A levels - for CS degree / tech career

[MarshaBradyo]

If anyone is in this area can I ask:

Ds is doing
Maths
Further maths
Economics

Would you recommend physics or CS for tech career?

They can only say that maths is required as not all schools offer FM.

In practice for the top tier Comp Sci courses (eg Oxbridge, Imperial, Warwick - need 1 or 2 A* and rest at A - as do some others that aren't springing to mind right now), nearly everyone has further maths and those who don't often find the first year tough - the course goes through things very quickly, so there's a need for quite a bit of self-learning to keep up if you don't already have that level of maths.

You need to do aptitude tests for CS for Cambridge (not sure about Oxford) and Imperial, and you need STEP (I think a 2 on level 1 paper) for Imperial. A lot of maths, a lot of logic. You don't need CS A level, but it helps.

Other universities are not as maths focussed

@GlacindaTheTroll

They can only say that maths is required as not all schools offer FM.

In practice for the top tier Comp Sci courses (eg Oxbridge, Imperial, Warwick - need 1 or 2 A* and rest at A - as do some others that aren't springing to mind right now), nearly everyone has further maths and those who don't often find the first year tough - the course goes through things very quickly, so there's a need for quite a bit of self-learning to keep up if you don't already have that level of maths.

You need to do aptitude tests for CS for Cambridge (not sure about Oxford) and Imperial, and you need STEP (I think a 2 on level 1 paper) for Imperial. A lot of maths, a lot of logic. You don't need CS A level, but it helps.

Other universities are not as maths focussed

Glacinda really helpful

I’m really interested to know which subjects you think is best out of:

Maths (definitely)
FM - should it not be an AS?

Physics or Economics

An EPQ?

I mean CS EPQ

And forgot to say CS!

@GrassWillBeGreener

Just realised I should have reloaded the window before I posted :) FM and maths, for capable kids, aren't as much work as 2 separate A levels. But would still be done as separate subjects over 2 years I believe (content could be covered sequentially depending on timetabling though). Other combinations of 4 A levels might still be done with the expectation of dropping one after a year, but the phasing out of AS exams has changed this. Though, with the way things are for exams at the moment, who knows what will change next??!

I have found it helpful to think of our final school exams as GCSEs plus; A levels are at least in some subjects slightly akin to our first year university courses. The Scottish system is closer to what we did (albeit with far more exams ...). My BSc was 4 years to do honours whereas English ones are 3 years.

Yep it’s really narrow! Plus the point system was really easy to get

FM could be useful for some of the algorithm heavy CS uni modules such as biological (swarm)computing and cryptography I believe from my ds as the concepts are similar? Having said that, my DS took Psychology as one of his A levels and finds it useful for elements of HCI computing! (And his supervisor specialises in data mining/nudge theory type stuff and brought it up in his interview so was a useful thing to be able to talk about that was a bit different!). For info, he's at a RG uni and a proportion of the first year was a crash course in CS basics for those who didn't take it at A level, plus a course in maths for those who needed the relevant bits for the course...

@MazarineBlue

FM could be useful for some of the algorithm heavy CS uni modules such as biological (swarm)computing and cryptography I believe from my ds as the concepts are similar? Having said that, my DS took Psychology as one of his A levels and finds it useful for elements of HCI computing! (And his supervisor specialises in data mining/nudge theory type stuff and brought it up in his interview so was a useful thing to be able to talk about that was a bit different!). For info, he's at a RG uni and a proportion of the first year was a crash course in CS basics for those who didn't take it at A level, plus a course in maths for those who needed the relevant bits for the course...

Mazarine Interesting yes I can see that re Psychology

Ds isn’t getting as high marks in English v Science / Maths so may not be for him. Does sound really good though.

Would you say Economics isn’t that useful, I’m getting the impression not, also physics?

I may be biased towards economics as it’s what I studied (and arts). Will try not to influence.

FM as an AS level may not be possible due to the way it is usually taught in conjunction with Maths - many schools timetable the entire of AL maths in year 12 and the entire FM AL in year 13 for example. If your kid is capable of AL FM, enjoys maths and is likely to get A / A star grades at A level he should do the full AL - he should be thinking about very selective universities - Imperial, Oxford etc if that suits him. So Maths, FM, then either CS or Physics as the third. No need for economics (as an economist of sorts I feel your pain ), but maybe that could be the AS. Ds actually developed an interest in political and current affairs as a result of doing economics AL - though he hated the subject it did have some uses.

If he doesn't want to aim that high, or is probably a B grade kid, then as others have said, no need to do FM at all. So Maths, then any two out of the other three.

For CompSci, the far away most useful subject is maths, and FM is highly desirable. Comp Sci A level isn't usually a requirement but is useful (makes the first term or two less demanding as they recap it for those starting without it). Physics, as a kind of applied maths, is useful (esp for those who cannot take FM) but if you have maths/CS (and possibly FM) you don't exactly need it.

And I agree with previous poster that psychology is useful - the interface between human users and the tech is an important aspect, and courses which allow a module in any other discipline find that lots of student opt for psychology at that point,

But if your DC really wants to do economics, for heavens sake do it. It's important that pupils are studying what they are interested in not just slogging through subjects because they think they ought to. As long as maths (and ideally FM) is in there, there will be plenty of courses to choose from. And if he changes his mind about what he wants to do, then a subject with an essay component is useful.

The other subject not yet mentioned to consider is chemistry, because with maths/chemistry nearly every (non-biological) STEM course remains possible - again might be useful if he changes his mind

CS A level isn't a requirement for CS degrees because many schools/colleges can't offer it (like FM).
His maths is most crucial.
DH has worked in computing for 25 years. All the best coders/architects have maths degrees and can code, not CS degrees. A maths degree will also keep options open for post-university, should he have a change of heart.
A Level CS would probably help him decide whether he really wants to go into computing or put him off for life

We’re currently looking into all of this too, DS currently thinking of Maths, CS and Psychology at A level with a view to a CS degree.

Whilst CS doesn’t seem to be a requirement for most degrees, Lancaster (for instance) gives favourable consideration to students taking CS at A level.

This is great thank you

Yes I can see even a maths degree is highly valuable, psychology makes perfect sense and had not thought of that and economics may be on table still if he’s very keen.

I do feel pain at lack of economics knowledge in general in the world so will see with that one ;