A level physics after double science GCSE

[LunchWithAGruffalo]

I know when I did this back in the mists of time there was quite a big jump from double s niece to A level science subjects. Is that still the case?

DDs school were keen for any students thinking of A level sciences to take three seperate GCSEs. DS school are only offering double science which has us worried. He does well in science but struggles with independent learning, so we're worried about how much catching up he'll need to do the summer before A levels.

We hope he'll be at the same 6th form, so it's very likely that all the other students will have GCSE physics.

I would suggest he do whatever bridging work the school sets over the summer, plus a book like this www.amazon.co.uk/Head-Start-level-Physics-Level/dp/1782942815?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Look for YouTube videos and online resources too. He will want to hit the ground running.

Combined Science is designed to allow transition to A-level Sciences. Lots of schools don’t offer separate sciences at gcse but their students can still do A-levels in science. Grades at gcse are more important than combined/separate.

The gap between Combined science and A level is much smaller than the old "Double Science".
In the old system there were some topics that weren't covered at all, if you took Double Science. They are now all covered, but in slightly less depth if that makes sense.
Higher tier combined Science is a similar level of difficulty to that of the separate Sciences.

Thanks for the book recommendation, have only seen the revision guides in my investigation so far, and yes to getting him on board with the bridging work.

It's good to know it should be possible, DD has found the jump to A level work quite tough, but this hasn't exactly been a normal year to make the transition.

@catndogslife

The gap between Combined science and A level is much smaller than the old "Double Science". In the old system there were some topics that weren't covered at all, if you took Double Science. They are now all covered, but in slightly less depth if that makes sense. Higher tier combined Science is a similar level of difficulty to that of the separate Sciences.

There are topics not covered in combined science that are in gcse physics (space for example and more magnetism content) but a-level is accessible despite this.

I know that Space Physics is an additional topic for AQA GCSE Physics, but am not sure if other awarding bodies structure their GCSE in this way.
Having said that all the core topics that are needed for A level are covered by combined Science.

Ds did combined science and A level physics. It is more about the grades than the small difference between combined and triple content.

Ds's sixth form wanted you to have a grade 6 or above to do a science at A level. Ds got 9,9 and had no issues whatsoever. His predicted grade is A*/A. Those who achieved a GCSE grade 6 found it more difficult to make the jump.

For Physics I would be as concerned about Maths as combined science. DC got a 9 in maths GCSE, top grades in all science subjects , A in further maths and still found Physics A level hard. Did get an A at A level, but the maths ability seemed more important than having covered subject areas at GCSE.