Physics A level

[circular]

DD1 going into yr12 at a new school.

She did 3 separate sciences at GCSE, OCR Gateway B.
She will be taking Physics A level, along with Maths, but no other sciences. Her Physics is stronger than her maths, she is most likely to drop Maths at AS.

We viewed many 6th forms and there seemed to be huge differences between the A level Physical syllabus across the exam boards. One school offering OCR, claimed it was the least mathematical, another offering AQA claimed it was the most mathematical.
We were also told that although al science A levels are hard, there is less of a leap between sciences and other subjects, with Physics having the smallest leap of all.
Her current school also said that the OCR GCSE syllabus they do is the best prerequisite for A levels inane board. Not fully convinced on that one - I seemed to be the only poster in the countdown thread whose DC was taking OCR B

Physics at new school is - EDEXCEL.
Will there be a huge gap to bridge?

She has the CGP Headstart book, but is saying it just appears to be revision of the A* topics. Same for Maths equivalent.

Her summer homework is research with an essay on a new topic.

I would have thought all boards covered similar topics? DD did AQA and is doing AQA B for AS level. Sorry not must use!

OCR B is in my opinion the least mathematical and the most different in approach - it's accredited by the Institute of Physics and it's a nice syllabus. The others are more similar to each other - not that much to choose between them. In fact there's not really that much to choose between any of them - the body that acredits A levels ensures that all the basics are covered so any differences are quite minor.

Just to comment that physics without maths is impossible. In fact I'd go as far as to say that physics is applied maths. Giving up the maths early isn't really an option, sorry.

Can't help on suitability of the different courses, as I did my A levels rather a long time ago, sorry!

OCR sciences are done at my son's school. He's about to go into sixth form and was toying with A level physics but only plans to do maths to AS level.

We spoke to his Physics teacher last term (who is very experienced, very well-respected and really turned DS on to the subject last year). He said he thought AS maths was enough and he would be able to teach AS any other maths required for physics A level.

Hi longingforsomesleep. our 6th form would give the same advice. I think the problem is more what you plan to do after 6th form. i.e. if you are going to do a physics or engineering degree then they will require A level maths too.

I understand the rationale of maximising A level grades, doping maths after AS and focusing on sciences to get the highest possible mix of A level grades.

Apart from this, can one really be a good physicist without being good at maths? Can one really do a degree in modern physics without having advanced math skills (the quantum stuff etc)?

Sorry, should have made it clear. DD is NOT planning to do Physics, or any other sciences beyond A level. She is not taking any other science A levels.

And yes, wants to maximise grades.

I asked the question so she can start the EDEXCEL Physics course best prepared.

circular I'd make sure the school's maths syllabus to AS would teach enough of the foundations to do A Physics to a good standard. Physics is fun but you do need the maths, especially calculus and vector products. But she could always revert to textbooks in A2 year if there's any maths that hasn't been covered.

HisMum No I don't think you can be a good physicist without being good at maths. You'd be stuffed inside a couple of terms at uni. (I'm a career physicist, so playing with numbers and such is what I do!)

sounds as if she's on top of the GCSE level stuff, so she could either read some physics books (six easy pieces by feynman perhaps, or something more popular like 'why don't penguins feet freeze' for example) or look at some kahn academy webcasts on topics that interest her. I don't think going straight to an AS level CGP physics guide would be the best thing at this stage - better to read around and see what interests her.

ontheallottment When you say OCR B is the least mathematical, are you also referring to the GCSE.course (which is what DD has just done)?

We also thought the OCR A level course looked the nicest, but it was only offered at one of the schools we visited, and she had other reasons for not wanting to go there.

Also, for AS maths, I believe they only do S1, so no M1 until, the A2 year. Most schools we saw did this.

Thanks for the book tips. she had no intention of diving into the AS study guides, I think she has her work cut out with the Mymaths summer work rip they have been told to do. Nothing like telling them to dive into what is probably the most challenging bit of C1.

Not GCSE. The A level OCR B syllabus which is also called 'Advancing Physics' is a little less mathsy than the others.