My advice is thus:

1) Talk to the universities and/or students who go there and see what they recommend for the course you would like to take.
2) Only do what you have to because there is no point trying to get 4 good grades when you can get 3 great grades and get where you want to be.

Personally I took Maths, Computing, Physics and AS Further Maths. Maths was a no-brainer for me as I found in quite easy although further maths involved having to work. I started doing the full a-level but when no universities asked for it I promptly dropped down to AS so I could focus on my other subjects (I did the old a-level system). Physics was my weakest subject simply because I didn''t pay attention in class, more on this later, but computing was also a no-brainer. I''d been programming since my early years in school and the course presented no problem. It doesn''t teach you anything particularly useful although you will probably get one or two good things out of it (for me the only thing new was database normalisation and design).

I now am in my 3rd year of my Physics (uh huh) Degree at Imperial. It''s quite good here. I got an ABB offer and achieved AAB.
The first term my knowledge of further maths was a godsend, it made getting full marks in the initial exams very easy. But after about 3-4 months *everyone* was on a level playing field. Sure every now and then it''ll help out but you''ll find that if you go to a good university then the course moves at a decent speed. This is why I say take it if you need it else do it if you really want to.

Also I''ve found that you don''t seem to touch the area your actually interested in working in until you are actually very close to getting there. My first two years seemed to be full of random core course content. Now with a few specialised option courses and a greater understanding of the topics I can see the applications and progress. Unfortunately, like when you get your A-levels your GCSEs seem completetly unimportant, a few years in to your degree and your A-levels will seem laregely irrelevant.

Oh and as for maths modules, yes pure is great but do what you''ll do well in. I took 3 pure modules, 2 mechanics and 1 statistics (guaranteed 75%+ exam mark if you learn it) for my a-level and as-level. I was doing the old system remember though which was 4 modules where old module = 1.5 new modules.

Hope some of this helps you, A-levels were a really enjoyable time in my life and I hope you can have as much fun as I had.

-Meto

I remember the hell that was stats. If you can do mechanics instead, do it.
Brrr.
I''d take philosophy or art if you can, it''s much more useful than BS. (the acronym says it all really)

quote:Ah, but surely if you do it at A-level, you'll have more time to party in the first year of university?

< SARCASM >
Partying? University is all about hard work and dedication, if you are partying, you don't deserve to be there.
< /SARCASM >

EDIT: My sarcasm tags didn't appear

[edited by - dmounty on October 17, 2003 3:10:07 PM]

quote:Original post by Metorical
I now am in my 3rd year of my Physics (uh huh) Degree at Imperial...The first term my knowledge of further maths was a godsend

Tends to be at Imperial! I heard they''re trying to get the medics to do further maths as well...

FYI I''m doing engineering at IC

I''d definately suggest doing at least 1 {pure} science - probably physics as a reasonable physical understanding will be an advantage in an industry such as the game programming industry (where I assume you intend to head). It''s all very well trying to avoid the ''hard'' subjects, but they do add to your ability to approach the problem with a better analysis logic - I''m sure you know all the jokes about media studies. Further maths will also ease your passage into uni, even if you don''t need it.

quote:
Ah, but surely if you do it at A-level, you''ll have more time to party in the first year of university?

it''s been a good couple of weeks so-far...

So if I had the choice of:

Math, Further Math, Pure Math, Mechanics and Statistics which ones shud I take?

I WILL be taking Business and Computing so I just want two types of maths from above, for AS then for A2 Ill drop one of the maths and focus on three subjects, or if i can handle it take all four (doubt it )!

Thanks, Adam!

PS Im looking for two maths subjects that will be applicable to my *fingers crossed* Games Career into Graphics Programming. The Uni. Course im looking to take is "Computer Science with Games Development" but its not at oxford, or other universitys such as, so the expectations for A Levels are not Extreme. (Triple CCCs I think, and Maths & English Grade C GCSE)

[edited by - Webbster on October 18, 2003 10:37:20 AM]