I have asked the S4 pupils (January 2009) what advice they would give to S2 pupils thinking of choosing physics.

I asked 5 broad questions and the answers are in the comments below.

Is physics too easy/hard? How much maths was there?

"Physics is very hard when you first start but after a while it gets a bit easier"

"It is very hard byt if you work hard it pays off"

"It can be hard at times and if you don't pay attention you may struggle with bits of it"

"Physics isn't too difficult, but its not easy either!"

"Physics is difficult, a lot more dificult than I thought it would be."

"Physics is quite challenging and contains quite a lot of maths in it."

"Physics was very hard and was full of maths, more experiments would have been better"

"It is not too difficult, but there is a lot to remember."

"Physics is a hard course, but very useful in a lot of jobs, so I highly suggest it"

"Difficult and extremely hard to understand. Slightly boring"

"Physics is a lot harder than I thought it would be, You really need to revise often. You don't need to be good at maths as most of the calcutions are done with a calculator"

"I find it very challenging. There was more maths than I expected"

"Some aspects of physics were more maths related than I expected"

"If you undertand the 'speed, distance, time' triangle in maths, you should not have much difficulty with the calculations"

"Sometimes easy, sometimes difficult. Depends what you are interested in and helps if you are good at maths"

"It depends on the topic. Some stuff was quite easy."

"The most important thing is to learn what all the formulae triangles are and what divides or multiplies what"

"It really depends on the topic you are doing. It also helps if you are good at maths"

Which parts were most interesting?

"Radiation (3), electricity/electronics (4), health physics (11), astronomy (2), transport( 5)

Which parts were least interesting?

electronics (2), health physics(1)

"Didn't like the maths."

Are you taking physics further? Have you learned useful things?

"The topics are well covered with a lot of information given to help you. The information I have gained in the this class will help me with my highers"

"I don't think I shall do higher physics, but may do Intermediate"

"Yes. However I haven't learned as many useful things as I'd expected. I'm thinking about higher"

"Yes. I am thinking about taking higher physics. Topics are covered well at standard grade and I am interested in taking this further"

"I don't think I will take higher"

"I have learned a few things that will come in useful, but I don't think I will take higher" (two people)

"The standard grade was hard enough. I don't think I will do higher"

"No, I will be dropping this subject"

"I will hopefully do higher physics to learn more. The subject has a lot of practical use"

"I am leaving school, so will not take it further, but it will be useful for my job" (two people)

"Yes. I hope to be an electrician after my highers"

"I learned some useful skills, but difficult to use them in everyday life"

"I might take it as Intermediate 2 next year. There are a lot of interesting topics."

"I am going to take it further. I am finding it useful"

"I think the electrical work will be useful in the future"

Was homework useful? Too much? Good to have deadlines online?

"There isn't much homework"

"The homework is sometimes hard to understand"

"You don't get too much, but it is useful and may help you"

"The homework was easy and gives you extra practice and I didn't use the online homework much"

"Homework is quite difficult"

"Sometimes OK to have it online as it was quick to complete, sometimes a problem to get logged in"

"There wasn't a lot of homework"

"Less homework is given toward the end. It is useful and encourages you to research and learn"

"Some people had problems with the online homework"

"The homework was useful - if you couldn't do it you know that you need to revise that subject"

"There was a fair amount and it was helpful to have the deadlines online"

"Occasional homework is useful to get to grips with topics"

"The internet homework is a good idea"

"It can be useful. Gives you a chance to look at the work in your own time and makes you focus more. The online homework didn't always work."

"Homework was useful. Sometimes had problems getting online"

"It was helpful, but the online stuff could be a problem"

"You need to get the homework back on time and concentrate on any corrections"

Would you still choose physics? If not, why not? Any other comments?

"Yes. If you are planning to take physics you really need to buckle down and work hard"

"I would not choose physics because it all gets confusing after a while"

"Yes. Because I want to do medicine"

"Yes. I have learned a lot over the two years"

"No. I would choose biology over physics. I wish I had! I don't understand a lot of the course as I don't like the way it has been taught. If you are taking physics, buy the revision book offered to you. Although it looks dull and lacks colour, it is actually quite good!"

"I probably would not choose physics again, simply because I do not believe my future career will be very physics-based."

"NO! I struggled with the course. I found it boring and frustrating, not able to understand the work. I wish I had chosen something else"

"No, I would not. I don't feel that we have been taught everything we need at this point"

(Ed. Indeed, this is correct, we still have 1 topic to complete)

"No. The subject and its content is not relevant to the career I want to pursue"

"Yes. It is hard but helpful and hopefully will become of great use to me in the future"

"Yes I would still choose physics"

"I am not sure. I prefer PE over science. Only choose physics if you like learning about electrical things"

"Yes. Because it helps me understand electricity"

"I probably would choose it again because physics will help me for future jobs"

"I would still  choose physics because it will come in handy for when I have to get a trade"

"Yes, because it was interesting"

"Take physics if you think you can work hard"

"Maybe. I will not do higher though"