A level physics, how hard is this truthfully?

[southeastastra]

ds is thinking of doing this, ime it's exceptionally hard (well was at o level) what is the A level like?

ds is doing double gcse science atm predicted B

Of course, the absolute best thing about maths and science subjects is that you don't need to remember anything (unlike the olden days). They give you a booklet with all the formulae you need. As long as you've grasped the concepts the exams are really quite straightforward.

I'd be concerned that he will find it hard if he's 'only' getting Bs at maths and science. In recent years at my school, of the students who started AS maths having got a B, around 70% dropped out or failed the AS course.
Sounds harsh, but you wouldn't want him to waste his year!

He needs to sit down with his Physics teacher and ask them what they think. Some of the B grade students I taught last year who are doing AS Physics this year are doing fine, while others are struggling. I could have predicted which ones would be in which group reasonably well this time last year.

It isn't really relevant how difficult other people have found it, or whether it is easier than it was 25 years ago. Your DS needs some good advice about his own prospects, from people who know him and the subject.

SEA: all my class were actively put off taking A level maths by our GCSE maths teacher (we were the top set ). I had to take it because i wanted to do a mechanical engineering degree.
it turned out to be my best (and favourite) subject.
GCSE teacher had said it was like a new language, but actually, it was great.

and it was easier than Physics.

(again B grade at GCSE)

I found A Level Physics perfectly "doable" (did get an A at it ). I did A Levels in Maths with Mechanics, Further Maths and Chemistry and doing Mechanics really helped with Physics. There were people do either Maths with Statistics or not doing Maths at all who did Physics, but they found it harder.

Physics has this reputation for being hard because if your mind isn't right for it it is very hard. But, if your mind is right for it it is very easy.

I would be worried that a BB at Science & Additional Science could be an indication that he might struggle. It's worth talking to the school and seeing if the physics modules within that are stronger overall or if physics is the weaker element. If the physics is stronger and the biology & chem is pulling it down, then I'd be less concerned. Motivation to do well at a subject can compensate to a fairly large degree for a lack of natural ability, but there will be effort involved. Wanting to do Physics 'because there doesn't seem to be another subject he can take instead' doesn't sound as though he's all that motivated though - but you did also say he really enjoys it, so maybe I'm getting the wrong idea here. If he can say he wants to do it because it really interests him and he's prepared to work at it when the concepts are hard, then that's a good indicator that it's worth a try.

I wouldn't worry at all about not doing triple science - the A level course follows on from the double and there is pitifully little content in the extra physics GCSE paper that makes up the difference between Additional Science and a separate Physics GCSE (It covers some electric concepts including transformers, and nuclear fission & fusion as I recall - and maybe some optics, can't remember if that is in additional or not).

My Dcs school will take people on the A level Physics course with either BB at science/additional science GCSE or B at Physics GCSE.

Noah: interesting about the maths/mechanics, maths/stats - we only had the option of doing maths/stats and i didn't find it made physics harder nto doing mechanics.
have to say, by the time i got to degree level, the mechanics would have made life easier! but people at university i knew said that they felt they were doing physics twice havegin done mechanics.

thanks all, i know it's up to him and his teachers but want other views too.

i feel i would be doing him a disservice if i maybe try to get him to do something else.

i know he's only on track to get a b. but surely in the small classes that A level will bring will can only help him more.

what i'm saying is that if he was in a better school with smaller classes maybe his 'b' would b an A and i have to give him tthat chance, no?

I don't think you will do him a disservice if you at least encourage him to explore all the options and find out the likely outcomes for each.

Most A level classes are small, so that in itself won't benefit him any more than it benefits anyone else, but if he gets a good teacher who is prepared to help him that will make a huge difference.

thanks snorkie, this thread has been helpful! he really isn't interested in taking any other subjects