Dropping Physics at AS level, ? bad idea

ax50

well i did maths chemistry biology physics all through to 'a level', and to be brutally honest maths (mechanics) is remarkably similar a lot of the stuff i did in physics - obviously excluding physics theory. as a word of advice though i found that its chemistry that's the hardest 'as' to 'a' level jump, and coursework wise its also the most taxing.

Jays

Thanks for all your replies, sorry it's taken so long to get back to you (can't get on the computer these days - two sons taking priority!!)

OK, this is what has happened.

Son has already been entered for AS Physics so can't technically drop it, so is struggling through coursework and doing his best, will sit the AS but will not spend too much of his revision time on it, and then drop it for A level.

The good news is, with this plan the pressure is taken off for next year. He will, hopefully, get a good result in A level PE, and then just be studying A level Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics which, comparied to this year when he has studied one A level and 4 AS levels should be more managable (though he realises the step up to A will be harder).

Many, many thanks for all your advice and helpful comments,
Jays

miketaylor

Hi there. I saw your post and thought I could chip-in!
I'm 17 too, and doing my AS's now (so instead of revising i'm surfing the web!).
I'm doing Maths, Physics, Chem, Electroincs and Further Maths.
People who talk about 'maths with mechanics' are talking about the old they dropped M5+M6 too, so there is no 'mechanics' A-Level any more )system. You have to do C1-4 plus 2 applied modules now, which can be M1+M2, but the mechanics done in those modules are pretty basic. (

3Sci+Maths will be tough next year. It's tough for anyone. Bio esspecially becomes massively harder (so i'm told) and chem does too. 4 A-levels is plenty (Even if one isn't relevent to his course) and depending on the university, most won't mind about physics. Having said that, if he's applying for a high demand course, although the universities may not mention physics as a prefered A-level, to them (for a sci degree) someone with physics will be looked on more favourably than someone with PE.
I'm dropping Chem next year for the exact same reason - I hate it and just don't get it. I'm applying to do physics @ uni though! I emailed a whole bunch, wondering what they thought about me dropping chem, most said they didn't mind (with further maths being so rare nowadays) except Cambridge who said if I dropped chem I had no chance of getting in to do natural sciences.
I'm luckey, I'm in the top maths set, so I can do Maths and further maths in the time it takes other schools (and the other maths sets) to just do 'maths'. Although, this does require some substantial self teaching!

At the end of the day, he's better to drop it if he really thinks it'll slow him down, and unless he wants to apply for a less bio-specific course, there shouold be no problems. However, he should realise that if he wants to do natural sciences at Cambridge, this could scuffer his chances.
I have to say, good decision though!
Much better to do the AS even if you get a rubbish grade, than not do it at all if you have completed the work. And you never know - He could get a better mark than he thinks!
Let me know how he gets on in Physics!

Mike