Three or four A-levels where one is Further Maths?

[Mutakirorikatum]

This was touched on in another current thread, but I'd like some specific advice, please!

DD wants to do Physics at university, possibly Oxbridge or Imperial. Clearly Maths and Physics are essential A-levels, and the general advice from schools (we're looking at several schools and a 6th form college) seems to be that university Physics departments really value Further Maths but can't actually insist on it because of some schools not offering it. Advice also suggests that the content of FMaths will help with Physics, both at a-level and at university.

Dd is good at Maths, but not totally in love with it for its own sake, but seems to have accepted that taking FMaths is likely to be a good move. The question now is whether Maths, F Maths and Physics on its own is enough of a workload, or whether people doing further Maths would usually do a fourth subject?

Dd is keen to do French or possibly Chemistry as a fourth, for variety and because she likes the idea of something that is a bit of a contrast, but obviously doesn't want to overload herself and/or risk dropping grades in her other subjects.

Any thoughts or advice on the Further-maths-as-a-full-A-level conundrum?

DS is currently at Oxford studying Physics. Those without Further Maths are at a disadvantage.

At the Imperial open day a couple of years ago they said that they wouldn't ask for further maths as not all schools offered it but most of their students have FM A Level. There is an option to do Physics with a year abroad. They learn the language on a Wednesday pm I think.

I'd check but several places that we visited didn't count Maths and Further Maths as two A Levels.

Which places?

And was that for a physics degree?

" It's also increasingly hard to do well in MFL A level unless you are native speaker (fewer are doing it and the native speakers that are push the grade boundaries right up)"
@derbur17, as an MFL teacher for 34 years I would argue most strongly that any prevalence of native speakers, of which there isn't that much, would make little difference. Especially as their grammar knowledge and written accuracy is often worse than that of British national languages students. Do you have any empirical evidence to back up this statement?

Hi Atila. Yes it was for physics. I can't remember which places because we went to a lot!

Oh I didn't think you'd remember

I think it depends on how it's done. Some schools do A level maths in Y12 and then Further Maths in Y13. Others do Maths and Further Maths alongside each other in Y13.

I had a look at entry requirements for half a dozen top physics courses - as far as I can see they're all happy with just maths, physics and FM, but one explicitly specified they must have 3 a levels done in the same sitting. Which isn't the same thing at all as not counting maths and fm as two full a levels.

I had a look at entry requirements for half a dozen top physics courses - as far as I can see they're all happy with just maths, physics and FM, but one explicitly specified they must have 3 a levels done in the same sitting. Which isn't the same thing at all as not counting maths and fm as two full a levels.

Would you mind saying which course that was, Errol?

Edinburgh, I think.

I have a DD who is yr 12 and doing 4 A levels, Maths, FM, Physics and MFL. She loves the MFL and would be loathe to give that up, if she had to drop a 4th A Level. She's hoping to do Maths at university, Cambridge and Imperial are her hopes.

Start with 4 and drop one along the way if necessary.

Edinburgh will usually stress qualifications in one sitting. This is because Scottish applicants can take an exam diet over S4, S5 and S6 (equivalent to years 11,12, 13) and they want to ensure that the applicant is able to cope with a rigorous breadth and quantity of exams.

For Scottish applicants in S5, they normally require five Highers in one sitting to whom they may give an unconditional offer. If the grades are slightly lower, they may require additional qualifications (Advanced Highers or additional Highers) in S6. Edinburgh seems to be very exam results focused when handing out offers.

Disclaimer: I am Scottish and my DCs and many of their friends have had offers from Edinburgh.

Thanks for the info re Edinburgh, Errol and Aurea.

Oh and hi, @titchy, didn't spot you were on this thread, though of course you would have been.
People she is the mutt's nuts when it comes to this stuff, go against her advice at your peril!
(And yes, @titchy, I really will get off MN as promised.)