I've recently finished that main bulk of my GCSE's, a few minor exams to go; and I am considering what Sciences I should take for A-Level. I tend to find I lean more towards Physics and Chemistry than Biology, although I would be interested in pursuing a future in say Biochemistry.

Is it true that Biology is the simplest of the three?

What level of Mathematics is required for Physics? (and Chemistry)

Do Physics and Chemistry compliment each other? or would Physics/Biology or Chemistry/Biology be a better combination?

I do A-level phywsics, infact i am sitting in it right now. GCSE higher maths should be okay for physics, i found it okay. Plus Physics is fun, and cool. Im just starting a project on the eagle nebula for yr 13 (A2) work

I'll take a shot at a few of these questions. As an aside, when I did my A-levels, I took all three sciences - chemistry, biology and physics - along with maths.

Why biochemistry?

If you want to lean towards chemistry and physics at A-level, why would you then want to shift to biochemistry at university? (And, believe me, if you come to apply to university, they will be very thorough when asking you that question.)

Not really, no.

The knowledge you need is invariably different. The equations involved in chemistry and physics can be quite complex (depending upon your proficiency in algebra), whereas you need to know little more than how to be able to multiply and divide (using a calculator) for biology.

However, biology requires far more reading and writing than of mathematical applications - I've heard biology referred to as "the science of long words" before. In the biology exams, you'll be expected to write quite a good amount of information down (considering each modular paper is only one hour only) - the chemistry and physics papers will expect a lot of calculations.

For both, you'll certainly be expected to be able to apply some fairly complex equations (and you'll encounter many Greek letters). If you can handle these equations and can rearrange them, you should be fine - I'd say the knowledge required is somewhere between GCSE and AS-level standard. In A2 chemistry, expect to encounter logarithms when studying the pH scale in more depth.

To get an idea of the depth of maths (and knowledge in general) involved in these exams, look at some past papers. The AQA publish all of their past papers online here: AQA Past Examination Question Papers and Mark Schemes

Generally speaking, you choose either physics/chemistry or chemistry/biology - an option of physics/biology is rare. Or, like I did, you can opt for all three - but be prepared for the workload.

The two combinations lead to different degree course options available to you at university, so you'd have to decide and then take the more appropriate combination. If you want to aim for biochemistry, obviously taking the chemistry/biology combination is sensible.

If you've any more questions, feel free to ask.

I loved the sciences and wanted to do physics, chemistry and biology. However, I was told that if I didn't do maths, I wouldn't be able to handle the physics. Hence I did maths, physics and chemistry.

Well, the advice about maths was incorrect. I could have handled easily physics without doing maths A'level.

Is my life better or worse because I dropped biology for maths? It's no better or worse, just different. I've gained from doing maths but lost from not doing biology. The reverse would have been true if I had swapped the subjects.

I agree with Big Dave regarding biochemistry. If you lean towards physics/chemistry, what makes you think you would you like to do biochemistry? I'm not criticising, just trying to understand your thought process.

I believe you should choose the subjects that interest you the most.

If you're going to go into biochemistry, you should take... biology or chemistry. I'm in biopsychology, and, of the pure sciences, I do find biology the easiest. People probably say its the easiest because it involves the least math.

But I think the most important thing to question is... if you are avoiding biology (by leaning towards physics or chemistry), why are you wanting to go into biochemistry?

As to what math is required, I sugest contacting your advisor. Wait, don't just contact your advisor, become close friends with your advisor. Your advisor should know exactly what career goals you want. What graduate school you want to go to (you have an idea, don't you?). And what specific field you want to go into (you have an idea, don't you?). And where you want to work (you have an idea don't you?). These are important and though you think you're smart (and I think you're smart, too), your advisor has more life experience in his/her pinkie toe than both of us have combined. It is available, so use it.

Unless someone here happens to be a science college advisor in England, we're not going to have the experience and advice you need.

Things to Bring to your Advisor.
Major: Biochemistry

What you want to study with this major: The brain? Animals? Are you going to be a research scientist or an applied scientist?

Where you want to go to graduate school: Look up some schools with a major that will get you closer to the above major. Bring it to your advisor and he'll help you narrow those schools down. Use your current knowledge in what kind of colleges you like. Big school, small school, near a town, abroad, ect. You and your advisor will turn it from a pool of ideas to a prioritized list.

Where do you want to work: If you're going to research, do you want to research and teach in a college, or the government, or with a private institution? I've never had a desire to do applied science, so I don't know much about where you'd work in that, but... look that up! It's important! Because I want to work in the government... I'm learning chinese to improve my chances of getting hired!


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When you WRITE IT DOWN, THAT'S when you'll realise, "Hey, this is the dumbest future I could have thought for myself and I would hate living this life." And then you crumple up the paper and just write something else down, no biggie. Much easier than changing middle of your junior year. So write it down and take it to your advisor!