Physics A level...

I'd say it all depends on what other subjects she's taking, as well as what she would like to do at university (if that's her plan).
My eldest is taking A Levels in Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Latin. The Latin was a heart-over-head choice as he loved it so much and didn't want to drop it. He's applied to do MPhys degrees at various universities and none of them are remotely interested in the Latin, they just want to see the grades in Physics and Maths. So much of both the A Level and the degree courses are Maths based, I think it would be hard to just do Physics combined with arts courses. Most of his Physics classmates are taking either physics/maths/ further maths, Phys/maths/third choice or, physics/chemistry/biology. I think it's key that the "third choice" could be anything (yes even English Lit) but I really would recommend Maths as a second choice.

In DDs state school 4 AS's are compulsory in Y12

I know as a 6th form tutor that the students in my form groups who are very heavily STEM (physics, maths, computer science etc) we often have to provide intervention in terms of essay skills as they easily lose these in their thirst for formulas, coding etc and then come unstuck when having to answer the longer questions on a paper so having an essay subject together with STEM subjects will help in the long run

DS took the reformed physics A level (in its first year - last year) to A2 without maths, but he was ‘naturally’ good at maths and enjoyed the subject so was happy to work hard to do it. Double science shouldn’t hold her back too much, so if she’s good at maths (DS didn’t enjoy it either!)

Like Malbec fan, his a level exams actually clashed last year - one of his physics was the same time as one of his English lit! It worked out though - he got As in both, even without maths.

He also did a creative third subject (dance A level - he’s now studying contemporary dance). He felt the three balanced out quite nicely and he could alternate his revision easily, without getting bored.

Slightlt ireelevant but I also did physics and English lit (and French and maths) many years ago and agree they’re a surprisingly good combo!

My DD took English Lit with Physics last year along with other subjects. The only issue with doing those 2 is that all the exams clashed, so she had a lot of writing on those 3 days. As she is now studying Nat Sci, her offer took no account of English, but she enjoyed the books and loved studying something because she enjoyed it without the pressure of having to achieve a particular grade.

@Scabbersley I noticed upthread that ypu mentioned the IB instead of A levels. My DC1 is doing the IB and I'm a big fan of it for teens with broad interests.

Maths at Standard level is regarded as pretty close to A level. Maths at Higher is like Further Maths A. There's also Standard Maths Studies which tends to be taken by non-mathematicians.

Your DD could totally do Physics & English as Highers. English can be Lang, Lit or combined, but not all 6ths offer every version depending on class size.

If you have got IB available then do look into it. DD will need to be hard working and v organised. My DC1 is just loving it.

DD is another doing A level double maths, physics and eng lit. We were told was a fine combination and might even differentiate her a bit from others when she goes on to apply for physics degree.

I've never heard of anyone taking physics and English lit!
That's one of combinations DS is considering!
And just to say that his school which is super selective and very demanding do allow you to take Physics without Maths.

"Wasn’t it obvious that was what the other poster meant?"

Not to me. Being thick here

Not really Purple as you have to cover the topics anyway, and you may as well get a qualification for your efforts. Also it can help to decide which subject to drop. This is assuming you would do 4 as levels then 3 a levels, I agree it would be pointless to do 3 as levels then 3 a levels in the same subjects.

If you’re doing the full A level, sitting the AS is effectively pointless.

It’s resitting the AS level content as part of the A level assessment. Wasn’t it obvious that was what the other poster meant?

lon if you’re doing the full a level it’s compulsory to sit all the modules at the end of the second year so anything you sat at the end of year 12 won’t count towards the a level.

But it isn't resitting an AS level. Isn't it just sitting the full A level of 2 years worth of studying?

My son is doing a level physics without doing maths so it is possible. He got an A on his last assessment.

lon if you’re doing the full a level it’s compulsory to sit all the modules at the end of the second year so anything you sat at the end of year 12 won’t count towards the a level.

Most good Colleges do not encourage all students to sit AS Levels in the first year to cut down on exam time for the students.

Nah. It’s becsuse they have to pay for exam entries.

"If you go onto do the full A level the AS has to be resat in the second year."

This doesn't make sense. DD took 4 AS levels last summer, then dropped one subject. She is just sitting 3 A levels this summer.

I've never heard of anyone taking physics and English lit!

So did dh (long time ago!). Physics, maths, English lit and French.

Absolutely Blaake and calm is now restored.

However still check with the College etc if they are teaching the syllabus in a modular way some subjects do not cover just AS level in the first year as the majority of students will be doing the whole A level. Most good Colleges do not encourage all students to sit AS Levels in the first year to cut down on exam time for the students.

There has been discussion re the advantage as Unis are now asking for 3 A level results and not the AS result as they did in the old system. Even four A levels are not needed to get into Oxbridge etc and the students need to consider if extra subjects will bring down their overall grades. For many talented students this is not an issue

An AS result may also need to be put on the UCAS appliation so that also needs to be considered

I've never heard of anyone taking physics and English lit!

dd did
She's in her first year at University and her school allowed them to start with 4 ASs.... she was in the year where 2 of her A Levels were 'old spec' and 2 were 'new spec'.
She go As for both maths and physics (without really doing a lot of work at GCSE - she found GCSEs not too difficult) but then found A level physics and maths incredibly difficult.
She's pretty glad she had the English and her other subject to be able to enjoy and do well in.
I know now that almost all 6th forms are saying 3 A levels only (often plus EPQ or something), but nothing wrong with doing the subjects you love, just go in with eyes open, knowing physics and maths are both considered particularly difficult A-levels, and physics without maths is usually considered to be more of a challenge than learning physics alongside learning maths.
I have another dd choosing 6th forms and choosing subjects now and most are asking for an 8 for physics and for maths around here.

Yes, but you can drop an AS level after first year, and still have it as a standalone qualification on top of your a levels. They also give a good indicator of the students real potential in exams, as told by my close friend. He did say, however, that this could be both an advantage and disadvantage as students could perform badly in as levels and be negatively judged, even if performing brilliantly in final a level exams. I chose to see the advantages

Blimey why is everyone so aggressive

Blaake exactly my point. You can take stand alone AS levels (in the old system this counted towards your final grade) To take the full A level you have to take all the exams at the end of the course. So if you do take AS levels at end of first year this will not count towards you A level grade if you choose to carry on to the second year.

3 A levels and PLD is the minimum of time students need to study to be considered on a full time course to receive funding from the Government. You can of course study more subjects eg A level of EPQ as many do.