, Chemistry, and Spanish, but as a medical statistician, I only needed Maths

    • Photo: Liv Gaskill

      Liv Gaskill answered on 12 Feb 2024: last edited 12 Feb 2024 1:08 pm


      I did Psychology, Music, and Art at A-Level. I started college also studying biology and chemistry but dropped them in my first year as I realised I wanted to pursue psychology more. I then went on to uni to study psychology, then did a master’s degree in neuroimaging for clinical and cognitive neuroscience.

    • Photo: Pam Harrison

      Pam Harrison answered on 13 Feb 2024:


      I did A level Maths, Chemistry and IT but also AS levels in Biology, Art and Graphics.

      I went on to do Chemistry at university and now work as an analytical chemist.

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