For information on the A Level Maths course, please click here.
For information on the AS Level Maths course, please click here.
For information on the Further Maths course, please click here.
A Level Maths
Qualification: A Level Maths (Edexcel)
Course Tutor: Mrs J Sizeland
Course entry requirements: General A level entry requirements plus you need to have gained a grade 7 or above at GCSE and also have passed an algebra test set by the department.
Course description
You will continue to develop the mathematical topics met at GCSE and meet some new ones such as differentiation and integration.
It is important to realise that A Level Maths depends upon algebra even within the Statistics section. If you neither like nor understand algebra then this is not the course for you!
The course involves developing further an understanding of algebra and its applications in various fields of Mathematics and both Mechanics and Statistics.
Additional course information
This course will involve a number of excursions which will incur a cost.
Examination
At the end of Year 13 you will have 3 two hour long exams. Two will be on Core Maths and the third will be half Mechanics and half Statistics. All questions must be attempted. All papers allow the use of calculators.
Coursework
There is NO coursework. However the course demands consistent hard work due to the hierarchical nature of Maths, and progress is monitored through regular homework and fortnightly tests. You should do at least ten hours of study out of lessons per fortnight, in the main this will be set by your Maths teachers.
Post-18 Opportunities and Employment
Mathematics is regarded as a facilitating subject by all Universities (including the Russell Group) regardless of the courses for which you apply. It is also highly regarded by employers as it is recognised as being one of the most challenging at A level.
If you would like more detailed information about the content of this course, please visit the Maths curriculum page, where you will find curriculum maps for each year of study.
AS Level Maths
Qualification: AS Level Maths (Edexcel)
Course Tutor: Mrs J Sizeland
Course entry requirements: General A Level entry requirements plus you need to have obtained a high grade 6 at GCSE.
Course description
This is a one year course and will be completed by the end of Year 12.
AS Maths can be taken in addition to any other three A Levels, to support students’ other subjects and provide an additional qualification.
Examination
Paper 1: Pure Mathematics
Written examination: 2 hours
62.5% of the qualification, 100 marks
Topics:
Proof; Algebra and functions; Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane; Sequences and series; Trigonometry; Exponentials and logarithms; Differentiation; Integration; Vectors.
Paper 2: Statistics and Mechanics
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
37.5% of the qualification, 60 marks
Section A: Statistics
Topics:
Statistical sampling; Data presentation and interpretation; Probability; Statistical distributions; Statistical hypothesis testing.
Section B: Mechanics
Topics:
Quantities and units in mechanics; Kinematics; Forces and Newton’s laws.
Students must answer all questions. Both papers allow the use of calculators.
Coursework
There is no coursework.
Post-18 Opportunities and Employment
Universities will look favourably upon an additional Maths qualification at AS level.
Further Maths
Qualification: A Level Further Maths (Edexcel)
Course Tutor: Mrs J Sizeland
Course entry requirements: You need at least a grade 8 at GCSE Mathematics.
Course description
This is a two year course.
Further Mathematics is an additional course to A Level Mathematics and must be taken in conjunction with it.
It covers Mathematics to a higher level and/or in greater depth than A Level Mathematics. The course involves developing further an understanding of algebra and its applications in various fields of Mathematics.
The course is delivered by the use of a distance learning scheme run by the Advanced Mathematics Support Network together with weekly tutorial support provided by teachers in school.
Examination
Examination Structure:
2x1 hr 30 minute exams: Core Mathematics 1 and Core Mathematics 2
1x 1 hr 30 minute exam choice from
Further Pure 1
Further Statistics 1
Further Mechanics 1
Decision Mathematics 1
1x 1 hr 30 minute exam choice from
Further Pure 2
Further Statistics 1
Further Mechanics 1
Decision Mathematics 1
Further Statistics 2
Further Mechanics 2
Decision Mathematics 2
Each paper is worth 25% of the total exam mark
Coursework
There is no coursework.
Post-18 Opportunities and Employment
Further Maths may be a requirement for some degree courses in Mathematics, Physics and Engineering. Please check the entrance requirements for any specific degree courses that might be of particular interest to you.
