A level maths - advice needed please

[KittyMcKitty]

My youngest dc is needing to start deciding on A level options - obviously we will be speaking to her teachers in detail but would like to ask the collective MN opinion (especially any maths teachers).

Whilst nothing in this world is certain she is predicted 8’s and 9’s at GCSE - her sciences are particularly strong.

She wants to study Biology / Biochemistry / Biomedical Science at university and has aspirations to apply to Oxford.

She will definitely do Biology and Chemistry a A level but the dilemma is should she also do maths? She is not a natural mathematician and it has been a slightly bumpy road - he main problem being lack of confidence (it’s a grammar school - there are loads of v gifted mathematicians and she has at times felt rubbish in comparison. She is at the top of set 3 out of 5 - could have moved to set 2 but didn’t want pressure and it would have meant doing Further Matgs). She got a lowish 8 in the most recent past paper done in class. I would say she’s probably most likely to get an 8.

So my question is would Chemistry be v hard without A level maths? Is it possible she could get a good enough A level grade or would she be better off with a subject she would enjoy more? At the moment that other subject would be probably Drama or Psychology. Studying drama would not exclude her from any of the universities she's looked at (her school also has a track record of people getting accepted onto similar courses with drama / dance as 3rd A level).

Sorry that was long! TL:DR Should she do A level maths or would it be better to do something else?

No advice, sorry, but this is all useful to know! I now have a Q about psychology A Level. I’ll start my own thread so I don’t hijack this one.

@AsPerMyLastEmail happy to answer any psychology a level questions

I did Chemistry at Oxford and the Maths component was very very difficult (I had A Level Maths but not Further Maths). I don't know how it compares to Biochemistry but if it is remotely similar it will be quite miserable for someone who doesn't like Maths. I would suggest emailing Oxford and finding out exactly how much Maths there is in Biochemistry.

Thank you @KittyMcKitty! We’re in the Year 11 thread together.

Here’s my psychology A Level thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/40597link

I’m also watching with interest as in a very similar situation. Year 11 DD is on track for an 8 in maths and a shot at a 9, but it’s been a long road and her maths teachers have done a fantastic job with her as she really didn’t like maths previously. When I talk to her about it she enjoys the ‘puzzling things out’ aspect of angles etc and is comfortable with the maths in GCSE chemistry/ physics but I think she would find the more abstract nature of maths above GCSE really hard . When we’ve had people come into school to talk to the pupils about applying to medical school they always stress chemistry as the essential A level, then biology as it fits well and then if you aren’t fantastic at maths, something that shows you can write . I think DD might do English as the 3rd as she loves it and as others have said you need to love your A levels.

Trying again;
link [[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4059715-Psychology-A-Level-pros-cons?msgid=101133411#101133411]]

I’m Head of Maths and plenty of experience of pupils wavering between taking A Level Maths or not.

Maths is a very difficult A Level. GCSE performance is no guarantee of success (see the attached). If the Grade 8 is from hard work rather than natural ability, it’s more likely that your daughter will find A Level maths difficult and obtain a lower grade, so my view is the trade off between a potentially helpful subject (for her other A Levels and her degree) versus a lower grade on applications/potentially missing an offer needs careful consideration.

One of my ds's friends did chemistry, biology and history A levels, achieved all A stars and is at Oxford studying biochemistry. I think the A star shows that they didn't need maths at A level to achieve a good chem grade?

Thank you that’s really useful. I think it’s probably not the best idea for her. She works reasonably hard at maths (does Corbett Maths 5 a day + homework). She enjoys circle theorems, quadratic equations and trigonometry but hates other topics with a passion.

@KittyMcKitty

Thank you that’s really encouraging. She doesn’t like maths so it does seem sensible to look at other choices

If she doesn't like maths then she won't get a good grade for it because she won't WANT to do it. (Experience of a maths teacher).

I would go with doing what she wants to do as if she does maths and gets a low grade that will count her out of where to go etc.

Honestly don't consider maths A level if she doesn't like maths.

DS2 said that just now as well, funnily enough. He is taking A level Maths and got an A in both versions of his AS gradings in the summer, but I'm not sure that he is terribly in love with it just now. But then, he was even less in love with Physics by the end of year 12 and has already dropped that, so he will just have to put up with it...

An essay writing subject (eg English, History) can be surprisingly helpful for biology. I teach biological sciences at a v competitive university and the number of students who struggle to put sentences and paragraphs together coherently is worrying.

Why not physics A level if she's strong on science and wanting to do a science degree?

@FraterculaArctica does your course require A level maths?

OP I think there are 2 main things to take away from all of this. One being the make an application more competitive means that they would look more favourably on an applicant with maths A level. But also this is about final grades for A level. If she is more likely to ace out another subject then surely that is a better way to go.

Ds got a good 9 in maths GCSE and does maths and further maths A level. He has said that those that got a 7 in maths sometimes struggle as they are not strong enough in certain areas of maths from GCSE level to be able to progress it at A level. He tutors his friend who struggles at times.

The chart posted by GivenchyDahhling is a realistic look at grade possibilities from GCSE to A level.