Maths/FM&Physics V Maths/ Physics& Chemistry for Engineering

Hero = here who.

That’s useful Why. Does Oxford require Step and FM?

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/engineering-science

FM, no STEP as far as in can see. They have their own PAT (physics aptitude) admissions test as well. (Cambridge likewise has an engineering aptitude test, for anyone reading this hero might be interested... requires no special tutoring or knowledge beyond yr 12 maths/physics)

It really is all on the websites and quite easy to find.

(I tutored students for their A-levels who went on to be Engineering students by the way I was never an Engineering tutor!)

I think it is difficult quandary. DD is currently doing 4 a levels, wants to do physics at uni, currently doing maths FM physics and a non science.
There is a lot of overlap between the maths and physics.
She is now considering quitting the non science, which personally I think is a shame as leaves a v narrow subject matter.

Both her school and the 6th form college v much encouraged FM , not just for those aiming for oxbridge or similar. Anyway she's going to discuss it with her tutor.

She gets it from DH.

Sheffield would be one to look at seriously for your DS, among the other options - excellent reputation for engineering, strong robotics (iirc), not too excessive requirements.
If he likes the practical side of engineering then he might enjoy an 'artefact' epq - the benefit of doing that rather than just doing hobby stuff at home was access to school kit (laser cutters, PCB etching) plus the discipline of 'project planning' and report writing . Opinions are mixed on their benefits, it's something to do as an end in itself if it appeals, not with the idea its a means to an end IYSWIM.

@ListeningQuietly OP asked " if he doesn’t do FM as offered at his school Oxbridge and Imperial applications are out assuming he’s that kind of material" .

Engineering although maths based is very practical. Cambridge is traditionally a more theoretical university and Oxford more experimental so if he wanted Oxbridge maybe Oxford might be better suited. The maths involved in Engineering is more practical and applied then he'll learn at school. I taught a few Engineering students (and the ones I've kept in touch with are doing very well) who got frustrated with learning say complex numbers as an abstract concept in maths at school but could get really into it when applied to circuit theory. Your son may find the same.

Yeah, bolding fail.

DD was interviewed at all 5 of her UCAS choices, for EEE except for Cambridge. The Cambridge interviews were tough, but the other four were more them trying to recruit her rather than deciding whether to give her an offer. (She had A* star predictions for physics, maths, fm plus an AS in CS and are relevant EPQ).

The Cambridge course is hard, intense work, FM really is required if the school offers it, most of them do have 4 A levels or some other stuff beyond 3. Its a bit light on practical work. It's almost certainly irrelevant for the OPs DS from what she's described.
*
Loads of other good options.

I think I've ballsed up the bolding on that...

I studied one year of an engineering degree (top 10-20 University) before switching to a maths degree which was much more suited to me. A levels in physics maths and geography. I coped absolutely fine with the maths content in engineering in first year but many people had further maths behind them, and almost all on the maths course had it of course. Some engineers struggled with the maths content and they offered extra classes if necessary so they seemed prepared for a wider range of backgrounds.
As pp have mentioned there is a huge jump between gcse and a level maths which was the point that i had to start 'trying'. Agree with pp that the subjects that will get your DS the best grades are what i would choose. Check requirements for any universities he may be interested in, in case there is an expectation for FM. In my experience it is easier to work harder at something that interests you.

But the OP did not mention Oxford or Cambridge or Imperial.

The OP asked about general Engineering courses
and was sent up a blind alley with random talk about STEP and interviews

The vast majority of extremely good engineering courses want 3 good A levels and conduct no interviews

@ListeningQuietly of course there are many good Engineering degrees (Bristol for one) that rival Oxbridge but if a student does want to consider Oxbridge or Imperial or just wants to be more competitive for whatever univsierty they do apply for then these are factors worth considering.

My subject isn't Engineering but I certainly talked to friends teaching and doing admission in Engineering (and just had a general idea of how admissions works).

Likewise interview questions will be much more probing than school level work.
Engineering, interview ......

and in the real world
the offers ping out based on the grades in as little as 12 hours

Imperial want it though.

Are you sure? I thought that was just for maths/computing not the various engineering options?

Sorry yes not STEP for engineering (STEP isn't required for Oxford either) but there will be an entrance test prior to interview which wil be way more in depth than A-level. Likewise interview questions will be much more probing than school level work.

LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY WEBSITES

no, most kids DO NOT do 4 A levels now (because the courses became linear 3 years ago)
current students know what they have taken

no, STEP is not part of engineering degrees
speaking to kids who went to both Cambridge and Imperial without it

and frankly there is life beyond Oxbridge, PARTICULARLY for engineering

STEP is essentially completely irrelevant for engineering. There are precisely 2 colleges out of the dozens at Cambridge University which require it.

I'm a physics teacher. My first suggestion would be take all 4. The jump to A level is quite large and it would give him a feel for how he's coping and could then drop either chemistry or fm, depending how he's finding them. Even by Christmas, he'd have a much clearer idea of expected work load, which if he's a seat if his pants student, he may find it's a bit more than expected!

I loved GCSE chemistry but found I had to put in double the work into it at A level compared to my other subjects, so dropped it after AS.

If he really only wants to do 3, and he's keen on robotics not chemical engineering, then fm would be the logical choice.