Hi - my daughter chose Law Psychology and Chemistry for A levels and is doing OK in all of them, Slightly to her surprise I think she is really liking Chemistry and looking to take it at uni. Something we hadn't realised until now is that many universities require Maths A level in order to take a Chemistry degree.
We are speaking to the school about how to make this work to increase her university choices.
It is too late in they year to swap now, but they have said we could get a private tutor for the rest of year 12 to get her to the same standard as the school year 12 by the end of the summer, then, assuming she's doing OK, she could switch into the school Maths class in year 13 and drop one of the other subjects.
Obvious concern i is whether it will overload her too much - she is a bright-ish girl (7s and a few 8s at GCSE) but, being brutally honest, has not properly had to work really hard. She has a good short term memory which she used well at GCSE! I don't want this to end up with her struggling in all subjects.
Has anyone any practical experience of anything similar? I know no-one hear knows whether she can do it or not, and we are speaking to the school but it would be good to hear any experience (positive or negative) to help make a decision.
Thanks
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Starting Maths A level now (Jan!)
redblonde · 15/01/2024 15:12
clary · 15/01/2024 15:46
Hey there OP
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Chemistry is far from a specialist area of mine but I just checked a couple of unis well regarded for STEM and one had no subject requirements beyond chemistry (tho there was a grade reduction for an extra science); the other required another science but that included other options than just maths.
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So what I am saying is, make sure you and your DD have thoroughly researched where she might like to study chem and make sure she does need maths before embarking on this suggestion.
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A lot of unis class psychology as a science for example (tbf Warwick, which was the uni I looked at that did require a second science, did not accept psych for chemistry, but others might).
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Does she love maths? It’s a tough A level to take on if you don’t. Tho it would support chemistry without any doubt. What did she get at GCSE? Remember that she won’t have done any maths since last June – that’s a big gap. DD picked up French (another linear subject) in September of year 12 having finished it in May – and not initially intended to take the A level – that was a struggle. This will be harder.
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DS2 took maths A level with an 8 at GCSE and got a hard-won B. Would your DD be better off seeing if any unis will accept her psych A level – or is there a better choice of other science than maths – such as biology or physics?
clary · 15/01/2024 20:00
@Harrysmummy246 i have no idea why, sorry. I did say that chemistry is not my area.
BUT it is certainly the case (and I see @PerpetualOptimist backs me up on this) that there are universities, including highly ranked ones, that will or may accept a student for a chemistry degree without maths, perhaps without a second science, or may accept psych.
So my suggestion to @redblonde was to look first at possible unis before jumping in to a challenging task like sitting maths A level after less than 18mo of study.
I would think some extra maths - maybe core maths studied in yr 13 - might be helpful too.
Harrysmummy246 · 16/01/2024 13:10
Whether they accept without a level maths or not doesn't indicate whether it would actually be a hindrance not to do so.
@redblonde suggest daughter looks to pick up some maths in y13 rather than now and applies on that basis. But a 7 is still going to make it a pretty big jump
clary · 15/01/2024 20:00
@Harrysmummy246 i have no idea why, sorry. I did say that chemistry is not my area.
BUT it is certainly the case (and I see @PerpetualOptimist backs me up on this) that there are universities, including highly ranked ones, that will or may accept a student for a chemistry degree without maths, perhaps without a second science, or may accept psych.
So my suggestion to @redblonde was to look first at possible unis before jumping in to a challenging task like sitting maths A level after less than 18mo of study.
I would think some extra maths - maybe core maths studied in yr 13 - might be helpful too.
Harrysmummy246 · 15/01/2024 17:58
Why then did my husband have to attend maths lectures in his chemistry degree?
Maths a level is a big jump up from GCSE as well
clary · 15/01/2024 15:46
Hey there OP
Â
Chemistry is far from a specialist area of mine but I just checked a couple of unis well regarded for STEM and one had no subject requirements beyond chemistry (tho there was a grade reduction for an extra science); the other required another science but that included other options than just maths.
Â
So what I am saying is, make sure you and your DD have thoroughly researched where she might like to study chem and make sure she does need maths before embarking on this suggestion.
Â
A lot of unis class psychology as a science for example (tbf Warwick, which was the uni I looked at that did require a second science, did not accept psych for chemistry, but others might).
Â
Does she love maths? It’s a tough A level to take on if you don’t. Tho it would support chemistry without any doubt. What did she get at GCSE? Remember that she won’t have done any maths since last June – that’s a big gap. DD picked up French (another linear subject) in September of year 12 having finished it in May – and not initially intended to take the A level – that was a struggle. This will be harder.
Â
DS2 took maths A level with an 8 at GCSE and got a hard-won B. Would your DD be better off seeing if any unis will accept her psych A level – or is there a better choice of other science than maths – such as biology or physics?
catndogslife · 29/02/2024 15:16
Which university did your DH go to?
I have a Chemistry degree from Bristol university. It was possible to take a Maths course in the first year if you didn't have A level Maths.
Harrysmummy246 · 15/01/2024 17:58
Why then did my husband have to attend maths lectures in his chemistry degree?
Maths a level is a big jump up from GCSE as well
clary · 15/01/2024 15:46
Hey there OP
Â
Chemistry is far from a specialist area of mine but I just checked a couple of unis well regarded for STEM and one had no subject requirements beyond chemistry (tho there was a grade reduction for an extra science); the other required another science but that included other options than just maths.
Â
So what I am saying is, make sure you and your DD have thoroughly researched where she might like to study chem and make sure she does need maths before embarking on this suggestion.
Â
A lot of unis class psychology as a science for example (tbf Warwick, which was the uni I looked at that did require a second science, did not accept psych for chemistry, but others might).
Â
Does she love maths? It’s a tough A level to take on if you don’t. Tho it would support chemistry without any doubt. What did she get at GCSE? Remember that she won’t have done any maths since last June – that’s a big gap. DD picked up French (another linear subject) in September of year 12 having finished it in May – and not initially intended to take the A level – that was a struggle. This will be harder.
Â
DS2 took maths A level with an 8 at GCSE and got a hard-won B. Would your DD be better off seeing if any unis will accept her psych A level – or is there a better choice of other science than maths – such as biology or physics?
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