A Level Options - Advice please!

[OrchardDweller]

DS is considering Maths, Physics, Chemistry and DT for A level (he wants to be an engineer). However school have mentioned that this might be a huge workload and that he might want to consider swapping chemistry for say, Geography. Does anyone have any experience with this group of subject choices or can offer any advice? He enjoys chemistry over geography (or poss economics) so should be go with his heart and choose the subjects he likes? Help!

Yep -- but Cambridge was only on DS's radar because of rather unexpectedly splendid AS levels (100% in some of them!), by which point it was a bit late to go back and pick a different set.

DS took Maths, Further Maths and Physics and Philosophy. He dropped Philosophy at A2. He did take a some engineering course instead of EPQ. He has offers for RG mechanical engineering courses

I think Further Maths is always viewed as good for any engineering course. Automotive engineering is not offered at so many top class universities, so putting yourself in the best possible position is always good but if FM is not on offer, what can a student realistically do?

It is a great shame the academic Engineering A level has more or less disappeared. My DH said he did so much on his A level course that would stand most engineering students in good stead because it covered lots of basics found on 1st year degree courses as well as practical engineering. Linear induction motor and monorail constructed in school grounds was his pride and joy. DH actually went on to do Civils but he could, actually, have applied for most engineering courses except Chemical.

DS is doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Philosophy and Geology. The FM is a twilight subject done at lunchtime and after school so is an extra, but DS enjoys it more than Maths. Its definitely worth thinking about doing.

I suspect that the GCSE/A-level transition for maths depends a lot on the individual - students who are good at mathematics may enjoy it more at A-level because it's not got lots of boring repetitive arithmetic etc.