Education A-Level Choices

I did Economics, Politics and ICT to do CS. Don't do ICT. It's crap.
Maths and Physics will help the most- a lot of the course is based around electronics and maths so you'll get a good head-start by doing them.

 

So true, usually about 8 questions. All the same every year (and i have done many a paper), just keep on doing them until you know the routine like the back of your hand.

 

I'm in my A-level year, doing Physics, Double Maths (F.M. + M.) and French, I dropped chemistry at AS because there was an insane volume of content to recall. I'd recommend physics, it's a very short, simple syllabus -at least my exam board (edexcel) is anyway. French is a noticeable step up from GCSE, but definitely doable and as mentioned before if you can hack the maths, further maths is a useful upper hand to have at uni

 

QFT! I just took an exam on Statistics and it's incredible how similar the questions on that paper were to those of previous years.

I'm currently doing doing maths and the sciences at AS. I'm not exactly sure what I'll end up doing but it's certainly something like CS, electronics engineering etc. I would say that what you've got in mind seems fine but as always there are ways to make yourself more attractive to unis as imo they tend to prefer A levels in maths and sciences for anything science related even if it may not really require an understanding of one of them.

 

I want to keep my options open and yesterday I was thinking of doing Triple Science and a Math. However, Would that be to Difficult, as i'm hoping to "knuckle down" and get 2 A's at least. So, is computer studies not important, if you follow onto do Computer Science?

 

It's not difficult provided you have a love for science and occasionally work. You have to really want to go into science to have the motivation to do all three though.
No, ICT is not needed for CS (I'd argue it gets in the way actually).

 

I love Science, i'm doing quite well for my GCSEs in my last Physics module I did siginificantly well; A* in both papers, full marks in the first. The only predicament is that my IT teacher said I was at such a high standard, my parents are dis allowing me me from giving it the drop and I it would be an easy A. How would you say it gets in the way?

 

ICT is less focused on technical stuff and more on its social impact, as well as basic computing concepts. It's also not well regarded by higher-ranked universities (see here).

 

Apparently, at my school Computer Studies is different as there is another option called ICT which you use MS Office, and do presentations etc. Whereas, in Computer Studies Supposedly you do a small amount of programming, or are these just all lies...

 

What you're describing as Computer Studies seems to be the same as the Computing course I took. Basics of architecture, software development, history of computers, etc.
If you're good it's an easy A, but you won't learn anything that a university won't teach you in the first year. You'd learn more by studying another subject and programming in your spare time.

As for it being harmful, the courses often teach you a simple version of the truth. You'll also need to learn answers just for the exams because the real-world answers often aren't accepted. I found that to be a big problem.

 

Although taking Computer Studies might seem more focused towards what you're planning, doing straight sciences and maths is never a bad option and will allow you to apply for pretty much any engineering or science course. I didn't take Electronics at A-level and I'm now doing electronic engineering at university.

I took Computing AS (which I assume is similar to Computer Studies) and hated it because I knew everything they were teaching. Half of it wasn't anything to do with programming - it was just very basic questions about inputs, outputs etc. It's an easy A but really boring. I dropped it after AS and did Further Maths instead, which turned out to be much more useful.

 

I did Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology.

Ended up as a medic, but it really opens up your options. I personally dont think too highly of IT/ICT A-levels, and if you do two sciences and maths it will open up many options to you. You mustnt just look at if you are likely to make money in your chosen profesison - you need to actually be able to get into it (ie there have to be jobs available, and people wanting fresh new energentic employees) after uni - no need doing a useless degree unless you are already a made man and are just doing it for fun (very few of us are, unless you are of the oxbridge calibre).

 

Maths A level is a joke. I revised S1 for 2 hours the day before. Easy 100 UMS. That's not an exam at all, it's a gift. Seriously, if you have any remote knowledge of how to manipulate numbers, do maths A level for the free A.

Although I have to disagree with fathazza when he said maths is useless in the real world. On the contrary, it leads to a lucrative career in accountancy and The City. I know, because loads of mathmos take internships during their 2nd year summer hols in The City. They leave with a job offer after they graduate, starting at over £40k, which is not to be sniffed at.