Teaching 'harder' A-levels - maths, physics

Let's face it, Maths and Physics A Levels are probably harder than a Media Studies A-Level. That does not mean, however, that a Maths whiz could walk into a Media Studies based job and be better than everyone there. It's different talents, a different situation and different jobs.

Plus, if everyone who wanted to do Media Studies decided (or was pushed to decide by the government, for example) to do Maths, it would damage the current system; classes would be oversubscribed, teaching quality would subsequently go down in many schools and it would be harder for those who genuinely loved maths to get to their ideal unis.

Small side point though: Anyone else absolutely blooming sick of people thinking that only maths/sciences subjects are difficult? Yes, they are but so are essay based subjects and languages.
I took History and Maths for GCSE; Maths was a cakewalk but I had to spend hours and hours cramming facts and dates and essay structures in order to achieve the same grade in History (A*, not that it's relevant). I took English Lit, History and French for A-levels, but if I said the work was hard, the reply was almost always 'well, at least you're not doing sciences!'. Fair enough, sciences are difficult, but people (particularly those who make announcements like the subject of this thread) need to understand that the others aren't simple in comparison.

Phew, rant over. :P Anyone else with me on that?

Lol I find the sciences take no time at all, since they're all about understanding. I think essay subjects take up more time, since you have to actually make loads of notes etc.

I know what your saying there. But personally I found that because most science boards are so pedantic, there is little difference in understanding between an A and a C student, it was simply exam technique; the more they put in the more they seemed to get out; those who did more work did better really. I found essay subjects did in theory require more time,, but because you can "blanket" in your essays you dont really have to know/understand as much as you do in the sciences..

NOOOO!
I will admit that a subject like Maths is a challenge, but think about the amount of time, effort and creativity that is needed to scrounge a decent grade in a subject like, say, Fine Art? All A levels have different requirements and skills but they shouldn't be classed as 'harder' or 'simpler'!

I think it's because if you're good at maths, there's little work involved.

HAHAHA. You think Maths and Physics are 'harder' A levels?

Try Latin and Greek, pal. You'll be slitting your wrists before the week of teaching is over. But yeah, it is a joke that A levels are all "equal".

Hmm that is also true. I think it's cos I'm a bit paranoid about knowing loads of details, I can't just "blanket" as you say, and feel I should learn all the facts.

Cynically I feel that this country should give up on teaching Maths/Science A-levels. I simply don't believe there's enough support for science and engineering in Britain, something we should be deeply ashamed of.

Maybe it's down to a lack of government vision but let's see if the creative industry can drive our economy instead.

That is a very cynical idea indeed , you're right that there's not enough support for STEM in this country.But I think Brunel , Newton , Green et al would be turning in their graves at such a suggestion.