Do I have potential for Post-grad physics?

[joelio36]

I would love to study physics to postgrad level, and work in a university, conducting studies and giving lectures.
I'm not familiar with American Education levels, so I'll give a vague view of my education so far:

At 16, we take GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - Universal Education Level 2
I got Physics and Maths highest grade.
Now I'm taking A-Levels (16 to 18 years old, Universal Education level 3). In my first tests I got 95% in maths and 100% in Physics.

I like to think I'm talented in physics and maths, and I am willing to work pretty hard (say on average 8-9 hours a day on weekdays, including lectures).
Do I have potential, or are these qualifications too trival to be able to tell?

I have no clue how hard post-grad level physics is, but I like a challenge

 

[qspeechc]

You have only done one test in each subject. The subject matter tends to get more difficult. You have done well so far, but it's too early to tell. Just keep workig as hard as possible, and that will probably be enough to get into post-grad.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

You have only done one test in each subject. The subject matter tends to get more difficult. You have done well so far, but it's too early to tell. Just keep workig as hard as possible, and that will probably be enough to get into post-grad.

My IQ never tested above 130, and I did OK in grad level physics. It is more about hard work than natural talent. Keep working hard.

Michael Courtney

 

[Shackleford]

My IQ never tested above 130, and I did OK in grad level physics. It is more about hard work than natural talent. Keep working hard.

Michael Courtney

IQ is a poor indicator of intelligence as well.

 

[BioCore]

I second that Shackleford. IQ has many flaws if you ask me, and we humans are still trying to understand how thoughts are formed. But like Dr. Courtney said, hard work is what you need to do great in the future. That is what all the greatest scientists and thinkers of our past used to do. Most of them relied on hard work and not pure talent.

 

[Shackleford]

I second that Shackleford. IQ has many flaws if you ask me, and we humans are still trying to understand how thoughts are formed. But like Dr. Courtney said, hard work is what you need to do great in the future. That is what all the greatest scientists and thinkers of our past used to do. Most of them relied on hard work and not pure talent.

IQ attempts to measure intelligence over a brief time interval. The most complex ideas in math, physics, etc., took a long time to conceive and be established. But, who knows, maybe Newton would have scored incredibly high on an IQ test.

 

[ZapperZ]

I would love to study physics to postgrad level, and work in a university, conducting studies and giving lectures.
I'm not familiar with American Education levels, so I'll give a vague view of my education so far:

At 16, we take GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - Universal Education Level 2
I got Physics and Maths highest grade.
Now I'm taking A-Levels (16 to 18 years old, Universal Education level 3). In my first tests I got 95% in maths and 100% in Physics.

I like to think I'm talented in physics and maths, and I am willing to work pretty hard (say on average 8-9 hours a day on weekdays, including lectures).
Do I have potential, or are these qualifications too trival to be able to tell?

I have no clue how hard post-grad level physics is, but I like a challenge

I think you should put all your attention right now to getting the best undergraduate education that you can. A lot of things can happen between now, and 4 or 5 years later. You will know as you get closer to graduating if you can make it into postgraduate school, or even if you want to.

Zz.

 

[cristo]

I have no clue how hard post-grad level physics is, but I like a challenge

I agree with Zz; don't start looking to the post-grad level yet, since you will not even really know whether you want to stay in education until you have at least done a couple of years of undergrad studies. Concentrate on picking your undergraduate university, and then you'll be in a far better position to answer this question. Still, your physics and maths grades are good, and I'm sure undergraduate level will suit you, however university is a completely different ball game. I don't want to put you off, but then again I don't think you should have unrealistic thoughts of what's in store. A levels are quite easy-- the real work starts when you get to university!