Is A level Maths useful for a career in Environmental/Climate science???

5

I'm just about to go into Y13 and am currently studying 4 subjects (Maths, Bio, Geog and Environmental Science). I've been predicted A* in Geography and Environmental Science and A in Maths and Bio, but I don't think this will be realistic with harder Y13 content as well as extra stuff like UCAS applications and driving lessons on top of what I was doing in Y12. Just keeping on top of Maths homework takes up the majority of my study time and my current Biology grades have slipped to B/C because of it, however I don't want to drop Biology as I feel it would be more useful to my degree and I enjoy it more despite being better at Maths. I also took an AS in Maths so that I'd still have a qualification in case I decide to drop it, and achieved an A.
I'm aiming to do a degree in Environmental science, Climate science or potentially Natural sciences at a Russell group uni. Will A level Maths be helpful in these degrees or careers afterwards or would it be more worthwhile to get better grades in 3 subjects? I know that unis will only consider my top 3 grades anyways but don't want to narrow any career paths.

Reply 1

psidd

3

I can't speak specifically for Env Science and the others you suggested so i may be wrong as i did chemical + environmental engineering but maths was relatively important for looking at subjects like water/air treatment, contaminated land remediation etc which i imagine is covered in env science so it depends. As long as you feel strong enough in it and feel if you dropped it you'd perform better in your other 3 subjects. Just make sure you review the course requirements for the unis you're interested in, some specify maths is needed and others aren't as fussed.

Reply 2

JimmyJackwagons

7

Hi i also am going to Y13 and planning on doing exactly the same career as to you but i chose Biology,Chemistry and Computer Science. If i am being honest i kinda regret not choosing maths over Comp Sci however i also kinda glad i didnt since in my school lots of people aren't doing great in maths and i am generally better at computer science. I still plan on doing a career on environmental science. I've been looking at biological science degrees on imperial,UCL,KCL and Queen mary and they don't require you to have done maths but require two sciences so i'll prob aim for those. Imperial also has a specific environmental science degree which also doesn't need math just two sciences. So yeah i do not think you NEED math but it is a great subject for degrees as it is listed a subject they accept and would help out with the math side of environmental science
Just realised that you didn't do chemistry so for some unis on biological sciences that i've listed you would not be able to get in without the math.. my bad but either way you can go through your degree through other similar degrees such as geoscience

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 3

Muttley79

20

Original post

by eebie

I'm just about to go into Y13 and am currently studying 4 subjects (Maths, Bio, Geog and Environmental Science). I've been predicted A* in Geography and Environmental Science and A in Maths and Bio, but I don't think this will be realistic with harder Y13 content as well as extra stuff like UCAS applications and driving lessons on top of what I was doing in Y12. Just keeping on top of Maths homework takes up the majority of my study time and my current Biology grades have slipped to B/C because of it, however I don't want to drop Biology as I feel it would be more useful to my degree and I enjoy it more despite being better at Maths. I also took an AS in Maths so that I'd still have a qualification in case I decide to drop it, and achieved an A.
I'm aiming to do a degree in Environmental science, Climate science or potentially Natural sciences at a Russell group uni. Will A level Maths be helpful in these degrees or careers afterwards or would it be more worthwhile to get better grades in 3 subjects? I know that unis will only consider my top 3 grades anyways but don't want to narrow any career paths.

Check the requirements of the unis you are considering.

Reply 4

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

11

Original post

by eebie

I'm just about to go into Y13 and am currently studying 4 subjects (Maths, Bio, Geog and Environmental Science). I've been predicted A* in Geography and Environmental Science and A in Maths and Bio, but I don't think this will be realistic with harder Y13 content as well as extra stuff like UCAS applications and driving lessons on top of what I was doing in Y12. Just keeping on top of Maths homework takes up the majority of my study time and my current Biology grades have slipped to B/C because of it, however I don't want to drop Biology as I feel it would be more useful to my degree and I enjoy it more despite being better at Maths. I also took an AS in Maths so that I'd still have a qualification in case I decide to drop it, and achieved an A.
I'm aiming to do a degree in Environmental science, Climate science or potentially Natural sciences at a Russell group uni. Will A level Maths be helpful in these degrees or careers afterwards or would it be more worthwhile to get better grades in 3 subjects? I know that unis will only consider my top 3 grades anyways but don't want to narrow any career paths.

Hello! 🙂

I'd recommend looking at universities' websites to double check if you need maths. It is true that maths will open more doors for your career and it will be useful at university, especially if you go on to do natural sciences and pick physics/chemistry modules.
I'm currently a natural sciences student at UEA and in the environmental sciences modules I've taken, lecturers have gone through the maths that is needed to understand that specific topic (as maths is not required), but this may not be the case in all universities.

I understand this is a hard choice, but I'd suggest think about the course you really want to do and have at look at universities' websites for entry requirements. To do this, ask yourself what area of environmental sciences and natural sciences you like. Do you like chemistry and physics as well as biology or do you prefer biology with geography?
Here's an example of UEA's entry requirements for environmental sciences.
BSc (Hons) Environmental Sciences 2024/25 | UEA

I hope this helps, please don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any!
Fatma
Natural Sciences student.

Reply 5

Swansea Students

Official Rep

13

Hello eebie,

I am studying Environmental Science and the Climate Emergency at Swansea University (I have actually just graduated!).

As many of the others have suggested it is worth looking at the specific requirements for Universities. Here are the requirements for Swansea Uni https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/biosciences-geography-physics/geography/bsc-environmental-science-and-the-climate-emergency/#modules=is-expanded .

To be honest rather than Maths itself it is just the Statistics part that is most relevant to Env Sci, as you need it to prove relationships between say rainfall and plant growth. However, in general if you need to know any specific Maths/Statistics you will be taught it as part of the modules. Also many Unis also have support for Maths/Statistics if you need a little bit of extra help.

Hope this helps,
Sam Lynch - Environmental Science and the Climate Emergency Student Ambassador.

Reply 6

eebie

OP

5

Thanks for all of your help ☺️

Is A level Maths useful for a career in Environmental/Climate science???

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated