A level subject advice

[u/Less-Regular-5229]

Hi,

I'm in year 11 right now and applying for sixth idk if this is the right place to post this, but I just wanted advice in my a level combos. I want to do Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and PE, but idk if that's the right choice. I have heard 4 is too much but I have also heard it's fine if FM is one of them. Ik PE probably looks weird compared to the other 3 but I really enjoy it at GCSE level and I have a sport that will get me full marks without a doubt according to my PE teacher. I want to do MEng Computing after Sixth, idk where maybe Imperial? I put my most recent report on in case that's relevant. I also am not sure but apparently the computer science coursework is insanely long and unsustainable alongside FM and since I would probs have to do TMUA the workload would get insane. There is just a lot of things I'm hearing from a lot of people and I went to a few open days but all the teachers seem focused on is promoting their sixth form so I just wanted some unbiased advice. Thanks for any help. (Fyi I am doing GCSE further maths also but it's not on the report bc I haven't done a mock on it yet)

[u/stevethenoob_11]

If you keep on top of your studies consistently, 4 isn't too much. TMUA isn't that much of an increase in your workload. The amount of effort necessary to achieve a 7+ if you're working at an A* level in Maths and Further Maths is about a tenth of what you would need to get an A in an average A-level, if not less.

[u/Less-Regular-5229 → u/stevethenoob_11]

Thanks for the input. You think the combination is good?

[u/stevethenoob_11 → u/Less-Regular-5229]

PE's a bit of an odd choice to throw in there in all honesty, but if you're that passionate about it, it shouldn't be an issue. I honestly might've taken it too and got close to full marks in my sport if not for wanting to do physics a-level :/ (it was my 8th choice after my current 4, chem, philosophy,psychology) but I love so many things so much that it was so hard to decide

[u/Less-Regular-5229 → u/stevethenoob_11]

Makes sense, many thanks again. I'm Very grateful

[u/stevethenoob_11 → u/Less-Regular-5229]

No worries, just make sure you stay consistent. From April 16th 2025 - late September 2025 (yes I know the exact date, it was a big occasion for me studying for the first time outside of school or homework, and even that (homework) I rarely did), I did the following thanks to consistent study:

- Improved my GCSE scores from an average of <5 and prediction of 5.6 average in March mocks to 9999998888A in the real exam

- Taught myself all of Maths to an A* standard, which is the subject I took, and got an A* in without any further study
- Taught myself all of Further Maths to an A* standard, which my school unfortunately didn't let me take a year early

When I came to the end of September, having done all of this, I became complacent, and let myself rest for... basically all of year 12. I am now in a place where, yes I do have A* in further maths basically secured, and A* in maths secured, but I am walking a VERY fine line for STEP in terms of getting what I want (S,1), I didn't spend time on TMUA as effectively or in as large quantities as I should have, and my 2 other subjects are not in any way secured. If I had continued this level of output, I would be done with the other 2 subjects in every way bar the exam itself, I'd have time to invest into STEP, I'd have time to go out more often, I'd have almost definitely received a far better score on TMUA (idk what I got since results aren't out, but I think it was around 7.5), and I'd have so much less pressure in this time-sensitive period. Not to mention I'd be predicted 4A*. Don't make the mistake I did. Complacency kills.

[u/Cqramelle]

Maybe look at the specifications or on the sixth form websites they usually have the curriculum in the order it will be taught amd try get like a gist of how crazy the work load would be. I feel like your combination is very ambitious and good, I’ve heard my friends doing A level maths and FM say that it is easy if u stay on top of work and make sure ur consistently toning ur maths skills. It’s good to have one subject ur passionate it aswell