To think that it's a mistake to do A Level Physics if you don't love maths?

[Moomin8]

Dd is in year 11. She is quite an academic all rounder and is also a talented artist. She wants to be an interior designer and has told me that she's going to choose two art subjects plus physics for A level.

My problem with this is that she doesn't love maths, physics GCSE is very different from physics A level (a lot more maths and far more difficult I should imagine). She is pretty good at maths but it isn't her best subject.

She is saying I'm being unsupportive but I've seen many people doing science A levels and really regretting it! I don't want her to end up stressed if she doesn't need to.

I think that unless you love maths then physics A level is going to be a grind.

Or could I be wrong?

I dropped a level maths because I didn’t like physics so goes both ways I reckon.

When I did it it was Newton’s laws of motions, which I guess would have made sense if I were any good at physics.

Chemistry made sense tho as that was algebra (ish).

Can she see the amount of maths content from the a level course guide ?

You don’t have to love maths, but IMO unless you find GCSE level maths pretty easy then A level physics is going to be a slog. The maths aspect of A level physics is dull but easy for a competent mathematician, leaving you time to concentrate on learning the actual physics.

Could you dig out some past papers for her to have a look at?

Massive amount of maths. She will struggle if she’s not also taking A level maths I believe. I would ask the school/6th form college for guidance.

If she manages maths now then she'll probably be fine. Why don't you speak to one of the physics teachers?

Not sure if it's the case everywhere but dd has been told if shes taking physics she should also be taking maths. They haven't quite gone as far as you must take maths (which is what I was told many years ago) but the DD was already planning to take maths so it's not something we've questioned.

Yeah I think I'll see if I can get her to speak to her physics teacher.

Surely she doesn't have to do physics for interior design?

Maths/physics go well together at a level and it could be coincidence but students who tend to do well tend to do both.

Without maths A level, I'd be encouraging my students to rethink doing physics unless they're a high grade 7/8 student at maths Gcse without too much difficulty.

It might be also worth looking at university courses and seeing which universities she wants to consider, is her heart set on interior design or would she consider a degree in a creative field and then do some professional work experience? What do those courses want? Do her chosen A Levels keep her options open too (you'd be amazed how many people other than medics/dentistry/vet applicants change their mind between y11 and the start of y13 on what they apply for at university).

I was like your DD. As and A*s in every GCSE except maths (B), which I hated. I picked History, film, English and physics at A level because i liked most things at GCSE, including the sciences. Physics A level is probably a lot different to when I did it, but I doubt its any easier. I tried my hardest to keep up with it despite hating the maths elements and it brought my AS grades down to all Bs. It got harder at A2, so I stopped trying and ended up with an E in the exam. Overall my final grades were AABD, the D being physics. It wasnt worth taking for the extra stress and impact on my other grades.

yanbu
I struggled with maths and hated physics and chemistry as past the basics it was all about calculating and formulas.
she needs to have a good grounding in maths to get good results in physics.

I wanted to study architecture/civil engineering but the physics/maths aspect put me off.

I’m a secondary physics teacher and recommend that for 99% of students if they are not taking A level maths they don’t take A level physics, however we don’t prevent them doing so. The exception comes where the student has an interest, ability and passion for maths but isn’t taking it due to options not fitting.
We have seen a correlation between low attainment in A level physics and not taking maths, there is a significant amount of maths in the specification and new concepts like logarithms not covered at gcse.

Just to add, at my kids’ school you have to do A level maths if you want physics A level. I think if you have a gift for maths it certainly makes physics much more enjoyable .

I don't think it's a mistake if you don't love maths. I know it's a mistake if you're not good at maths - because that's the mistake I made. Thought I liked physics because I like astronomy and engineering and stuff - didn't realise the amount of maths that went into it and bombed hard.

If she really doesn't enjoy doing equations, she will find it quite a struggle imo.

There is NOT a massive amount of maths in A Level Physics. It is deliberately designed so that you don't need to do maths with it. If you enjoy it, carry on. More girls need to be doing it anyway!

I remember back when I was picking my A levels we were told you needed to do maths A level if you wanted to do physics as there was a huge cross over

I hated maths A level (and enjoyed it at GCSE)

I suspect my son (currently doing his GCSEs) is going to take A level physics (he's got A* in his current modules - we're in Wales and still do letters) - he is aware that it makes sense to do maths too

I think you probably have a point however don’t bother fighting this one .
You are at the beginning of year 11 , a lot happens in year 11. Most schools help their students to make A level choices and hold various events to showcase actual a level content to yr 11s . They will also give the students interviews and advice . There will be minimum requirements to get into the A levels as well .
Once your dd gets through her GCSEs she may change her mind and if not she may start physics and decide it’s not for her . She might also start physics and decide it is absolutely for her .Most schools will let them take 4 a levels to begin with especially she is academic so she will get a real chance to see .
This is the start of you having to learn to let go and trust your daughter to make her own choices . I say this as the mother of yr 12 twins who wants to tear her hair out over their a level choices ! But can’t !
My advice would be to be supportive and maybe ask what she wants to do next and what subjects will facilitate that . Other than that bite your tongue now and wait to see what plays out . One of mine was doing physics until the first day of term then switched .
Don’t get stressed at this point over this as there is so much more coming your way !!

Same here, our 6th form college won't let students take physics without maths.

Check with the college or 6th form she is going to.

Physics made Maths make sense for me in a way that random mathematical questions never did - even at undergraduate level, it's not that hard.

I hate maths, but cruised through physics A Level with no problems at all. It really isn't the same at all - you need to be numerate, certainly, but not necessarily a maths whizz.

Why does she even want to do physics? It's a tough A to earn and she'll struggle without A level maths alongside to feed in.

Is it a timetable thing that she's having to pick the least worst option from a group of subjects?

She could use some guidance here from someone at the college, I think!

You don't need to love maths at all but being competent at it is pretty important for all physical sciences. That said, as far as I understand it you don't need calculus for physics A-level so you don't need A-level maths (although you will need A-level maths to continue studying physics beyond really).

Just looked at one of our local sixth form colleges and this is what they say (and they do insist on A level Maths, too)

Specific entry requirements
To ensure you have the best possible chance of success in Physics, you are required to have
obtained at least grade 6 in both GCSE Core and Additional Science, a grade 6 in GCSE
Mathematics and 5 or better in GCSE English. If you have studied the three sciences
separately at GCSE you should have obtained at least a grade 6 in Physics and one of the
other sciences.
You will also be required to study A Level Maths alongside A Level Physics.

She doesn't have to love it, but she does have to be willing to do it. Has she talked to her physics and maths teachers about it?

I was the only person in my physics a level class that didn't also do maths ( also the only girl) I got a B but it took much more work than it did for the others because a lot of the syllabus overlaps, it's possible to do it but you have to work your arse off and really love physics