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Will I need maths A-level or AS level for biology A-level?
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j....
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I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
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bea_murray0
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(Original post by j....)
I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
Last edited by bea_murray0; 3 months ago
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Callicious
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If you intend to carry Biology on to Uni, then you should take maths. Of all my friends who do Biology in Uni, the ones who lack some sort of mathematical background are the ones who suffer in later years- it's very much a field that relies on statistics and the like, and statistics is just a species of mathematics. I've had them come to me for help with statistics and even basic mathematics at times, because of their lack of a background in it, or trouble understanding course content on it.
As someone who did both A-Level Maths and A-Level Biology, I can say that you do not need A-Level Maths to do A-Level Biology. It will come in handy, especially when it comes to data reductions and dealing with graphs, or probabilities with the genetic content or ecological content, or with dilutions/etc, but it's not necessary.
As someone who did both A-Level Maths and A-Level Biology, I can say that you do not need A-Level Maths to do A-Level Biology. It will come in handy, especially when it comes to data reductions and dealing with graphs, or probabilities with the genetic content or ecological content, or with dilutions/etc, but it's not necessary.
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Medic Mind
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(Original post by j....)
I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
Hop this helps!
Milena G.
UCL PFE
www.medicmind.co.uk
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sadckerman
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I am in year 12 and do a level biology but not a level maths. my college did add core maths( different to a level- it covers sampling, measures of spread, how to choose what graph to use, but not geometry or algebra like in a level maths ) to my timetable(and everyone else who does biology and isnt doing a level maths ) as it looks good to universities if your not doing an EPQ and can also help with the maths in biology ( standard deviations and interpreting graphs things like that). if that sound better than doing a level maths it might be worth looking into it. 
hope this was helpful
hope this was helpful
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j....
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(Original post by sadckerman)
I am in year 12 and do a level biology but not a level maths. my college did add core maths( different to a level- it covers sampling, measures of spread, how to choose what graph to use, but not geometry or algebra like in a level maths ) to my timetable(and everyone else who does biology and isnt doing a level maths ) as it looks good to universities if your not doing an EPQ and can also help with the maths in biology ( standard deviations and interpreting graphs things like that). if that sound better than doing a level maths it might be worth looking into it. hope this was helpful
I am in year 12 and do a level biology but not a level maths. my college did add core maths( different to a level- it covers sampling, measures of spread, how to choose what graph to use, but not geometry or algebra like in a level maths ) to my timetable(and everyone else who does biology and isnt doing a level maths ) as it looks good to universities if your not doing an EPQ and can also help with the maths in biology ( standard deviations and interpreting graphs things like that). if that sound better than doing a level maths it might be worth looking into it.
hope this was helpful
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sadckerman
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(Original post by j....)
Sorry, I meant core maths by AS-level maths (isn't that pretty much what it is?) - I'd rather not do that either, but would you say it's worth taking just for biology? Like I said, I have a 9 in GCSE maths, and I'd assume I could learn any maths I'll need in A-level biology classes; but from your experience in sixth form, do you think that's enough, or d'you think I'll need core maths too?
Sorry, I meant core maths by AS-level maths (isn't that pretty much what it is?) - I'd rather not do that either, but would you say it's worth taking just for biology? Like I said, I have a 9 in GCSE maths, and I'd assume I could learn any maths I'll need in A-level biology classes; but from your experience in sixth form, do you think that's enough, or d'you think I'll need core maths too?
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Alevelhelp.1
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(Original post by j....)
I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
I'm in year 11 and will start sixth form in a few months. I'll probably do A-levels biology, classical civilisation, and I'm not sure about the third yet. It says in the sixth form's prospectus (colchester sixth form) that they "strongly recommend" maths AS- or A-level alongside biology. However, I've looked at some exam board specifications, and the maths involved in biology A-level seems pretty small and basic (mostly graphs and basic multiplications). I probably won't want to take any kind of maths at sixth form. I have high predicted GCSEs, and will almost definitely get a 9 in maths - but will I still need to study more maths to do well in biology A-level? Any ideas, especially from anyone who's done/is doing Biology A-level? Like will I still be able to do just as well in biology without maths or statistics A- or AS-levels as with it?
There’s only a bit of maths in a level biology and it’s usually very basic so no it’s not necessary
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