A-levels

[Wanabe DR SHAH]

hello
im having difficulty choosing my a-level subjects
i definitely want to do biology chemistry and a humanity(either rs or history)
however im having difficulty on choosing between physics and maths
i want to do physics howver many ppl are saying to do maths as well
which i dont want to do
should i forget physics and just do maths or stick with physics and forget maths?

any advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks

[Drnic]

I'd say do maths for your own sanity and a break from sciences, but definately drop its after as because it gets ridiculously hard at a2

[minnako]

I would say to check the websites of any universities you are considering going to.

For your humanities: I would be careful in that some subjects are often seen as less difficult/valuable when it comes to competitive courses. It's unfair, of course. I'm not sure whether RS would be something medical schools would look well on as an AS or A level. Hopefully someone on here with more knowledge can elaborate.

You don't need to do maths at all, especially if you are doing physics. Three sciences would be more than enough for any university, and I recommend doing the subject you feel most capable in, since you're going to be working on it for a couple of years!

[Kinkerz]

For your humanities: I would be careful in that some subjects are often seen as less difficult/valuable when it comes to competitive courses. It's unfair, of course. I'm not sure whether RS would be something medical schools would look well on as an AS or A level. Hopefully someone on here with more knowledge can elaborate.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

You don't need to do maths at all, especially if you are doing physics. Three sciences would be more than enough for any university, and I recommend doing the subject you feel most capable in, since you're going to be working on it for a couple of years!

I wholeheartedly agree.

[House Jr.]

just be aware that the jump between gcse physics and a level physics is higher than that of gcse maths and a level maths. Many of my friends scored high in physics at GCSE but are struggling with physics even at AS level. However if you feel that you really enjoy physics then go for it, i'd recommend that you don't do both maths and physics along with everything else since it's pretty much unnecessary. As for the humanities, i'm doing history and it's quite interesting but I've heard some really good things about psychology and philosophy, so you may wanna look at the specs for those subjects.

[Chwirkytheappleboy]

A Level Physics is a complete waste of time in my opinion. Anything remotely useful in it is taught in greater depth in mechanics modules in A Level Mathematics. My first degree was in Maths & Physics, and I very quickly came to the following conclusion: If I were an admissions tutor for a University Physics department, and I had two candidates who were applying to study Physics, one of whom had A Level Maths and A Level Physics, and the other had A Level Maths & Further Maths, I would choose the second candidate.

just be aware that the jump between gcse physics and a level physics is higher than that of gcse maths and a level maths.

I couldn't disagree more. When I was in school, I don't think anyone in my A Level Physics class did any work in the whole two years, but everyone still came away with good grades. Conversely most people had to work a considerably harder for Maths & Further Maths.

Having said that though, I've been informed that A Level Maths has been made easier in recent years. Apparently the three Pure modules (P1-P3) in the standard Maths A Level have been spread out into four core modules (C1-C4) without any addition of material. So I guess House Jr. could be right if his experience is more up to date than mine.

[Kinkerz]

A Level Physics is a complete waste of time in my opinion. Anything remotely useful in it is taught in greater depth in mechanics modules in A Level Mathematics. My first degree was in Maths & Physics, and I very quickly came to the following conclusion: If I were an admissions tutor for a University Physics department, and I had two candidates who were applying to study Physics, one of whom had A Level Maths and A Level Physics, and the other had A Level Maths & Further Maths, I would choose the second candidate.

Yes, but this is medicine, not physics...

I've found having my AS in physics quite useful. Nothing drastic, don't get me wrong, it won't make any great difference, but with the general understanding of things like ECGs and the electrical synchronisation of the cardiac cycle, it's certainly helped. I'm glad I chose it over maths that's for sure.

[House Jr.]

A Level Physics is a complete waste of time in my opinion. Anything remotely useful in it is taught in greater depth in mechanics modules in A Level Mathematics. My first degree was in Maths & Physics, and I very quickly came to the following conclusion: If I were an admissions tutor for a University Physics department, and I had two candidates who were applying to study Physics, one of whom had A Level Maths and A Level Physics, and the other had A Level Maths & Further Maths, I would choose the second candidate.



I couldn't disagree more. When I was in school, I don't think anyone in my A Level Physics class did any work in the whole two years, but everyone still came away with good grades. Conversely most people had to work a considerably harder for Maths & Further Maths.

Having said that though, I've been informed that A Level Maths has been made easier in recent years. Apparently the three Pure modules (P1-P3) in the standard Maths A Level have been spread out into four core modules (C1-C4) without any addition of material. So I guess House Jr. could be right if his experience is more up to date than mine.

well then i'm conifdent that the subjects have most likely changed now than back in your day because I know some really smart people and they sure aren't taking physics lightly XD

[Rippy]

It won't really make a difference what you do. Just do what you prefer.

Bio chem maths physics

Bio chem maths history/RS

Bio chem physics history/RS

are all perfectly acceptable subject combinations


(Incidentally, please don't be put off by people saying subjects are "hard". Different people find different things hard, and because someone else doesn't like a subject doesn't mean you won't.)

[Kinkerz]

(Incidentally, please don't be put off by people saying subjects are "hard". Different people find different things hard, and because someone else doesn't like a subject doesn't mean you won't.)

Unless that subject is psychology :P