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Original poster

A levels - two sciences, two humanities - is this ok

42 replies

NorthernLebkuchen · 07/12/2013 10:07

Dd1 is planning to take:

History

English Literature

Chemistry

Biology

She is a high achieving all rounder (lucky her) and tbh could have taken any of her GCSE subjects on. This is her pick and I thought it looked very balanced and sound. She isn't sure about university yet - may want to do a History based course or may go for something like Biomedical sciences. For the latter the two sciences she's taking will be fine for university entry.

BUT - just seen on another thread a comment that two and two like this isn't advised. Why would that be? Is that the case?

Can somebody reassure me that this isn't a problem?

OP posts:

chocoshopoholic · 07/12/2013 10:17

Depending on the course/how far she takes it she may struggle without a-level maths. I read chemistry, and had both math and further math a-level, and struggled by year 3 with the math component.

Depending on the competitiveness of the course it also looks a bit indecisive to an admissions tutor

summerends · 07/12/2013 10:43

If she wants to do medicine fine (some like UCH encourage a humanity); if she wants to do an other science based degree, especially chemistry, I agree with choco, maths is advisable.
If she wants to do a humanity or social science apart from economics (which also needs maths), I think it would be fine as well, although another humanity or a language might be the usual.

mamababa · 07/12/2013 10:54

Agree with the others. Biomed would be ok, but it does look a bit indecisive and if she wants to use the sciences for a science degree or engineering the lack of a-level maths with be a problem

senua · 07/12/2013 10:57

Have you run this past the school yet - does their timetabling accommodate this combination?

noblegiraffe · 07/12/2013 10:59

Agree that it looks like it is missing maths. If she dropped the Lit and took maths, would she still have the history route open to her?

NightFallsFast · 07/12/2013 11:09

She's better to get excellent grades in things she's good at than mediocre ones in subjects she feels she ought to do. Unless she's dead set on a particular course at uni that requires 3 sciences, which it doesn't sound like she is.

I started maths A level after being told by my teachers, parents and careers advisers at school that I'd never get in to medicine without 3 sciences. I hated it, couldn't understand it, and changed to a humanity (which I loved) after half a term. I think if I'd struggled along with maths I'd not only have got a poor grade for maths but my other subjects would also have suffered. It didn't stop me getting where I wanted.

Bluestocking · 07/12/2013 11:11

Why is she doing four? Universities only take three into account for offers and admissions.

noblegiraffe · 07/12/2013 11:39

Most sixth forms make you start with 4 and drop 1 at the end of AS.

What is she predicted to get in maths?

Original poster

NorthernLebkuchen · 07/12/2013 12:48

She is predicted A* in maths but she definately doesn't want to do that at A-level. Nor does she want to do medicine.

I think it's awfully unfair that doing a 'spread' could be seen as a problem.

OP posts:

lljkk · 07/12/2013 13:15

Oh wow, that's very close to what I want DD to take (she's only y7, but I like to speculate). Physics & maths instead of bio+chem. Maths is one they can catch up on later in a 1 yr course if desired.

lljkk · 07/12/2013 13:18

Xpost with others... I would ask the school if it's going to be tough to take those sciences without concurrent A-level maths (I doubt it). Only a problem if she decides she wants to pursue them to Uni, but she could be one of many who took 3 yrs to get thru 6th form so add math next yr if desired.

secretsantasquirrels · 07/12/2013 13:19

I think it narrows the options if they later decide they want to take a scientific / engineering based degree.
DS2 is looking at a mix as well. He wants to do physics, maths, biology and history. I am happy for him to choose history as a fourth but I agree that dropping maths is a mistake.

EBee57 · 07/12/2013 13:44

In DD1's experience Physics without Maths was hard but Chemistry was less of a problem. Her History 'add-on for interest' with 3 sciences at AS became a real pleasure and is what she now studies at university.

As Night says better to get excellent results in the subjects that interest you than mediocre results in the 'right' ones. All are Russell Group 'facilitating' subjects so if her school tutors think its ok and her GCSE results back up the choice - go for it!

yegodsandlittlefishes · 07/12/2013 13:58

We're currently going around schools looking at 6th forms. Keep meeting very bright high achievers who have chosen this 2-2 split. Surely if they are achieving top marks they should be able to choose the subjects they are interedted in the most (as long as it doesn't bar them from the degree course they want?)

Perhaps in university interviews it would be a natural question to ask, and the perfect opportunity for your dd to enthuse on subjects that matter to her, and not repeat the same thing everyone else thinks the interviewer wants to hear?

Original poster

NorthernLebkuchen · 07/12/2013 15:12

She's not an engineer that's for sure! Ok well there's no changing her mind anyway. We'll see how we get on.

OP posts:

Talkinpeace · 07/12/2013 16:07

Chemistry without Maths might be an issue.

Four or five subjects is standard nowadays
A kid at the college DD will go to managed 7 A* at A level last year (I suspect spread over a couple of years)

but yes, you need to talk to the school / college and take their advice as they know what works and what doesn't

Lonecatwithkitten · 07/12/2013 16:27

I visited one of the top girls in the country recent which have very high number of Oxbridge entrants - there two sciences and either two languages or two humanities is very common. It doesn't appear to hinder their girls progress.

GreenShadow · 07/12/2013 16:37

I did a similar sort of split many moons ago and my only problem was that the history and biology exams clashed as the board obviously didn't expect anyone to take that combination. (I had to go straight to an isolated room with a teacher after which ever exam I took first and then do the other one in the afternoon).

MillyMollyMama · 07/12/2013 17:59

I think this subject combination will work against a science degree. Maths is the missing link as others have said. Humanities would be less problematic. However, if you are good at everything, why choose science subjects knowing that you will not get on a good science degree course? This is really a humanities choice of subjects, so I would replace the chemistry or biology with another subject to work with the humanities. Also keeping options open like this does not work for all - other people will have better science combinations for sure and is this combination good enough for History or an English degree?

Mumzy · 07/12/2013 18:04

I think if you did something like biochemistry, pharmacy/ pharmacology or microbiology at university she would struggle without Alevel maths as they always have a chemistry subsidary which is maths heavy and unfortunately current gcse syllabus just doesnt cover in enough detail the sort of maths she'll need at that stage.

Original poster

NorthernLebkuchen · 07/12/2013 18:06

But the entrance requirements for say Biomedical sciences are two of biology, chemistry, maths and physics. So she would be fine with that. I don't mean to be argumentative but I am truly puzzled as to why a subject spread like this is seen as a problem.

OP posts:

MagratGarlik · 07/12/2013 18:14

I am a chemist who taught pharmacists at a RG university for years. Going to go against the grain and say a'level chemistry does not need a'level maths. The maths in chemistry a'level is not that challenging and doesn't involve too much more than being able to rearrange equations. Most chemistry degrees will involve a maths module in the first year, but this will usually bridge the gap between gcse and A'level knowledge. Chemistry and pharmacy require you to be more numerate than they require advanced pure maths skills.

I don't know any student on the pharmacy course I taught on who was denied a place due to no A'level maths, but many had 2 science A'levels and one humanity which demonstrates breadth.

They look like good, solid choices to me.

summerends · 07/12/2013 18:23

The main reason for including maths is to enable her to tackle with ease certain modules in science degrees and beyond at this stage. It is not really to do with the entrance requirements for biomedical subjects.

TBH if she does n't enjoy the problem solving of maths and she wants to do a science degree, she would seem to be directing herself to doing biology biased degrees with chemistry as a support subject. That is fine but is she really sure at this stage? So much can change in 2 years and subjects at a higher level are different from GCSEs.
She could always study the history of medicine at a later stage

MillyMollyMama · 07/12/2013 18:25

Interesting information about pharmacy, but that is a specialist vocational course. I think the point about having 2 sciences is that many will see this as a minimum, not the maximum. Will the science courses choose someone with the minimum, or choose someone with a third science and maths? Two may well be ok but it is not a nailed on combination for a scientist. That may not matter however if your DD does not see herself going down this route.

noblegiraffe · 07/12/2013 18:49

The reason that maths is not a requirement for a lot of science-based uni courses is not because you won't need maths but because if they put maths as a requirement, they would narrow their field of candidates to the point where they may be unable to fill their places. The same goes for social sciences. Maths is very much a part of science and would be a distinct advantage.

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