Help with A-Level Options

For my A-Level Option's I've picked

Maths
Further Maths
Physics
English Literature

Are these OK for maths/physics courses? Or do I need another science?

Another science would do you well if you were applying to a top university. My offers all specify Maths and Physics, and one other Scientific Subject. If your third 'science' is going to be Further Maths, you'll be putting a lot of pressure on yourself to do very well in what is a very difficult subject.

Have you looked on university websites / prospectuses at what subjects they require? Getting it straight from the horse's mouth is always a really good starting point.

Sorry to but in here, but I'm in a similar situation and could really do with some advice.

I have chosen to study next year: Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics
At university I hope to physics (probably Cambridge natsci)

I am thinking about swapping economics with chemistry, but am really stuck on the decision since I've heard that chemistry A-Level is extremely difficult and time consuming (and gets the poorest department results in my school) whereas economics A-Level is comparatively extremely easy and much less time consuming (and gets over 50% A* at A-Level in my school, the best department bar maths)

I'm reasonably good at chemistry and am getting around 90% in the past IGCSEs I'm doing right now, however am not sure if I am even good at economics since there is no GCSE economics offered at my school.

What do you guys think about me doing A-Level chemistry instead of economics (bearing in mind I hope to do natsci at cambridge)

Thanks a lot in advance

haha My dream course is Cambridge physical science as well

For my A-Level Option's I've picked

Maths
Further Maths
Physics
English Literature

Are these OK for maths/physics courses? Or do I need another science?

Sorry to but in here, but I'm in a similar situation and could really do with some advice.

I have chosen to study next year: Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics
At university I hope to physics (probably Cambridge natsci)

I am thinking about swapping economics with chemistry, but am really stuck on the decision since I've heard that chemistry A-Level is extremely difficult and time consuming (and gets the poorest department results in my school) whereas economics A-Level is comparatively extremely easy and much less time consuming (and gets over 50% A* at A-Level in my school, the best department bar maths)

I'm reasonably good at chemistry and am getting around 90% in the past IGCSEs I'm doing right now, however am not sure if I am even good at economics since there is no GCSE economics offered at my school.

What do you guys think about me doing A-Level chemistry instead of economics (bearing in mind I hope to do natsci at cambridge)

Thanks a lot in advance

These are fine, provided that the subject you drop as you continue to A2 is English Literature (Unless you carry them all on).
I feel obliged to tell you that doing English Lit alongside those options is a pain in the arse. Two of your subjects are pure maths, and the other is >70% maths; so clearly you enjoy maths (if you don't, please reconsider your options). When you enjoy a subject, you are both good at it and are willing to spend more time on it. You may have a night where you've got a piece of maths homework, a piece of physics, and an english essay, all to be in the next day. While you're doing the maths homework, you'll feel "oh, while i'm doing maths i'll just work on my physics" and neglect your essay writing. It's very easy to ignore the length of time and attention that essay writing requires.
I'm in my AS year, and I do Maths, FM, Chemistry and Physics, with a view to do Physics/NatSci at uni. I was considering Philosophy instead of Chemistry, but decided to go with Chemistry to keep more doors open. While I am still gutted I didn't get to do Philosophy, i'm really happy doing chemistry, it's a lot of fun. In any case, Science homework takes considerably less time than philosophy homework would.

But don't take a further science just because you want to do a science at uni. There's no point in doing chemistry if you don't like it. Of course if you have as much desire to do it as english literature, it may be better to go for chemistry. The more science the do, the more appealing you are to universities.

Consider maybe taking five subjects? If you're looking to go to Cambridge, you clearly have a strong academic background, and it might be a good idea to do five AS levels, and drop down to four/three in your A2 year. A friend of mine that is currently reading Chemical Physics at UCL did A2s in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Art. While doing Art has contributed basically nothing to her place at university, she did it just because she loves art, and wanted to carry it on, and doing an A level urged her to do it.

I hope that helps!



It depends on your desire to do NatSci at uni. If you REALLY want a broad and whole scientific education, then you should really be doing as many sciences as you can, so i'd go for chemistry rather than physics. If you've read the above message, you'll learn that I basically chose to do Chemistry over Philosophy, because I personally want a really quite broad scientific education, and having more science a levels really helps you to have that.
Don't take Economics just because it has the best grade rate at your school. If you don't enjoy it, you'll struggle to get a good grade, anyway. In addition, universities can see the success rate of the subjects you study at your school. If you get an A* while nobody else at your school gets one, you look fantastic. Similarly, if you get an A* in Economics, and everyone that does it gets an A*, you look pretty average.

So in short:
If you like science, do science. If you're considering economics, Maths, FM, Physics, and Economics provides you with a pretty sound basis.

These are fine, provided that the subject you drop as you continue to A2 is English Literature (Unless you carry them all on).
I feel obliged to tell you that doing English Lit alongside those options is a pain in the arse. Two of your subjects are pure maths, and the other is >70% maths; so clearly you enjoy maths (if you don't, please reconsider your options). When you enjoy a subject, you are both good at it and are willing to spend more time on it. You may have a night where you've got a piece of maths homework, a piece of physics, and an english essay, all to be in the next day. While you're doing the maths homework, you'll feel "oh, while i'm doing maths i'll just work on my physics" and neglect your essay writing. It's very easy to ignore the length of time and attention that essay writing requires.
I'm in my AS year, and I do Maths, FM, Chemistry and Physics, with a view to do Physics/NatSci at uni. I was considering Philosophy instead of Chemistry, but decided to go with Chemistry to keep more doors open. While I am still gutted I didn't get to do Philosophy, i'm really happy doing chemistry, it's a lot of fun. In any case, Science homework takes considerably less time than philosophy homework would.

But don't take a further science just because you want to do a science at uni. There's no point in doing chemistry if you don't like it. Of course if you have as much desire to do it as english literature, it may be better to go for chemistry. The more science the do, the more appealing you are to universities.

Consider maybe taking five subjects? If you're looking to go to Cambridge, you clearly have a strong academic background, and it might be a good idea to do five AS levels, and drop down to four/three in your A2 year. A friend of mine that is currently reading Chemical Physics at UCL did A2s in Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Art. While doing Art has contributed basically nothing to her place at university, she did it just because she loves art, and wanted to carry it on, and doing an A level urged her to do it.

I hope that helps!

Thanks for your advice, it was really helpful!

If you have time, a few quick questions:
1. What is the jump from GCSE to A-Level Chem like?
2. Is chemistry A-Level tough and time consuming in comparison to economics?
3. If you do edexcel chem A2 - how good do you need to be at practicals in order to get a good grade in that section?
4. Why do you think economics gets much better results than chemistry, is this a national trend or just something strange in my school?
5. Can you understand AS and A2 chem without the aid of a teacher (just using a textbook, some teachers at my school aren't very 'helpful')

Thanks again!

Thanks for the reply. My school doesn't allow us to do 5 A-Levels because Critical Thinking AS is compulsory.

I think I'll look more at the specs of both courses. I've ruled out Biology I think, but I'm still considering Chemistry.

:/

How are you finding Chemistry A-Level so far?

I'm also a bit apprehensive about next year, given the lack of a January exam session.