Question: Which A-Levels do you need to become a scientist

Sam Connolly answered on 23 Jun 2014:

It depends what kind of scientist you want to become! If you want to be an astronomer, you’d need to do a physics degree, which would mean doing physics and maths at A-level. You would also want to do physics and maths if you want to do things like photonics, (which is studying light with lasers), nanotechnology, particle physics and things like that. You’d also want physics and maths if you wanted to do things like electronics, robotics. If you wanted to do medical research, like finding a cure for cancer, or research into animals or the environment, you would want a biology A-level. If you want to do research into new materials, like new fuels or better batteries, or find new medicines, you would do Chemistry. In most cases you only need the relevant science (out of physics, chemistry and biology), but with physics-related things you usually need maths too. Maths is very useful for chemistry and biology too, but might not be required. Also, for some subjects it’s useful to have two of the sciences – for example if you’re researching new medicines chemistry and biology are both important. The best thing to do is look up some university courses before you decide your A-levels and see what you need to have to get in.