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Original poster

Physics A Level - without Maths?

59 replies

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 29/09/2021 11:43

DD1 is Y11 but is struggling somewhat with A level choices.

She still doesn't really know what she wants to do career wise so she is basing A levels off of what subjects she enjoys, which I think is probably best.

She loves physics and does reasonably well, but really doesn't want to do Maths A level. Her teacher says that it's possible to do Physics without it, but am wondering if this would limit any university choices?

Thoughts?

OP posts:
titchy · 29/09/2021 13:11

Although it's possible I really wouldn't recommend it. Even where Maths isn't required for the degree, in reality pretty much all Physics and Engineering students will have Maths A level - and a good proportion will have FM as well.

Orangejuicemarathoner · 29/09/2021 13:12

The two subjects compliment each other, and the overlap means a slightly decreased work load. She should do both together

PurpleDaisies · 29/09/2021 13:13

What’s she thinking of doing at uni? She’ll need maths if she wanted to do physics.

I wouldn’t recommend physics without maths a level.

RampantIvy · 29/09/2021 13:15

At DD's school they weren't allowed to do A level physics without A level maths.

There is a lot of maths in A level physics.

IglesiasPiggl · 29/09/2021 13:15

What else would she be doing it with? It's definitely more common to do maths alongside. Most science degrees would prefer two relevant science plus maths, than 3 sciences but no maths. But if she doesn't want to do a science degree she might be OK, but it would probably limit her uni choices.

SkunkButRug · 29/09/2021 13:15

I did it but wouldn't recommend it. Both or neither Smile

BornIn78 · 29/09/2021 13:16

I know her teacher said it’s possible, but will her choice of sixth form/college allow her to do physics and not maths? My sons college just won’t allow this.

CrumbleLady · 29/09/2021 13:18

I'd agree with the PPs. Physics without maths is just making life hard for yourself. The two are complementary and definitely have overlaps.

She'd make extra work for herself having to learn the relevant maths whilst the others in the class would already know it and be able to concentrate on applying the maths techniques to their physics.

MissingInk · 29/09/2021 13:21

Agree. Makes life more difficult during A Levels and would limit choices quite a lot with a degree. Unless her other subjects are something like English/Art/History/Politics etc and she sees herself going in that direction - in which case it won't matter.

clary · 29/09/2021 13:23

Yes agree, very unusual at DS's school to do physics without maths (one person in his year did this).

Yes, if she is pairing it with Eng lit and sociology, with a view to a humanities based degree, then it won't matter for uni. But if she is thinking of sciences at uni then I would deffo do maths.

Either way, why make life harder in sixth form? WHat else is she planning to take OP?

Heyha · 29/09/2021 13:30

Way back in the old days I did physics without maths but at the time I was only planning to do it for AS (remember those) so nobody was worried as I'd done the top end of the maths at GCSE.

However I hated one of my other choices so ended up doing physics at full A level instead of that one and I did find that really hard.

This was also back in the day when you could get onto biology degree courses without chemistry A level and then wonder why you found the course really hard... I expect physics is the same with maths, they need to go hand in hand really especially past A Level.

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 29/09/2021 13:33

It really is best to look at possible further interests (at Uni level) and the choose to A levels that keep those options open

I don’t think there is a single degree that requires physics but not maths

Also, at A level 60% of physics IS maths

So make sure she thinks it through

DillonPanthersTexas · 29/09/2021 13:40

I studied physics 'A' Level without maths and to be honest I struggled. I got a B in the end but that was with some extra maths tuition on the side. Most of my physics class mates were studying Maths and Applied Maths (which is basically physics) and it really showed as they were way ahead of me in terms understanding things first time around. I'm glad I studied it as it got me on to a decent uni course but it was definitely tough.

borntobequiet · 29/09/2021 13:43

Not a good idea.

Gloschick · 29/09/2021 13:44

Lots of people in my 6th form did biology, chemistry, physics A-level. So in that sense it is v much doable. But they weren't going down a physics pathway, maybe applying for medicine etc. If she wants a careers in physics then as PP said, she needs maths.

Original poster
ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 29/09/2021 13:48

Thanks for all advice - I am not familiar with A levels (am American).

Her physics teacher for Y11 would also teach it at A level, and tbh, think he wants her to continue in Physics. She loves it, is active with the science out reach team...

Such a shame that she just isn't prepared to do maths as she mostly seems to have lost confidence. She has a lovely tutor who encourages her, so maybe by increasing her confidence to do maths as an A level may be the way forward?

Unlike most of her friends, she simply doesn't have a clue what she wants to do, so at this stage think it's important for her to do what she is interested in.

OP posts:
MarleneDietrichsSmile · 29/09/2021 13:52

In that case ask the teacher for advice

That’s what I would do

PurpleDaisies · 29/09/2021 13:55

Maths a level is a MASSIVE step up from gcse. I wouldn’t recommend it if she’s struggling with GCSE content.

titchy · 29/09/2021 13:57

What other A levels is she thinking of? Is she willing to look at other schools/colleges?

Fizbosshoes · 29/09/2021 13:58

My DD is year 11. I can't even think of 3 subjects she enjoys enough to pursue at A'level let alone what degree she might do (if she decides to do that)

Sheeponahill · 29/09/2021 13:59

Why doesn’t she want to do Maths - does it not interest her or does she think it will be too hard?

There’s a lot of maths in physics so if it doesn’t interest her then she might also lose interest in the physics. If she thinks it will be too hard, the maths involved is on the same level as A level

DS 1 did physics without maths a couple of years ago and dropped out after a year as he found the maths too much. DS 2 is now doing physics with maths and loves it - he adores maths

Heyha · 29/09/2021 14:01

My only worry with that is that her love of physics is intrinsically linked with her good relationship with the teacher- would she be as keen to do it if that teacher left or wasn't timetabled on it- we always advise never to pick a subject just on the staffing because even if there is only one person teaching it they might still get a new job.

If she does like physics for physics' sake then great but as others day if she wants to take it further after school (see my previous comment about how much of it is the subject itself) then she will have to bite the bullet and do maths.

Physics can sit alongside other subjects if you don't want to completely go for it, there are some good biology/physics fields where the maths content in the course would be less than 'straight' physics so could be worth exploring?

PeonyTime · 29/09/2021 14:04

I'm old. Older than the PP who mentions AS levels.
I started on Bio, Phys, Chem. Started looking at Uni courses at half term Y11 and went oh fuck, I need maths a level to do pretty much any physics degree (I'd decided by that point I wanted to go chem/phys rather than Bio). Maths and science departments in agreement that I could be an unusual student doing 4 A levels. Trying to persuade the head of year (my old French teacher) that whilst she might think me thick, I was capable of this was a different arguement....

Anyway, thsts by the bye
I would strongly recommend she looks at what courses her A levels might lead to, and what the course requirements are at unis she likes the sound of.

Ignoring the wanting to do maths, is she capable of doing maths A level. Because if she isnt a potential maths level candidate on maths ability, I'd rethink the physics. If she just likes the sound of something else more than maths, it's possible, but depending on her other subjects could make uni applications hard, or the course a big jump.

MrsAvocet · 29/09/2021 14:08

Its a long time since I did my A levels but I did Physics without maths and found it easy enough. The only part that I recall being maths heavy was the mechanics, particularly rotational, but it wasn't difficult. That said, it might depend on what maths syllabus has been studied up until then. I've just asked my DS and he said he didn't do any calculus in GCSE maths . If that's the norm now I can see it could make A level physics difficult.
I was headed in a more biological direction so not having maths didn't matter to me later. If your DD wants to study physics, engineering or similar at University then I would think that maths is an absolute must. If she is unsure then doing maths will keep more options open.

cabrillolighthouse · 29/09/2021 14:33

My DD2 has just started physics A-level along with Geography and Biology. After lots of indecision about her choices she opted for the subjects that interest her most. She got 9 at GCSE physics and 8 in maths but felt she wasn't interested enough in maths to study it to A-level whereas she has always enjoyed physics. She wouldn't even consider Chemistry (also a 9 at GCSE) and I do worry that she has limited her options, somewhat with the combination she has picked If it was up to me I would have preferred her to choose maths or chemistry over physics but I have to accept that she is the one who has to study these subjects for 2 years not me 🤣.