Sorry if this is asking the obvious - I’m not that familiar with exactly what is covered at GCSE level math. Is it enough prep for AP precalc? What was the reason for not taking the math GCSE exam? I guess I’m looking at the expectations of AP and 750 in SAT math etc and not really understanding where the preparation/groundwork for this is.
Would most UK unis hold OP to the prediction of 4 or 5 as a condition of acceptance or would they be ok with a 3?
OP didn’t take math at GCSE level AFAIK.
But there are 3 levels: one that covers basics through algebra2/elementary statistics; one that covers this more in-depth+some precalc; one that covers precalc and a chunk from calc AB (called “extended” or “pure” maths and designed for students who want to take A Level Maths/Further Maths).
However OP doesn’t have any of this.
So they’d need to catch up on Algebra(Khan Academy has pretty good videos) before August then take AP Precalc as a basic reassurance for any university or take the GCSE maths exam (the regular one) in November and score a 5 or higher (5=C , 6=B, 7= A, with 8 establishing top 10% nationally I think).
I am confident that universities in Canada are familiar with A-levels. However, I personally am not familiar with the UK grading schemes. You would need to ask admissions at universities in Canada which grades they would want to look at.
My understanding is that universities in Canada do not give all that much out in scholarships. When scholarships are available they tend to be partial, and do not cover everything. At least in our somewhat limited experience the most famous schools tend to cost more for international students. Not quite so famous schools (Memorial University of Newfoundland comes to mind, Dalhousie might also be worth looking at) cost less, so even with only a small scholarship the cost can be relatively reasonable by US standards – but typically you still have to pay something. Note that costs are in Canadian dollars, and the US / Canada exchange rate is skewed towards making Canada relatively affordable.
Mathematics and physics are important for most if not all forms of engineering. At least in my experience math is also important in thermodynamics (which matters to understand energy policy) and econometrics (quantitative economics – which again impacts environmental and policy tradeoffs). Math is also something where you learn multiple different parts of math in sequential order. You might just need to find a way to take the time to take the required math classes. If you were in North America you might for example do this via classes at a community college. I am not sure how this is done in other parts of the world.
When it comes to various issues related to sustainability and energy policies, or almost anything that is at all related to engineering, there are tradeoffs all over the place. At least IMHO applying solid math to problems is important if we want to get the tradeoffs right. I think that it might just be worth taking the time and investing the effort to catch up in math.
However, if you are currently in precalculus, and if you are able to do well in the class, then you are pretty close to caught up. Universities, including those in Canada and the US, are able to teach calculus and differential equations.
This student hasn’t taken math since 9th grade 
I didn’t realize it was that long ago. Unless they have innate math ability, I don’t see how khan academy alone is enough to prep them successfully for AP precalc? There’s a lot of foundation work that needs to be covered?
OOps, I missed that. In this case I do not see how the student could possibly be ready for precalculus. I still think that it is worth taking the time to catch up. Life is not a race.
Yes, but it’s the only way they can major in anything they mentioned. I guess it’ll test their motivation: if they manage to go over the math needed to start precalc in August with the Mastery boxes checked at each level of Kahn academy algebra2(considering the curriculum it was likely where they were when they stopped math), they’re not just dreaming castles in the sky
Thanks everyone for the detailed and thoughtful replies — I really appreciate you taking the time.
Just to clarify: back in 10th grade, I actually wasn’t doing math — I was in a different schooling setup where I focused on other subjects. That said, I’m still naturally decent at math and feel confident about picking it up again with some focused effort, that being said I think I can do AP pre-calc because it’s much better than taking GCSE exams
For A-Levels, I chose Biology, Geography, and Economics because I wanted to maximize my chances of getting strong grades (aiming for AAA) instead of taking on too much and risking lower scores.
Since I’m planning to go into the corporate side of sustainability — ideally something like Chief Sustainability Officer or Chief Environmental Officer — I’m a bit unsure whether a BA or BSc would be better. If anyone has advice on that, I’d love to hear it.
Also, about AP Precalculus — do I have to officially enroll in a course at a school, or would self-studying and just sitting for the AP Precalc exam be enough for UK/Canada applications?
I’m motivated and willing to put in the work to catch up, whether that means doing GCSE Math in November or AP Precalc. Thanks again for the honesty — it’s helping me plan my next moves much more realistically.
Thanks so much for breaking this down in such detail — it’s genuinely very helpful.
To answer your first point: yes, Canadian universities do accept British A-Levels. I’m currently studying Biology, Geography, and Economics for A-Level and aiming for AAA. From what I’ve seen, most universities in Canada focus mainly on your final A-Level results for admission decisions. They might glance at 10th-grade marks for context sometimes, but it’s usually the A-Level grades that carry the real weight, especially for international students like me, this is from I got from Reddit and other sources.
About scholarships — I really appreciate the realistic picture you painted. It’s good to know upfront that big, full scholarships are rare, especially at the more famous universities. I’m fine with student loans too so hopefully it’s not a that big of a issue for complete scholarships, even if I get in-state/home fees, it would be a hugee relief.
On the math and science preparation side — I completely agree with what you said about the importance of math, especially for anything connected to engineering, sustainability, or environmental policy. Even though my goal is more towards leadership roles in the environmental sector (like chief environmental officer or corporate sustainability management or something like that), I definitely recognize that a strong math background is crucial. Right now, I’m planning to self-study and take the AP Precalculus exam to strengthen my math credentials.
I just want to quickly note I think this is perfectly fine! The US system is really quite different from most country’s systems, and expensive, and now I think it is fair to say is experiencing a significant crisis, not least when it comes to International students. So if an International looks into the US and decides one or more of these factors is a good enough reason to look elsewhere, that very likely makes sense for that individual.
You may want to check on a case by case basis. For example,the breakdown under “admissions requirementsl from McGill both gives you both the prior years minimum grades for admission (useful info) but also indicates by course what GCSEs are required in addition to those.
https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/international/advanced-levels?
Example environmental science:
This also works really well for UK “courses” (degree programs) in Geography, Environmental Science, etc. In Scotland, you’d apply for the MA, in England/Wales/NI for the B.Sc - you would need to check that taking AP Precalc would work for them.
In Canada, may I suggest McGill’s McDonald campus majors? Less competitive to get into and would work well with your choice of A Levels.
https://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/programs/environment
ETA: I see they do require Maths A Levels 
Perhaps email that faculty about AP Precalc?
You’d have to ask.each university as each may have a different policy.
Based on what I know, Canada would likely want a course taken (online is ok) and the UK would be fine with the exam results.
Note that this program, ranked #1 for the B.Sc in the Netherlands, offers the exact subjects you’re interested in and doesn’t have a math requirement
Another top program that may be of interest