A'Level choices-Geography, Economics & Physics

[everythingisgoingup]

Opinions on these?

DS does not know what he wants to do but these are the subjects he is interested in and predicted a 9 for Geography and Physics.

Likes the look of Economics.

Predicted an 8/9 Maths but doesn't like it enough to do at A'"Level.

Do these work? 😊

We are also struggling with A level choices at the moment my daughter is the same she's fairly good at maths similar predictions but doesn't love it. Her physics teacher has been really helpful he said he took physics without maths at it was almost impossible he went back and took maths as well. We've now settled on maths and two sciences. So hard but I do think if they're capable of maths it's a good choice and complements physics v well.

I agree with everyone else that taking physics and economics without maths is odd, will make study of his A Levels harder and will reduce university options.

If he really hates the idea of maths A Level, has he considered taking core maths? Although you'd have to check the university situation still.

Did the physics teach say how those 50% found the physics alevel? I’d want to find out what grade they got vs the physics students who also took maths.

At Ds's college if you take physics without maths you have to take Core Maths to help you understand the A level maths content of physics. Core maths sits between GCSE and A level. They consider physics too hard with just GCSE maths knowledge.

Just thinking of other relevant degrees he could do with that combo - he could do oceanography where the physics and geography will be very useful, and he could take the physics much further forward (wave dynamics etc) but they teach you the maths you need, the A level is not required. He could do geology/earth sciences/mining type degrees where the physics would not be un-useful but chemistry might be better. But they would be open to him. Ditto environmental science.

somehow I think geography Chemistry Economics looks like a more comfortable combination - what does he think of chemistry?

Thanks again, chemistry is a possibility and something he may consider 😊

I think maths is the missing link here and would complement/augment every subject. Appreciate most schools don’t do 4 a levels now though.
Definitely agree physics in particular is a struggle without maths a level.

I think that’s fine. I really wouldn’t advise maths if he doesn’t like it BUT if he decides he really likes Economics his choice of Uni courses will be limited without maths as the more competitive courses require it. As PpS have said Physics would also be impossible without maths. Does he have any ideas at all about degree subjects that he’d like to do?

My ds also wanted to take physics and economics but with English or history.

We've looked at three sixth forms and all have said he has to take maths if he does physics.

But he really doesn't want to do physics, maths and economics as his 3 choices, he wanted an essay based subject too.

Doesn't help that he has no idea what he wants to do uni/career wise.

Brilliant combination. Will give a deep understanding of the world and provide an excellent basis for a vast range of careers.

Geography can be considered a science for some courses, but these will most likely be earth science / environmental science type courses.

And all the Biology degrees we looked at and some Chemistry. I'm not surprised a lot of people do Physics A level without maths, I'd assume anyone who is interested in Chemistry or Biology might consider it as their second science.

Ds didn't really like maths despite getting a 9 in his GCSE. However he knew he wanted to do something science related at university so we looked at a few courses. Every one needed maths or it was highly recommended so he took it. He has endured it rather than enjoyed it but it has opened up a full range of courses for uni so he is now glad that he took it. Even earth science type courses like maths (although it's not essential).

Any competitive uni will want it for science, economics, engineering and environmental type degrees so he is almost certainly cutting off those options without it.

It's fine not to do maths if he doesn't enjoy it. It's just that there's so much overlap that if you do physics and maths you end up with 2 a-levels for only 1.5 a-levels worth of actual work. But so long as he doesn't want to do physics at uni it's fine not to do maths A-level.

Geography and Physics are imo the two most important academic subjects. Any human or societal issue comes under Geography in terms of understanding the pressures that have created it. Physics is the purest science upon which al other sciences are built. Economics occupies an interesting space between, and could be seen as a very specific application of Geography combined with science and maths.

I reckon this young person will go far.

I did physics without maths in the 90s (so I don't know how much the syllabus has changed) and I agree it's really difficult. I did get through it & got a B. If 50% of the students doing physics don't do maths it may be taught differently - I'd ask about that.
DS would also like to do physics but doesn't like maths and the sixth forms we've looked at don't recommend it although they do allow it.

I would think maths rather than physics would keep more opportunities open alongside geography and economics. Most degrees requiring physics will also want maths. Suggest you compare A*-A grade statistics for both subjects.

Thanks for your replies, I am at work so have been unable to reply before now.

It is interesting to read the range of views

In essence if you like the other subjects I think he should take them however his maths teacher was trying to persuade him to take it too, he was not convinced 😂

He says that most things are economically based and loves the human geography as well as physics being very aware of HOW the world works.

Being an all rounder he loves philosophy (the oldest subject and very physics/maths and humanity based subject) Although not on offer st his school.

I understand the possible limitations and appreciate the opinions 😊

Has he had any sort of introduction to what A level Maths entails?
In my day it was noticeably different and more enjoyable than the stuff for O level.

Is it a question also of knowing - and not gelling with - the Maths teacher he would expect to get? In which case I have sympathy!

Agree with all the posters that the current system limits people too early. I have a lot to say about that but here is not the place ;)

Any competitive uni will want it for science, economics, engineering and environmental type degrees so he is almost certainly cutting off those options without it.

Not all science. For example Oxford says the following are essential:
Biochemistry: Chemistry plus another Science or Maths
Biology: Biology plus another Science or Maths
Biomedical Sciences: Two from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics

So if you're doing biology you don't need Maths.

Interestingly (and in disagreement with a PP) for Earth Science: Maths, plus Chemistry or Physics
Geography: Geography is recommended but not essential
Economics: Maths is essential, Economics is not.

Other Universities will have different requirements. For example Chemistry at Manchester requires Chemistry plus another science but maths is not essential. But it is at Durham and Oxford. So it all depends on the University and the course and what some people are saying here is not necessarily true for all courses at all Universities. I think maths is a sensible A level that can open lots of opportunities but if her son isn't keen he's unlikely to want to do something very mathsy anyway. His interests sound more geography / economics based with a bit of physics rather than the other way round. So maybe check some economic degree entry requirements so he doesn't cut himself off from those but let him work out what is important for himself.

Sorry to not reply earlier. He is applying to LSE, Warwick, Bath, St Andrew and somewhere else (i cant remember). Tbh he's very independent and only involves me when he needs something...

Interestingly (and in disagreement with a PP) for Earth Science: Maths, plus Chemistry or Physics

At Oxford maybe, but you certainly don’t need maths for earth science disciplines at the vast majority of universities.

Geophysics would be the exception because that is mostly maths - but then geophysicists will tell you that all other earth science disciplines are essentially colouring in.

I was surprised that mining engineering at Exeter doesn’t require maths.

DD considered doing physics without maths. At the local sixth form college that wasn’t an option, all physicists had to take maths (and we had a long talk from the teacher about how hard the maths is in physics.)

At our local very high performing boys’ grammar (where she is now) 4 a-levels are compulsory but there’s no obligation to do maths a-level. Here, the physics teacher assured us the maths isn’t that hard and physicists who don’t do maths are fine. The results certainly suggest that too. However, DD and I reckoned 4 a-levels without maths for physics would be a bit of a nightmare for her.

Her combination is quite unusual: maths, physics, economics and classics.

She’s since decided to apply for engineering degrees, so I’m glad she picked maths in the end.

It’s a shame they don’t offer the AS option any more, isn’t it?

Thanks LesChiennesdeFromage

I agree!

Classics and science are unusual in our current culture however historically philosophy and physics are sensible choices if we think of PPE and the likes of the "ancient " Greek philosophers 😊

Thanks for everyone's insights!

Thinking about it humanities and science are not that different we think(philosophy)and then we try and prove things(science).

It seems that we are driven by university applications not breadth of knowledge ☹️

My DS is going to do Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer science. He was told Maths is a must for him. Suppose it depends what he wants to do as a career

Doesn’t Oxford still offer a Physics and Philosophy joint degree?