[Amirindo]

Its been 8 weeks since school started.
My as level subjects are
1.Physics
2.Chemistry
3.Design and Technology
4.ICT
5.Extended Project Qualification
My school didn't let me do maths because i got a very high C. I needed an A.
People say not having maths will get me knowhere, even though i am really good at sciences and maths, (i wasn't ready for my maths gcse, had family problems, big distraction, knew i could of done way better and get an A)

THEREFORE, i am resitting it in March, where i have my exams in January. So im free in march, and will start revising maths in december and practise practise practise till march.
So i can choose it for an AS next year along with my A2 subjects.

Would that increase my chances? and can i do full a2 maths next year or do i have to do it as an AS first then do foundation degree in university??

[Ankaret]

What subject do you want to apply for at uni?

[Cath-ay]

(Original post by Amirindo)
Would that increase my chances? and can i do full a2 maths next year or do i have to do it as an AS first then do foundation degree in university??

Possibly, depending on what course you want to read at uni. You can do AS and A2 Maths in a year if your school allows you, My friends is as she need it to do a degree in Chemistry. You should of course mention that you're doing A level maths in a year on your personal statement as well.

[Amirindo]

Hi thanks for replying

Well ive kept my choices open.
I love alot of courses..
But when i CHOOSE A COURSE IN THE END, after i get my grades, THEN I WILL DEDICATE MYSELF TO THAT SUBJECT.

the courses i love in favourite order:
1) Astrophysics/Astronomy/ Any sort of Scientist
2) Architecture
3) Engineering
4) Medicine
5) Natural sciences..
I am currently doing volunteering work, in a Nursing Home, once a week every sunday mornings for 3 hours. Will do that till like march... (so if i ever chose medicine, they would know i have a passion in helping and motivation in learning and developing stuff about medicine etc.)
Then i will go to work experience that relates to engineering, then architecture (possibly, not that important because a portfolio is needed to show them..)
And of course im doing EPQ - valued, doing something on Dark Matter and Dark Energy (related to the subject im always interested in)
So i wont stick to one place, because since i havent chosen yet, i need to keep my options open.
BUT ENGINEERING is MORE possible if i do Maths as next year, and if i wanted to do it, i would do a foundation degree since i wont have A2 maths...
Any advice?

[Ankaret]

Right, well for the subjects you have listed, maths is pretty essential. Is there really no way you can persuade your teachers to allow you to take it and swap either ICT or DT? Could you you get a letter from your doctor/parents etc. detailing your mitigating circumstances that lead to your C at GCSE? This really seems like the best way out. Taking an AS and A2 in one year is possible but not at all easy. Especially not with your other A2's.

However, universities can be very understanding towards such "mitigating" circumstances and, hence, if you explained the circumstances to them, you might get away with keeping what you have and attempting the whole A level in one year. Have you considered staying at sixth form an extra year? That could solve most of your problems and the work experience is fantastic as is the wonderfully relevant EPQ

Good Luck!

[s_libra]

If you really wanted to do maths could you not drop one and let the school know that you'll be attending the classes but that you'll pay for your exams privately? So if by the end of the year you've done well you've shown them that you really can do maths and after they should reimburse you?

[Ankaret]

Oh, yeah...and if you do it privately, it won't reflect on them. If you take the exam as a private candidate, it won't effect their Ofsted statistics which is why they would be worried about taking on C grade students.

[Amirindo]

thanks. ive tried all things uv said, my mum wrote a letter, they kept saying no.

Now its too late to change, my other subjects will suffer, and im not letting that happen, i want to get everything right in the first go. No resits, as uni's dont value resits.

Plus i dont know if i can do an extra year, is there such a thing? explain in detail please because im unsure.
And wouldn't uni's like people redoing years and resitting stuff? im not sure but im considering on taking AS maths next year, im sure uni's will understand.. I mean its better choosing it in the last year, rather than someone doing it in as and dropping it when A2 comes, it shows i wanted to do maths..
But i understand everything in physics when i revise, the maths in physics is easy for me.. The harder maths for a2 and unit 2 as PHYSICS are all on internet and in my text book which i can practise, anythings possible. PLUS, i do mechanics after january exams in physics, that is what all uni's want if someone wants to do engineering..

Oh, btw, wouldn't uni's already know that if i get full A - level Physics and Chemistry, that i have good mathematical skills? physics is an alternative to maths, physics solving is basically maths... So they must understand that i am good at maths if i get good grades for physics...

[Amirindo]

but isnt it too late to do maths ? it doesnt feel right doing it now.. my mocks are in 12 days..

[Sagacious]

(Original post by Amirindo)
and can i do full a2 maths next year or do i have to do it as an AS first then do foundation degree in university??

Well, if you get an A in GCSE Maths (you should be getting an A* really), then you could ask your headteacher to put you into the Further Maths class of the year below. They will be doing the whole Maths A-Level in the first year presumably. I can't see any other alternative. Unless you want to self-teach?

[Ankaret]

Some people, due to circumstances like yours, stay on for an extra year and get LOADS of extra stuff (to prove that they aren't being lazy) while catching up on what they weren't able to do. So, for instance, you could take maths AS next year, as well as your other A2's. Then, stay on an extra year, do the A2 maths and any other combination of respected AS's - biology, a language, geography, literature, further maths etc. Some people class it as a gap year except taking the time to study. For engineering and medicine, unless there is some way to get maths at a VERY good grade (which will be very, very difficult in your last year,) this is the only way I can see, really. For your other three university subjects, however, you may get away with having the subjects you do now and doing maths in your last year.

[Ankaret]

Also, universities are going to find it very difficult to give you offers for engineering (and maybe medicine) without any evidence of your advanced mathematical ability (as you won't have an AS grade when you apply - you will only have a C grade GCSE). Physics is good but it still isn't maths (or further maths which is what all the people I know who have engineering offers have.) So, it seems, either take an extra year or go for something other than engineering (I'm not sure about medicine) ?

[Amirindo]

Thank you ANKARET. and thanks everyone for all ur support.

Yes ur right. IF i ever wanted to choose engineering or astronomy, physics degree, etc etc, then i would be EXTREMELY HAPPY to do an extra year after getting full a level on physics chemistry, DT, and as maths , and the third year do other subjects i enjoy, like a2 maths, maybe geography and further maths, BUT i have NEVER heard such a thing, i mean am i allowed at all to do this? i thought a levels is 2 years only, and were not allowed extra years.. am i right? if we are, I WOULD BE OVER THE MOON SERIOUSLY because there are some subjects that i LOVE to learn, i want to be educated, JUST LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD, WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO.

But i dont want it to be a disadvantage for getting into university. As long as university looks at me just like any successful student, then i would definitely do an extra year.
So what should i do and what is right to do?

[Amirindo]

well cambridge says for medicine. chemistry is compulsory, then atleast one from either, Physics, Biology, Maths. I understand that i will be in a slight disadvantage compared to other students that have biology, some may even have 3 sciences... Some even get A stars but dont get accepted.... But the people who dont get accepted i believe are the people who want medicine because its high in pay but they get good results... So i think people get offers, if they REALLY REALLY WANT IT FOR THE REST of THEIR LIVES. some may get the best results, but dont have the right work experience, dont have a good personal statement, and not even a right attitude, some might want it because its diverse, and you get good money, but youve got to really love it. Of course money is important, i dont blame the the students, BUT in my opinion the students that get accepted are the ones who really want it, and when u want something really bad for a good purpose and passion, then sure it will be given to you.
We had assembly today, and my chemistry teacher was talking about if people wanting to do medicine. He said you will be in advantage if u do lots of work experience. he said you dont need the grades to be phenomenal, but if they are decent, u can still get in uni's for medicine if u show u love the career by doing volunteering work...

Sorry for the long message, lol goodluck to anyone in the world. But im not really sure on choosing at 16 years of age, which is why im keeping my options open as said before in my previous messages.

[Amirindo]

but we dont have to always look at cambridge or oxford, there are plenty of other good universities, IN THE END, WE ARE DOING ALL OF THIS FOR A CAREER, TO GO WORK EVERYDAY, GET MONEY, AND ENJOY LIVES, NOT GET A REWARD IN GOING TO THE BEST UNIVERSITY.

[Amirindo]

My sister is doing Biomedical Science, In sheffield University. She didnt do maths. she didnt need it for her course..
She did Biology, Chemistry, Sociology for her a-levels.. dropped psychology at when a2 started.

[Amirindo]

her best advice for me to revise in the weekend is:
Do my work and revison first..
Which means wake up in the morning, because our mind works best in that time... for memory stuff etc. (people are different though)
and start at 8 am or 9 am. work till 5pm. With short or medium breaks in between of course..
And after 5pm just rest, and have free time. This is what she and her friends do, and its successful for all.
doing revision specially in the night isnt better than morning and day (FOR WEEKENDS ONLY) because when people come back from school its night really quick. BUT people work best in different ways, just wanted to share out random advice, lol