A Levels for Mathematics (or Physics) at Cambridge?

I know Maths, Further Maths and Physics are pretty much a necessity if you want a place at Cambridge for Mathematics, but do admissions tutors look at the fourth A level? For example, would someone doing a Chemistry A level have better chances of getting an offer than someone doing a modern foreign language?

I can still change my options, and any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 1

ily_em

I doubt it would make much difference, since most people only do three subjects to A2 anyway :dontknow:

They're more interested in how you're doing in maths + FM and how well you do in STEP as far as I know. Do whatever you'd prefer and think you'd get a better grade in.

Reply 2

und

Sorry for reviving my own old thread, but would it still not make much of a difference if I was interested in doing Physics at degree level? I understand to study Physics at Cambridge for example, you have to apply for Natural Sciences, and I was wondering whether they'd prefer someone with Chemistry.

Thanks

Reply 3

Nymthae

From what I understood at the open day down the NatSci route you go 'Physical' or 'Biological' - typically therefore, Chemistry/Physics and then Chemistry/Biology are probably the best 2 for both. You can choose the modules though and therefore you pick based on what you've previously studied/want to specialise in. I suspect there's a list of the modules you can take - so say one year - Maths, Physics A, Physics B etc. something like that. It would probably make more sense that the more sciences at a-level the better it fits - as opposed to an irrelevant arts subject. You don't need to offer all 4 though!

No doubt someone on here will be studying it now though so they should probably have an accurate answer, sorry!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 4

Slowbro93

if you are doing natural sciences, then having chem A Level will be better

For Maths, it doesn't really matter

Reply 5

und

What if we were looking beyond degree level? Consider this hypothetical situation:

I apply for physics at Imperial and am accepted.
I finish my course with a first.

Would a prospective employer care about whether I chose Chemistry or Russian as a fourth A level? Despite my school churning out about 40 people to Oxbridge each year, the careers advice doesn't seem particularly strong (at least I didn't find it to be).

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 6

kerily

You don't actually need A2 Physics for maths either. It's 'desirable' and a lot of maths applicants happen to have physics, but I dropped it (horrendous teaching meant it was taking me an awful lot of time and not paying off in terms of grades), asked them if that was a good idea first, and they said they didn't really care as long as you got in M1-M3 in maths.