Engineering - personal benefits? Is Maths A- Level necessary?

I know there are different types of engineers and sort of what each of them do and specialise in, but what can I actually do with engineering personally? So outside of an actual job. I'd mainly like to know this for Structural, Mechanical and Civil engineering, but all others are welcome too.

Also, would I need a Maths A- level for it, or would Physics and Chemistry suffice? My other chosen subjects are ICT & Computing (since my sixth form doesn't offer Computer Science) and Biology, but I don't really want to give them up, and I'm not allowed to do more than four.

I know there are different types of engineers and sort of what each of them do and specialise in, but what can I actually do with engineering personally? So outside of an actual job. I'd mainly like to know this for Structural, Mechanical and Civil engineering, but all others are welcome too.

Also, would I need a Maths A- level for it, or would Physics and Chemistry suffice? My other chosen subjects are ICT & Computing (since my sixth form doesn't offer Computer Science) and Biology, but I don't really want to give them up, and I'm not allowed to do more than four.

I know there are different types of engineers and sort of what each of them do and specialise in, but what can I actually do with engineering personally? So outside of an actual job. I'd mainly like to know this for Structural, Mechanical and Civil engineering, but all others are welcome too.

Also, would I need a Maths A- level for it, or would Physics and Chemistry suffice? My other chosen subjects are ICT & Computing (since my sixth form doesn't offer Computer Science) and Biology, but I don't really want to give them up, and I'm not allowed to do more than four.

You need maths to get into engineering. I'm not aware of any courses, aside from UCL civil engineering, which does not require A-level maths or equivalent for entry. Engineering at university is quite heavily mathematical.

I'm not sure what you mean by what you can "personally" do with it. As subjects, they're designed to get you jobs upon graduation in certain areas.

Maths is a requirement you might as well take it instead of Chemistry. FYI I do chem and maths. And nearly I know hates chemistry, maths' usually fine with people as ongoing as they seem interested.

I'm a bit reluctant to do Maths xD.Everyone I know who's done it says it's a nightmare, even for the A* students. I'm quite good at Maths, but I don't want to take it, mess up and regret it. Is it really that hard? (10x harder than GCSE apparently)

I'm a bit reluctant to do Maths xD.Everyone I know who's done it says it's a nightmare, even for the A* students. I'm quite good at Maths, but I don't want to take it, mess up and regret it. Is it really that hard? (10x harder than GCSE apparently)

For example, when I'm not at an official work place what can I do with it? Like, build a robot that moves around or something.

& What counts as "equivalent"?

Maths is absolutely essential for Enginineering! If you're serious about Engineering, you might like to see if your sixth form would allow you to take up AS Further Maths (you could teach yourself it) alongside your 4 A-Levels.

For example, I have an offer for Aerospace Engineering at Imperial which requires an A* Maths, A* Physics, and it also requires me to get an A in AS Further Maths. (And then an A in either Bio or Chem).

I'm currently taking Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and AS Further Maths; the workload is tough but manageable, and I actually find it quite a fun challenge! In an ideal world I would have dropped Chemistry, as I don't like how AQA have done the second half of the CHEM5 syllabus... but that may cause Imperial to change my offer to require an A* in Biology as well, which - whilst attainable - would be a bit more stressful.

So, if I were you, and if I really didn't want to give up the Computer Science course (thought I personally think it may be for the best!) I suppose I would replace Chemistry with Maths (unless you fancy becoming a Chemical Engineer, in which case drop Biology instead) and see if your sixth form will give you the opportunity to study AS Further Maths. All you really need is for them to enter you for the exams, and it's easy enough to teach yourself (I did the Edexcel FP1, M2 and D1 modules)! Good luck!

EDIT: As for what you could do personally with Engineering, that's quite a tough one to answer (as I'm not an Engineer just yet! ) though I imagine the opportunities are quite endless! An Engineering degree will essentially provide you with a solid foundation upon which to innovate - that is, essentially, solving problems with a combination of your ability to think critically, and the practical application of your knowledge of mathematics and the sciences. Sure, you'd be able to build a robot if you'd done some programming in your course! You would likely have done a few projects at uni, so when you go to uni you might decide to build a robot there! You could probably also help out a lot in less fortunate parts of the world - I suspect that there are a lot of charities who would leap at the opportunity to have someone with an engineering degree helping them out, working on various projects/overcoming any difficulties faced in those projects e.t.c.

Atm im finishing AS level maths and its pretty easy imo, and its interesting and one of the most facilitating A levels you can pick, would recommend choosing it.

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I think you possibly need to reevaluate why you are even applying to do engineering. Typically one does a degree to get a job they think they'll enjoy (or pays well) that requires that degree. Not because they want to be able to build a robot in their garage.

If you want to do some DIY crap in your garage, just do it, no degree required. Personally, after I'm done working for the day, I am more than happy not to look at anything vaguely engineering/work related.

As others have said, if you do decide to do engineering, you need Maths. Aside from the steep learning curve without it, no university will accept you on a course without it. Drop biology, it will have no practical value as an engineer.

Is it anything like GCSE Maths, or completely different?

That's actually quite interesting, I never knew that you could just ask to be entered for the exams. Is this possible for other subjects? Like, if I taught myself ICT, or biology for example. Or is it just for Further maths?

It's certainly possible for extra AS modules like the Further Maths, and as for full A-Levels I suppose you'd just have to check with your head of sixth form. It's definitely possible, but it's up to them as to whether or not they will let you.

As long as you can convince them that you would get a good grade, they may let you do it! You'll have to make sure they are confident that you'll put the effort in, though; they won't want any potential low grades to reflect badly on the sixth form.

Would I just have to show them through past papers? & Thanks, I think I'll just drop biology and just ask to be entered, as long as they allow it.