[isp]

I'm planning on taking the whole A-Level within one year with support from teachers (board will be Edexcel). Is it difficult in particular? Any opinions from those who self-taught Physics and those who had a teacher will be great.

I have two options for the whole A-Level:

- Learn the AS within two months and join the A2 class starting from September
- Start in September with the AS (AS exams taken in January) and then start A2 from January onwards with A2 exams taken in June.

Another option is just to do the AS although I don't see much point in that.

Reason for wanting to do Physics: I'm applying for either Maths or Computer Science (maybe even joint) for 2013 entry and majority of applicants for Comp Sci usually have Physics at A-Level (I'm taking Maths and FM already if that matters - already have an A* in Maths)

Mods: If you could leave this thread within the A-Level section as the Physics section is very inactive.

[IcedTea&PotNoodle]

I couldn't do it in two years. Good luck.

[DeathByBSOD]

(Original post by isp)
I'm planning on taking the whole A-Level within one year with support from teachers (board will be Edexcel). Is it difficult in particular? Any opinions from those who self-taught Physics and those who had a teacher will be great.

I have two options:

- Learn the AS within two months and join the A2 class starting from September
- Start in September with the AS (AS exams taken in January) and then start A2 from January onwards with A2 exams taken in June.

Mods: If you could leave this thread within the A-Level section as the Physics section is very inactive.

Physics is not like maths, Its not only examination based...

I also hear that the edexcel physics course is very hard, However if you have a taste for physics AND a very good physics teacher AND you actually start revising hard you will find this easy =)

Im following the edexcel physics course alevel starting this september. I reccomend that you dont do this, As edexcel physics is not only based on exams, as their are practical assessments aswell, So check with your teacher/ examination officer for that. What i would do is:

1) Complete AS Physics Examination modules (Unit 1, Unit 2) in January
2) With all this free time, then prepare to score high marks on the physics practical test (Unit 3).
3) Do the same with A2 (next year) or if your confident, Do units 4 or 5 or both at the june examination series.

However, Be prepared that your social life will be non existant. =)

[Escapade]

I think it'd be pretty difficult to attempt to learn the entire AS year in two months, especially on your own. So I'd probably go with the second option.

[randomguy786]

Yes it's definitely possible. I taught myself AS Physics in the December holidays and got a high A. I then taught myself A2 physics and took it this June. If you put the hours in, it's easily possible.

[DeathByBSOD]

(Original post by Escapade)
I think it'd be pretty difficult to attempt to learn the entire AS year in two months, especially on your own. So I'd probably go with the second option.

But the thing is you would have the whole summer holidays + December Holidays + Sep-December teaching period. Surely that is enough?

[DeathByBSOD]

(Original post by randomguy786)
Yes it's definitely possible. I taught myself AS Physics in the December holidays and got a high A. I then taught myself A2 physics and took it this June. If you put the hours in, it's easily possible.

But what about the Practical assessments? Would you be able to take both of those in year 12?

[lukas1051]

You could try but it would be bloody difficult. I know for a fact I could have never done it in a year, physics requires a lot of practice and a lot of understanding. People think it's simply a case of using formulas - it isn't. It's a lot different from GCSE, I got an A* at GCSE easily and I found A-level really hard. Another thing you may want to consider is coursework, I don't know how it works with EdExcel (if at all) but ours was very time consuming. The A2 experimental piece used up six double lessons on the actual experiments alone.

[AspiringGenius]

I am pplanning to do this. What I am doing is self teaching the AS in the summer. Then I am entering both AS and A2 classes.

[isp]

(Original post by lukas1051)
You could try but it would be bloody difficult. I know for a fact I could have never done it in a year, physics requires a lot of practice and a lot of understanding. People think it's simply a case of using formulas - it isn't. It's a lot different from GCSE, I got an A* at GCSE easily and I found A-level really hard. Another thing you may want to consider is coursework, I don't know how it works with EdExcel (if at all) but ours was very time consuming. The A2 experimental piece used up six double lessons on the actual experiments alone.

I've edited my first post to make it more clear (reason for wanting to pick up Physics)

Reason: I'm applying for either Maths or Maths & Computer Science for 2013 entry and majority of applicants for Comp Sci usually have Physics at A-Level (I'm taking Maths and FM already if that matters - already have an A* in Maths)

Another option is just to do the AS although I don't see much point in that.

[randomguy786]

(Original post by DeathByBSOD)
But what about the Practical assessments? Would you be able to take both of those in year 12?

Yes I took all 3 AS practicals in 3 days and all 3 A2 ones in 3 days.

Physics A-Level is actually incredibly easy. You just need to memorise the equations in the book (the equations are given in the exam, but memorising them makes it 10 times easier), understand everything and then do past papers.

Past papers are essential for a high grade because the exam boards just repeat the same questions over and over again, but with different wording. There's only so much they can test you on and the physics syllabus is quite small compared to the other subjects I took (Biology and Chemistry).