What A Levels have you chose/done?

[mrwoooooooo]

i got a pass in btec level 3 nat dip IT practitioners

[Ardemax]

We didn't do anything with lasers Our equipment was very old and out dated anyways, so the most interesting thing we did was mentos rockets. Most of the stuff was the usual springs, pendulums etc.

Oh don't tell me it's the tedious springs like in gcse haha

[Kardan]

Oh don't tell me it's the tedious springs like in gcse haha

Spring equations mainly

[Wig44.]

I'm thinking of doing Physics/Maths/Computing so, if you don't mind me asking, how was Physics? haha!

I did triple and additional and I literally had 4 after-school lessons of triple because my school screwed up the timetables and I have to teach myself basically and got a D in it (5 marks off a C). Additional however I got an A*, so that made me kinda happy to take it.

What topics did you learn about and were they interesting? Or were they really complicated and confusing?

Also (Futz), how was computing? Was the exam difficult?

Thanks!

Honestly, physics A-level is a joke, especially the AS. There is a step up from GCSE to A level that might surprise you but other than that the only 'tricky' part of the A level is some of the magnetism in the second A2 exam, which isn't bad if you read the book for 30 minutes. The practicals are a pain in the arse, I was with OCR and while the actually undertaking of the experiment is pretty simple, you can lose marks for absolutely anything when it comes to the write up. If you're on OCR, make sure your teacher helps you out with the write up side of the practical, the OCR practical handbook actually contradicts itself (repeatedly)... Very annoying.

Topics covered vary slightly from syllabus to syllabus (variations usually in order of topics, not actual content) but this is what I learnt for my first unit, I'll leave out the other 3 for now:

Motion: Using units properly e.g N, kg, m, s. Velocity as ms^-1, force as N (or kgms^-2). SUVAT equations, equations to calculate basic stuff like how far a ball will fly given a few pieces of information like starting velocity (U), time (t) etc. Simple mechanics questions, though they may not seem simple at first. These involve drawing out a vector triangle and rearranging SOHCAHTOA to work out the magnitude of acceleration up a slope or something - goes perfectly with M1.

Forces in motion: Looking at momentum (Momentum = mass*velocity) and simple collisions between point masses. Looking at energy as work done, some ******** on car safety that is probably OCR only and looking at moments (turning points) to determine things like whether a plank of wood will be balanced if there are 3 objects at different points on it, and it rests on the end of a nail or something.

Work and energy: Looking at kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy (and likely solving problems to do with SUVAT based on kinetic or gp energy, the units mesh together like this for higher grade questions). Basic stuff to do with work done = force*distance and energy/time = power. The final topic (for me) was looking at springs, elasticity of materials and young's modulus.

Sorry for the long post but I couldn't really condense it down much more

---------- Post added 27-08-2012 at 10:48 AM ----------

At enrollment when the lecturer said that S1 is in the first year I breathed a short sigh of relief (Statistics part of GCSE being my easiest by far) and the Core 1 stuff looked like a build upon algebra done in GCSE, looks fun. The only Maths part I'd struggle with would be calculating 3D shapes, he said something about calculus playing a major part on the course as well.

The calculus at AS is pretty simple stuff, just basic differentiation and integration. In c2 you may integrate between two limits to figure out the area of a curve. Not much more than that Not sure about calculating 3d shapes though. You look at volumes of revolution (a curve rotated about the x-axis forming a lamp shade like cone) at a2 but nothing like that at AS.

[Ardemax]

Spring equations mainly

Oh right, nothing too dull is it? haha

Honestly, physics A-level is a joke, especially the AS. There is a step up from GCSE to A level that might surprise you but other than that the only 'tricky' part of the A level is some of the magnetism in the second A2 exam, which isn't bad if you read the book for 30 minutes. The practicals are a pain in the arse, I was with OCR and while the actually undertaking of the experiment is pretty simple, you can lose marks for absolutely anything when it comes to the write up. If you're on OCR, make sure your teacher helps you out with the write up side of the practical, the OCR practical handbook actually contradicts itself (repeatedly)... Very annoying.

Topics covered vary slightly from syllabus to syllabus (variations usually in order of topics, not actual content) but this is what I learnt for my first unit, I'll leave out the other 3 for now:

Motion: Using units properly e.g N, kg, m, s. Velocity as ms^-1, force as N (or kgms^-2). SUVAT equations, equations to calculate basic stuff like how far a ball will fly given a few pieces of information like starting velocity (U), time (t) etc. Simple mechanics questions, though they may not seem simple at first. These involve drawing out a vector triangle and rearranging SOHCAHTOA to work out the magnitude of acceleration up a slope or something - goes perfectly with M1.

Forces in motion: Looking at momentum (Momentum = mass*velocity) and simple collisions between point masses. Looking at energy as work done, some ******** on car safety that is probably OCR only and looking at moments (turning points) to determine things like whether a plank of wood will be balanced if there are 3 objects at different points on it, and it rests on the end of a nail or something.

Work and energy: Looking at kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy (and likely solving problems to do with SUVAT based on kinetic or gp energy, the units mesh together like this for higher grade questions). Basic stuff to do with work done = force*distance and energy/time = power. The final topic (for me) was looking at springs, elasticity of materials and young's modulus.

Sorry for the long post but I couldn't really condense it down much more

Nono a long post is just what I needed thanks +REP

So compare it to, say triple or additional GCSE, is it that much different and how in depth are we talking?

Once again, thanks!

[Wig44.]

Oh right, nothing too dull is it? haha



Nono a long post is just what I needed thanks +REP

So compare it to, say triple or additional GCSE, is it that much different and how in depth are we talking?

Once again, thanks!

I'm not sure what your GCSE was like but mine was triple too. I gained a GCSE in biology, chemistry and physics, with all 3 GCSEs having separate tests unlike the double award, if yours is a triple award it may be different from mine. My GCSE courses supposedly went in to a lot of depth and bridged the GCSE-A level gap, but this really didn't seem to be the case. There is a big step up from GCSE to A level physics (your mileage may vary), but that doesn't mean the A level is that challenging. It is far more in depth, especially at A2. When you get used to the algebraic manipulation of SUVAT equations you'll be ok for most of the A level as a lot of it is just algebraic manipulation, or subsituting a quantity for an equation. This is especially true for the first A2 unit.

An example of what I mean is: Kinetic Energy = 1/2*m*v^2 and Energy = Force*Distance, so 1/2*m*v^2 = F*d.. substituting in equations. It doesn't get a lot harder than that, you just have to make connections and you will be taught to do this.

I think a good conclusion to come to is that if you found GCSE Physics at all interesting (I didn't, but A level is so much better) and you are good at it - A or A* - you will be ok. Less than that and you will struggle. I'd suggest being competent at GCSE maths (A or A*) as well. A level maths is optional unless you want to do physics at uni where you will need it.

[Ardemax]

I'm not sure what your GCSE was like but mine was triple too. I gained a GCSE in biology, chemistry and physics, with all 3 GCSEs having separate tests unlike the double award, if yours is a triple award it may be different from mine. My GCSE courses supposedly went in to a lot of depth and bridged the GCSE-A level gap, but this really didn't seem to be the case. There is a big step up from GCSE to A level physics (your mileage may vary), but that doesn't mean the A level is that challenging. It is far more in depth, especially at A2. When you get used to the algebraic manipulation of SUVAT equations you'll be ok for most of the A level as a lot of it is just algebraic manipulation, or subsituting a quantity for an equation. This is especially true for the first A2 unit.

An example of what I mean is: Kinetic Energy = 1/2*m*v^2 and Energy = Force*Distance, so 1/2*m*v^2 = F*d.. substituting in equations. It doesn't get a lot harder than that, you just have to make connections and you will be taught to do this.

I think a good conclusion to come to is that if you found GCSE Physics at all interesting (I didn't, but A level is so much better) and you are good at it - A or A* - you will be ok. Less than that and you will struggle. I'd suggest being competent at GCSE maths (A or A*) as well. A level maths is optional unless you want to do physics at uni where you will need it.

Yeah well I'm also planning on taking A level maths so I dunno haha. Thanks for your contribution though, it helped out a lot!

What did you get in it at A-level if you don't mind me asking? And how difficult did you find it was to get that grade?

[Wig44.]

Yeah well I'm also planning on taking A level maths so I dunno haha. Thanks for your contribution though, it helped out a lot!

What did you get in it at A-level if you don't mind me asking? And how difficult did you find it was to get that grade?

In maths I got an A* and in physics I got an A, I got A* in both the A2 physics tests but the practical cost me the A* as it only got a D! You need an average of 90% over your entire A2 for an A* btw. I don't ever feel that comfortable talking about both my grades AND how much work I put in to them, but since you asked...

If I'm honest, I put a bare minimum of work in, I slacked off during term time (my attendance was 70% ish) and grudgingly did the homework for physics. I revised the sunday before the last physics exam, which was on a monday and that was enough. For maths, I did past papers for a couple of days before and ended up getting 100% on C4 (this sounds arrogant... can't really help it).

This was my experience, personally I think there is a pretty big step up from GCSE and a second decent step up from AS to A2, particularly in maths and physics. Take from that what you will, remember that it may be different for you. The point I'd like to make is that I'm not a genius and I did well in the courses with little effort, so they can't be that hard. If this sort of thing is harder for you then you'll just have to spend a little more time on it. I think that with enough effort you can do well in this course, so long as it interests you or failing that you have some natural ability. It is an interesting course.

[Charz777]

AS/A2 Maths, English Lit, Art
AS Further Maths, Citizenship
Dropped AS Law
Did AS French as part of Fast-Track but chose not to take the exam

[Ardemax]

In maths I got an A* and in physics I got an A, I got A* in both the A2 physics tests but the practical cost me the A* as it only got a D! You need an average of 90% over your entire A2 for an A* btw. I don't ever feel that comfortable talking about both my grades AND how much work I put in to them, but since you asked...

If I'm honest, I put a bare minimum of work in, I slacked off during term time (my attendance was 70% ish) and grudgingly did the homework for physics. I revised the sunday before the last physics exam, which was on a monday and that was enough. For maths, I did past papers for a couple of days before and ended up getting 100% on C4 (this sounds arrogant... can't really help it).

This was my experience, personally I think there is a pretty big step up from GCSE and a second decent step up from AS to A2, particularly in maths and physics. Take from that what you will, remember that it may be different for you. The point I'd like to make is that I'm not a genius and I did well in the courses with little effort, so they can't be that hard. If this sort of thing is harder for you then you'll just have to spend a little more time on it. I think that with enough effort you can do well in this course, so long as it interests you or failing that you have some natural ability. It is an interesting course.

Haha oh right that's an interesting perspective! All I've been hearing from sixth form friends is "YOU WILL DIE NEXT YEAR" (not literally) and how much more difficult a level is than GCSE. I didn't even feel happy about my GCSE results because I knew that if I had said anything all of them would have been like "They're pointless, they have nothing on a level, GCSE's are so easy". So yeah, haha.

Also I may be sounding incredibly stupid here, but I'm looking at a course at uni and it says: "General studies is excluded" underneath like the course a-level requirement. Any idea what it means haha? Thanks!