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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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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

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2018 21:44

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.

Nah. It’s becsuse they have to pay for exam entries.

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2018 21:45

lon if you’re doing the full a level it’s compulsory to sit all the modules at the end of the second year so anything you sat at the end of year 12 won’t count towards the a level.

crunchtime · 28/01/2018 21:50

My son is doing a level physics without doing maths so it is possible. He got an A on his last assessment.

LoniceraJaponica · 28/01/2018 21:57

lon if you’re doing the full a level it’s compulsory to sit all the modules at the end of the second year so anything you sat at the end of year 12 won’t count towards the a level.

But it isn't resitting an AS level. Isn't it just sitting the full A level of 2 years worth of studying?

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2018 22:00

It’s resitting the AS level content as part of the A level assessment. Wasn’t it obvious that was what the other poster meant?

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2018 22:01

If you’re doing the full A level, sitting the AS is effectively pointless.

blaaake · 28/01/2018 22:14

Not really Purple as you have to cover the topics anyway, and you may as well get a qualification for your efforts. Also it can help to decide which subject to drop. This is assuming you would do 4 as levels then 3 a levels, I agree it would be pointless to do 3 as levels then 3 a levels in the same subjects.

LoniceraJaponica · 28/01/2018 22:16

"Wasn’t it obvious that was what the other poster meant?"

Not to me. Being thick here

Original poster

Scabbersley · 28/01/2018 22:23

Dds school recommends 3 a levels. So no dropping.

OP posts:

hardboiled · 28/01/2018 22:34

I've never heard of anyone taking physics and English lit!
That's one of combinations DS is considering!
And just to say that his school which is super selective and very demanding do allow you to take Physics without Maths.

EllieFredrickson · 28/01/2018 22:40

DD is another doing A level double maths, physics and eng lit. We were told was a fine combination and might even differentiate her a bit from others when she goes on to apply for physics degree.

Original poster

Scabbersley · 28/01/2018 23:18

Ah! That's interesting

OP posts:

BringOnTheScience · 29/01/2018 00:13

@Scabbersley I noticed upthread that ypu mentioned the IB instead of A levels. My DC1 is doing the IB and I'm a big fan of it for teens with broad interests.

Maths at Standard level is regarded as pretty close to A level. Maths at Higher is like Further Maths A. There's also Standard Maths Studies which tends to be taken by non-mathematicians.

Your DD could totally do Physics & English as Highers. English can be Lang, Lit or combined, but not all 6ths offer every version depending on class size.

If you have got IB available then do look into it. DD will need to be hard working and v organised. My DC1 is just loving it.

Malbecfan · 29/01/2018 14:58

My DD took English Lit with Physics last year along with other subjects. The only issue with doing those 2 is that all the exams clashed, so she had a lot of writing on those 3 days. As she is now studying Nat Sci, her offer took no account of English, but she enjoyed the books and loved studying something because she enjoyed it without the pressure of having to achieve a particular grade.

TabbyTigger · 29/01/2018 16:29

DS took the reformed physics A level (in its first year - last year) to A2 without maths, but he was ‘naturally’ good at maths and enjoyed the subject so was happy to work hard to do it. Double science shouldn’t hold her back too much, so if she’s good at maths (DS didn’t enjoy it either!)

Like Malbec fan, his a level exams actually clashed last year - one of his physics was the same time as one of his English lit! It worked out though - he got As in both, even without maths.

He also did a creative third subject (dance A level - he’s now studying contemporary dance). He felt the three balanced out quite nicely and he could alternate his revision easily, without getting bored.

Slightlt ireelevant but I also did physics and English lit (and French and maths) many years ago and agree they’re a surprisingly good combo!

cricketballs3 · 29/01/2018 18:15

I know as a 6th form tutor that the students in my form groups who are very heavily STEM (physics, maths, computer science etc) we often have to provide intervention in terms of essay skills as they easily lose these in their thirst for formulas, coding etc and then come unstuck when having to answer the longer questions on a paper so having an essay subject together with STEM subjects will help in the long run

Original poster

Scabbersley · 29/01/2018 20:21

This is all sounding very hopeful!

OP posts:

5plusMeAndHim · 01/02/2018 19:04

In DDs state school 4 AS's are compulsory in Y12

thesockgap · 03/02/2018 19:48

I'd say it all depends on what other subjects she's taking, as well as what she would like to do at university (if that's her plan).
My eldest is taking A Levels in Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Latin. The Latin was a heart-over-head choice as he loved it so much and didn't want to drop it. He's applied to do MPhys degrees at various universities and none of them are remotely interested in the Latin, they just want to see the grades in Physics and Maths. So much of both the A Level and the degree courses are Maths based, I think it would be hard to just do Physics combined with arts courses. Most of his Physics classmates are taking either physics/maths/ further maths, Phys/maths/third choice or, physics/chemistry/biology. I think it's key that the "third choice" could be anything (yes even English Lit) but I really would recommend Maths as a second choice.

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