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How much Maths do A level Sciences have?
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I hate GCSE Maths and can't stand it. I plan to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics next year but I am not too good with Maths and have zero motivation with the subject. How much Maths do the Sciences actually contain at A level?
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#2
(Original post by Tinka99)
I hate GCSE Maths and can't stand it. I plan to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics next year but I am not too good with Maths and have zero motivation with the subject. How much Maths do the Sciences actually contain at A level?
I hate GCSE Maths and can't stand it. I plan to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics next year but I am not too good with Maths and have zero motivation with the subject. How much Maths do the Sciences actually contain at A level?
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(Original post by yusir)
Biology has 10% maths on exams. Chemistry, I'm not sure of percentage, but we've done quite a bit of math this year (AS), but it's not hard. Just practice the questions and you'll be fine. And I don't do physics so can't say, sorry.
Biology has 10% maths on exams. Chemistry, I'm not sure of percentage, but we've done quite a bit of math this year (AS), but it's not hard. Just practice the questions and you'll be fine. And I don't do physics so can't say, sorry.
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#4
From my experience:
Biology - 0. Well, you will probably have to do about 1 calculation in each of your exams such as working out the percentage increase/decrease so try not to worry.
Chemistry.- There's quite a bit actually but it's all really simple. Like, dividing fairly simple numbers and rearranging formula/substituting. A2 calculations may get a little complicated though.
Physics is very mathsy. At least, it was at AS level. - Not sure about A2.
I don't think it's necessary for you to be incredibly good at Maths to take any of those subjects though ... (perhaps bar Physics.. ) bc your school will most likely prepare you very well and guide you through the style of questions etc so you're able to understand it. As long as you're a B grade at GCSE then you should be fine.
Biology - 0. Well, you will probably have to do about 1 calculation in each of your exams such as working out the percentage increase/decrease so try not to worry.
Chemistry.- There's quite a bit actually but it's all really simple. Like, dividing fairly simple numbers and rearranging formula/substituting. A2 calculations may get a little complicated though.
Physics is very mathsy. At least, it was at AS level. - Not sure about A2.
I don't think it's necessary for you to be incredibly good at Maths to take any of those subjects though ... (perhaps bar Physics.. ) bc your school will most likely prepare you very well and guide you through the style of questions etc so you're able to understand it. As long as you're a B grade at GCSE then you should be fine.
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#5
I don't know about the other two. But Physics is heavily maths based and does require that mathematical mindset quite often. For AS not so much in comparison to A2, which demands more.
For the new linear spec, the one with no AS that is, I find that you are taught at the same level of maths throughout the course. There might be subjects that have more maths than others, but that's dependent on the nature of the topic. You do get a five page formulea sheet too.
For the new linear spec, the one with no AS that is, I find that you are taught at the same level of maths throughout the course. There might be subjects that have more maths than others, but that's dependent on the nature of the topic. You do get a five page formulea sheet too.
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#6
(Original post by Tinka99)
I am at a C in GCSE Maths and struggling to get a B so would you say Chemistry is a subject for me?
I am at a C in GCSE Maths and struggling to get a B so would you say Chemistry is a subject for me?
I can't speak for biology but I'd assume its less than chemistry and far less than physics.
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#7
(Original post by yusir)
Biology has 10% maths on exams. Chemistry, I'm not sure of percentage, but we've done quite a bit of math this year (AS), but it's not hard. Just practice the questions and you'll be fine. And I don't do physics so can't say, sorry.
Biology has 10% maths on exams. Chemistry, I'm not sure of percentage, but we've done quite a bit of math this year (AS), but it's not hard. Just practice the questions and you'll be fine. And I don't do physics so can't say, sorry.
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#8
There's literally no maths at all in physics, don't know about the rest. It's quite sad, really. Physics would benefit a lot from having some more maths.
Edit: nvm, reading this thread, looks like I've got the dissenting opinion, ignore me.
Edit: nvm, reading this thread, looks like I've got the dissenting opinion, ignore me.
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#9
I don't know about Biology, but Physics has quite a lot and you'd benefit from doing A-level Maths. Chemistry has some and if you're naturally inclined it helps but it's not that much.
But word of advice - don't take 3 sciences unless you need to or those are the things you enjoy most - they are all very tough A-levels and not to be taken on a whim.
Edit: this was for the old spec - I'm not sure about the new ones
But word of advice - don't take 3 sciences unless you need to or those are the things you enjoy most - they are all very tough A-levels and not to be taken on a whim.
Edit: this was for the old spec - I'm not sure about the new ones
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(Original post by Bruhh)
Physics is a quite a lot of maths, so if you don't like maths I'd either look at some physics type stuff to see what you'd be getting yourself into, or ask a teacher etc. Chemistry has a little bit but as mentioned above its all quite simple, just using basic formulas etc.
I can't speak for biology but I'd assume its less than chemistry and far less than physics.
Physics is a quite a lot of maths, so if you don't like maths I'd either look at some physics type stuff to see what you'd be getting yourself into, or ask a teacher etc. Chemistry has a little bit but as mentioned above its all quite simple, just using basic formulas etc.
I can't speak for biology but I'd assume its less than chemistry and far less than physics.
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#11
(Original post by Tinka99)
I am at a C in GCSE Maths and struggling to get a B so would you say Chemistry is a subject for me?
I am at a C in GCSE Maths and struggling to get a B so would you say Chemistry is a subject for me?
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#12
The maths in AS physics is still rearranging equations/substituting etc, it just gets tricky when you have to figure out what equation and which numbers to use. Aside from that you will need to be familiar with graphs in the form y=mx+c and understand what each of the terms show, and apply them in context. Again, the actual maths itself is nothing more than multiplication/addiction etc.
It's similar for A2, it's just some of these equations can be a bit more difficult to rearrange (e.g. the decay of charge equation or magnitude equation which require you to know how logarithms work)
It's similar for chemistry, although chemistry has far less calculations to deal with
It's similar for A2, it's just some of these equations can be a bit more difficult to rearrange (e.g. the decay of charge equation or magnitude equation which require you to know how logarithms work)
It's similar for chemistry, although chemistry has far less calculations to deal with
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#13
(Original post by Tinka99)
I am at a C in GCSE Maths and struggling to get a B so would you say Chemistry is a subject for me?
I am at a C in GCSE Maths and struggling to get a B so would you say Chemistry is a subject for me?
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#14
(Original post by Zacken)
There's literally no maths at all in physics, don't know about the rest. It's quite sad, really. Physics would benefit a lot from having some more maths.
Edit: nvm, reading this thread, looks like I've got the dissenting opinion, ignore me.
There's literally no maths at all in physics, don't know about the rest. It's quite sad, really. Physics would benefit a lot from having some more maths.
Edit: nvm, reading this thread, looks like I've got the dissenting opinion, ignore me.
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(Original post by HeskeyLAD)
From my experience, definitely don't bother with Physics. There's quite a lot of maths in it.
From my experience, definitely don't bother with Physics. There's quite a lot of maths in it.
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#16
(Original post by Zacken)
There's literally no maths at all in physics, don't know about the rest. It's quite sad, really. Physics would benefit a lot from having some more maths.
Edit: nvm, reading this thread, looks like I've got the dissenting opinion, ignore me.
There's literally no maths at all in physics, don't know about the rest. It's quite sad, really. Physics would benefit a lot from having some more maths.
Edit: nvm, reading this thread, looks like I've got the dissenting opinion, ignore me.
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#17
(Original post by Tinka99)
I struggle with a lot of the GCSE A/A* topics and mostly dependent on the B, C and D grade topics to get me a B. I really can't stand any Maths and I am starting to wonder if I should really take Physics A level. Do you think I should even be considering A-level Physics looking at my lack of mathematical ability?
I struggle with a lot of the GCSE A/A* topics and mostly dependent on the B, C and D grade topics to get me a B. I really can't stand any Maths and I am starting to wonder if I should really take Physics A level. Do you think I should even be considering A-level Physics looking at my lack of mathematical ability?
If I was you I'd go and speak to a physics teacher at your school and explain your situation and see what they say. It's hard to judge the difficulty of physics maths from your perspective as I do both maths/further maths.
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#18
(Original post by TajwarC)
You're right to an extent imo, there's no "real maths" if that makes sense, i.e. there's no calculus or vectors etc
You're right to an extent imo, there's no "real maths" if that makes sense, i.e. there's no calculus or vectors etc
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#19
(Original post by Anon_98)
I suppose you're right. There's not that much actual, proper Maths but in order to do most of the physics you've got to be good at Maths and constantly hold a Mathsy brain so I think it makes you feel as though there's a lot of it when in reality there may not be.
I suppose you're right. There's not that much actual, proper Maths but in order to do most of the physics you've got to be good at Maths and constantly hold a Mathsy brain so I think it makes you feel as though there's a lot of it when in reality there may not be.
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#20
(Original post by Tinka99)
I am finding Physics GCSE quite easy, to be honest, and I am doing triple science.
I am finding Physics GCSE quite easy, to be honest, and I am doing triple science.
If you're good at rearranging, you should be fine. I just struggled with the concepts.
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