Which GCSE science involves the least maths?

[Octocat]

DD is choosing options soon. We are in NI and she has to take a minimum of one science.
She’s thinking of choosing chemistry and biology, am I right in thinking physics is the most maths-y of the three sciences? She hates maths and finds it difficult.

Also (assuming CCEA board), from their website: All units are assessed through a written examination, either at Foundation Tier (grades C star–G) or Higher Tier (grades A star–D/E).
The school would decide this nearer the exam.
Edit to remove weird star formatting

Definitely wouldn't be dropping to only one science GCSE. She would choose two.

Yes, we don't join in with reinforcing the "I'm crap at maths" narrative. We're encouraging her to do her best.

She might find that once there's a practical application that Maths is suddenly far easier, as it moves from theoretical to 'stuff you can see' (and stuff you can't, but they don't usually start there).

Tricky. I would deffo do biology and probably chemistry m. But chemistry theory can be trickier and although the maths is simpler, I find that’s only true if you understand the theory. Whereas physics is easier to learn a ‘method’ of using an equation and applying it to lots of the same sort of question.

Op if she hates maths then science A levels sound unlikely tbh.

Plys you can for sure take science A levels after taking double.

Double science is imho much much better than two single sciences and dropping the third. Wish I could have done it. My physics knowledge is woeful.

Thanks for digging out that information. Much appreciated. Yes, in NI we do (lots of) things a bit differently!

She can choose:
· 1, 2 or 3 individual science subjects, worth 1 GCSE each
· Double Award Science, studying all three science subject areas, in less depth than if they were studied separately, yielding 2 GCSEs.
· Single Award Science, which is all 3 sciences lumped together, yielding 1 GCSE

The school cautions against doing Double or Single Award if you'd like to do any sciences at A Level. It doesn't say no, it just says it's better to get the fuller depth of studying the subject individually.

For what it's worth - and I'm only speaking as someone who has fairly recent experience of the English system as a parent, not an expert and not from NI - I would say that for children who definitely know they want to do A level sciences and pursue a STEM career then doing the 3 separate subjects is the best option. For everyone else, double is probably preferable on the grounds that it gives a solid all round scientific base which is never a bad idea wherever life takes you, whilst potentially giving non scientists/ the undecided a slot for another subject depending on how a school does timetabling.

And it doesn't irrecoverably close any doors.It probably is a bit harder to do science A levels after the double award but I don't think that it is a massive disadvantage. My children's school makes almost everyone do triple, with only the lower sets doing double, whereas the next nearest school only offers double. The A level results and leavers' destinations of the 2 schools are very similar, so it can't make that much difference. My sons have both done science A levels and have had pupils who have moved from the other school join their classes. They tell me that the newcomers cope perfectly ok. There's the odd topic that the triple people have studied before that the doubles haven't but they catch up soon enough. It's probably easier for the teachers if the whole class is coming from the same starting point but you definitely can do A levels after double and do well.

Can’t advise particularly on the sciences more than others, apart from to say yes, physics is the mathsiest.

But from what she likes to do, maybe she could also consider geology at university? It’s very much the physical geography part, but perhaps more applied. I studied it and loved it. Just another option to consider for the future.

I speak as a teacher of all three sciences, specialising in students who find science tricky and who also found it tricky at school myself (one of the reasons I specialise in these sorts of kids!).

@Octocat You say that school advises against Double award as well as single award in all 3 subjects, but how do they consider doing a single science for a student who might want to continue it? I'm not a teacher or expert, as I didn't do Science after O level (Integrated Science taking in all 3 subjects, and exams didn't separate them out) but would have thought that Double Award Science (all 3 sciences) could be a better grounding for A level in Biology than just doing GCSE Biology.

Double won’t be a better prep. The single awards contain about a third more material than the content in the double.

If she is planning to do a science at A-level, she needs to study all 3 sciences in some form at GCSE- because the A-level syllabus will assume knowledge from all three science GCSEs.

A-level Biology is also pretty mathsy.

She'd be a lot better off with combined science than solely studying biology.

If she's got no plans to take sciences further, biology will be the least mathsy at GCSE.

About 1/3 of our A level students have taken combined science (I teach Chemistry). Many of these students go on to study STEM subjects at Uni, including medicine. Whoever told you combined is not good for A levels is talking rubbish.

Geology will require a certain amount of maths, physics and chemistry at degree level depending on course and uni.

Biology would sit well with geography for environmental science type degrees - geography A level can be counted as a science for many of these courses.

Do the school do predictions already and what would they predict?
I wouldnt do alevel chem if maths is an issue. I regret doing chem bio and maths together as chem was very tough. And that was prior to curriculum changes.
I couldnt understand the moles. Nor memorise such long equations.
If shes good at geography is it the essays if so history would go well too.
Bio alevel can be difficult too.

She should def go for biology. It’s also super interesting and she’ll find out more about her own body etc.

Thanks everyone for your insight. Plenty to think about and to discuss with the teachers. The rest of her subjects will cover a broad range so hopefully she’ll have good coverage.

No you don't. One of mine did Physics and Chemistry as separate subjects, no Biology as he has a blood phobia. The other chose to do all 3, but again as separate subjects. Independent schools, but I know of state schools that offer the sciences as separate GCSEs.

Just a suggestion OP Physics is the most 'mathsy' but it is broadly the same as GCSE maths so if she takes physics she will effectively be getting more maths tuition.

even though maths is not an entry requirement for geography courses, physical geography does get a bit maths-y at university. The evidence base is quantitative, and bits of maths pop up all over the place - often via other sciences. There are equations and calculations. Even human geography courses will have some stats.

I think the best thing to do here is actually to tackle the maths issue head on. Can you get her a tutor and increase her confidence with it? That way it would become a barrier to her doing things she’s interested in.

She's silly for considering just one science then. Dual science keeps her options open. Just doing one science makes it more difficult for her to do any science at A level because there is such an overlap between biology, chemistry and physics at GCSE level.

If she wants to do physical geography biology and chemistry should both be on her radar too. Geology has a huge amount of chemistry.

She’s not silly because she is trying hard to make considered decisions that are future proof, while also being a young teen. Also she is not considering just one science, a minimum of one science is compulsory at her school and she is deciding which two she wants to take.

I think we probably will get her extra maths help, @InefficientProcess , as you say, it will bolster that general foundation.

Interesting point about maths and physics ‘backing each other up’, @sashh , I’ll talk to her about that.

If she wanted to consider a level science she needs the double certification integrated science minimum, there's lots of crossover!

My dd got a*'s at a level from double science

Can you explain this further please? Are you saving that Double Award science would be preferable to doing separate Biology and Chemistry if she wanted to do a science A level? And are you counting A level Geography as a science A level?

It's unusual to do science at A-level without A-level maths possible with chemistry and biology but most students do maths to. You need to look carefully at university requirements to make sure she doesn't limit her options.

In England what a lot off schools do is start them off on GCSE science double and then only offer singles to students who are in the top classes, then they would do all three individually. So offering for them to do separate from the start and just picking 2 doesn't happen, most either do double science or all 3 separate. She would need a higher grade in double though to do A-level's. So picking separate GCSE'S is maybe a good option if she wants to do A-level's.

I'd have a really good chat to school, as they will know the options in Ireland. My only renovation as a parent would be if she drops physics without knowing how she would do in it now she is limiting her options more. As she may find applying maths in more real life situations easier.

But her teachers will have a better understanding of her abilities, hence why having a good discussion with them now is a good idea.