[..lauren]

I am interested in studying Physics or Maths with Physics at University. I'm already doing AH Maths and Physics next year, but I was just wondering if anyone is sitting/has sat that AH Applied Maths Mechanics couse and if it is viable to self teach the course.

My school doesn't offer the course but hopefully they would be able to assign me with a tutor to see maybe one period a week, or even in my AH maths teacher.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[nerd434]

What Universities are you thinking of applying to? Is AH Applied Maths essential?

[mimx]

You should be OK, especially if you're already doing physics.

(Original post by nerd434)
What Universities are you thinking of applying to? Is AH Applied Maths essential?

AH Applied Maths is only asked for by some places, e.g. Oxbridge and a couple of other English universities. Scottish ones might like it too but I don't think its required anywhere.

[..lauren]

(Original post by nerd434)
What Universities are you thinking of applying to? Is AH Applied Maths essential?

(Original post by mimx)
You should be OK, especially if you're already doing physics.
AH Applied Maths is only asked for by some places, e.g. Oxbridge and a couple of other English universities. Scottish ones might like it too but I don't think its required anywhere.

As far as I know it isn't required anywhere, but I'd just be interested in doing it because it's more relevant than other courses.
I'm not sure where I'm going to apply to. I don't know wether to apply to Oxford (not cambridge because of the NatSci arrangement). I'll probably end up just applying to the top Scottish Unis.
Is it pointless doing it with Maths and Physics?

[mimx]

Cambridge require it I believe, or at least recommend Mechanics in general so strongly as to imply you might not get an offer for Maths without doing a decent amount of it. I've never taken (AH) Physics so whether there is enough (and sufficiently advanced) Mechanics in there I don't know, but exposure to as much of this kind of material as possible can only be a good thing.

Not that you're applying there but ho hum.

(Original post by ..lauren)
As far as I know it isn't required anywhere, but I'd just be interested in doing it because it's more relevant than other courses.

To be clear I meant you should be fine to self study Mechanics if you're already doing Physics, not you'll be fine with just Physics so don't do Mechanics.

[..lauren]

(Original post by mimx)
Cambridge require it I believe, or at least recommend Mechanics in general so strongly as to imply you might not get an offer for Maths without doing a decent amount of it. I've never taken (AH) Physics so whether there is enough (and sufficiently advanced) Mechanics in there I don't know, but exposure to as much of this kind of material as possible can only be a good thing.

Not that you're applying there but ho hum.

To be clear I meant you should be fine to self study Mechanics if you're already doing Physics, not you'll be fine with just Physics so don't do Mechanics.

I don't think that there is particularly a lot of mechanics in AH Physics, but hopefully theres some of it! How much are you timetabled for it?

And I know that was a response to nerd434's question, bu t thanks :P

[AeroLB]

Not required at any uni, but may not be favourable by English unis as a 3rd subject as it is SO similar to AH maths and physics...

I started it but never wasted my time on it. At the end of the day, it is another AH, but virtually everything is covered in maths and physics. Would also be very easy to self teach if you really wanted alongside maths and phys. Also, physics has an entire unit on mechanics, and the pure maths section of the applied paper is what is learned in pure maths.

[..lauren]

(Original post by AeroLB)
Not required at any uni, but may not be favourable by English unis as a 3rd subject as it is SO similar to AH maths and physics...

I started it but never wasted my time on it. At the end of the day, it is another AH, but virtually everything is covered in maths and physics. Would also be very easy to self teach if you really wanted alongside maths and phys. Also, physics has an entire unit on mechanics, and the pure maths section of the applied paper is what is learned in pure maths.

Thanks for the advice.
Do you think it would be pointless then? Would they credit it if it's almost all the same work?

[mimx]

It depends on the university you're applying to. I know some places make offers as if it's a completely separate subject and some don't. It works a bit like the Further Maths A-Level in that regard.

If you meet entry quals for where you want to go without it and you want to do it then why not. If it's going to be part of your core offer then maybe email the unis and see. IMO if you want to do Maths though the more related stuff you do the better.

If you want to find out how much overlap there is you can read the course specs:

AH Physics [from page 5]
AH Mechanics [from page 16]

[..lauren]

(Original post by mimx)
It depends on the university you're applying to. I know some places make offers as if it's a completely separate subject and some don't. It works a bit like the Further Maths A-Level in that regard.

If you meet entry quals for where you want to go without it and you want to do it then why not. If it's going to be part of your core offer then maybe email the unis and see. IMO if you want to do Maths though the more related stuff you do the better.

If you want to find out how much overlap there is you can read the course specs:

AH Physics [from page 5]
AH Mechanics [from page 16]

None of the Universities I'm applying for even require advanced highers :P Unless I DO decide to apply to Oxford, but I'm not sure about that, and in that case they only need two AH, although a third is preferred. It's physics or maybe physics with/and maths I want to do, and this is relevant to both, so I'm sure it can't hurt! I just need to decide wether to take it over AH RMPS or Higher Philosophy :/

Thanks

[mimx]

Have you considered second year entry? You might be a bit bored doing first year at Scottish unis if you've done AHs already.

[..lauren]

(Original post by mimx)
Have you considered second year entry? You might be a bit bored doing first year at Scottish unis if you've done AHs already.

I have actually! I'm not really sure about it because most unis are quite vague about it, but I will e-mail the admissions people about it if I ever get round to it :P

[TheUnbeliever]

Vague in what way?

[..lauren]

(Original post by TheUnbeliever)
Vague in what way?

Requirements for second year entry. They say things like "If your advanced higher grades are exceptional you may be considered for second year entry."

[Slumpy]

(Original post by ..lauren)
I don't think that there is particularly a lot of mechanics in AH Physics, but hopefully theres some of it! How much are you timetabled for it?

And I know that was a response to nerd434's question, bu t thanks :P

Unit 1 physics is all mechanics, as it was at higher. I found mechanics was basically Unit 1 AH maths, Unit 1 AH physics, Unit 1 H physics+a couple of little bits, and some slight changes in notation. Easy enough to self teach if you're doing maths+physics and are relatively diligent.
As for whether to take it or not, I'd probably only do it as a 4/5th AH, but I doubt most unis would mind it(most of my offers were on maths and mechanics grades, though this was for maths).

[..lauren]

(Original post by Slumpy)
Unit 1 physics is all mechanics, as it was at higher. I found mechanics was basically Unit 1 AH maths, Unit 1 AH physics, Unit 1 H physics+a couple of little bits, and some slight changes in notation. Easy enough to self teach if you're doing maths+physics and are relatively diligent.
As for whether to take it or not, I'd probably only do it as a 4/5th AH, but I doubt most unis would mind it(most of my offers were on maths and mechanics grades, though this was for maths).

I've looked through the syllabuses for all three courses (AH Maths, Physics and Applied Maths) and it struck me just how much they overlapped! Yea, I think I might pick it up on top of my subjects as a 4th adv higher instead of replacing something else with it Thanks.

[Domeface]

I'm thinking of doing AH Applied Maths: Stats next year, and like you OP I'll be self-teaching - just wondering what resources / textbooks you're using to teach yourself? I'm having trouble finding any but if you've found decent Mechanics stuff then maybe there'll be some for Stats from the same people?

[AeroLB]

(Original post by Domeface)
I'm thinking of doing AH Applied Maths: Stats next year, and like you OP I'll be self-teaching - just wondering what resources / textbooks you're using to teach yourself? I'm having trouble finding any but if you've found decent Mechanics stuff then maybe there'll be some for Stats from the same people?

Tbh, you'd be hard pushed to find textbooks for any AH course...

We used A-Level mechanics textbooks for mechanics, and had a specialised teacher to come in and teach. In this respect, it may be very difficult for you to self-teach.

[TheUnbeliever]

(Original post by Domeface)
I'm thinking of doing AH Applied Maths: Stats next year, and like you OP I'll be self-teaching - just wondering what resources / textbooks you're using to teach yourself? I'm having trouble finding any but if you've found decent Mechanics stuff then maybe there'll be some for Stats from the same people?

There's a set (one per unit, money grabbing much?) of Maths In Action textbooks for AH Statistics. If I was at home, I might have some of my other materials still kicking around if I didn't throw them out. On the other hand, it's pretty standard introductory material - there's plenty of coverage of the topics online. I don't think self-teaching would be a problem.

[mimx]

Maths is nice though because it has a more uniform way of doing things, so you're in a better situation using A-Level books than for other stuff. Personally I used the OCR 'Advanced Mathematics' textbooks which I thought were pretty good.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0521548934/