Should I take Physics A level for a Chemistry degree?(I'll explain)

tkb661998

Hi guys,
I am currently in year 11, and mulling over my A level options. I know that I definitely want to do a Chemistry degree (hopefully Oxford) so I will certainly be doing Chemistry and maths. I'm doing Biology as well, because I enjoy the subject. The college I am applying to makes you choose 5 As options in the form, so I've chosen geography as well. My only dilemma is wether to choose; Physics or History. I really enjoy history, and have got an A* prediction. I've got an A prediction for Physics, but don't really enjoy it to be honest. I think though, wouldn't Physics be more complementary to my mostly Science A levels, or is it worth doing history (which I enjoy) as I already have 3 science/ maths A levels, which is what most unis would expect? Thanks a lot for the help :biggrin:

Take Media Studies.

I'd say go with the one that you enjoy.

I do physics A level alongside maths, chemistry and biology and, trust me, you will not get along with physics A level if you don't enjoy it. :P Definitely take History if you enjoy it over physics. :smile:

Reply 3

tkb661998

OP

8

Original post by Placeboo123

Take Media Studies.

No thanks mate 😂

Reply 4

MedAppli

1

Take physics some of the understanding you'll need your a level physics

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 5

themancunian

15

I applied for natural sciences this year at Cambridge and got an interview with physics, maths, further maths and ancient history (though I did drop ancient history) - so it's perfectly fine to study history alongside your other chosen subjects :smile:

Reply 6

MrJAKEE

5

Original post by tkb661998

Hi guys,
I am currently in year 11, and mulling over my A level options. I know that I definitely want to do a Chemistry degree (hopefully Oxford) so I will certainly be doing Chemistry and maths. I'm doing Biology as well, because I enjoy the subject. The college I am applying to makes you choose 5 As options in the form, so I've chosen geography as well. My only dilemma is wether to choose; Physics or History. I really enjoy history, and have got an A* prediction. I've got an A prediction for Physics, but don't really enjoy it to be honest. I think though, wouldn't Physics be more complementary to my mostly Science A levels, or is it worth doing history (which I enjoy) as I already have 3 science/ maths A levels, which is what most unis would expect? Thanks a lot for the help :biggrin:

Most Chemistry degree applicants take Chemistry + Maths.

All other sciences are welcome I suppose. I am considering a degree in Chemistry now and am doing Maths/F Maths/Chemistry/Politics/History. History is a lot of work from gcse and it will be a shock to you as it is to everyone. Also depends on what types of chemistry you want to go into : pharmaceutical or theoretical? The first really helps with biology and the second really helps with physics. I'd do all 4 tbh to keep all options open. Bare in mind no matter what chemistry course you do physics will be involved. Personally I would recommend doing all sciences and not doing geography or history (they won't help at all in the application process). Then for your 5th AS if you insist take either F maths or an EP if you like (not necessary). Hope this helps :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 7

tkb661998

OP

8

Original post by crozibear96

I'd say go with the one that you enjoy.

I do physics A level alongside maths, chemistry and biology and, trust me, you will not get along with physics A level if you don't enjoy it. :P Definitely take History if you enjoy it over physics. :smile:

Thanks for the advise. Wow you are doing really similar A levels to my choices. How much maths is in Physics A level? I don't enjoy maths enormously, and I'm just doing it because it's a requirement.

Reply 8

MrJAKEE

5

Original post by MrJAKEE

Most Chemistry degree applicants take Chemistry + Maths.

All other sciences are welcome I suppose. I am considering a degree in Chemistry now and am doing Maths/F Maths/Chemistry/Politics/History. History is a lot of work from gcse and it will be a shock to you as it is to everyone. Also depends on what types of chemistry you want to go into : pharmaceutical or theoretical? The first really helps with biology and the second really helps with physics. I'd do all 4 tbh to keep all options open. Bare in mind no matter what chemistry course you do physics will be involved. Personally I would recommend doing all sciences and not doing geography or history (they won't help at all in the application process). Then for your 5th AS if you insist take either F maths or an EP if you like (not necessary). Hope this helps :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile

http://university.which.co.uk/advice/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-chemistry

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 9

Student232

1

I have also taken my a level options this year and wasn't sure whether to take physics and I did but am still considering other subjects.
I think you should go with the subject you want to do as you have already taken 3 science/maths subjects.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 10

crozibear96

16

Original post by tkb661998

Thanks for the advise. Wow you are doing really similar A levels to my choices. How much maths is in Physics A level? I don't enjoy maths enormously, and I'm just doing it because it's a requirement.

Quite a lot. Especially at A2, most of it is maths. If you do the mechanics module of maths, some of the topics are quite similar. Like the SUVAT equations and distance-time graphs and stuff (at least, that was the case for my exam boards).

I have a friend who applied for medicine and is doing bio, chem and history and did physics at AS, dropping it for A2. So picking history over physics shouldn't put you at a disadvantage, i don't think.:3

Reply 11

tkb661998

OP

8

Original post by crozibear96

Quite a lot. Especially at A2, most of it is maths. If you do the mechanics module of maths, some of the topics are quite similar. Like the SUVAT equations and distance-time graphs and stuff (at least, that was the case for my exam boards).

I have a friend who applied for medicine and is doing bio, chem and history and did physics at AS, dropping it for A2. So picking history over physics shouldn't put you at a disadvantage, i don't think.:3

Oh right, well the thing is I would only do History to As anyway, if I didn't choose Physics. I would do: Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Geography to A2. I don't think geography would be too bad at A2, because it does have a tiny bit of science in it? and it does compliment science subjects I think. Anyways I'll have to think about it, but I don't think I could cope with doing two subjects that use huge amounts of maths, equations etc. One is enough for me.

Reply 12

c_k62

14

i did physics and history and honestly either could work out

if you do physics you can say when applying to unis how all your subjects complement each other
if you do history you can talk about the breadth of your subjects (which i did😁)

i love both but do the one your best at.. i struggled doing 3 sciences with history at AS, the two sciences with history at A2 cos it was just so different!! despite physics may have actually been the harder subject, history definitely seemed it cos of how different it was

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 13

username1560589

20

An oxford degree will contain large amounts of theory, so it's probably best to take physics.

Reply 14

tkb661998

OP

8

Original post by MrJAKEE

Most Chemistry degree applicants take Chemistry + Maths.

All other sciences are welcome I suppose. I am considering a degree in Chemistry now and am doing Maths/F Maths/Chemistry/Politics/History. History is a lot of work from gcse and it will be a shock to you as it is to everyone. Also depends on what types of chemistry you want to go into : pharmaceutical or theoretical? The first really helps with biology and the second really helps with physics. I'd do all 4 tbh to keep all options open. Bare in mind no matter what chemistry course you do physics will be involved. Personally I would recommend doing all sciences and not doing geography or history (they won't help at all in the application process). Then for your 5th AS if you insist take either F maths or an EP if you like (not necessary). Hope this helps :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Hi, thanks for the advice. I would definitely choose pharmaceutical over theoretical. The area of Chemistry that I would love to specialise in is probably pharmaceuticals or Nano technology. Like developing new drugs or working on products using new technology. Similar fields to this interest me in Chemistry as well. Theoretical just doesn't really appeal to me as much, although I still have great interest for it. Would you think it would be beneficial to take Physics to As level, and not continue to A2? That way I wouldn't discard it completely, and would be able to understand the theoretical elements of chemistry more.

Reply 15

tkb661998

OP

8

Original post by crozibear96

I'd say go with the one that you enjoy.

I do physics A level alongside maths, chemistry and biology and, trust me, you will not get along with physics A level if you don't enjoy it. :P Definitely take History if you enjoy it over physics. :smile:

I'll definitely take your words on board! How much maths is in As physics? Because I'm thinking of doing it to As then dropping it for A2. I know that A2 is mostly mathematics is it not?

Reply 16

TajwarC

17

Hi, I'm applying for chemistry, studying maths, chemistry and biology (along with AS further maths, did AS physics last year)

Reading through some posts, long story short I'd say go with physics, the workload will be intense but it's useful to have. There are areas in chemistry (quantum/physical) chemistry that you will study, that would certainly benefit from at least having an AS in physics.

It depends though, you might not like physics now but that might change because GCSE is quite different from AS. I recommend looking through an AS textbook/asking a teacher and asking yourself can I deal with this for a year and would I enjoy it

Any questions let me know

Reply 17

username1082104

13

Best choices for Chemistry are: Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Biology (Listed from more suitable to less). These were my choices. I was going to do either Chemistry or Physics during AS, but then decided to apply for Physics degree. Biology isn't that useful.

From Oxford's website:

Candidates are required to have Chemistry and Mathematics to A-level, Advanced Higher, or Higher Level in the IB or any other equivalent. In IB, Mathematics 7 at SL is also acceptable. Another science or Further Mathematics are recommended.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 18

MrJAKEE

5

Original post by tkb661998

Hi, thanks for the advice. I would definitely choose pharmaceutical over theoretical. The area of Chemistry that I would love to specialise in is probably pharmaceuticals or Nano technology. Like developing new drugs or working on products using new technology. Similar fields to this interest me in Chemistry as well. Theoretical just doesn't really appeal to me as much, although I still have great interest for it. Would you think it would be beneficial to take Physics to As level, and not continue to A2? That way I wouldn't discard it completely, and would be able to understand the theoretical elements of chemistry more.

In my opinion if you are even considering nanotechnology Physics would be the way to go. Even for AS you'll find much of the mathematical Physics content overlaps with the Maths (which you should be doing the mechanics modules for). I will help in your application and while it isn't necessary it will help a lot at uni. I wouldn't be so scared of Physics apparently the grade boundaries are really low :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 19

crozibear96

16

Original post by tkb661998

I'll definitely take your words on board! How much maths is in As physics? Because I'm thinking of doing it to As then dropping it for A2. I know that A2 is mostly mathematics is it not?

Most of A2 is maths, yeah. For AS.. I think it's mainly the first module (forces, work, energy etc) that's maths. There is some maths in module 2 though, just not as much.

Should I take Physics A level for a Chemistry degree?(I'll explain)

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you