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Original poster

A'level maths, further maths and physics. Good combination ?

63 replies

FixundFoxi · 15/11/2022 17:51

DS 2 in yr 11 is thinking about taking these subjects next year as A'levels. To me it seems like he's missing another subject but as someone with a degree in modern languages I haven't got a clue !
He's convinced further maths is a whole A'level subject in itself but I'm not so sure.
Can anyone put us right and is it a decent choice ?

OP posts:
carefulcalculator · 15/11/2022 19:31

noblegiraffe · 15/11/2022 18:45

We have lots of kids doing 3 A-levels, one of which is FM, who have got really good uni offers.

HOWEVER I would not advise starting with 3 A-levels, one of which is FM, as this gives no option to drop it should the student find FM too much (and it is for some). The advice would be to start with 4 and drop to 3 once the confidence is there that FM is suitable (usually some drop at the end of Y12).

I agree with this from a parents' perspective - it is a big decision to specialise in Maths and so by doing four which could become e.g. Maths/Biology/Physics or Maths/Further Maths/Physics it gives the extra year to decide 'am I a Maths specialist or not'.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/11/2022 19:32

I worried about this but DS1 got offers from Warwick, Imperial college, Bristol, Sheffield and Oxford with Maths, Further Maths and physics for engineering so not sure that advice is completely accurate.
You can add Cambridge, Southampton, Manchester and Nottingham to that list. Grin

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 19:40

ErrolTheDragon · 15/11/2022 19:32

I worried about this but DS1 got offers from Warwick, Imperial college, Bristol, Sheffield and Oxford with Maths, Further Maths and physics for engineering so not sure that advice is completely accurate.
You can add Cambridge, Southampton, Manchester and Nottingham to that list. Grin

Pretty sure you've misses Durham and St Andrews from that list.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Secondary education
ErrolTheDragon · 15/11/2022 19:40

I think the 'fm only as a fourth' idea may have arisen from one or two competitive economics degrees which said FM was a plus but only as a fourth. (Not sure if they still do). Maybe medicine, but as that needs chemistry and/or biology unlikely to be offering 3 inc fm.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/11/2022 19:41

Pretty sure you've misses Durham and St Andrews from that list.
Our kids could only apply to 5 apiece and both had Sheffield.Grin

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 19:41

@ErrolTheDragon I've noticed in the past that you give good university advice.

Are you an academic?

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 19:42

Ha @ErrolTheDragon Sheffield for what?

Decorhate · 15/11/2022 19:44

Those questioning what was said about some unis not liking FM being one of only 3 A Levels, as I said earlier it’s usually ok for engineering & maths degrees but, for example, many medicine degrees specifically say that it’s not acceptable. Check Leeds entry requirements if you don’t believe me.

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 19:45

And yes @ErrolTheDragon, Biology, Chemistry and physics/maths is absolutely a medicine set for A Levels

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 19:48

OP, it really does depend what your DC wants to study at degree level, and where they want to study.

And, indeed, what their post-undergrad desires arr.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 15/11/2022 19:50

It is more normal these days to do further maths as one of 3 A-levels, and it won't stop your DS getting uni offers for maths/physics etc- which I assume is long term the route he wants to go down.

I would say it's the sort of pathway that's only really suitable for someone who's likely to get an 8+ in maths, and is really, really keen on it. And it does give no option to drop anything if it ends up not being what he wants.

Is he interested in science more generally? If so, I'd consider chemistry as a third option- or if he's just taking physics because he has to pick a third, I'd encourage him to think of other subjects he enjoys.

But it's fine if he just ends up with physics, maths and further maths long term.

TeenDivided · 15/11/2022 19:52

Decorhate · 15/11/2022 19:44

Those questioning what was said about some unis not liking FM being one of only 3 A Levels, as I said earlier it’s usually ok for engineering & maths degrees but, for example, many medicine degrees specifically say that it’s not acceptable. Check Leeds entry requirements if you don’t believe me.

Is that not liking/counting FM, or actually requiring other specific A levels for medicine (such as both chem & biology)? Is it any 'worse' than eg math chemistry eng lit?

emmathedilemma · 15/11/2022 19:57

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 19:17

Ds is doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Geography.

Seems a good mix. With Geography being an essentially free A Level.

That’s what I did in year 12 but dropped the further maths in year 13 as it was so hard and I only really took it because I needed something to fill my timetable the year before!

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 20:05

I think criteria have changed.

Further maths is now considered to be a separate A Level that demonstrates a deeper understanding if maths that is now required for Maths, Physics or engineering degrees from grade A universities.

Grade A, top tier for maths/physics in the UK are;

Imperial
Cambridge
Warwick
Durham
Oxford

Second tier but also brilliant and who have excellent maths departments

Bristol
St Andrews
Sheffield
Manchester
LSE
UCL

Any of those would accept Maths, Further Maths & physics.

No addition necessary.

Cookerhood · 15/11/2022 20:11

DS did those A levels & got 5 offers for engineering from decent universities so it's simply not true that further maths doesn't count as full A Level. Plus, it's really difficult!

LactoseTheIntolerant · 15/11/2022 20:12

My Ds (also Yr 11) is going to do the same plus d&t and possibly computer science, although 5 seems like a lot! He wants to go into engineering. My dh did aeronautical engineering at uni and said that further maths is essential for understanding the course.

whiteroseredrose · 15/11/2022 20:13

As PPs have said, I think FM is better as one of 4 A levels.

A level Maths is quite a step up from GCSE and FM is much more so.

A few of DS's friends who had 9s at GCSE really struggled with FM and dropped it at the end of Y12.

BruceIsACake · 15/11/2022 20:15

I can't remember the exact unis but DD is applying for science and some specified they wouldn't accept maths and further maths. OP didn't specify what her DC wanted to study at uni so it's relevant.

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 20:25

@whiteroseredrose did your DS's friends take FM at GCSE and then A Level?

Or just maths GCSE and then further maths at A Level?

EastCoker · 15/11/2022 20:31

@BruceIsACake, you can't remember the universities that your daughter is applying for?

You can absolutely, as a parent, no matter what your background, remember which Universities your child applied for.

Original poster
FixundFoxi · 15/11/2022 20:34

Thanks everyone. Some really excellent advice.
He's read the thread and is now thinking about adding biology on the basis of the comments ! Funnily enough he was really torn between those two subjects before he submitted his application to sixth form.

OP posts:
Saturdaysunrise · 15/11/2022 20:42

This reply has been withdrawn

Message withdrawn

Littlemissprosecco · 15/11/2022 20:42

My DS is currently in year 12 doing maths, further maths, physics and biology. Has no interest in anything medical, so this combination seems to keep most other options open. The problem is knowing which direction he wants to go in

Retreat · 15/11/2022 21:13

I think what I was trying to say was further maths is hard. Really hard and if he’s only doing 3 then he is buggered if it goes wrong. I talk to my children all the time about choices and this is one where I would say cover your back and take 4 and if further maths is too hard you have the option to drop it and it is not a disaster. Otherwise what is the backup if he is struggling with it?

BruceIsACake · 15/11/2022 21:20

Here you go, Manchester uni:

Subjects with overlapping content are not normally considered as separate A-levels; Further Mathematics is not considered alongside Mathematics and Human Biology is not considered alongside Biology.

I have 2 DC applying, both of whom have changed courses during the process so I've looked at many uni websites over the past few months. Apologies for not having them all at the tip of my tongue for you!