Courses What are the best A-Level options for someone wanting to do Physics?

[TensorCalculus]

Bit Britain-specific but I was wondering, what's the best path to take for A-Levels out of the following (I know Y10 seems a bit early to be thinking about A-levels, but my choice will impact what I do this year/ in y11)

I (almost) definitely want to do physics at University - so keep that in mind...

The subjects that I'm almost definitely going to take are Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and I'm taking a fast track programme which means that I'll be taking AS computer science at the end of year 11 - so I'll likely take the full A level on the side just because I might as well, I like CompSci and I'd have already done half... and then Chemistry too

Then there's my conundrum that on top of that, I want to take another subject: Geography, Economics or DT. Not because I think it'll boost my application or anything, I just think it will be fun! I won't be able to do much of those subjects when I go to uni I would presume... but I will miss them...

The question is which one to take? Will either one be particularly helpful later on? Do either of them change a lot after GCSE?

Also, should I take Physics A-Level early to take off some strain for sixth form? If I took it this year, I have a very, very decent chance at an A* - I could always take it in y11 to be safe.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks! :)

 

[berkeman]

I'm no help on the UK-specific questions, but on this:

I want to take another subject: Geography, Economics or DT.

One thing about taking Economics when you can is that it will help you understand finance stuff. That can help you understand and make decisions about how to manage and invest your money throughout life so that you have more now and later in life and in retirement.

BTW, what is "DT"?

 

[martinbn]

BTW, what is "DT"?

Design and technology.

 

[TensorCalculus]

One thing about taking Economics when you can is that it will help you understand finance stuff. That can help you understand and make decisions about how to manage and invest your money throughout life so that you have more now and later in life and in retirement.

Oh huh, I never thought about that, I just considered it because it was interesting. Thank you!

BTW, what is "DT"?

As said above - Design and Technology. So sort of like engineering minus the maths.

 

[martinbn]

As said above - Design and Technology. So sort of like engineering minus the maths.

What i have seen in movies and on tv, makes me think that it is the class where the teacher gives the pupils some wood to file while he drinks coffee and does his crossword puzzle.

 

[PeroK]

Design and technology.

Phew! I thought it might be Detox!

 

[Steve4Physics]

@TensorCalculus, there may be timetabling clashes with a large number of concurrent subjects at AS/A2. It may be worth consulting whoever is in charge of the timetabling.

 

[WWGD]

I'm no help on the UK-specific questions, but on this:

One thing about taking Economics when you can is that it will help you understand finance stuff. That can help you understand and make decisions about how to manage and invest your money throughout life so that you have more now and later in life and in retirement.

BTW, what is "DT"?

It integrates to T.

 

[Muu9]

Bit Britain-specific but I was wondering, what's the best path to take for A-Levels out of the following (I know Y10 seems a bit early to be thinking about A-levels, but my choice will impact what I do this year/ in y11)

I (almost) definitely want to do physics at University - so keep that in mind...

The subjects that I'm almost definitely going to take are Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and I'm taking a fast track programme which means that I'll be taking AS computer science at the end of year 11 - so I'll likely take the full A level on the side just because I might as well, I like CompSci and I'd have already done half... and then Chemistry too

Then there's my conundrum that on top of that, I want to take another subject: Geography, Economics or DT. Not because I think it'll boost my application or anything, I just think it will be fun! I won't be able to do much of those subjects when I go to uni I would presume... but I will miss them...

The question is which one to take? Will either one be particularly helpful later on? Do either of them change a lot after GCSE?

Also, should I take Physics A-Level early to take off some strain for sixth form? If I took it this year, I have a very, very decent chance at an A* - I could always take it in y11 to be safe.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks! :)

I don't think any of them will be particularly helpful other than giving you some basic exposure and thus allowing you to see how much you like or don't like the subject for potential future study, although I would choose DT or geography over economics in particular because economics isn't even preferred by econ programs at uni (just like CS...). That being said, I'm not from the UK so take that advice with a grainng salt. If you go to Cambridge, you can take Earth Science as a first year module which is similar to geography - it doesn't assume any previous geography knowledge.
You could also ask this question at thestudentroom.co.uk or the /r/6thform subreddit - they'll be full of UK students who are therefore going to be more familiar with these A levels.
Also keep in mind that DT is 50% the final exam, 50% coursework/assignments.

 

[Muu9]

Phew! I thought it might be Detox!

That sounds like a great fourth or fifth A level

 

[Muu9]

I'm no help on the UK-specific questions, but on this:

One thing about taking Economics when you can is that it will help you understand finance stuff. That can help you understand and make decisions about how to manage and invest your money throughout life so that you have more now and later in life and in retirement.

BTW, what is "DT"?

Looking at the A level syllabus here: https://qualifications.pearson.com/...-assessment-materials/A_Level_Econ_A_Spec.pdf
I don't see much in the way of personal finance topics.

 

[Muu9]

Also how will your choices change what you do in Y10/11?

 

[TensorCalculus]

What i have seen in movies and on tv, makes me think that it is the class where the teacher gives the pupils some wood to file while he drinks coffee and does his crossword puzzle.

To be honest, sometimes it's not even too far from that
DT has 2 main parts: the theory and the practical (in GCSE) - theory is like any other lesson you might learn: you would write in a book, learn definitions (e.g. the definition of ergonomics or anthropometrics) and write 6-markers.
The the practical: you get a design specification and you have to design, prototype and build something to fit that specification. The teacher will walk you through the process and help you with what's sensible and what's not, as well as helping you if you get stuck or giving you suggestions, but ultimately it's your choice of what you do and your product that comes out in the end. In the building process of said product, sometimes the lesson is quite literally we all sit down, grab the materials and get cracking on building while our teacher sits on his laptop, drinks coffee, and helps people out if they need it :)

@TensorCalculus, there may be timetabling clashes with a large number of concurrent subjects at AS/A2. It may be worth consulting whoever is in charge of the timetabling.

Yeah, I'm aware: another reason why I might take Physics A-Level early, so there aren't timetable clashes. I'm also likely switching schools come A-Level, so...

I don't think any of them will be particularly helpful other than giving you some basic exposure and thus allowing you to see how much you like or don't like the subject for potential future study, although I would choose DT or geography over economics in particular because economics isn't even preferred by econ programs at uni (just like CS...). That being said, I'm not from the UK so take that advice with a grainng salt. If you go to Cambridge, you can take Earth Science as a first year module which is similar to geography - it doesn't assume any previous geography knowledge.

Oh ineteresting! I mean I wanted to take Econ/geography because I think they would be fun to study - but Earth Sciences seems like another good option, though it doesn't cover the human aspect that geography would.
Also interesting that Economics and CS aren't even preferred by their corresponding Uni programmes...

You could also ask this question at thestudentroom.co.uk or the /r/6thform subreddit - they'll be full of UK students who are therefore going to be more familiar with these A levels.
Also keep in mind that DT is 50% the final exam, 50% coursework/assignments.

Good idea!

Also how will your choices change what you do in Y10/11?

Because if I decide to take one of those A-Levels, it's worth considering doing physics in Y10/Y11 to get it done and out of the way so I don't have to worry about it in sixth form.

 

[Muu9]

Another idea is to watch a video of someone doing a past paper in each of them, do get an idea for what you'll actually be learning and what you'll actually be expected to do on the exam.