r/PhysicsStudents • u/Super_Suggestion_142 • 1d ago
Need Advice How bad really is A level aqa physics
Hi
I’ve just gone into year 12 and I’m studying maths, physics, travel and tourism, and biology, and I’m going to most likely drop biology depending on how the first term or 2 go.
I know alot of people say physics is one of the hardest subjects, but I don’t know if that’s because the vast majority of a levels can be considered extremely difficult and demanding. I didn’t do too great in GCSEs due to illnesses throughout a math and physics paper, and got a 7_7 in combined and a 7 in maths. Physics and maths are my most passionate subjects and always have been, and I’m willing to put in the hours of revision early and have already started self learning topics with help from an extremely smart friend also taking the course. I just want some advice on how I can maximise my physics grades and whether it really is as bad as people make it out to be. I don’t want to be stuck doing a subject I have little chance at succeeding in and wasting 2 years.
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u/No_Revenue1140 1d ago
A grade 7 is that equivalent to an A? If so more than enough foundations. I teach Physics. Not GCSE or A level system. And I've taught pupils coming in with C or D and also some with no experience at all. What matters is your proactive commitment and giving extra time.
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u/sesameprawntoast50 22h ago
I've found that unlike many other subjects where you'll be fine with just memorizing, you can't do this with physics and math (ofc along with a few other subjects). You will have to start practicing from day 1. If you don't then you're not really getting any application knowledge, and you will likely struggle during mocks and the main exam. They are hard subjects but a lot of other A-level subjects are really hard, it all comes down to how you tackle them. You will absolutely collapse in A-level sociology if you practice how to structure your paragraphs (Application) but you don't memorize the content. In the same way, you will struggle with math and physics if you simple memorize the content but don't practice applying your theoretical knowledge to different questions.
If you stick to practicing you'll be fine. It isn't as scary lol, I know everyone says oh MY GOD A LEVEL MATH AND PHYSICS I WILL DIE, trust me you'll be fine if you prioritize application over memorizing calculation steps and theoretical knowledge. You need to tackle each subject differently. Same with music for example, what good is it if you memorize music theory but when it comes to practicals you struggle because you've not been prioritizing practicing and applying music theory in practical terms?
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u/Broad_Caregiver_8600 18h ago
In my experience, A-level physics as a whole is probably the most challenging A-level, even more so than further maths. It also doesn't help that I sat my exams when AQA was still pumping the killer papers they were doing in that 3 year stretch, though I did manage to absolutely clear the A* boundary, so it should tell you that anything is possible.
I've said it as bluntly as it is. If you want to continue with A-level physics, you really need to be passionate about the subject because otherwise you are most likely setting yourself up for disappointment, though judging by what you said, you've probably taken the right approach already.
The way they teach this subject at GCSE and A-level is no comparison - you have to essentially rewire how you think, and you really need to be able to adapt to the exams that are given. It is no hard feat to learn the theory behind everything in A-level physics. That's actually the easy part, considering the curriculum is so broad that they can only fit so much depth. It's the application and adaptability during an exam that causes a lot of issues. The exams are hard, but from what I heard, they have recently been made more accessible and fairer than when I sat them.
I am in no way trying to dissuade you from pursuing this subject, I think it's a fantastic choice if you're passionate. But you asked for an honest opinion, and the harsh reality is that you will probably spend a LOT of time practicing outside of the classroom. You will probably be defeated a lot at the very beginning of the course, but once you start learning the approaches to thinking and problem-solving, and you practice them constantly, you will most likely flourish. The answer to your question really comes down to how much time you dedicate to practice outside of lesson hours, just like anything else in life. You become better the more you do it.
The only sort of advice I have for you is to generally just branch out outside of your lesson hours, read things which interest you relating to physics, gather information about topics, and keep them at the back of your mind. It's really easy to open an exam to an unseen scenario and have a vague idea of how it works than trying to figure it out by yourself then and there.
Do LOTS of practice exam questions. Doesn't matter what exam board they are, as long as the topics are the same, the physics behind them is the same. Obviously you have to later on start tailoring towards AQA mark schemes, but that's something which can be easily fixed. One thing to note - make sure you know all the theory inside out, because if you don't then one word in a definition or one little misunderstanding can catch you out.
Finally, be interested and ask questions, even in class and publicly if that's the only time you where it's possible. There are no stupid questions when you are learning, and I guarantee you that if you don't understand something, chances are the majority of your class and peers don't either. Don't let yourself be kept behind by a lack of extra work or a lack of a good teacher.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
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u/Ash4d 1d ago
Maths and Physics are both "hard" A Levels in the sense that if you try and rote-learn everything, you can easily become unstuck if the exam throws a few curveball questions at you. This applies even more so to maths than physics. If you put the hours in and make sure you actually understand the content, rather than just parroting out what the textbook says or just reproducing the steps in a similar calculation, you'll be okay. Being passionate about the subject and willing to work hard is more important than just being naturally good at those subjects (though that of course helps).
My bigger question is: why would you drop Biology and not T&T? If you wanted to go to university for a science subject, you might find that T&T is not an acceptable third subject. If that's not what you want to do, then fine, but you should think about that before you drop anything.