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Original poster

Computer Science without Maths A level

28 replies

SilverChainLink · 16/09/2021 10:20

DS is trying to choose his A levels for next year. The only one he is sure of is Computer Science which his teacher says he has a talent for, unfortunately maths isn't something he is confident with (predicted a 7 he could get higher but has a tendency to panic and has to really work at maths)

It seems that most A level students ask take maths so would he be at a real disadvantage without it?

He was hoping to do CS at degree but from what I can see this is also going to be difficult without maths a level.

OP posts:
StarCat2020 · 16/09/2021 10:25

OI did a computer science degree and trained to teach Computer Science in 2018-19 and I do not have a maths A-Level.

Personally I do not think it is essential.

Has he done CS GCSE?

Original poster
SilverChainLink · 16/09/2021 10:28

Thank you for replying @StarCat2020

He is doing GCCE and his current prediction is an 8+ but there is a good chance he could get a 9

OP posts:
stubiff · 16/09/2021 12:49

7 in GCSE Maths, would on average be a B at A-level.

If we could get a 9 in GCSE CS, then poss an A or A* at A-level.

Really depends on which other subjects he is/may take and what A-level that may project to.

I.e. would it be better to aim for AAA in certain subjects (exc Maths) or not doing so well in Maths and getting AAC ?
Latter would restrict entry to certain courses.
But not having Maths would also restrict entry to some.

To partly answer that then worth looking (again, as sounds like you may have done so already) at CS degree entry requirements of courses which may suit (content and grades) to see if any at all do not require Maths - that may be your answer.

stubiff · 16/09/2021 12:55

Apologies, correcting myself.
7 in GCSE Maths, would on average be an A at A-level (in a normal year) with then, after that, a similar chance of getting a B or an A*.

Original poster
SilverChainLink · 16/09/2021 13:18

Thank you @stubiff I thought I had seen that a grade 7 would be more a c/d on average but I can't find the graph where I saw this (it was on here though)

He is worried about maths because he doesn't grasp it as quickly as some of his maths whizz friends but he works hard and surprisingly his mocks were one of the highest in the class so he has potential but not the belief unfortunately.

OP posts:
Lua · 16/09/2021 13:21

I think that doing computer science at A levels without A level maths is definetely possible. However, I think most computer science unis will require A level maths. Not sure if this is the path he wants, but if it is, I'd suggest have a look at entry reuirements to some of the unis he may want to target,

Ekofisk · 16/09/2021 13:53

Some degree courses require A level maths and some have A level maths or computing as the requirement, so definitely worth looking around. Also have a look to see if you qualify for a contextual offer which might mean that you can slip a grade.

NeverEnoughCake2 · 16/09/2021 14:08

My DH tried doing CS at university having not done A Level maths. Despite his degree course saying that they'd provide support for people who hadn't done maths to A Level, he found the extra lessons really didn't meet his needs and ended up dropping out. He's a smart person, and has ended up with a senior CS-related job, but had to work his way up the company ladder slowly. He'd strongly urge anyone thinking of doing CS to do A Level maths.

Iamsodone · 16/09/2021 15:42

Just to say that I saw an earlier comment on mumsnet that some of the CS uni course would also look at MFL performance/ability, and not just Maths
Maybe someone that confirm ? That would give another angle

woodlands01 · 16/09/2021 17:07

Maths teacher here - IME a student with a grade 7 at GCSE struggles with A-level Maths and I would not expect them to get an A-grade easily.

DaftVader42 · 16/09/2021 17:12

Also, ask the careers / 6th form dept at your school to send you the CS details from Heap, as it lists every degree course in UK, inc entry requirements. So he can see which unis offer CS, grades and any specific subject requirements. This will help him create a shortlist and he can then do deeper research into each course / uni.

Heap is v useful to creating a shortlist when the idea of how to choose between unis is overwhelming.

EllieNBeeb · 16/09/2021 17:20

I don't know what he intends on doing for a career, and in the UK tech jobs pay a lot less than in the states, but quite a majority of my friends with coding or sysadmin roles in the states didn't even go to university, they just self taught coding or took relevant tech courses. I really honestly wouldn't worry too much about grades if he is truly into tech, tech cares about skills not pedigree like British city jobs.

EllieNBeeb · 16/09/2021 17:21

@EllieNBeeb

I don't know what he intends on doing for a career, and in the UK tech jobs pay a lot less than in the states, but quite a majority of my friends with coding or sysadmin roles in the states didn't even go to university, they just self taught coding or took relevant tech courses. I really honestly wouldn't worry too much about grades if he is truly into tech, tech cares about skills not pedigree like British city jobs.
And, I mean, these friends are making $150,000+ easy.
DaftVader42 · 16/09/2021 17:26

Or if he’s not sure about uni but wants a degree, look at degree apprenticeships. Someone in tech said to me that the thing with CS courses is that by the time things make it on to the curriculum, the real world has moved on. So recruiters really want to see what the students do in their own time to keep up. An apprenticeship is a good alternative then.

ButEmilylovedhim · 16/09/2021 17:27

My DD is doing CS at Portsmouth and didn’t have maths A level. She’s flying although she has avoided the very maths heavy options. Already has a grad job lined up!

PawsNotClaws · 16/09/2021 17:28

Is he dead set on the A-level route?

My DS did a Level 3 BTEC in Computer Science instead and then went on to do a CS degree.

ArsenicNLace · 16/09/2021 17:32

My son is doing computer science A level without maths. He got 8 in both at GCSE. He's in his second year with a predicted A and there's nothing to suggest he needed to have done maths.

Original poster
SilverChainLink · 16/09/2021 17:51

He's not really set on the A level route I think it's more that he thinks that's what is expected of him.

He's not sure what to do for uni or A levels (apart from CS a level as he loves the GCSE class and is really confident in it)

He had a bad time of it in year 8 with maths which completely shook his confidence but he has risen by two grades with his current teacher, he just doesn't 'get' new topics straight away like a couple of the children and has to work at topics so although he may get higher in GCSE than a 7 I believe you have to have a real flair for maths for A level.

OP posts:
moch · 16/09/2021 18:45

@SilverChainLink

Thank you *@stubiff* I thought I had seen that a grade 7 would be more a c/d on average but I can't find the graph where I saw this (it was on here though)

He is worried about maths because he doesn't grasp it as quickly as some of his maths whizz friends but he works hard and surprisingly his mocks were one of the highest in the class so he has potential but not the belief unfortunately.

You are correct! a grade 7 at GCSE translates into a C/D at A'Level, not a B and certainly not an A. I have a dc that did exactly this and did end getting a C and we were shown the data and graph evidence showing what it the GCSE grade translates to. I will try and find the info online if possible.
clary · 16/09/2021 18:51

FWIW as an anecdote, ds2 got 8 in 2019 in maths GCSE and just got a B at A level. To be fair that was "all" he needed with his other grades, and he maybe could have pushed to an A.

moch · 16/09/2021 18:55

Just to add, a C/D would be the norm rather than the exception.

moch · 16/09/2021 18:56

That however doesn't mean he can't study computer science. There are universities that don't require A'Level maths for CS.

HelstonaireMonty · 16/09/2021 19:16

I thought I had seen that a grade 7 would be more a c/d on average but I can't find the graph where I saw this (it was on here though)

It was noble who linked a grid from Edexcel who tracked GCSE students from their GCSE maths to their actual A level grades and shockingly 27% of grade 7 at GCSE got a D, closely followed by 25% getting a C. Only 1% got an A. Compare that with a grade 9 at GCSE and 44% got an A.

Some CS uni courses are more maths heavy than others. There is maths in CS but your son could find a degree course that doesn't ask for it. I believe the top ranking ones do ask for maths and further maths A levels if it could be taken. I would look now, see what uni courses want in their entry requirements.

Re maths now, if he just did some every day it will make a difference to his confidence. It is mainly looking at a problem and knowing what method you use to solve it. Ds didn't start really feeling confident until the start of year 11 and went on to get a high 9 and then an A* at A level.

Maybe have a word with his teacher to help boost his confidence a bit in class.

cptartapp · 16/09/2021 19:16

DS1 got a 7 in GCSE maths in 2019, his score showed he was mid way exactly between a 7 and an 8, and has just got a B in A level this year. The majority of his teaching over the two years however was remote due to Covid, he never went back into college more than two days a week after Sept 2020 and was struggling. We ended up paying for a maths tutor for the last six months who was great. But it became a millstone and took up a lot of his time.

Ekofisk · 16/09/2021 19:30

Also, if your DS is really into coding then he might want to look at options other than uni, eg Microsoft certification?