Physics, Further Maths and Computer Science top tips

[BeechStreet]

DS has chosen these A’levels. I’m very aware that they are all very difficult and have started worrying already! He’s obviously very mathematically minded but he needs high grades for the course he wants to do. Any tips for a successful next couple of years would be welcome.

Would he find them hard? Maths and logic is fun if your brain works that way, it’s more like puzzle solving than work.

There’s a lot in common between physics and further maths so they help each other.

I didn’t do comp sci A level but did comp sci later on and certainly there can be a strong maths component (but also parts that are not mathsy at all so the degree to which it overlaps the other two would depend on the exact curriculum).

Presumably doing Maths as well?

I would say put the effort in from day 1 to make sure he understands topics well (and practices questions to check his understanding).

Yes he is presumably doing maths as well as further maths? My DS wanted to do these exact 4 A-levels but the college he likes doesn’t do computer science so he has changed that one to chemistry.

What did he get at GCSE in maths, physics, comp science? I’d say they are a perfect combination for someone mathematically minded but not if he didn’t get very good grades at GCSE.

Is he also doing maths?

As a physics teacher my top tip is to be on top of gcse work, including those equations. There isn’t much time in the course and if you have these for quick recall you pick up the new stuff quicker. The Alevel transition books are good.

Start active recall and spaced learning from the start. So go over last week’s notes, write yourself questions on that topic, then answer the questions latter on.

Useful resources like:
Isaac physics - pros free, lots of questions, varying difficulty, book is only £1 if you prefer paper
Cons - it won’t tell you the right answer, you have to be precise with sig fig
A- level physics online - pros, free for first year content, great videos and example questions, links into Isaac physics
Cons - not all students gel with the presenter, you have to proactively use the videos make notes etc....
Seneca learning pros - free for standard level, good for recap, easy to do 10 minutes here and there
Cons - there is a subscription service (not tried it), doesn’t go into great depth

Hope that helps a bit.

As for Physics, there are no good textbooks among the list approved by exam boards that explain things more or less clearly rather than confuse the reader. Advanced Physics for You by Keith Johnson is outside the approved set and is very good.

My DS did these subjects (with maths) and found a lot of cross over between them which really helped. The sheer volume to be covered is not as great as some other A level subjects too. So, although they were not easy, he found he had plenty of time to work on the more difficult elements even with a lot of extra curricular stuff going on.

Definitely take the advice of be on top of the work from the start and refresh some gcse content beforehand if he is worried.

Yes he’s doing Maths as well.
I think he’s quite looking forward to 6th form as these are his very favourite subjects so he hopefully fun for him to some extent@OooPourUsACupLove. I’m rubbish at maths so probably worrying unnecessarily.
Thanks for the recommendations for physics. I remember him memorising the equations so think he’s ok with that.

@BeechStreet what grades did he get in these at GCSE? Is this his first time doing further maths?

Ds did all 4 of those subjects and further maths was new to him for A level. He will tell you, use the free periods in school to get the homework done whilst it is still fresh in your head. Use the tutor sessions usually available at the end of the school day to ask any questions or get clarification on anything he is unsure about. If he can study with people in his free periods set up study groups. Finish off any work at home that day. Use online resources to cement equations etc. Any test he does, they should hopefully go over the paper, the best thing he can do is correct any answers and use these to test his knowledge later. Basically he could come back to the paper 3 months down the line, resit it and score higher. That way he is testing his revision early on.

Ds's sixth form have a maths and further maths slot on the timetable but in year 12 they covered all of the maths content in both these slots and in year 13 the further maths content. Ds got 4 x A*.

What does he want to do at uni? Ds is doing computer science. To get into a top uni you need to demonstrate your love for your chosen subject outside of the classroom. He needs to be thinking about how he will do that. Any questions, just ask. I am happy to help.

@OnTheBenchOfDoom thanks for taking the time to reply that’s brilliant advice. DS got 8 for physics and maths and 7 for computer science. His maths group started doing further maths at GCSE but didn’t complete the syllabus because of covid.
DS also wants to do computer science at university. I’m quite daunted by the grades that are required but ds doesn’t really do worrying and thinks it will be fine. I do think he’s going to get a shock at the jump from GCSEs to A’levels!

@BeechStreet I have messaged you.