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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Biology A level: How much maths?

27 replies

Toomanyminifigs · 05/09/2025 14:17

My DS is Yr11 and we're starting to look at A level options. My DS is keen to take Biology A level but I'm concerned about his Maths.

I would appreciate any thoughts/experience as I weigh up how much I should be pushing this with his school.

Until recently, his school had a requirement of a 5 in Maths GCSE to take Biology A level. They've just announced they've upped this to a 6. My DS is only doing Foundation Maths (he's on track for a 5) but obviously he can't get a 6.

My DS is quite an 'odd' student - in that he's very strong in Science (he's taking Triple and is being predicted 8s) but he's always really struggled with basic Maths. He says the Maths needed in Science is 'different' though as it's in context (for example he can re-arrange chemical equations and can do mole calculations).

My DS has autism and has an EHCP, for context.

I will obviously be speaking to his teachers - and of course all of this is dependent on his GCSE results - but it would be really helpful to hear from parents/teachers who have experience of Biology A level. (They do the OCR board.)

I've been reading on this board and elsewhere that Biology A level is one of the hardest to do well in so I'm wondering if it would be best to steer him away from this as an option anyway.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Original poster
Toomanyminifigs · 05/09/2025 14:35

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
My DS is looking at History and Geography as his other A levels (he's predicted 9's at GCSE). There is a maths requirement for Geography but it's 'only' a 5 at GCSE.

I know the school does offer core maths at sixth form and I would insist (and I imagine the school would too) that he takes this if he's going to take Biology A level.

I've read conflicting things online about now important maths ability is for Biology A level which is why I've posted here to get input from people who's DC have recently taken it.

I obviously don't want to set up my DS to 'fail' so if the consensus is that he's going to be way out of his depth, I will try and steer him towards other options. But also as he's showing an interest - and at least some possible ability - I feel he should be given a chance.
I know that passion for the subject is important at A level.

Well done your DS in his A levels.

OP posts:
clary · 05/09/2025 14:22

My DS2 took biology A level alongside maths A level and got a hard-won B in maths (A in bio and his uni choice). I think I recall him saying he didn't need it especially but I suspect it will have helped him – as in, the maths for maths A level was so hard (so he said) that maybe it made the bio maths seem easier?

That's not helpful to you really. Would his school accept his 5 at GCSE? Could he look at doing some of the H work (maybe after GCSEs) as a booster? Or core maths in sixth form?

What other A levels is he doing? I will ask my DS what his view is on maths needed for bio A level.

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