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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Further Maths as one of 3 A-levels

21 replies

zebette · 27/02/2023 09:03

My DS wants to study Maths at uni, and has been doing Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. He's wanting to drop Physics as doesn't enjoy it and want to focus on getting the best grades he can for the other 3. Are there any downsides?

OP posts:
HewasH2O · 27/02/2023 09:48

A friend who took maths, FM and business studies got as far as interview at Oxford & went to Imperial for maths. Isn't there a lot of overlap between physics and FM anyway?

piisnot3 · 27/02/2023 10:28

Most unis give conditional offers on the basis of 3 A levels and state school students are only expected to be doing 3 but many stronger applicants for maths will offer a 4th. The majority of successful applicants to oxbridge and imperial take 4, though some do get in with only 3.
In a nutshell, it depends. If he's aiming for top 10 unis and/or is at a independent school, then a 4th A level would present a stronger profile and increase the probability of shortlisting / offers. Entry to the top half-dozen institutions is very competitive as they are heavily oversubscribed, so if applying there he'd need to think about how competitive his application is likely to be without it.
AS physics still exists and might be an in-between option. Re: FM and physics: the overlap is in mechanics only, and the questions are of quite a different style, so less than 25% overlap.

Original poster
zebette · 27/02/2023 13:02

Thanks for those responses. Just to add he's in Year 13, so just a couple of months to go, if that makes any difference.

OP posts:
Amboseli · 27/02/2023 13:46

DS is doing maths, FM, physics and economics and was thinking about dropping economics as unis only seem to look at 3 A levels. But his school said he couldn't as it would adversely affect his uni applications. He's at a selective independent.

WednesdaysPlaits · 27/02/2023 14:58

Hasn’t the deadline passed for dropping one? I might be wrong but I thought it had

HewasH2O · 27/02/2023 16:27

If he has done UCAS this year universities will have made him offers based on him sitting 4 A levels even if he has offers for 3 grades. He would need to contact each uni to discuss.

PacificState · 27/02/2023 17:07

Has he already submitted his UCAS application @zebette or is he planning a gap year? It makes quite a lot of difference to the advice posters here would give you. Which unis is he interested in?

Original poster
zebette · 27/02/2023 17:27

HewasH2O · 27/02/2023 16:27

If he has done UCAS this year universities will have made him offers based on him sitting 4 A levels even if he has offers for 3 grades. He would need to contact each uni to discuss.

Thank you, this is very helpful!

OP posts:
Original poster
zebette · 27/02/2023 17:29

PacificState · 27/02/2023 17:07

Has he already submitted his UCAS application @zebette or is he planning a gap year? It makes quite a lot of difference to the advice posters here would give you. Which unis is he interested in?

He's applied and has an unconditional offer from his last choice, an offer (ABB, I think) from his fourth choice. Waiting to hear from the top 3 choices.

OP posts:
PacificState · 27/02/2023 17:36

Ah right. Yes I think he probably needs to ring or email the universities to discuss. This might be a bit risky in itself if they're still making a decision on his application - he could try starting off contacting the two who've made offers and see what they say? @poetryandwine knows a lot about STEM admissions, she might have better advice!

poetryandwine · 27/02/2023 22:31

Thanks for tagging me, @PacificState

Hello, OP.

@piisnot3 has given you excellent factual advice. However the further information that your DS is in Y13 and has made his applications is key, as @HewasH2O and @PacificState have said, because offers will be on the presumption that he is taking four ALs.

Your DS is clearly very able and he should have good options on the basis of Maths, FM and Chem. Most admissions tutors prioritise a candidate’s best efforts in three subjects over a fourth exam that may result in lower grades, but some will make a lower offer if four ALs are taken, even if the offer is based on three of them. Every uni in the land will offer on three ALs, so the only real worry is about miscommunication. Your DS - and it is best coming from him, but if he can’t, he can’t - should contact each admissions team, explain what he wants to do, and get their reaction. If the deadline for dropping hasn’t passed: I have no knowledge.

If he still wants to drop, I think he can amend his UCAS application and everyone can proceed. (It has been a while since I dealt with this.)Admissions tutors understand the situation as you’ve presented it, and want to help. But we’ve also learnt to keep a cold eye open for subterfuge. As long as DS is straightforward I think that for the most part this should work out. That isn’t to say that the COWI Schools of Maths will necessarily be thrilled. Good luck

GrassWillBeGreener · 27/02/2023 23:51

Hope it works out for your son, and that he gets offers he's happy with and clear advice one way or the other regarding his physics. My son has 2 maths offers so far once of which does specify his physics grade - but his other subject isn't really maths relevant. (having said that he's regretted not doing chemistry instead of physics which surprised me)

wonderwoman10 · 28/02/2023 09:48

My son has applied for MMath and is only taking 3 A Levels - Maths, FM and Economics. He has recieved offers from Warwick, Bath and Exeter, so the 3 AL's doesnt appear to have held him back. He is at state school. I think the biggest issue as others have said may be that he applied with 4 on his UCAS. Are his 2 offers already received based on all 4 or just on 3 - what offers has he recieved if you dont mind me asking?

Original poster
zebette · 28/02/2023 12:04

I passed on the info to my son who said he'd discuss with his teachers rather than listen to 'randoms on mumsnet'😬So, job done, he won't plunge headfirst into action without thinking of the consequences! So, thank you for your input, I found it very helpful.

OP posts:
PacificState · 28/02/2023 13:08

Give him a couple of years @zebette - mine now actively ask me to 'see what Mumsnet thinks' 😂 Good luck to him.

Reddahlias · 28/02/2023 14:39

Most unis give conditional offers on the basis of 3 A levels and state school students are only expected to be doing 3 but many stronger applicants for maths will offer a 4th. The majority of successful applicants to oxbridge and imperial take 4

Yes, my dc is at Imperial and pretty much all students had done 4 (sometimes 5) A levels, especially when two of them are Maths and FM

fUNNYfACE36 · 28/02/2023 15:48

Well f**k him if he doesn't want advice from randomers on MN!
At 17 he clearly knows it all !

TizerorFizz · 28/02/2023 19:21

@fUNNYfACE36
Hopefully you don’t come into contact with teenagers. Somewhat of an over reaction by an adult? Assuming you are not OPs DS of course!

Doyouthinktheyknow · 28/02/2023 19:30

DS1 did maths, FM and physics and is at Oxford studying engineering having got offers from Imperial, Bristol, Warwick and Sheffield but he went through ucas with all universities knowing these were his A levels so your dses situation is a bit different.

SeasonFinale · 04/03/2023 18:31

TizerorFizz · 28/02/2023 19:21

@fUNNYfACE36
Hopefully you don’t come into contact with teenagers. Somewhat of an over reaction by an adult? Assuming you are not OPs DS of course!

@fUNNYfACE36 was obviously joking

TizerorFizz · 06/03/2023 00:32

@SeasonFinale
Obviously not my sort of humour.

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