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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:
cabrillolighthouse · 29/09/2021 14:35

Also just to add, at no point have school (large state secondary) suggested that Physics cannot be taken without Maths, it's never even been mentioned.

gogohm · 29/09/2021 14:38

I really wouldn't, there's so much cross over and yes at university level you need maths for physics, engineering etc

ChloeCrocodile · 29/09/2021 14:45

Physics without maths is perfectly doable - 2 out of my class of 8 this year aren't studying maths A level. Both students have to do a bit of extra work, but not too much. They simply preferred other subjects - one is doing bio/chem/phys and the other is chem/phys/music. There is common content between chem and phys which gives them an advantage over the maths/further maths/phys students.

It does, however, depend on why she isn't doing maths. If it because she doesn't like maths she might not enjoy physics A level (approx 40% is maths-based). If she genuinely struggles (rather than just lacking confidence) she may find the mathematical elements of physics too hard.

ChloeCrocodile · 29/09/2021 14:47

cabrillolighthouse I had a student with that exact combination a couple of years ago. He got an A in physics and went on to study geography at a RG uni.

Suzi888 · 29/09/2021 14:51

I did. I hate maths (I’m 43 though). I loved Physics and Biology, English and Psychology. But things have changed no doubt. What do her teachers think… you need to go on a student forum.

Wabola · 29/09/2021 14:56

Its fine if you are not taking a Physics degree, when DS done his physics degree, his maths A level seemed more important than his physics one.

Delphigirl · 29/09/2021 14:58

I did physics chemistry and biology A level a long time ago without maths. The maths in physics wasnt hard as it was all applied. But I did it for medicine (and then changed my mind to law). As others have said physics without maths isn’t really much good for uni. Does she know what she wants to go on and do? If not she should do what she will get the best grade in.

SinoohXaenaHide · 29/09/2021 14:59

It's possible, but she'll need to know more than half of the maths syllabus anyway in order to understand the physics so she might as well get the certificate.

Some universities will accept students to study physics without a maths a-level but in most cases the amount of maths modules you need to take in order to catch up make this a bad idea for a student who dislikes maths. So it's not about this choice limiting university choices so much as being indicative that certain university choices would be a bad idea.

MackenCheese · 29/09/2021 15:00

I did A level physics without maths and I found it hard! I had to do extra maths to compensate, but it can be done.

MakkaPakkas · 29/09/2021 15:03

I did biology, chemistry & physics at A level back in the dark ages. Like your DD I didn't like maths. Tbh I did struggle with the physics (I got a B). I wouldn't 100% rule it out but she might benefit from extra maths tuition.
I went on to a biology degree which was great fun.

Wombat49 · 29/09/2021 15:04

I did both A Level Physics and a Chemisty degree without A level maths. I believed people who said it was possible. It is but it was godawful and I got shite results. I would not do this again and would totally advise against it. So stressful, never really had a clue about the maths bits in either subject.

CraftyGin · 29/09/2021 15:04

The current Physics specification is stand alone - it doesn't need to go alongside Maths A-level. There will be new maths in it but this can be taught by the Physics teacher.

It would not be wise to apply for Physics or Engineering courses at university, but is well regarded as a facilitating subject.

clary · 29/09/2021 15:10

It does, however, depend on why she isn't doing maths. If it because she doesn't like maths she might not enjoy physics A level (approx 40% is maths-based). If she genuinely struggles (rather than just lacking confidence) she may find the mathematical elements of physics too hard.

Agree that this is key. If she hates maths or finds it hard, then physics may not be a good choice, with or without maths.

LemonWeb · 29/09/2021 15:11

Is your dd aware of the lifetime earning difference between people who do A Level maths over people who don’t? It’s such a useful subject to have on her CV. I also think it would be inadvisable to do Physics without Maths.

notimagain · 29/09/2021 15:17

@gogohm

I really wouldn't, there's so much cross over and yes at university level you need maths for physics, engineering etc
I’m very very old but yes, this…

As I recall it scratch the surface of pretty much any Physics/engineering topic at undergraduate level and once the lecturer has gone through the initial couple of minutes of verbal descriptive stuff you’re into the mathematics PDQ.

myrtilles · 29/09/2021 15:54

I would definitely not recommend this based on my DS experience. Fortunately he was doing 4 subjects so was able to drop physics when it became apparent he was far behind those doing maths and physics.

spotcheck · 29/09/2021 16:11

OP
Does your DD have a genuine interest in physics?

If there is a chance she would like to continue to study it at uni, she really does need to take math. If she doesn't, many many doors will close.

However, if she is struggling with GCSE math, she may not get the grades needed for A level physics.

Btw, if her love of physics has been influenced by her teacher, has math been similarly influenced?

Ekofisk · 29/09/2021 17:26

@ChloeCrocodile

cabrillolighthouse I had a student with that exact combination a couple of years ago. He got an A in physics and went on to study geography at a RG uni.
Earth sciences and environmental sciences would also be a good fit.
Quarks69 · 29/09/2021 21:04

As a physics teacher I have seen many students take physics a level without maths because the a level boards say you can. However only once have I seen a student get above a C, and that was because they took all three sciences instead.

All the rest struggled for two years. It’s miserable and sucks the fun out of the physics a level. They bumped along the bottom of the class. Too many Ds and Es, I have banned students from doing it without maths now, As is in their best interest.

TrueGrit54 · 30/09/2021 11:02

Hi, my DS Y13 is currently doing Physics A level without Maths. He does not intend to study Physics at university.

Everyone is quite right that ideally you would also take a Maths A. There is a lot of Maths involved. He didn’t think his Maths was strong enough. DS found Y12 tough but is doing better now and working at predicted grade B right now. I think there is a part of him that wonders if he should have tried to study Maths at A level. My advice would be to seriously consider taking Maths.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 30/09/2021 18:22

At Ds's sixth form if you take physics but not maths A level you sit core maths which falls between GCSE and A Level maths because they want the students to do well and the core maths helps.

Re A level maths a grade 7 at GCSE usually sees a C/D grade at A level whereas a 9 usually sees an A*/A at A level. Just worth considering if they try to persuade her.

Ds loves maths, he says it is about getting comfortable with it so basically daily practise for 10 or 20 minutes will see familiarity with the problems and then they become easier to solve. He wasn't confident with maths until year 9 when he also did statistics as an option which helped him understand maths better. He started to like it because it was easier and he did daily practise and achieved a grade 9 at GCSE.

Original poster
ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 02/10/2021 13:31

Thank you all for all the advice which I have taken on board.

She is genuinely loving physics which is partly her eccentric teacher but mostly the subject is fascinating to her.

Agree that while it's possible to do A level physics, doing a Maths A level makes sense.

Had all my arguments ready to go, and she arrives home yesterday and says that one of mates told her that it was, 'insane,' not to do maths A level if she wanted to do physics, so she is now totally on board and wanting to do A level maths (her teacher says she is more than capable).

So, she is planning to do for A level: Physics, Maths and Politics.

Not sure what sort of degree this will lead to, but pleased that she is doing STEM subjects. She also does orchestra, which hopefully will help towards the art side...

Thank you all!!! Flowers

OP posts:
Nocutenamesleft · 02/10/2021 14:33

I was an engineer

It was the same 20 odd years ago. I wasn't able to do engineering without a level Maths. For Ed of mine did physics at degree and masters level and had to do maths. The two subjects go together.

Nocutenamesleft · 02/10/2021 14:35

@PurpleDaisies

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

It's a huge jump. You need to be really good at maths gcse to carry it into A level.

Ekofisk · 02/10/2021 15:00

I became a civil engineer by a roundabout route with just O level maths. It was hard work but with the help of a good engineering maths text book it was doable.