Thinking about doing Maths A level, but not Further Maths - disadvantaged?

Dd hasn't done fm but has an offer for a top engineering degree (ask me in August if she gets the a shes predicted!)

My DD did maths, history, sociology and general studies for the 1st year of a levels, got her sociology in that year, then dropped gen studies in year 2 and took up further maths. Ended up with a levels in sociology, history, maths and further maths BBA*A

I would think of it as a package of subjects, I wouldn't do Maths and Englsh at A-level.

Work out what she is best at and do the comlimentary subjects

I did Maths, English and French - big mistake, none compliments any of the others and just because I did well at GCSE didn't make it a strength at A-level. My Strength was in Maths and I should have done Maths, Further Maths, Economics
OR Maths, Stats and Psychology

I would not recommend anyone to do further maths unless they need it for uni.

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who didn't find maths fun - but if you have the ability and really enjoy it then why the heck wouldn't you! Either as the 3rd subject for the likes of maths, physics, engineering, comp sci or as a 4th subject.

Same could be said of any subject, I suppose, but FM is somewhat different in being 'further' to another subject.

Just realised my previous post does not answer your original question. Sorry- got distracted by other posts!

My son has just finished maths, further maths and Comp sci. He was an A* student at most subjects at GCSE. Further maths has been the hardest slog - he chose to repeat his first year because he got a U (I think) at a.s level. The course changed then to linear so he has had all exams this year. I would not recommend anyone to do further maths unless they need it for uni. With hindsight, my son wishes he had dropped it and taken up another subject instead when he started again.

• Further maths is unnecessary unless:

A - you want to study math at a top 10 university
B-you want to study physics at a top 10 university
C- you want to study compsci at say Cambridge.

Other than those following situations, it’s pointkess*

Not necessarily relevant for the OPs DD ( maths but not FM will probably suit her best from the sound of it), but FM is far from 'pointless' for any maths, physics, compsci and also engineering and some economics degrees. My DD was advised by engineering admissions tutors etc that while FM might not be required (though it pretty much is in reality for Cambridge) it would definitely make life easier when she got there.

And back in the day when I'd done double maths, physics and chemistry A levels before a chemistry degree, some of the extra topics I'd done versus those with single maths definitely helped (less new maths to learn).

If she wants English, Philosophy or Classics she needs A levels that keep those doors open. Obviously Maths won’t shut doors but the other two or three A levels need to be chosen with care.

Maths is often needed for Economics and it’s not just STEM subjects where it’s useful. One could argue it’s not needed for English of course but there is no reason why it cannot be included. If she really wants a financial job afterwards, are the degrees outlined above the best way to achieve it?

If she wants to keep a door open for a physics degree, then she needs regular math, but not further math.
Physics, math and classics perhaps?

That's reassuring, thanks.

cptartap I wouldn't worry, in DS year there must be 30-40 doing maths and they only allowed 4 of them to do further maths and one of those dropped out! Your boy will be in the majority I would have thought. Maths, business and geography sounds like a great mix.

If she is definitely not doing maths or a maths based science at uni then it's not much use at A level. But, if she changes her mind a lot... then are you sure there's no maths at uni on the cards?

DD1 and DD2 both had a hard time from maths and physics A level teachers who wouldn’t take them seriously in their a level classes because they were not also doing further maths. I would have hoped it was a one off school problem, but I have heard that of other schools too.

At uni, DD1 doing a stem subject has not struggled at all, and got a full set of offers so it obviously didn’t bother the admissions tutors either.

DS1 is waiting on his GCSe results, predicted a 7 in maths, although hit 8 a few times on practice papers at home. He doesn't love Maths, says it's ok, but it is one of his strongest subjects and is looking to combine it with Business and Geography with accountancy a possibility in the future. His fear is that he will be in classes of natural mathematicians who also do further maths for which he has no inclination.
Watching with interest.

@bobbinthreadbare123
I’m confused ? I think I’m agreeing with you!

*Further maths is unnecessary unless:

A - you want to study math at a top 10 university
B-you want to study physics at a top 10 university
C- you want to study compsci at say Cambridge.

Other than those following situations, it’s pointkess*

Not necessarily true. Most physics degrees ask for maths and physics and one other.

Check it out: furthermaths.org.uk/universities&page=physics_entry

First entry is Cambridge.

sorry, my point is that FM is unnecessary and so she won’t be disadvantaged unless in those cases

I did maths A level (also many moons ago, before the A days) and taught myself the AS further maths in my spare time (with a few as hoc tutorials from my maths teacher). I got an A in both, and found the extra further maths pretty easy. My point being, if she’s really good at maths then doing further maths as a 4th A level most likely won’t be too much work/effort but will also likely get her another A/A.

those situations *

Pointless *

Further maths is unnecessary unless:

A - you want to study math at a top 10 university
B-you want to study physics at a top 10 university
C- you want to study compsci at say Cambridge.

Other than those following situations, it’s pointkess

What does she want to do after?

What other subjects is she interested in?