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Secondary education

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Original poster

Physics A level...

69 replies

Scabbersley · 28/01/2018 20:21

Dd is doing combined science for GCSE (so not triple) but loves physics and wants to take it at A level.

I know that A level sciences are a massive jump. She's predicted a 7s in science and maths.

Is physics a silly idea? Her other choices are English literature and textiles Confused

OP posts:
blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:08

It was in June, after GCSE's. But yeah, let's shoot the guy for giving me insightful advice. Lovely

Original poster
Scabbersley · 28/01/2018 21:10

Well her school (academic lots to rg and oxbridge) doesn't do them.

I am sure they don't actually exist anymore do they?? Not in all exam boards?

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 28/01/2018 21:11

Three A-levels don't fill a whole timetable, so students usually do something supplementary (e.g. EPQ) Some schools offer a course called Core Maths in this slot, for those doing Science A-level(s) without Maths.

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:11

Of course they still exist Confused as I said, my son is in year 12 and is doing 4

BobbinThreadbare123 · 28/01/2018 21:11

I taught physics until a couple of years ago. You don't need maths A Level alongside it. It is doable without but I would expect any student who did that to have an excellent GCSE grade in maths and to ensure they made the effort. Most of the maths is rearranging equations, standard form and graphing in lower 6th then there will be logs and exponentials on top of that in upper 6th.

usainbolt · 28/01/2018 21:14

You can still do AS levels but unis do not want them. If you go onto do the full A level the AS has to be resat in the second year.

3 A levels do fill a full timetable average 4.5 to 5 hours per subject

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:16

usainbolt do you actually know what you're talking about? Most of what you just said is completely incorrect.

greathat · 28/01/2018 21:18

As levels are being phased out... university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/a-level-changes-what-it-means-for-you
The bit about prestigious universities preferring them is crap. They will be gone soon

Original poster
Scabbersley · 28/01/2018 21:20

Well, not sure if dds school is unusual! But they do 3 a levels, epq and lots of community based stuff. No AS levels.

OP posts:
usainbolt · 28/01/2018 21:20

blake Yep Sixth form lecturer

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:21

AS-levels will still exist, and you can continue to take a separate AS-level qualification at the end of Year 12 before dropping the subject or going on to take the full A-level in Year 13; but unlike before, your AS results won't count towards your A-level grade.

From your own link

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:22

That's nice dear but I'm inclined not to believe you, if you think you have to resit as levels for no reason at the end of year 13.

usainbolt · 28/01/2018 21:22

a level reform will confirm what I have said Blaaake

strongandlong · 28/01/2018 21:23

How about physics, maths and English? That would give a lot of options for uni.

I did physics/maths/chem and wish I'd done something other than chem.

TheSecondOfHerName · 28/01/2018 21:24

3 A levels do fill a full timetable

Not in schools / sixth forms where doing four A-levels (e.g. to include Further Maths) is an option. Otherwise some of the students would be doing 133% of a timetable.

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:24

AS and A levels will be assessed at the end of the course. AS assessments will typically take place after 1 year’s study and A levels after 2. The courses will no longer be divided into modules and there will be no exams in January.

Your own link.

Do you teach in a college in which as levels are not taught anymore?

titchy · 28/01/2018 21:27

But yeah, let's shoot the guy for giving me insightful advice. L

No let's shoot him for giving incorrect advice that is contrary to his own institutions fair access agreement.

AS exams do not count towards the A level grade. They may be taken, where schools still do them (more often than not in the private sector, hence the discriminatory views of blaake's tutor friend). The entire A level paper, so first year and second year subjects, must be sat at the end of the two year course.

Teenmum60 · 28/01/2018 21:27

I think some colleges are still offering AS levels even though they do not count - this is our Sixth form college view :

In your first year you have the opportunity to take a combination of four A-Levels and/or Foundation Diplomas.
If you take A-Levels you will sit an AS examination at the end of your first year. This will help you to decide which subjects to continue with in your second year.
Typically you will continue with three subjects in your second year.

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:31

Yes, you sit the A level exams with topics from both years at the end. As you do when taking a levels only.

usainbolt · 28/01/2018 21:32

Blimey why is everyone so aggressive

Blaake exactly my point. You can take stand alone AS levels (in the old system this counted towards your final grade) To take the full A level you have to take all the exams at the end of the course. So if you do take AS levels at end of first year this will not count towards you A level grade if you choose to carry on to the second year.

3 A levels and PLD is the minimum of time students need to study to be considered on a full time course to receive funding from the Government. You can of course study more subjects eg A level of EPQ as many do.

blaaake · 28/01/2018 21:36

Yes, but you can drop an AS level after first year, and still have it as a standalone qualification on top of your a levels. They also give a good indicator of the students real potential in exams, as told by my close friend. He did say, however, that this could be both an advantage and disadvantage as students could perform badly in as levels and be negatively judged, even if performing brilliantly in final a level exams. I chose to see the advantages

BackforGood · 28/01/2018 21:41

I've never heard of anyone taking physics and English lit!

dd did Grin
She's in her first year at University and her school allowed them to start with 4 ASs.... she was in the year where 2 of her A Levels were 'old spec' and 2 were 'new spec'.
She go As for both maths and physics (without really doing a lot of work at GCSE - she found GCSEs not too difficult) but then found A level physics and maths incredibly difficult.
She's pretty glad she had the English and her other subject to be able to enjoy and do well in.
I know now that almost all 6th forms are saying 3 A levels only (often plus EPQ or something), but nothing wrong with doing the subjects you love, just go in with eyes open, knowing physics and maths are both considered particularly difficult A-levels, and physics without maths is usually considered to be more of a challenge than learning physics alongside learning maths.
I have another dd choosing 6th forms and choosing subjects now and most are asking for an 8 for physics and for maths around here.

usainbolt · 28/01/2018 21:42

Absolutely Blaake and calm is now restored.

However still check with the College etc if they are teaching the syllabus in a modular way some subjects do not cover just AS level in the first year as the majority of students will be doing the whole A level. Most good Colleges do not encourage all students to sit AS Levels in the first year to cut down on exam time for the students.

There has been discussion re the advantage as Unis are now asking for 3 A level results and not the AS result as they did in the old system. Even four A levels are not needed to get into Oxbridge etc and the students need to consider if extra subjects will bring down their overall grades. For many talented students this is not an issue

An AS result may also need to be put on the UCAS appliation so that also needs to be considered

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2018 21:43

I've never heard of anyone taking physics and English lit!

So did dh (long time ago!). Physics, maths, English lit and French.

LoniceraJaponica · 28/01/2018 21:44

"If you go onto do the full A level the AS has to be resat in the second year."

This doesn't make sense. DD took 4 AS levels last summer, then dropped one subject. She is just sitting 3 A levels this summer.