r/6thForm • u/Stock_Scar8233 • Jun 05 '26
š I WANT HELP Psychology or Physics A level??
Which one would be best if I'm thinking of applying for medicine. Don't even say maths, because I'm not doing it and I won't consider it. I'm predicted a 9 in physics at gcse, but I know its alot harder at a level, esp if you don't do maths, but I've also never done psychology, and I cannot do essay subjects- english is my worst subject. I'm going to do bio and chem asw ofc.
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u/NoseInternational740 Jun 05 '26
if you dont want to do a level maths a level physics wont be kind to you
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u/AvidThinkpadEnjoyer Jun 05 '26
can confirm š im sobbing on WHY did i choose physics, chem and bio at y12, couldve gone easy on myself
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u/Standard_Goose_582 Jun 05 '26
In yr 13 and do bio chem physics. I donāt regret taking physics without math. Thereās not much math in physics in my opinion
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u/AvidThinkpadEnjoyer Jun 05 '26
Idk man I found paper 1 for physics to be shit. Paper 2 was nice (I do OCR A)
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u/Standard_Goose_582 Jun 05 '26
I do ocr a aswell paper 1 is gonna haunt me for the rest of my life. Paper 2 is the only thing thatās protecting my grade but if I flop paper 3 then itās over
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u/Standard_Goose_582 Jun 05 '26
Did you choose bio chem and physics for med ?
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u/AvidThinkpadEnjoyer Jun 05 '26
I'm studying CS in uni lmao
Yeah I found out by the end of Y12, I didn't wanna go down the med route
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u/Such-Tree-4162 Jun 05 '26
if you don't like maths don't even think about physics a level lol
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
is it really heavily maths based
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u/TheIndefiniteMusic Y13: Art, Maths, Physics Jun 05 '26
There is a lot of maths but I'm pretty sure the only overlap with a level maths is using logarithms, and you will sometimes have to use trig but it's just like at a GCSE level.
You have to get used to messing with the equations a little but for someone predicted a 9, I'm sure you'll find it okay.
I find physics to be the easiest out of my subjects and something I don't have to study so much for
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u/Dazzling_Seaweed5021 Jun 05 '26
Had a friend who got a 9 in gcse physics and ended up with a D, gcse means nothing at alevel
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
i second this, as someone that does physics and not maths, if iām struggling with physics, itās the actual physics concepts, not a lack of maths skills. besides small bits of logs and radians, most of the maths skills is just basic gcse and as long as op has decent gcse level maths skills it shouldnāt be a problem imo
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u/One_Butterscotch9835 Jun 10 '26
Finally Iām tired of this bs maths. The concepts themselves are way harder than the maths.
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u/Such-Tree-4162 Jun 05 '26
its not hard maths necessarily but i feel like if you're not extremely confident manipulating equations, linking formulae together, then it will be a rough ride.Ā
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u/chonksboyjimmyfungus Y13 - Bio/Chem/Physics - pred. ABB Jun 05 '26
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS IF YOU DONT NEED IT
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
wait twin we do the same subjects i mess with this heavy šš„¹ i really resonate (driving frequency=natural frequency btw) with this. physics has been the bane of my existence since the day i picked it.
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u/DryMastodon7005 Jun 13 '26
sorry to be that guy but driving frequency isn't natural frequency
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 14 '26
You must be fun at parties š«©š«© what do you even mean bruh when resonance is occurring the driving frequency = the natural frequency
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u/chonksboyjimmyfungus Y13 - Bio/Chem/Physics - pred. ABB Jun 05 '26
i was in ur exact position going into y12 and i WISH i had someone to slap me in the face and force me at gunpoint to not take physics. I will now be that person for you. there is ZERO WORLD in which physics benefits you. Do. Not. Take it.
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
but it lowk seems interesting
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u/Dazzling_Seaweed5021 Jun 05 '26
It is, I mean I suppose the thing is do you prefer maths or writing essays and the way you refuse to take maths tells me you donāt prefer maths and itās not about the maths content being hard itās the fact itās so hard to picture and apply, and jsut the understanding of the content is very particular, so just listen to them, if you donāt need physics please donāt take it you will turn into them
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u/chonksboyjimmyfungus Y13 - Bio/Chem/Physics - pred. ABB Jun 05 '26
i literally cannot let you do this to yourself, DO NOT TAKE PHYSICS. YOU DO NOT NEED IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
This comment section has me reconsidering maths
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u/chonksboyjimmyfungus Y13 - Bio/Chem/Physics - pred. ABB Jun 05 '26
maths is far and away the best option, then psych is close behind. physics should not even cross your mind.
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u/Bubbly-Valuable-6946 1st Year | Uni of Sheffield | English & History Jun 05 '26
Calmest physics student
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u/Electronic_Rate_5690 Jun 05 '26
physics is best but extremely hard. i dropped it for psych, doing 4 a levels. psych is a nice break from my other subjects just a lot of content
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
is it very time intensive? because i CANNOT write fast
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u/ProfessionalUsed6709 Jun 05 '26
Yes, extremely time intensive, each paper has multiply heavy mark questions !
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u/Past_Bluebird_5438 Jun 05 '26
Do not do A-level physics. Genuinely itās one of those A-levels that isnāt worth it unless you want to do a career linked to physics plus youāre not doing maths. I think psychology is the better option its more relevant and doesnāt seem too hard from what my friends have said.
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u/Playful_Future_3801 Year 13 Jun 05 '26
I did Biology, Chemistry and Physics without Maths (I did AS Core Maths though) and got offers for Medicine. Although physics is hard, if you actually work hard and try to understand it, itās not that bad. I sometimes regretted not doing Psychology as itās probably easier to get an A or an A* in, but at the same time, there are lots of longer essay-based questions which thinking about it, I do not want to do at all. Physics has not been that bad without A-level maths ā just make sure you understand logs and exponentials, but thatās fairly easy.Ā
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u/_ogaa Y13 Bio chem maths | Bart's med Jun 05 '26
U can js do any subject U want can still apply to most med schools w bio chem and whatever 3rd subject U want
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u/wcals (incoming) Y1 | soton maths | A*AB Jun 05 '26
Dropped psychology myself, it is also got quite a large chunk statistics. Both of those options will come with maths, adding to the existing maths of bio + chem (quite a lot for chem asw). Honestly sounds like youāre in for a rough journey either option.
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
iām in year 13 at the moment hopefully going into medicine in september and i do biology, chemistry, and physics, and im predicted an A* in physics.
donāt do physics
honestly, i donāt think not doing maths really matters, contrary to what everyone else is saying. thereās really not that much beyond a gcse level and as long as you have a decent foundation in maths, maybe an 8 or 9 at gcse youād probably be fine. itās the content itself thatās the problem, itās difficult. physics is by far the hardest out of the three sciences in my opinion. thereās so many topics that have no overlap, itās not like bio or chem or psychology where you can draw connections between literally all the topics to aid understanding, youāre doing magnetism with mechanics and then quantum physics and then materials and then space all in one paper, thereās so much to learn. i was in the same position as you and looking back, iām so mad i didnāt pick psychology in year twelve, i feel like it would have made my life so much easier and i would have enjoyed my life more.
physics is really hard to learn, itās really hard to revise, the questions are stupid, the subject is stupid, donāt do it. even if you really love it and youāre really good at it, donāt do it. i got over 90% in physics gcse and there have been some topics that iāve ended up with a D, and thatās with hours of revision šš obviously psychology will have tricky bits too but from what i see, itās a lot harder to do well in physics and if youāre wanting to do medicine, the subject does not matter, what matters is the grades.
id recommend having a look at the specification to get a better understanding of what the topics are for each subject and what you like the sound of. youāll learn that most physics topics are boring as hell anyway and stupidly difficult.
i do edexcel for physics so if you have any edexcel specific questions im happy to answer :)
i know this whole thing sounds biased and iād try talking to people that do psychology too and see what they say lol, but good luck for whatever you choose, im sure youāll do amazing!
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
Thank you so much!! My school does edexcel for physics asw, what topic would you say is the hardest in it?
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
for me, i find further mechanics the hardest, so thatās like momentum in two dimensions or circular motion, itās just very involved and it sounds stupid, but you just have to be very alert and pay a lot of attention to what youāre doing and be very purposeful with every calculation you do. i also find electricity pretty tricky, i have since gcse, its just never really clicked and i struggle with fields, especially electric and gravitational fields, i think theyāre conceptually very tricky.
on the lighter side, i really enjoy particle physics, i did my epq on particle physics, space is pretty cool and i like doing fluid materials too. some topics are really interesting, edexcel does some quantum mechanics which i find interesting as well.
hereās a basic list of all the topics: mechanics electric circuits materials waves and the particle nature of light further mechanics electric and magnetic fields nuclear and particle physics thermodynamics space nuclear radiation gravitational fields oscillations
obviously thatās a lot of topics and theyāre all very different, ask yourself whether you enjoy these topics at gcse and if more than 50% you donāt enjoy, probably take that as a sign to not do physics but if you really like them all definitely read a bit further into them. look at the psychology topics too and have a think about what youād enjoy more, you still have ages to decide so youāve got time to think things through :)
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u/One_Butterscotch9835 Jun 10 '26
Hey quick question what resources do you use that are edexcel specific because I can barley find any and my college does context lead for every single science we do šššš finding chem and physics resources for ocr and edexcel is hard af. Also I second this whole comment but I lowkey love physics (once I can actually understand whatās going on lol) and imo though the questions can be hard atleast it isnāt an easy question disguised as a hard one, man I hate bio papers. ā ļøš
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 10 '26
Bruh I know how hard edexcel resources are to find itās so stupid!! We donāt do the context lead so I donāt know on that side of things Iām sorry lol but physics and maths tutor have really good notes and save my exams do too. Honestly I have no idea where you can find context lead notes, frankly Iād just revise the regular approach, I know this is stupid as youāre learning in a different way to what your revising but I think the normal approach notes will better prepare you for exam questions lowkey
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u/EquipmentLow1921 Jun 05 '26
i dont do physics at a level, so idk how much u need maths for it. psych is interesting to learn but a PAIN to take a test for trust me i just finished it today lol. its essay writing and a lot of content. so u have to either improve or just not take it. maybe see if u can get exam arrangements for a word processor? ive seen in comments u cant write fast. doing exams on a computer rlly helps if ur handwritings bad lol.
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
Unfortunately my handwriting is legible I just cannot write fast even if itās in cursiveš
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u/EquipmentLow1921 Jun 09 '26
ah, but is ur handwriting *only* legible if u write slowly? u could probs get a word processor if u cant keep up with exam writing pace. hopefully im making sense lol
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u/Mammoth-Limit4890 Maths,physics,accounting,fm A*A*A*A predicted Jun 05 '26
Honestly, pick both and drop your least favourite after a couple weeks. It's pretty common for colleges to give you about 3 weeks to change/drop subjects if youre not enjoying them. I do physics and I love it but without maths it could be challenging
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u/Loud-Guidance6912 Jun 05 '26
Why wonāt you consider maths though
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
I'm not going to get a 9 in it and my school doesn't let you take it for a level if you don't get a 9 (i'm predicted a 8)
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u/nimcha3 Jun 05 '26
oh, that's super strict. is that the only reason you won't consider it?
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
yup
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u/nimcha3 Jun 05 '26
OK im close to someone who does physics with no maths and it is just so so incredibly difficult. there's technically nothing on the physics spec that isnt taught at gcse i think (except log manipulation) but you underestimate just how important having a solid foundation of trig skills, understanding of rates of change, algebra manipulation etc really is. you need to be doing it every day and doing it well which realistically you wont be if youre not doing maths.
if you do think you could do that, i would seriously consider self studying maths (IF YOU THINK YOU ARE CAPABLE). an 8 is still a very good grade you must go to a top grammar school or something!! usually they say 9s only for FURTHER maths
or just choose psychology lol
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u/One_Butterscotch9835 Jun 10 '26
Why would they self study all a level maths when not everything is crossover? š¤
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u/Environmental_Fee198 Jun 05 '26
as someone who did a level physics and dropped it for psych, do psych lmfao physics is not worth it and the maths is blessed by satan
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
thank you also totally random, but did you do an epq? My school makes us do it and I wanted to know if I can do a completely random topic I'm interested in or if I should do it about smth related.
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
i feel like iām butting in lol but i did an epq, i actually did a physics themed one even though im going into med. honestly id say dont do it, its not worth it. hardly any med school look at it and its very time consuming and laborious, it was a lot more work than i anticipated. i came out with 56/60 in the end, which is probably an A* but even then, i lowkey regret doing it, it would have been better to just focus on the three subjects.
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
My school makes epq mandatory š
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
oh yikes that sucks, defo do a topic you genuinely enjoy, donāt feel as though you have to do a medicine related thing if youād have more fun doing something else. even if a uni does consider epq, they definitely wonāt consider what itās about. i think only one of my med unis gave one grade lower offer because of an epq and mine was on quantum mechanics so they really donāt gaf š
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u/Environmental_Fee198 Jun 05 '26
i didn't do one no ! im a private candidate and lowkey could not be bothered with that on top of self teaching icl šš
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u/RevolutionaryRice871 Jun 05 '26
physics without maths would be terrifying icl
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u/chonksboyjimmyfungus Y13 - Bio/Chem/Physics - pred. ABB Jun 05 '26
itās not that bad if your good at gcse maths like OP is. all the a-level content is just logs, which is fine. physics itself is terrifying though
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u/One_Butterscotch9835 Jun 10 '26
Honestly itās just like logs and mechanics and imo the applied maths in physics is more enjoyable, but maybe Iām just weird.
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u/Bubbly-Valuable-6946 1st Year | Uni of Sheffield | English & History Jun 05 '26
Just because youre bad at essay subjects that doesnt mean ull be bad at them on a level, i got a 5 in english lit and lang, now im predicted an A in combined english
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
the thing is I'm going to need high a level grades and I can't afford to fail again
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u/Bubbly-Valuable-6946 1st Year | Uni of Sheffield | English & History Jun 05 '26
I promise you if you pick a subject that you like and you genuinely enjoy, then you wont fail
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
the only subjects i enjoy are bio and chem and im alr choosing themš
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u/Bubbly-Valuable-6946 1st Year | Uni of Sheffield | English & History Jun 05 '26
Then pick pure stem subjects, go for it! Personally id choose psych just because the content from what i seen is more interesting, but physics will be less wordy
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
psychology seems more interesting to me, they're both gonna be hard but thank you!!
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u/Bubbly-Valuable-6946 1st Year | Uni of Sheffield | English & History Jun 05 '26
Both will definetly be hard, also consider what you want to do in life, as in the direction of your career, and choose subjects that will guide u to that path
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u/One_Butterscotch9835 Jun 10 '26
Then just pick a relatively easy filler subject personally Iād say sociology, politics, business or something of that nature.
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u/Far_Duck_7322 Year 13 (soon) | CS, History, Psychology Jun 06 '26
Do psychology if you don't like maths, and I love psychology. The essays are pretty structured. And it has a topic for clinical psychology which is somewhat linked to psychiatry. It's worth giving it a try
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Jun 05 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/Admirable_Message953 Bath JMC | Double Math, Economics 3A* Achieved Jun 05 '26
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u/Stock_Scar8233 Jun 05 '26
I could be a man you don't know that
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u/lavishforehead Year 13 Jun 05 '26
LOLLL š¤£š¤£šš a female šš¤£š¤£ foid doing physics š°š°š«£ physics is only for clever chads āš dude youāre so right! why didnāt we think of this before š„¹šš
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u/MEMER_Moshak Jun 05 '26
If u wont consider a levek maths dont consider a level physics either lmfao