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Should I take alevel further maths?

Hello, I am in year 11 and I'm interesting in a career to do with computer science. Recently, my school had an application for sixth form, and I chose maths, physics, and computer science. I thought that this was a good combination if I wanted to continue computer science.
However, after researching a bit more about universities, I found out that many of the top ones require further maths for a computer science course. Can I get into them without further maths? I can probably still change my A-level options, I just don't know if I would be good at further maths.
I generally enjoy maths - I usually get 7s and 8s for GCSE, however I didn't think that I was suitable for further maths since it seems like a massive step up from normal maths. Is it really that hard and do you think I should take it as a fourth A-level?? or am I fine without further maths??

Reply 1

I think you might find that the only ones that actually require Further Maths (if your school offers it) are Cambridge & Oxford. A few more have it as recommended but most unis don't require it. If you are very good at Maths then take Further Maths, otherwise maybe take it as a 4th subject then you can always drop it if you are struggling.

Reply 2

Original post
by wojtekkucza0
Hello, I am in year 11 and I'm interesting in a career to do with computer science. Recently, my school had an application for sixth form, and I chose maths, physics, and computer science. I thought that this was a good combination if I wanted to continue computer science.
However, after researching a bit more about universities, I found out that many of the top ones require further maths for a computer science course. Can I get into them without further maths? I can probably still change my A-level options, I just don't know if I would be good at further maths.
I generally enjoy maths - I usually get 7s and 8s for GCSE, however I didn't think that I was suitable for further maths since it seems like a massive step up from normal maths. Is it really that hard and do you think I should take it as a fourth A-level?? or am I fine without further maths??

Definitely do Further Maths, very few universities require it but even at the ones that don’t most people have done it or at least to AS-level (especially russell groups). Considering your grades you may just want to look into doing AS Further Maths as A2 Further Maths is a big step up in itself unless you’re willing to put tons of work in.

This might sound counterproductive but please don’t do A-Level Computer Science 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏. I do it now and it’s single-handedly turned me off a Computer Science degree. Do Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and either a fourth or an EPQ. No university requires A-Level Computer Science as many colleges don’t offer it, as long as you can program very well with a language in your free time (to A-Level standard or above) and can show evidence of it you won’t have a problem getting into top universities without Computer Science A-Level.

Reply 3

Original post
by GeorgeR2810
Definitely do Further Maths, very few universities require it but even at the ones that don’t most people have done it or at least to AS-level (especially russell groups). Considering your grades you may just want to look into doing AS Further Maths as A2 Further Maths is a big step up in itself unless you’re willing to put tons of work in.
This might sound counterproductive but please don’t do A-Level Computer Science 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏. I do it now and it’s single-handedly turned me off a Computer Science degree. Do Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and either a fourth or an EPQ. No university requires A-Level Computer Science as many colleges don’t offer it, as long as you can program very well with a language in your free time (to A-Level standard or above) and can show evidence of it you won’t have a problem getting into top universities without Computer Science A-Level.

Surely that's a good thing, you got a "taster" of CS and just didn't enjoy it. My teacher told me that first year CS is fairly similiar to A level cs other than the maths modules that you take.

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