Is chemistry alevel really hard?

[makemineadecaf]

Dd (just going into y11) needs to submit her alevel options by December. She’s got mocks in November which she’ll use to firm up her thinking.

currently she is set on biology and psychology. She is predicted an 8 in chemistry gcse . Would she struggle with the alevel if she doesn’t get a 9? It seems very difficult content but she is swinging between this anf English literature.

Shed love to be a doctor but knows she’ll need an A” in chemistry

I would abandon psychology a level if she wanted to be a doctor

Why is that @Returnofjude?

And whether or not it’s “hard” or not depends on the student.

It isn’t a lightweight a level though, that’s for sure

how is her maths?

Because at a level, it’s a rather fluffy subject (not so at degree), similar to law a level.

If she's doubting her ability, it could well be a tough choice.

For me, it was a million times easier than your proposed alternative of English - I got an A in Chem, but would likely have failed English!!

If medicine is on the cards, have you checked where will take you without Chem? I suspect your options are limited.

If someone can get a 8 at GCSE they should be perfectly capable of doing the A level in whatever subject.

I disagree that A level psychology is fluffy. It is heavily maths based with a lot of statistics and is a science based A level. My daughter just graduated from medical school and her a levels were biology, chemistry and Psychology.

It's definitely a challenging A level and there's a jump from GCSE. My twins both got an A at A level, with DS getting an 8 at GCSE and DD a 9. DS loved the A level - it really clicked for him.

Exactly my point…,

How hard depends on the student. I found English A level very easy!

Thank you. It all seems such a gamble picking options doesn’t it! She’s very hard working and academic across the board. Predicted 8/9 in all subjects - including maths.

She likes the idea that 20% of English Lit is coursework to take the pressure off the exams. Does Chemistry have a similar internal assessment, eg a practical exam?

OP, I have posted on your other threads over the last few months about A level choices.

I say this gently, but is there more to this? This strikes me as developing in to real anxiety around your daughter’a choices, which has been building up for months

Sorry I mean, I know there will be practicals! But I mean is the whole grade based on the final exams?

What subject does she love?

Not from me! But yes, dd is very anxious. She keeps talking about making the “wrong” choice . I think she feels she’s too young to be deciding which career path she is going to take.

Chemistry teacher here. Yes it is a hard subject but entirely do-able to get a top grade with an 8.
Maths is a huge indicator for success. The higher the gcse maths grade then the better the student tends to be. Those that scrape a 6 in maths tend to find chemistry challenging, as not only is there a lot of recognisable maths, there are also a lot of maths-adjacent skills to do with molecule arrangements and shapes.
The key thing is to get stuck in when things get tough and don’t expect it to sort itself out!
There is nothing wrong with psychology for a potential medic. Most places (not all) want chemistry and biology A level and then something else. It does not have to be maths. But it does limit the places you can apply if you don’t have those 2.

Great question! She doesn’t necessarily love either chemistry or English but she’s good at them and she’s decided she wants to do her best subjects academically (psychology is new but she’s excited by the course content).

Chemistry is 100% exams. There is a practical endorsement for all science A levels that is pass fail. Any science based degree will ask for a pass in this, including medicine. But you have to work hard to fail it!

OP is there a school nearby that does the IB? It might be a better fit for your DD if she is worried about narrowing subjects at this point.

Well then you’re feeding her anxiety by putting such weight to it. You have started threads about quite a few threads about her a level choices, moving from law to physio to medicine.

You should be playing down her anxiety at this time rather than fuelling.

Very helpful thank you. She’s staying at her current school. Dd doesn’t think many would choose chemistry (but all hearsay amongst friend chat!) so I’d hope smaller classes would help her with the higher grade. Is it a popular course at your school/college?

Good shout

I’m just trying to reach out to those who have done it to help advise her. But yes, noted.

If a student is planning to do anything with science at a high tariff uni, I would always recommend 2 science A levels, or 1+ maths to keep options open.

I found chemistry really hard. I got a B at GCSE (everything else I got an A or A in) but I flunked chemistry. Was no good at it. I was expected to get an A at GCSE and a B at A level. And I got As in my other A levels!

@PaddingtonBunnyinteresting! No idea but something to explore - thank you.