advice from previous physics a level students?
Just finished my gcse's and hesitant about choosing physics at a level. I am predicted an A star at GCSE level but is it too much along with chemistry and biology at a level?
Just wondering how others found it at a level because I am not taking maths but physics has a lot of maths in it
Just wondering how others found it at a level because I am not taking maths but physics has a lot of maths in it
You will eventually need an A-level in mathematics if you want to go to University and use whatever it is you learnt in Physics.
i am set on doing medicine at university however was wondering if doing physics without maths at a level would be too much of a strain? x
Original post by Galeriapaints
You will eventually need an A-level in mathematics if you want to go to University and use whatever it is you learnt in Physics.
Original post by helloworld121
i am set on doing medicine at university however was wondering if doing physics without maths at a level would be too much of a strain? x
If you are medicine, I wouldn’t recommend it but obviously it’s about what you enjoy. If you wanna go to the top unis, they probably want 3 science subjects as well
Physics and Maths help each other, So it wouldnt be a strain it would be easier. Think of it as 1 subject called physimaths. =)
Original post by helloworld121
i am set on doing medicine at university however was wondering if doing physics without maths at a level would be too much of a strain? x
Original post by helloworld121
Just finished my gcse's and hesitant about choosing physics at a level. I am predicted an A star at GCSE level but is it too much along with chemistry and biology at a level?
Just wondering how others found it at a level because I am not taking maths but physics has a lot of maths in it
Just wondering how others found it at a level because I am not taking maths but physics has a lot of maths in it
You don't strictly need maths for physics, and much of it will be fine with gcse knowledge.
However, there are a couple of A level maths topics you must learn. Exponentials and logarithms- this is essential. You should be fine self teaching them if you're decent at maths though
This is incorrect. What would you be fine doing, if you only have GCSE knowledge of Maths? To get into University programs it is important to have documented qualifications.
Original post by MagnumKoishi
You don't strictly need maths for physics, and much of it will be fine with gcse knowledge.
However, there are a couple of A level maths topics you must learn. Exponentials and logarithms- this is essential. You should be fine self teaching them if you're decent at maths though
However, there are a couple of A level maths topics you must learn. Exponentials and logarithms- this is essential. You should be fine self teaching them if you're decent at maths though
Original post by Galeriapaints
This is incorrect. What would you be fine doing, if you only have GCSE knowledge of Maths? To get into University programs it is important to have documented qualifications.
Well yeah for university, but OP is asking for A level physics.
To take A level physics, you do not also need to take A level maths. There are a number of A level students taking physics without maths at my college and others
Original post by Galeriapaints
This is incorrect. What would you be fine doing, if you only have GCSE knowledge of Maths? To get into University programs it is important to have documented qualifications.
And other than exponentials and logs, name one technique required for A level physics that is not covered in GCSE maths
it's fun, do countless practice questions and ask questions when you're stuck, study hard (memorising content) and you'll be fine
Doing A Level Maths alongside Physics helped me personally, as the mechanics in Maths and Physics lined up pretty well. I did Further Maths too and this also had stuff on circular motion which was in my OCR B Physics spec. I'd suggest Maths in general as a good A Level to have but maybe I'm biased (I wanna do it at uni lol)
Lots of people make decisions, without knowing why exactly they are doing what they are doing.
Just because the majority of people have done something, does not mean that it was well-advised to begin with.
The students at your college will have to go back and do the math, but unfortunately they will only find out later down the line.
Planning for the future needs to be goal-orientated and strategic.
You do need to take Maths with Physics. Explaining why needs to be saved for another chat because it is off topic =).
Just because the majority of people have done something, does not mean that it was well-advised to begin with.
The students at your college will have to go back and do the math, but unfortunately they will only find out later down the line.
Planning for the future needs to be goal-orientated and strategic.
You do need to take Maths with Physics. Explaining why needs to be saved for another chat because it is off topic =).
Original post by MagnumKoishi
Well yeah for university, but OP is asking for A level physics.
To take A level physics, you do not also need to take A level maths. There are a number of A level students taking physics without maths at my college and others
To take A level physics, you do not also need to take A level maths. There are a number of A level students taking physics without maths at my college and others
Original post by Galeriapaints
Lots of people make decisions, without knowing why exactly they are doing what they are doing.
Just because the majority of people have done something, does not mean that it was well-advised to begin with.
The students at your college will have to go back and do the math, but unfortunately they will only find out later down the line.
Planning for the future needs to be goal-orientated and strategic.
You do need to take Maths with Physics. Explaining why needs to be saved for another chat because it is off topic =).
Just because the majority of people have done something, does not mean that it was well-advised to begin with.
The students at your college will have to go back and do the math, but unfortunately they will only find out later down the line.
Planning for the future needs to be goal-orientated and strategic.
You do need to take Maths with Physics. Explaining why needs to be saved for another chat because it is off topic =).
Well of course, it is certainly *advisable* to take maths with physics, and the vast majority do so.
My point was that it is not compulsory, and in all honesty it would be possible to do it without maths, just unwise
The original poster was not looking for unwise advise ( I assume).
Original post by MagnumKoishi
Well of course, it is certainly *advisable* to take maths with physics, and the vast majority do so.
My point was that it is not compulsory, and in all honesty it would be possible to do it without maths, just unwise
My point was that it is not compulsory, and in all honesty it would be possible to do it without maths, just unwise
Physics is generally considered one of the harder A levels, but so are chemistry and to a lesser extent, biology.
A lot of people will tell you that you 'need' to take A level maths alongside physics, but there is very little mathematical content in A level physics in order to make it accessible to those not taking A level maths. There will be some exponents and logarithms questions, but these topics aren't difficult to pick up if you did well in maths at GCSE.
The reason why taking maths is recommended is because A level physics has a lot of formula-rearranging, standard form, proportionality and the need to determine how a quantity changes when one variable changes in the equation. None of this is beyond GCSE level, but you do need to be very comfortable with these skills to do well. In addition, the mechanics topics in A level maths complement the physics mechanics topics very well.
If you're taking 3 A levels and planning to go into medicine, perhaps it may be a better idea to pick something else other than physics (although if your basic maths skills are very good, physics should be doable) if you aren't planning to take maths (to make it more likely that you'll get the grades). Have you considered biology, chemistry and maths?
A lot of people will tell you that you 'need' to take A level maths alongside physics, but there is very little mathematical content in A level physics in order to make it accessible to those not taking A level maths. There will be some exponents and logarithms questions, but these topics aren't difficult to pick up if you did well in maths at GCSE.
The reason why taking maths is recommended is because A level physics has a lot of formula-rearranging, standard form, proportionality and the need to determine how a quantity changes when one variable changes in the equation. None of this is beyond GCSE level, but you do need to be very comfortable with these skills to do well. In addition, the mechanics topics in A level maths complement the physics mechanics topics very well.
If you're taking 3 A levels and planning to go into medicine, perhaps it may be a better idea to pick something else other than physics (although if your basic maths skills are very good, physics should be doable) if you aren't planning to take maths (to make it more likely that you'll get the grades). Have you considered biology, chemistry and maths?
I second this, Bio and Chem are respectable as they are, take an easier 3rd subject. Physics is arguably the hardest A-Level for a reason
Original post by 06chiama
If you want to do medicine I’d advise biology chemistry and psychology. Stay away from physics. Don’t make life difficult if you don’t have to. The main thing is getting in
hi OP just wanted to say i am in the same boat as you. I want to do medicine at uni so i am doing bio and chem but i chose physics as my third option bc i really like physics but my biggest worry was the maths bc ppl have said to take maths a level too, but i am not passionate enough about maths to do it as a whole a level. from what i have read the maths with be a little bit hard but if you were good at maths in gcse then you will understand a level physics' maths. However i am taking an AS called core maths which would help a little and when i start i'm going to try to do maths one hour a day. I got a book from cgp called 'Essential Maths Skills for A Level Physics' and it is really helpful and i'm sure i can find practice questions online for each topic listed e.g. logarithms, resolving vectors etc. x
Original post by Galeriapaints
Lots of people make decisions, without knowing why exactly they are doing what they are doing.
Just because the majority of people have done something, does not mean that it was well-advised to begin with.
The students at your college will have to go back and do the math, but unfortunately they will only find out later down the line.
Planning for the future needs to be goal-orientated and strategic.
You do need to take Maths with Physics. Explaining why needs to be saved for another chat because it is off topic =).
Just because the majority of people have done something, does not mean that it was well-advised to begin with.
The students at your college will have to go back and do the math, but unfortunately they will only find out later down the line.
Planning for the future needs to be goal-orientated and strategic.
You do need to take Maths with Physics. Explaining why needs to be saved for another chat because it is off topic =).
You don’t need Maths to take A-Level Physics, I’m currently in year 13 having taken Physics without Maths and that hasn’t hindered my learning in any way. It’s recommended because of the overlap between Mechanics like someone else stated which makes it “easier”, this is subjective, and because of the problem-solving/analytical skills Maths provides - most of which are taught at GCSE level. My teacher even said today there shouldn’t necessarily be anything on the Physics course that you have to take A-Level Maths to understand, so unless OP struggles in Maths there’s no need for it.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- university looks so hard?
- ..
- mechanical vs motorsport vs automotive vs aerospace
- A levels Privately
- 16-18 Neccessities
- Advice on applying after my gap year
- insure KCL or QMUL for Physics? Need advice pls
- Wanting to retake A levels in person as an adult?
- Reapplying to uni at 21 - any advice?
- Physics at Southampton with A*AB
- A level choices
- Computer science
- NEED Help deciding my a levels
- Extra year of funding
- Astrophysics
- Should I take a language or Maths at A-Level?
- How do you study for A Level Geography?
- Is Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths a good combo?
- Entry requirements for Physics and Astrophysics degree
- would it be possible to get a*s?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 11 hours ago
Edexcel A Level Politics Paper 1 (9PL0 01) - 21st May 2024 [Exam Chat]A-levels
10
Trending
Last reply 11 hours ago
Edexcel A Level Politics Paper 1 (9PL0 01) - 21st May 2024 [Exam Chat]A-levels
10
