How do you find Physics A level

11

Hi guys!! I am going to start Sixth form this September 25'. I will do physics.
Currently, I am doing: motion, forces (Newton Laws), energy in Spain (the topics are for students who are in year 12), and I find them easier.
(I love physics)

PLEASE!!! Tell me your experience.

Reply 1

Talkative Toad

Volunteer Team

22

I didn’t like the subject but then again, I was never supposed to have done it.

Reply 2

ysl060804

10

Original post

by Andrea_18

Hi guys!! I am going to start Sixth form this September 25'. I will do physics.
Currently, I am doing: motion, forces (Newton Laws), energy in Spain (the topics are for students who are in year 12), and I find them easier.
(I love physics)
PLEASE!!! Tell me your experience.

Hi, I have done A-level physics and personally it was absolutely horrific as it was so hard. i chose A-elvel physics because i enjoyed the concept that is learnt but I realised you really need to have gifted talent in physics to achieve a high grade. If you are the type of person who lack to do extrmemely high level of critical thinking i dont really recommend. However, please check the unis requirement. And this is just my opinion and I obvisouly did not have natural talent in physics and end up getting lower grade than I expected but it really depends on the people. The topics that you are talking about is the easiest or the most basic topic thought in A-level physics so expect the level of hardness will be much higher than that

Reply 3

aaliyahmo

1

Hi! I'm in year 13 doing physics (and chem, maths and further maths for context if that helps). Personally I find physics and further maths to be my two hardest subjects. Further maths is conceptually harder but physics is a much larger course. I certainly do not have a natural flair for physics- that's something I've only discovered since taking it at A-level as I found GCSE physics easy. Despite this, I achieved the top grade last summer ( I did AS-Levels in Y12 as I'm in Wales) and am predicted A* this year.
Therefore I think it's all very doable, but expect to put a lot of time into it outside of school. I find each topic enjoyable and interesting, but almost always hard to grasp initially. I also agree with the other reply- the mechanics-based topics like the ones you mentioned are the easiest part of the course.
My physics teacher is rubbish though and sometimes having a good teacher can make all the difference. My advice is just take these kinds of things into account when considering what subjects you want to do next year- if you think a particular department in your school is weak, dont let it put you off the subject (as you will adapt), but just prepare be more independent in your learning. This is the mindset that has pulled me through the course so far.
If you have any more questions lmk!

Reply 4

Andrea_18

OP

11

Original post

by aaliyahmo

Hi! I'm in year 13 doing physics (and chem, maths and further maths for context if that helps). Personally I find physics and further maths to be my two hardest subjects. Further maths is conceptually harder but physics is a much larger course. I certainly do not have a natural flair for physics- that's something I've only discovered since taking it at A-level as I found GCSE physics easy. Despite this, I achieved the top grade last summer ( I did AS-Levels in Y12 as I'm in Wales) and am predicted A* this year.
Therefore I think it's all very doable, but expect to put a lot of time into it outside of school. I find each topic enjoyable and interesting, but almost always hard to grasp initially. I also agree with the other reply- the mechanics-based topics like the ones you mentioned are the easiest part of the course.
My physics teacher is rubbish though and sometimes having a good teacher can make all the difference. My advice is just take these kinds of things into account when considering what subjects you want to do next year- if you think a particular department in your school is weak, dont let it put you off the subject (as you will adapt), but just prepare be more independent in your learning. This is the mindset that has pulled me through the course so far.
If you have any more questions lmk!

Yes!! I know that the topics I mentioned early, are the bases for what comes to Year 13.
But I consider myself as a hard-working, I like to study every day. I am currently studying for the topics Physics, Chem, and Bio A-level.
Do you think that by studying every day and dedicating enough time, as long as it's efficient, it is possible to achieve an A/A*?
I am sorry for all these questions, I am new in England haha (I need to improve my English)
Good luck with your subjects!!

Reply 5

destroy_lonely

11

i’m in year 13, don’t do maths.

year 1 content is a breeze, questions however, extremely difficult. for example waves content is easy enough, but sometimes the exam questions make you think you’ve never attended a single physics alevel class.

year 2 content is killing me. they try to rush things since alevels is coming up so essentially you’re trying to balance learning the hardest content like magnetic fields, practice questions from these topics, and also revise year 1 content, and practice year 1 questions.

i was gaslit. we started on particle physics which is the easiest year 1 topic. you think alevel physics is easy. then it hits you like a brick.

don’t do it. save yourself

nah i’m joking it’s not that bad, check your uni requirements and think about it. if you don’t need it don’t do it tbh.

Reply 6

nwar

Study Forum Helper

14

Original post

by Andrea_18

Hi guys!! I am going to start Sixth form this September 25'. I will do physics.
Currently, I am doing: motion, forces (Newton Laws), energy in Spain (the topics are for students who are in year 12), and I find them easier.
(I love physics)
PLEASE!!! Tell me your experience.

I love it very much.

I’m in Y13 and do AQA, if that makes any difference. I went through a month or two of feeling like I was awful at it and wishing I hadn’t taken it in Y12 (around this time, actually!) but in Y13, all the content just seemed to click and everything sort of started falling into place.

In fairness, I do further maths, which definitely helps with the mathematical side of physics. Understanding the actual derivations, etc. (most of which is rooted in calculus) was very useful for me. I am not going to do a STEM degree at university so this is my last few months of learning physics. It genuinely is a super enjoyable subject (but a difficult paper - be warned!).

Reply 7

nwar

Study Forum Helper

14

Original post

by destroy_lonely

i’m in year 13, don’t do maths.
year 1 content is a breeze, questions however, extremely difficult. for example waves content is easy enough, but sometimes the exam questions make you think you’ve never attended a single physics alevel class.
year 2 content is killing me. they try to rush things since alevels is coming up so essentially you’re trying to balance learning the hardest content like magnetic fields, practice questions from these topics, and also revise year 1 content, and practice year 1 questions.
i was gaslit. we started on particle physics which is the easiest year 1 topic. you think alevel physics is easy. then it hits you like a brick.
don’t do it. save yourself
nah i’m joking it’s not that bad, check your uni requirements and think about it. if you don’t need it don’t do it tbh.

The physics slander is crazy 😭 I did physics a level even though I’m going to study a degree which is completely unrelated, and it was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Physics is so pookie.

Reply 8

aaliyahmo

1

Original post

by Andrea_18

Yes!! I know that the topics I mentioned early, are the bases for what comes to Year 13.
But I consider myself as a hard-working, I like to study every day. I am currently studying for the topics Physics, Chem, and Bio A-level.
Do you think that by studying every day and dedicating enough time, as long as it's efficient, it is possible to achieve an A/A*?
I am sorry for all these questions, I am new in England haha (I need to improve my English)
Good luck with your subjects!!

To answer your question, you absolutely can do well! The amount of time needed to dedicate to the subject to get a top grade is different for everyone, but literally time and practice is all it takes. 😊 As long as you're enthusiastic (and it seems like you are!), and willing to work on the subject even when at times it can have a steep learning curve, you'll be fine. Besides, it sounds like you're picking a course you love to study and tbh that's the most important thing.
I am one of the smarter people in my physics class, but I have higher grades than some others who are just as capable as me purely because I put more time and care into revision. I hope this isn't coming across as a brag lol, I just want to emphasise that having that motivation/resilience is super helpful.
I'm assuming you've performed well in physics at school up until now? Because I would say it's important that you are starting the course with strong foundations.
Thank you!! Good luck if you choose physics!
PS your English is great

Reply 9

aaliyahmo

1

Just wanna add something because there's a lot of physics slander on this thread. Which is valid because at times it's been soo challenging (right now is one of those times). But even so I don't regret taking it for A-level. I chose it because I enjoyed it and was good at it at GCSE and wanted to study it further.
Yeah it's labelled as one of the hardest A-levels, but so are maths, further maths, and chemistry. So you can't just rule out a subject you want to study because people (me included) are saying it's hard. Evaluate how strong you are in physics at your current level and whether you really love it or not, then you can only take the leap and trust that you can cope with it when it inevitably gets tougher.