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Secondary education

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A Levels - Maths Physics History

17 replies

LattePatty · 29/10/2025 11:41

Hello. This is the combination my son is considering based on what he enjoys and what he is good at (he is predicted 8 8 9 in these subjects). They’re all good subjects but is this a crazy combination? Anyone’s child done this? And what if any further study is it a good fit for?

I asked him what subjects he loved and he said Music Tech but he’s a bright academic boy and doesn’t want to study this at A Level (unfortunately he chose not to take Music GCSE)

Thank you.

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Doorlockhandle321 · 29/10/2025 11:57

What does he want to do afterwards? I'm no expert but have had 3 dc go through the decision process and dc3 now in year 12 chose those options originally (swapped to politics from history at last minute). Got 8,8, in maths and physics. It was actually encouraged by teachers to do one essay based subject for variety, keep doors open and show you can write.
From what Ive seen of my 3 you really need subjects you enjoy because theres less subjects, you get deeper into them and also have to be motivated to do the out of class work (which amounts to several hours a week per subject).
Dc2 did similar doing 2 sciences and history.
Something dc were advised to do when choosing options was to work backwards from where your aiming for (so if you wanted to be a mechanical engineer you need physics, maths and one other but if you wanted to be a different kind of engineer you might need chemistry), if you dont know where your aiming for put different combinations of alevels into a university website (i forget which one we used) and see what your options would be.

Cantseetreesforthewood · 29/10/2025 12:06

One of DS's mates is doing a pretty similar combination. He has a degree in mind, and it will be ok. But if he changes his mind it could be tight.
https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/a-level-explorer
(I think you need to sign up) will chuck out some suggestions of what is open to him. Could be worth a look, just to see if there is something he us disappointed doesn't come up, or lots of things that interest him.

Which Degree Courses Do Your A-Levels Suit? - The Uni Guide

https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/a-level-explorer

LattePatty · 29/10/2025 12:12

Thank you both. He currently wants to be an engineer but there’s a part of me that wonders if that’s because his dad (and his dad’s dad) are engineers. But I don’t know how to get to the bottom of that.

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Whyherewego · 29/10/2025 12:13

He may find philosophy a better companion to maths and physics and I think there are some uni courses which combine these. Ultimately though he's got to love what he takes as good results will go further than anything else !

SundayMondayMyDay · 29/10/2025 12:15

If he wants to do anything physics-y at uni (or engineering) then he does also need maths. So maths and physics are a good pair to take together - and in fact, (perhaps depending on the exam board) there are some overlapping parts of the syllabus in physics and maths at A level so it can help.

But on the other hand, physics is really really hard! When my ds sat his A levels (inc Maths & Physics) in 2023, the grade boundary for an A in Physics was approx 50 per cent… the questions in the exams were so bizarre and difficult, and not straightforward at all. I don’t understand why an exam board would design an exam that the vast majority of students wouldn’t even be able to score 50 per cent on… it seems crazy to me. It’s a good idea to look historically (over last 4 years?) at his school to see what proportion of those taking physics get what grades. To do well at physics takes a lot of past papers and practice!

If he wants to do maths at uni, then I think a lot (??? I don’t know though, so you will need to check) will require further maths as well??? (But you need to check that).

Perhaps he should do a free online personality test (like a myers brigs), to see what that throws up as possible suitable choices?

Also as a pp mentioned, there is definitely a website where you can put in what you are considering studying and for what you can do at uni with it - is it something called university choices or something? I think there may be links to it on the ucas website??

A key thing is to keep as many of his possible options open (for uni study) as you can - while it’s not impossible (eg if you chose physics A level and not maths a level, then decided you wanted to do a physics degree, it may involve a foundation year first to make up for no maths A level)), it certainly makes life easier if you know what future options are possible with what combinations, and what future options aren’t.

LattePatty · 29/10/2025 12:19

Thank you. He says he definitely doesn’t want to do further maths.

I am not sure what kind of engineering he has in mind (or he might not even know).

Currently he really enjoys physics. But I loved chemistry at gcse and then A level was really hard!

Is this the website you mean or a different one? It doesn’t seem to narrow things down much. https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/

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LattePatty · 29/10/2025 12:22

Whyherewego · 29/10/2025 12:13

He may find philosophy a better companion to maths and physics and I think there are some uni courses which combine these. Ultimately though he's got to love what he takes as good results will go further than anything else !

His current school offers PRE but not Philosophy as stand alone. He isn’t doing PRE at GCSE.

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Knittedanimal · 29/10/2025 12:26

My daughter is doing maths, psychology, English literature and further maths at a level.
I spend alot of time poking about on university websites for courses that might suit her as she can't decide which direction to choose for her degree.
I found this
https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5516
There was also a history of maths course at one of the London top unis, can't remember which ond just now.
Uni of Glasgow is the only RG to offer joint honours in maths and an arts/humanities subject, so maths/literature or maths/history would be possible.

Course: BO1.1 History of Mathematics (2024-25) | Mathematical Institute

https://courses.maths.ox.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5516

LattePatty · 29/10/2025 12:26

Another 6th form he’s applying to does offer Philosophy & Ethics. But I don’t think he’s considered that.

I did suggest Economics but a friend said no point studying at A Level (I think the same about Psychology which I did as a degree so I see her point).

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LattePatty · 29/10/2025 12:27

It’s so hard and I want him to be independent and make his own choices but I want to help him if I can

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FenceBooksCycle · 29/10/2025 12:30

That sounds like a brilliant combination and there's nothing wrong with it at all. Too many young people get the mistaken impression that they are supposed to choose either all STEM or all arts/humanities at 16 and that's not true and often not beneficial. Having an essay subject along 2 numbery subjects is an excellent thing to do and will give huge benefits.

TheFallenMadonna · 29/10/2025 12:31

My son did those 3 subjects and followed up with a history degree.

HedyPrism · 29/10/2025 13:03

Great combination that leaves lots of doors open - not strange at all!

ohtowinthelottery · 29/10/2025 13:19

My DS also wanted to be an engineer (or so he thought) and studied Maths, Physics, Chemistry at A level. He applied to and got a place at Uni to study engineering, did the 1st year and then decided that it definitely wasn't for him, and dropped out.
He then decided he'd like to study History instead, so applied elsewhere for the following year. He was accepted to study History even with his Maths & Science A levels, although he did study A level History in 5 months by correspondence course as I wanted to be certain he was happy with essay writing (never his strong point at school and not a big feature in his A level subjects). He went on to do a History Masters. Much as he'd have liked a job using his historical knowledge, his current role does not involve it at all, but the sort of job he was after were like hen's teeth or low paid, part time roles.

LivelyViper · 29/10/2025 13:44

LattePatty · 29/10/2025 12:26

Another 6th form he’s applying to does offer Philosophy & Ethics. But I don’t think he’s considered that.

I did suggest Economics but a friend said no point studying at A Level (I think the same about Psychology which I did as a degree so I see her point).

I wouldn't say there's no point to economics at A-level. It's a great subject, quite useful in understanding the world, he might want to use it later on. Why do you think he shouldn't do it? Expose him to different subject areas such as economics, politics etc. But also make sure he decides and is happy with the options he chooses.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 29/10/2025 13:46

That's a really nice combination of A Levels. To give context, I have been a teacher (primarily of 6th Form) into the past and I also have a physics degree and a PhD. I did maths, physics and a language for my A Levels and I stood out a bit amongst the maths, physics, geography/chemistry/FM crowd. I had a good grade in it and it showed I could write as well as do calculations. Also it gave my brain a break from that sort of learning!

PerpetualOptimist · 29/10/2025 14:11

I have children who did a mix of maths, a physical science and a social science or humanity and they thoroughly enjoyed that. The combination gelled for them and kept various broad options open. It mean they practised fluency in words and numbers, so to speak.

With History A level, it might be worth finding out what periods are covered and whether those align with the periods they enjoyed at GCSE. Mine preferred the mote modern periods and were faced with studying the Tudors in depth; so Politics and Economics A levels were sensible alternatives for them to consider.

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