A Level Biology or Physics?
Hi, I am currently in Year 11 and I am going to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Music. However, I am now thinking about doing Physics instead of Biology. I got 9s in all sciences and maths in my Mock exams, but biology was my worst and physics was my best.
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
Hi. I’m afraid I don’t do either physics or biology, but I do maths and chemistry. I find maths rather difficult, but I averaged 6s and an occasional 7. If you average 8/9 you should be fine. Chemistry is really good fun, a lot of it is building on old stuff, with a lot of new stuff as well. From what I’ve heard from my physics friends, there is a lot of maths so you should enjoy it. I think in the first year, they learn about mechanics, electricity and waves, not 100% sure though.
Make sure you choose subjects you enjoy, as if you enjoy it, you’ll find doing work is easier (trust me in this)
A levels are hard, they’re meant to be. I don’t think I’ve met someone whose said they think they’re easy. Just try your best, and do what you enjoy. It’s all any of us can do
Make sure you choose subjects you enjoy, as if you enjoy it, you’ll find doing work is easier (trust me in this)
A levels are hard, they’re meant to be. I don’t think I’ve met someone whose said they think they’re easy. Just try your best, and do what you enjoy. It’s all any of us can do
Hi! I am in year 13 so have finished the A Level physics course (took maths and DT as well) A Level Physics is really good and quite mathys so if you like maths that is definitely a good start.
I am not sure how much the topics you will cover depends on your exam board but I did OCR A and you cover 4 main modules- forces + motion (covers vectors, moving forces, projectile motion, moments, density, work done, energy, materials, momentum), electrons, waves + photons (3 chapters on electricity, 2 chapters on waves and a small chapter on quantum physics including the photoelectric effect) that is all Y1 and then Y2 you have Newtonian world + astrophysics (thermal physics, ideal gases, circular motion, oscillations, gravitational fields, starts and cosmology) and finally particles + medical imaging (capacitance, electric fields, magnetic fields, particle physics, radioactivity, nuclear physics and medical imaging)
It does cover a wide range of physics from more maths based physics like forces in motion to theoretical like particle physics and cosmology. Maths is most certainly at the forefront of all the topics however.
I would say look at the topics you would be cover for A level and see hat interests you the most. If you don’t find your a levels enjoyable you wont do well, simple as that. You have to put the work in with all a levels specifically Sciences (and I would say physics definitely has a reputation for being the hardest)
Good luck and let me know if you want to know anything else,
Caleb
I am not sure how much the topics you will cover depends on your exam board but I did OCR A and you cover 4 main modules- forces + motion (covers vectors, moving forces, projectile motion, moments, density, work done, energy, materials, momentum), electrons, waves + photons (3 chapters on electricity, 2 chapters on waves and a small chapter on quantum physics including the photoelectric effect) that is all Y1 and then Y2 you have Newtonian world + astrophysics (thermal physics, ideal gases, circular motion, oscillations, gravitational fields, starts and cosmology) and finally particles + medical imaging (capacitance, electric fields, magnetic fields, particle physics, radioactivity, nuclear physics and medical imaging)
It does cover a wide range of physics from more maths based physics like forces in motion to theoretical like particle physics and cosmology. Maths is most certainly at the forefront of all the topics however.
I would say look at the topics you would be cover for A level and see hat interests you the most. If you don’t find your a levels enjoyable you wont do well, simple as that. You have to put the work in with all a levels specifically Sciences (and I would say physics definitely has a reputation for being the hardest)
Good luck and let me know if you want to know anything else,
Caleb
maybe I'm slightly biased since I have amazing physics teachers, but I'd definitely say physics (but only if you enjoy and are good at maths). Biology just seems boring, I hated it at GCSE and the 'biology' parts of chemistry suck d*ck. physics is more problem solving instead of content learning. But it is very maths-y
Thank you, would you say there is a big jump between GCSE and A Level, and did you find it a lot more interesting than GCSE?
Do physics
Physics. Might be biased because I do it at degree level. But I used to find Biology boring too.
I do biology and physics.
If you don’t like biology don’t bother as it’s not the easiest and you have to commit yourself to a lot of work (a lot of content to know).
After doing physics a level it’s now my favourite. The physics course is good and maths a level would give you a big advantage.
Overall physics > biology
If you don’t like biology don’t bother as it’s not the easiest and you have to commit yourself to a lot of work (a lot of content to know).
After doing physics a level it’s now my favourite. The physics course is good and maths a level would give you a big advantage.
Overall physics > biology
Original post by epicnm
Do you have any idea what you want to do in university?
Well my dream job is a pilot but previsouly I thought that if that didn't work out then I would do something medical. But now I don't really want to do that but something like engineering at Uni as a back up doesn't really interest me either. Although I could still change my mind.
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by emilys1204
Hi, I am currently in Year 11 and I am going to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Music. However, I am now thinking about doing Physics instead of Biology. I got 9s in all sciences and maths in my Mock exams, but biology was my worst and physics was my best.
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
I went on to study mechanical engineering, specialising and working in biomechanical engineering (joint arthroplasty/replacements). The work can be both applied biology and physics heavy.
i used KhanAcademy a lot to revise through university and back track over the A-level fundamentals. You can do some pre A-level revision on here and get a grasp of the topics that may be covered. It might help you decide
let me know if you have any questions.Hope this helps
[QUOTE="emilys1204;87835108"]
sorry I couldn't get it to reply to epicnm''s message
Original post by epicnm
Do you have any idea what you want to do in university?[/QUOTE
Well my dream job is a pilot but previsouly I thought that if that didn't work out then I would do something medical. But now I don't really want to do that but something like engineering at Uni as a back up doesn't really interest me either. Although I could still change my mind.
Well my dream job is a pilot but previsouly I thought that if that didn't work out then I would do something medical. But now I don't really want to do that but something like engineering at Uni as a back up doesn't really interest me either. Although I could still change my mind.
sorry I couldn't get it to reply to epicnm''s message
Original post by Chris2892
I went on to study mechanical engineering, specialising and working in biomechanical engineering (joint arthroplasty/replacements). The work can be both applied biology and physics heavy.
i used KhanAcademy a lot to revise through university and back track over the A-level fundamentals. You can do some pre A-level revision on here and get a grasp of the topics that may be covered. It might help you decide let me know if you have any questions.
Hope this helps
i used KhanAcademy a lot to revise through university and back track over the A-level fundamentals. You can do some pre A-level revision on here and get a grasp of the topics that may be covered. It might help you decide
let me know if you have any questions.Hope this helps
What AlLLevels did you take?
Original post by emilys1204
sorry I couldn't get it to reply to epicnm''s message
I got it now 😂
Original post by emilys1204
What AlLLevels did you take?
I didn’t take my A-Levels, I took the apprenticeship route and caught up with A-Level physics and biology by self teaching on KhanAcademy during university studies.
A-levels tend to be the foundation information in which you build the rest of your university studies on. You learn the core theory and equations used. Khan academy can introduce you to these.
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by emilys1204
Hi, I am currently in Year 11 and I am going to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Music. However, I am now thinking about doing Physics instead of Biology. I got 9s in all sciences and maths in my Mock exams, but biology was my worst and physics was my best.
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
That middle paragraph describes my feelings and fears exactly! Have you made a decision?
Original post by emilys1204
Hi, I am currently in Year 11 and I am going to take A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Music. However, I am now thinking about doing Physics instead of Biology. I got 9s in all sciences and maths in my Mock exams, but biology was my worst and physics was my best.
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
I used to love biology, but recently I have found it quite boring and I hate the topics like evolution and ecology. I used to hate physics but now I really like it because I love the maths side. But I am not keen on some topics like magnetism. Can anyone tell me how they found A levels in comparison to GCSE topics wise, as I am scared that if I take physics then I might find it really confusing and difficult. But if I take biology then I might find it really boring.
I am also wondering about taking all sciences and maths at A Level instead of music, but I am worried that the workload will be too much. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks x
Maths and Physics will basically make it easier as they both have mechanics and are similar. Biology is a lot of content learning and pretty applied while physics is a good amount of content learning and a good amount of applied. Chemistry compliments biology pretty well imo too.
Original post by emilys1204
Well my dream job is a pilot but previsouly I thought that if that didn't work out then I would do something medical. But now I don't really want to do that but something like engineering at Uni as a back up doesn't really interest me either. Although I could still change my mind.
I think if you’re not too sure what you want to do then 3 sciences and maths would enable you to have a wider choice over doing music (unless you want to do music specifically). Without physics it’s hard to get into engineering and same for biology and the medical field. The work load may be hard but remember people do 4 A levels not uncommonly! Plus you can always drop one if you work out what you want to do and that a level isn’t useful for your degree choice!
I’m an a level student awaiting results this summer. I did Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics.
I chose these as I loved maths and chemistry at gcse and had to pick a fourth option at AS for my college. Physics seemed like a sensible choice with my other subjects although I didn’t really have an opinion on it after GCSE.
At GCSE physics is definitely the case of ‘here’s an equation, memorise it, use it, and don’t ask me where it came from’, which is really frustrating sometimes, but I can say now that A level is the complete opposite. You really get stuck into the theory, with plenty of maths thrown in, and suddenly everything ties together, and you can really explain how the world works!
So much so I’m hopefully doing a physics degree come September.
So from a biased physics student... 100% that over bio!
I chose these as I loved maths and chemistry at gcse and had to pick a fourth option at AS for my college. Physics seemed like a sensible choice with my other subjects although I didn’t really have an opinion on it after GCSE.
At GCSE physics is definitely the case of ‘here’s an equation, memorise it, use it, and don’t ask me where it came from’, which is really frustrating sometimes, but I can say now that A level is the complete opposite. You really get stuck into the theory, with plenty of maths thrown in, and suddenly everything ties together, and you can really explain how the world works!
So much so I’m hopefully doing a physics degree come September.
So from a biased physics student... 100% that over bio!
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