Think of where you want to be and work backwards. That was the advice I received back when I was trying to make up my mind about what to study at A-Level – and it’s an approach that still stands up today. If you know what degree you want to pursue, then you can look at the right combination of subjects for that course.

But that’s only half the story. You also need to find subjects that you are genuinely interested in – A-Level study is all about depth, so find the subjects you are passionate about and want to explore further. After all, if you love a subject and enjoy the hard work that goes with it, then you’re more likely to do well, aren’t you?

But how to choose? There are now more subjects taught at A-Level than ever – and five main A-Level examination boards in the UK: AQA, CCEA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC. Sometimes one board will offer a slightly different version of the same subject, so it’s wise to explore the different options.

“Good results come from choosing a subject you’re passionate about as well as good teaching,” says Andreas Josephides, a d’Overbroecks student who joined in the sixth form to take subjects that play to his strengths. After a reasonable performance at GCSE, he is now on course for three grade As and a B at A-Level. “The trick is to look around to find the subjects you like and are good at” he says.

To match the subjects you like with your target degree, find out what universities value before you make the decision on A-Levels. If you are keen on a Business Studies degree, should you study the subject at A-Level or go for something more general? What about Medicine? Do medical schools value subjects outside science? A place to find out what universities look for is www.ucas.com, where you can search courses and entry requirements at all of the UK universities. Then go to the universities that interest you and search their prospectuses, taking note of the admissions requirements.

It may seem too early to be looking at university courses, but only last week Sue Johnson, senior marketing co-ordinator from Warwick University, addressed our students and stressed the importance of the right subjects for the right degrees: “Some subjects match the degree more than others – a science can help for Psychology for example. But you should also look at the combination of subjects as a whole – accounting, business and economics is actually fairly narrow, for instance.”

Once you have a short-list of A-Level choices, look closely at the curriculum content and the type of work involved in each. “Do your research to find out how the subjects are taught and what’s involved,” says Andreas. “Don’t just look at your own school’s programmes, see what else is available. Find students who are studying or have studied the subjects you’re interested in and ask about their experiences.”

Search online, but remember there is no substitute for speaking to teachers and students directly. Ask how the course is structured and what your study week will look like. You will be spending 25 per cent of your time on each subject as A-Levels are much more intensive than GCSEs and note that the emphasis of a subject can change from its GCSE counterpart, so you may find it radically different at A-Level.

Remember, though, that a successful university application is not just about A-Level grades, but your time in the sixth form as a whole. At d’Overbroeck’s we continually enhance our extra curricular programme, encouraging students to develop skills and strengths beyond the classroom. This year we introduced the AQA Baccalaureate, a programme which augments ‘standard’ A-Levels with enrichment activities and applied learning, because it will help some students demonstrate to universities that they are aiming for the top. Extension qualifications such as these add more strings to your bow and help equip you for university life, encouraging you to explore the breadth and depth of a subject and apply your thinking to research or practical study.

Ultimately the final decision is yours. Sixth Form is a pivotal two years, packed with opportunity and the exhilaration of studying subjects you enjoy. It can be the beginning of your deep exploration of the subjects that really excite you – and a good decision can set you on a path for life.

If you’d like to find out more about d’Overbroecks, contact Andrew Gillespie on 01865 310000 or email him at andrew.gillespie@doverbroecks.com