London Science Tutors

Helping your child decide whether to take Maths and Science to A Level

It can be a very difficult time of year when prospective sixth-form students must choose which A Levels to study. With over 40 subjects examined at A Level, it feels as if there is an incredible array of choice. A Level subjects will range from those that your child may already have met at GCSE to those which may sound interesting but about which your child may not know much about.

Choosing the right combination can feel very tough – however as long as you take your time to do some research, you will be able to assist you child in choosing the A Level subjects that are best suited to them.

We advise that when choosing two guiding questions should be:

• Which subjects do you enjoy?
• Which career choices are you considering?

Should the answers to these questions be unclear, we would suggest considering ‘facilitating subjects’ (discussed below)

Which subjects do you enjoy?
A Levels are more intensive than GCSEs, and it is important that your child selects subjects that they enjoy doing, otherwise it will be very difficult to maintain enthusiasm to study and learn.

It is worth considering the content to be studied at A Level. Talk with teachers and previous students at school. It is also worth taking a look at the syllabuses of the courses (available to download from specification websites, or from the London Science Tutors website).

A-levels are a lot tougher than GCSEs, and it is important to enjoy the subjects in order to put the effort in. It can be a big jump in the level of difficulty when shifting from GCSE to AS, A-level and any other Advanced level qualification for that matter.

Which career choices are you considering?
If your child is considering a certain career path, it is important to consider the entry requirements. Certain courses will be looking for specific A Levels, and university websites will include details on which A Levels are required in order to apply for a course.

You must ensure that your child does not shut out a desired career due to not taking a qualification. The Russell Group, a group of the UK’s most prestigious universities, publishes a guide called ‘Informed choices‘. It discusses the most common subject requirements for different degree courses at those universities.  This can be downloaded here. Consider the following example for Dentistry:

Dentistry
Essential advanced level qualifications
Chemistry and Biology for most courses, but some require Mathematics or Physics as well.
Useful advanced level qualifications
Mathematics, Physics, Further Mathematics.

Some schools may advise pupils not to risk getting lower grades by taking on harder subjects – and encourage the taking of “easier” subjects. However if the subject is required as part of university entry, it may be worth discussing this with the school. Tutors are also able to work with your child to assist them with their learning.

Facilitating subjects
Taking certain A-levels will open up more university course options. The guide “Informed Choices” also features a list of nine “facilitating subjects” and advises pupils wanting to be considered for a Russell Group university to pick at least two of them as part of their A-level mix. Of the nine facilitating subjects, ALL of the Science and Maths A Levels are present.

The 9 facilitating subjects are: Maths, further maths, physics, chemistry, biology, English literature, geography, history and languages

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group said, “Our consistent advice is that taking two facilitating subjects will keep a wide range of degree courses and career options open to you. This is because these are the subjects most commonly required by our universities and hundreds of courses require one or more facilitating subjects.”

(Russell Group Website – Facilitating Subjects 27 September 2013)

Science and Maths A Levels are highly regarded and will be sure to stand your child in good stead when making their university application. Students that find the subjects tough at A Level will typically find it easier to change from a science A Level to a non-science A Level during the first term. This is because knowledge in science and maths is more “cumulative” than humanities subjects and builds on previous knowledge and skills.

Following the above advice can help select a set of A Levels with which your child is happy.

Our tutors have experience of selecting A Levels and Degree courses and are also happy to discuss options with you and your child.

As well as the clear benefits in terms of salary and career opportunities, the study of science is also incredibly satisfying. The benefits of a science education are also discussed in the article: “The value of a science education” as well as the article “Why study science and maths” from the Science Council.