Choosing A Levels - a different perspective please

dora37

billywill wrote:

I'm studying Chemistry and Maths Mechanics at A levels, as well as two others. I've heard that physics is certainly not easy though! Whatever he takes, it's going to be hard work. Will he take all four subjects to A Level, or drop one at AS?
Personally, if he's somewhat interested in Physics, then that's the best option. However, my school was very understanding about subjects, and most colleges should let you switch a subject if you don't like it, within the first term!

After his interview last night with one of the proposed colleges - he has decided to study Maths,Further Maths,Chemistry & Spanish.

Maths AS/A2 will be completed in 1st year and Further Maths AS/A2 in the 2nd year.

The college reviews him after the 1st year to see whether he is able to complete all the subjects to A2. However by then he will hopefully have acheived his Maths A level.

He has decided not to go for the Physics option, but to have Computing as a backup should he not get the required A to take Further Maths.

This college is oversubscribed every year, so fluidity between subjects is not always so easy - it depends on how popular the course is.

I don't think the penny has dropped as to how hard it is going to be - but then it probably hasn't for most 15/16 years old!!

tr3mor

dora37 wrote:

I don't think the penny has dropped as to how hard it is going to be - but then it probably hasn't for most 15/16 years old!!

The penny doesn't have to drop, I managed an ABB with very very little work.

dora37

tr3mor wrote:

The penny doesn't have to drop, I managed an ABB with very very little work.

That surely depends on the subjects taken and the individuals ability?

dexters_mum_2

As long as he has the attitude to work, which he sounds like he does and indeed his tutors also have to be good, he should be fine.

Rikki

dora37 wrote:

** I've just had a phone call to say I've been nominated Governor at DS1 & DS2 High School - it went to a ballot of 4 nominations ** :j

:T Congratulations.

tr3mor

dora37 wrote:

That surely depends on the subjects taken and the individuals ability?

Yeah it does. It sounds like the OP's son is reasonably intelligent though.

I'd say I was about the same and my subjects were Maths, Physics and Economics.

HalibutMadness

tr3mor wrote:

The penny doesn't have to drop, I managed an ABB with very very little work.

The fact that their son actually works is probably quite important. I got AAAAC at AS last year in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computing and French. The subject I did most work in was French, but this was really only towards the end of the year and you need to work consistently to do well in French.

I would suggest that if you do the set homework every week, and a couple of days revision before the exam, then AS levels are only a very minor step up from GCSEs.

Need_More_Money_2

When I did A-Levels (1990) there was a huge step up in difficulty from GCSE to A-Level. A much bigger step than from A-Level to degree. I have no idea whether A-Levels are as hard now as they were then though

studentphil

If anything A level History seems harder than some degree level modules in history, but then my teachers worked us like hell at A level, so maybe that is why.

mhoc

Find out what the college policy is about swapping courses, my son had to do it twice because he had problems with his courses, one he had to take because every other subject in that particualar time table box was full and he is till catching up because he did the swap late.

Also have a back up plan if something goes wrong. My son was to have done IT but got a low GCSE grade and there was nothing else he really wanted to do in that section so he stated college in september still dithering.

Also think about doing a subject you have never tried before. My son is doing Sociology which he has never even thought of doing and he is really doing well.

Mary