Physics A Level - without Maths?

That combination could get you on a law degree too. A girl in my year did biology, chemistry and German and did a law degree. As long as you have an essay subject.

I also think the Maths, physics and geography combination could open a few doors.

DS did Maths, Physics and Law which is a similar combination to OP's DD's and did a Physics degree at a RG university

The maths and physics will line up well for the very hard STEM subjects, but will exclude the less hard STEM (chemistry, bio, geology perhaps).

Maths and physics would definitely get you onto earth science courses and also many environmental science / engineering courses.

Maths, physics and politics could be an interesting combination for urban planning / design degrees?

Glad she's made what looks like a good choice. I started Biology as an undergraduate but found my lack of maths skills really hampered my learning. I think maths and sciences go very well together once you're looking at University level stuff.

Oh I’ve seen the update. So that’s good about maths and physics, but I’m not sure where the politics comes in in terms of next steps. Does she know what she wants to do next? The maths and physics will line up well for the very hard STEM subjects, but will exclude the less hard STEM (chemistry, bio, geology perhaps).

The politics is a great subject, but on its own might not give the university options she wants.

Really this decision needs to be about all of the things she might want to study at university and how can she have a good range of skills and subject knowledge to get there.

For the record, I’m all for a mixed A level palette (so sciences and humanities, great skills combination), but it can mean that students don’t quite have the skills some universities are looking for for the next step.

Disclaimer: background in university access and admissions

I did physics A level but only AS maths. I don’t think any of the maths was needed for the A level, and physics was my highest overall mark.

But without maths you are seriously limiting the choice when it comes to university. Physics itself and anything engineering are out. I did chemistry but had to cover a lot of A level content in first year.

So for me the question is more about what is she going to do after? Will physics help? Is it going to be a barrier not having the maths? Will she end up needing to cover it later?

Good update

Teens only take advice from their peers, you see, not their well meaning parents

That's a smashing update and nice mix of subject/extra curricular life! I'm sure she'll have some unusual doors open to her from that combo as well as the more obvious ones 🙂

ilovemydogandmrobama2 that’s funny and great news. Best of luck to her.

I became a civil engineer by a roundabout route with just O level maths. It was hard work but with the help of a good engineering maths text book it was doable.

It's a huge jump. You need to be really good at maths gcse to carry it into A level.

I was an engineer

It was the same 20 odd years ago. I wasn't able to do engineering without a level Maths. For Ed of mine did physics at degree and masters level and had to do maths. The two subjects go together.

At Ds's sixth form if you take physics but not maths A level you sit core maths which falls between GCSE and A Level maths because they want the students to do well and the core maths helps.

Re A level maths a grade 7 at GCSE usually sees a C/D grade at A level whereas a 9 usually sees an A*/A at A level. Just worth considering if they try to persuade her.

Ds loves maths, he says it is about getting comfortable with it so basically daily practise for 10 or 20 minutes will see familiarity with the problems and then they become easier to solve. He wasn't confident with maths until year 9 when he also did statistics as an option which helped him understand maths better. He started to like it because it was easier and he did daily practise and achieved a grade 9 at GCSE.

Hi, my DS Y13 is currently doing Physics A level without Maths. He does not intend to study Physics at university.

Everyone is quite right that ideally you would also take a Maths A. There is a lot of Maths involved. He didn’t think his Maths was strong enough. DS found Y12 tough but is doing better now and working at predicted grade B right now. I think there is a part of him that wonders if he should have tried to study Maths at A level. My advice would be to seriously consider taking Maths.

As a physics teacher I have seen many students take physics a level without maths because the a level boards say you can. However only once have I seen a student get above a C, and that was because they took all three sciences instead.

All the rest struggled for two years. It’s miserable and sucks the fun out of the physics a level. They bumped along the bottom of the class. Too many Ds and Es, I have banned students from doing it without maths now, As is in their best interest.

OP
Does your DD have a genuine interest in physics?

If there is a chance she would like to continue to study it at uni, she really does need to take math. If she doesn't, many many doors will close.

However, if she is struggling with GCSE math, she may not get the grades needed for A level physics.

Btw, if her love of physics has been influenced by her teacher, has math been similarly influenced?

I would definitely not recommend this based on my DS experience. Fortunately he was doing 4 subjects so was able to drop physics when it became apparent he was far behind those doing maths and physics.

As I recall it scratch the surface of pretty much any Physics/engineering topic at undergraduate level and once the lecturer has gone through the initial couple of minutes of verbal descriptive stuff you’re into the mathematics PDQ.

Is your dd aware of the lifetime earning difference between people who do A Level maths over people who don’t? It’s such a useful subject to have on her CV. I also think it would be inadvisable to do Physics without Maths.

It does, however, depend on why she isn't doing maths. If it because she doesn't like maths she might not enjoy physics A level (approx 40% is maths-based). If she genuinely struggles (rather than just lacking confidence) she may find the mathematical elements of physics too hard.

Agree that this is key. If she hates maths or finds it hard, then physics may not be a good choice, with or without maths.

The current Physics specification is stand alone - it doesn't need to go alongside Maths A-level. There will be new maths in it but this can be taught by the Physics teacher.

It would not be wise to apply for Physics or Engineering courses at university, but is well regarded as a facilitating subject.

I did both A Level Physics and a Chemisty degree without A level maths. I believed people who said it was possible. It is but it was godawful and I got shite results. I would not do this again and would totally advise against it. So stressful, never really had a clue about the maths bits in either subject.

I did biology, chemistry & physics at A level back in the dark ages. Like your DD I didn't like maths. Tbh I did struggle with the physics (I got a B). I wouldn't 100% rule it out but she might benefit from extra maths tuition.
I went on to a biology degree which was great fun.