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The best A-levels to take for a Physics degree

I am currently choosing my AS/A level subjects and I am basing them mainly on my hope to progress to a Physics course at university (preferably Oxbridge) upon completion.

I have been getting very mixed advice ranging from it being necessary to take Further Mathematics to it only being necessary to take Physics.

I will be taking four AS levels and my heart is currently set on Physics, Mathematics, History (to retain my writing skills) and a fourth, currently unknown subject.

So, my question is, what would be the best subject to take as a fourth AS? Bearing in mind my ambition to secure a place at either Oxford or Cambridge, would it be best to go for Chemistry, Further Mathematics, etc.?

Any advice would be much appreciated! :smile:

PS - Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this thread, wasn't exactly sure where best to put it! :confused:

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Reply 1
If you're applying to Oxford, I would definitely go for further maths.

If you're going to apply to Cambridge, bear in mind that you would be doing Natural Sciences and would have to do two other experimental sciences besides Physics in your first year. If you only do Physics, maths and further maths at A level your options would be a bit more limited to Physics, Computer Science, Materials... you couldn't do Part IA Chemistry without A level Chemistry. However, if you're definitely intending to eventually specialise in Physics I would again go for further maths. On their list of most useful A level subject combinations, they have Maths, Physics and Further Maths, and of further maths and chemistry, further maths is classed as more useful for Part IA Physics. :smile:

You might want to look at:
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/part1a.html and
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduates/applications/entrance-requirements
(edited 10 years ago)
As above, I think you'd get the most out of choosing further maths as your fourth option.
Reply 3
Further maths is definitely the best option. The material from further maths is taught in the first year mathematics course (for Cambridge at least), but the pace is very quick and I could imagine it being significantly more difficult if you had not met the material before. Physics degrees are very mathematical so you will want as much proficiency with mathematics as possible.

Claree is right about a lack of chemistry limiting you 1A Natural Sciences options to an extent, but you could conceivably take options like materials science or earth science without too much trouble.
Reply 4
Original post by Claree
If you're applying to Oxford, I would definitely go for further maths.

If you're going to apply to Cambridge, bear in mind that you would be doing Natural Sciences and would have to do two other experimental sciences besides Physics in your first year. If you only do Physics, maths and further maths at A level your options would be a bit more limited to Physics, Computer Science, Materials... you couldn't do Part IA Chemistry without A level Chemistry. However, if you're definitely intending to eventually specialise in Physics I would again go for further maths. On their list of most useful A level subject combinations, they have Maths, Physics and Further Maths, and of further maths and chemistry, further maths is classed as more useful for Part IA Physics. :smile:

You might want to look at:
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/part1a.html and
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduates/applications/entrance-requirements


Thank you so much! The links have been extremely helpful! :smile: Cambridge is the university I am leaning towards the most, so I think I will go with Further Maths. :smile: Do you think it would be worth substituting History with Chemistry so I could have both Chemistry and Further Maths for the NatSci course?? :smile:
Reply 5
Original post by birdy pie 111
Thank you so much! The links have been extremely helpful! :smile: Cambridge is the university I am leaning towards the most, so I think I will go with Further Maths. :smile: Do you think it would be worth substituting History with Chemistry so I could have both Chemistry and Further Maths for the NatSci course?? :smile:
If you want a competitive Sciences application, then you should drop History.
Reply 6
Original post by Hudzy
Claree is right about a lack of chemistry limiting you 1A Natural Sciences options to an extent, but you could conceivably take options like materials science or earth science without too much trouble.


That's why I'm starting to think it might be useful to just switch History to Chemistry. :confused:
Further mathematics absolutely. You will go over quite quickly further mathematics material in your first year anyway, so doing it would be an advantage.
Reply 8
Original post by Namige
If you want a competitive Sciences application, then you should drop History.


That might be the best way to go, especially because I'm 100% sure I want to follow a career in the Physics field, so there isn't any need for me to 'keep my options open'. :smile:
Reply 9
Definitely Further Maths and then the 4th one should just be something your interested in to give you a more diverse application. Physics and double maths are the only subjects ever specified for a physics application.
Original post by AlphaNick
I'm in exactly the same boat as you... I definitely want to take Physics, Maths and FM, but I have a dilemma over History or Chemistry... I know chemistry would be better for a competitive app, but is it really necessary if you want to go purely physical?


It's good to know I'm not the only one struggling with this! :biggrin: Everyone else I know seems to be so certain!
Original post by we1shcake
Definitely Further Maths and then the 4th one should just be something your interested in to give you a more diverse application. Physics and double maths are the only subjects ever specified for a physics application.


I am definitely interested in History, and my History teacher makes a habit of constantly telling me there are many transferable skills that can be applied to Physics. :tongue: I'm just unsure whether a fourth contrasting subject (to show I have a wide range of ability) or a fourth science subject would make me a more competitive applicant. :confused:
Reply 12
Original post by birdy pie 111


So, my question is, what would be the best subject to take as a fourth AS? Bearing in mind my ambition to secure a place at either Oxford or Cambridge, would it be best to go for Chemistry, Further Mathematics, etc.?


If your school offers Further Maths, then you really ought to take:
1. Physics
2. Maths
3. Further Maths

Because most other applicants will be doing Further Maths, and you'll need some explaining to do at interview as to why you didn't choose it when you had the opportunity (usually the only people that they're fine for not taking Further Maths is when their school doesn't offer it, but even then quite often they would teach it to themselves outside of school)

For Cambridge, there are two normal entries into Physics:
1) (the usual one) via Natural Sciences
2) via Mathematics with Physics

Most people who apply for NatSci also do Chemistry + either Physics or Biology (since in your 1st year you study maths + three sciences, though you have new options like Geology and Computing as well as Chemistry etc.), so if you're interested in Cambridge that'd be a sensible 4th.
Having said that I know one guy who got in without Chemistry (though at interview they purposefully asked him stuff on basic chemistry to see how he'd cope)

Some also go through the 2nd option, but that's really if you're very good at maths since you'll have to go through the same maths interviews and eventually do STEP, where you'll definitely need Further Maths. Your 4th doesn't matter.

For Oxford you can only apply for straight Physics, but it would still be very wise to do Further Maths for the above reasons. Again your 4th doesn't really matter.
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 13
Original post by birdy pie 111
I am definitely interested in History, and my History teacher makes a habit of constantly telling me there are many transferable skills that can be applied to Physics. :tongue: I'm just unsure whether a fourth contrasting subject (to show I have a wide range of ability) or a fourth science subject would make me a more competitive applicant. :confused:


I don't think the contrasting subject is necessary. The majority of the course is based on problem-solving rather than extended writing, so the ability to think scientifically is much more important than the ability to write essays.
Original post by piguy
Most people who apply for NatSci also do Chemistry + either Physics or Biology (since in your 1st year you study maths + three sciences, though you have new options like Geology and Computing as well as Chemistry etc.), so if you're interested in Cambridge that'd be a sensible 4th.


From your advice and the fact that I do really want to go to Cambridge, I think it would be a good idea for me to take Chemistry as well as Maths, Physics and Further Maths. :smile: Plus, I'm better at Chemistry than I am at History so that could be the difference between good grades and great grades :biggrin:
Original post by Claree
If you're applying to Oxford, I would definitely go for further maths.

If you're going to apply to Cambridge, bear in mind that you would be doing Natural Sciences and would have to do two other experimental sciences besides Physics in your first year. If you only do Physics, maths and further maths at A level your options would be a bit more limited to Physics, Computer Science, Materials... you couldn't do Part IA Chemistry without A level Chemistry. However, if you're definitely intending to eventually specialise in Physics I would again go for further maths. On their list of most useful A level subject combinations, they have Maths, Physics and Further Maths, and of further maths and chemistry, further maths is classed as more useful for Part IA Physics. :smile:

You might want to look at:
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/
http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/part1a.html and
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduates/applications/entrance-requirements


He isn't limited to the Nat Sci route if he applies to Cambridge, he could do the Maths with Physics course and then continue with just Physics from the second year onwards.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Boy_wonder_95
He isn't limited to the Nat Sci route if he applies to Cambridge, he could do the Maths with Physics course and then continue with just Physics from the second year onwards.


I am a girl - just thought I'd put that out there! :biggrin: I actually hadn't thought of doing the Maths with Physics course, so I will definitely be looking into that! :smile:
I'd say further maths goes into those subjects as well. And about the history debate.. I think you should choose a subject that you like and are interested in... It doesn't have to be a science subject.. So if you truly like history then go for it... I think you need to make sure you do well in 3 and the fourth one can be anything you like... Even music. They need to see passion for your chosen subject but also something unique about you that separates you from other candidates
Original post by GalaxygunnerX
I think you should choose a subject that you like and are interested in... It doesn't have to be a science subject.. So if you truly like history then go for it...


This was very reassuring :smile: Thank you!
Reply 19
Original post by birdy pie 111
I am definitely interested in History, and my History teacher makes a habit of constantly telling me there are many transferable skills that can be applied to Physics. :tongue: I'm just unsure whether a fourth contrasting subject (to show I have a wide range of ability) or a fourth science subject would make me a more competitive applicant. :confused:

having asked around the alot year on all the open days they really dont care what your 4th subject is. And they will make you an even if you only do 3 to A2, as long as your marks in the important 3 are good. Your best off just picking your 4th as just something you will enjoy and have fun doing.

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