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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

Chemistry A level feedback please?

15 replies

Iamsodone · 01/02/2021 10:43

All, would it be possible to have some feedback on the Chemistry A level please?
it would be taken in combination with
Maths/Physics/Spanish
or
Maths/Physics/Economics
I think DC is averagely interested in the subject, I think main motivation is the prospect of a good grade !
Currently looking at 8 or 9 on IGCS Chemistry, physics and maths.
Has to start A level with 4 subjects, can drop one at certain points in time later.
Many thanks

OP posts:

titchy · 01/02/2021 15:06

It's very very hard! Even from an 8 or 9. Not one for an easy grade if that's what he's after. Economics prob easier though can be very marmite.

kitnkaboodle · 01/02/2021 15:13

My DS got an 8 in Chemistry GCSE and a C at A level (exams, not CAGs). Just sayin' ... he found it harder at A level than Physics or Maths.

ScrapThatThen · 01/02/2021 15:24

All the wannabee medicine candidates at dds school in year 12 chemistry (ie those with top grades) would apparently happily settle for a C grade currently because they are finding it so hard and getting Es. But that's probably normal for year 12! The combination of subjects looks fine. A lot of courses that require two sciences count maths as a science so even dropping chemistry or physics leaves doors open. Physics is helped by doing maths though.

NotDonna · 02/02/2021 00:30

averagely interested in the subject is not the best start to an A level especially one that’s tough. DD1 in yr13 adores chemistry but finding it tough . Her school only allow 8/9’s at gcse to take it and no-one is finding it a walk in the park.
Why doesn’t he do subjects he’s interested in? You’ve listed 4 - any reason he can’t do those? Maths, physics, economics & French - great combination. Best to keep maths though if has to drop one.

DarcyJack · 02/02/2021 00:40

A very hard A level. Ds got A* in three other a levels and a B in chemistry even though it was the one he worked by far the hardest for. No candidate at his school got more than a B

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 02/02/2021 00:44

My two youngest DC's did Chemistry A level (they both got A's) 3 years apart and have gone on to study it at university but the drop out rate from the A level was very high both years.

Original poster

Iamsodone · 02/02/2021 08:21

@notdonna thank you. he hasn't found what he likes ! I think economics seems to be the one that interests him, maybe because it is new.
thank you all for your comments, all very useful.

Do I get it that chemistry A level is generally seen as harder than physics A level then ?

OP posts:

Puzzler333 · 02/02/2021 08:27

It's been a while since I did either, but physics was easy if you're good at maths. Content load was many times smaller than chemistry. There is also maths in the chemistry a level, but the big difference is how much more content.

CherryRoulade · 02/02/2021 08:32

Chemistry is considered the most academically challenging of all A levels. It’s the one subject where everyone in my daughters set had tutoring.
Both of mine that did it found it much harder than physics or maths. Biology was easy by comparison.

An indifference isn’t a good starting point.

Radagast · 02/02/2021 14:03

With the current A-level set up it makes no sense starting 4 and dropping to 3 as unless the 6th form offers AS levels (that only offer 40% worth of UCAS points) at the end of year 12 then the year has been wasted. Often there is the possibility of dropping a 4th A-level before the start of October as this is when the census data needs to be sent off to the DFE for funding purposes.

Students often find Physics easier as they have picked it because they like physics, a lot of students pick chemistry for medicine/veterinary reasons as opposed to actually liking it and can struggle with the high level application skills of concepts that are required.

NotDonna · 02/02/2021 15:10

Do I get it that chemistry A level is generally seen as harder than physics A level then?
Depends on natural ability and interest. Subjects are ‘hard’ when they are disliked and easier when they are adored. Neither chemistry or physics are easy at A level. But he does need to be interested in the subject in order to do well. Thus is hugely important. Which one is he more interested in? If he’s equally interested in both then he could study both or either depending on career aspirations. Your initial post suggests he’s not that into chemistry, in which case he should scrub it from his list.
Given he’s interested in economics he should definitely do maths. If he wishes to take economics to degree level, a high grade in maths would be more useful than any other subjects including economics. If he’s taking maths, physics works well as a lot of maths A level is mechanics (the maths of physics). The two subjects compliment each other very well. It will also keep science & engineering options open to him. I can’t think what doors would be closed with maths, physics, French, economics. Medicine?
I would not want a child of mine to choose an A level subject they weren’t seriously interested in. They’re hard.
Don’t be fooled that he’ll look better with a chemistry A level rather than Physics or any other subject. A lot fall into the trap of doing what they think are harder subjects thinking universities will take that into consideration. They don’t. It only matters if a subject is listed as a university requirement.
I really don’t see why he couldn’t do Maths, Physics, French and Economics. Especially if they are the subjects he wants to do.

Original poster

Iamsodone · 02/02/2021 15:26

@Radagast he is an independent school. they can drop the fourth subject at certain points in time, but unrelated to DfE funding

@NotDonna totally get your point. thank you ! though now the sudden interest in economics has suddenly lowered as he has realised how much writing there is at A level economics.

OP posts:

TheFallenMadonna · 02/02/2021 15:34

I think for Physics and Chemistry, GCSE grade alone is not a great predictor of how a student will find A level. I'd get him to have an honest conversation with his teacher about whether he would a) enjoy it and b) be successful at it. I might well give different advice to two different students both looking at grade 8 at GCSE.

toppocket · 02/02/2021 15:39

Swings and roundabouts. My DD got A* star at GCSE for both and did both at A level.* She found biology a level harder and chem straightforward and got A star for chem and A for bio. She's now second year medic.

dizzydizzydizzy · 02/02/2021 18:01

I didn’t know chemistry was supposed to be the hardest A Level. DD is in y1 of a chemistry degree and got A* for the A Level (at a very ordinary comprehensive). She loved the subject and had a very inspirational teacher. There were only 3 in her A Level class and 2 of them are now at uni studying chemistry.

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