What Will I Study?
While GCSE maths will give you the foundational understanding of the core theories and principles of mathematics, A-Level maths delves into much greater depth.
You will be challenged to gain a comprehensive understanding, allowing you to solve complex problems and to independently develop and put forward your own mathematical arguments.
Where scientists hypothesise and work with results based on theories, mathematicians deal only in absolute facts. For them, it is essential to find proof and connect the dots. Their ability to undertake intricate data analysis to solve complex problems is undeniably valuable. Applying their mathematical mindset and tenacious attitude ensures their work is rarely retracted at a later stage, unlike theories from science which can be revised or disproven. Because of this, competent mathematicians are in demand in many industries. Their skills are considered critical in modern business, industry and technology and they are often leaned on by other specialists for insight, such as economists and engineers.
Maths is one of the biggest facilitating subjects, it supports numerous other A-Levels enabling a better understanding and is essential for numerous university courses and careers. By choosing to study mathematics, you will develop a mindset that will be a great asset to you in life. You will also receive a qualification that can unlock opportunities that would otherwise have been unavailable to you.
By studying A-Level maths, you will develop a superior understanding of key methodologies. You will be introduced to advanced principles and will significantly build on previous knowledge gained at GCSE level.
Throughout the course, you will be tasked with constructing and presenting mathematical arguments. You will do so by using diagrams, graphs, logical deduction and precise statements effectively to communicate your point.
You will learn algebra, exponentials and logarithms, geometry, sequences and series, among many other intricate topics. In recognising underlying mathematical structures, you will be able to simplify and abstract data. From this, you will be able to build detailed arguments that allow you to solve problems in a variety of contexts.
You will undertake three paper examinations in May/June. Each assessing various subject areas from the course. All three will be written two-hour exams, with the option to gain 100 marks, and each will account for 33.3% of your final A-Level grade. They will all contain a mixture of short, single-mark questions and multi-step problems.
Your successful completion of the course materials and exams will demonstrate your ability to think analytically, rationally and with reason. Recognising problems, their causes and identifying numerous conceivable solutions, these are all skills universities are looking for.
For students who achieve a Grade 8 or 9 at GCSE and are expecting an A* in A-Level and want to follow specific career paths, they should consider further maths (see below).
Further Maths (MEI)
Further maths is for those who really enjoy mathematics.
If you are planning to take a degree such as engineering, sciences, computing, finance/economics, etc., or perhaps mathematics itself, you will benefit enormously from taking further maths.
Further mathematics introduces new topics, such as matrices and complex numbers that are vital in many STEM degrees. Students who have studied further mathematics find the transition to such degrees far more straightforward.
Further mathematics qualifications are highly regarded and are warmly welcomed by universities. Students who take further mathematics are really demonstrating a strong commitment to their studies, as well as learning mathematics that is very useful for any mathematically rich degree. Some prestigious university courses require you to have a further mathematics qualification and others may adjust their grade requirements more favourably to students with further mathematics.
If you are not planning to study for mathematically rich degrees but are keen on mathematics, you will find further mathematics a very enjoyable course and having a further mathematics qualification identifies you as having excellent analytical skills, whatever area you are considering for a career.
We teach further mathematicians separately on a much-accelerated learning path and usually in a group of 5-10 students.
In Year 1 you will cover the whole of A-Level maths, plus about half the AS Level further maths. The end of Year 12 exam will be three actual A-Level comparable papers and two further maths AS Level papers. This gives you the opportunity to concentrate on excelling in further maths in Year 13.
Core Maths (AQA)
Students who are not taking A-Level maths often struggle as they are surprised by the amount of mathematical knowledge that they need in their other A-Level subjects; this is not just the sciences, which are very heavily maths based, but also a number of humanities and social science subjects.
To support students, we offer Level 3 core maths (this is 40% of an A-Level and will account for 20 UCAS points; improving opportunities on students’ university applications).
Core maths concentrates on skills and techniques used in other A-Level subjects. Lessons are prepared by liaising with other departments so as to use examples from other A-Level subjects. We time our lessons so that students meet mathematical concepts before they meet them in their other subjects.
Core maths is especially useful for students taking science or social science A-Levels. However, due to its focus on real world applications of mathematics, it is beneficial to all students regardless of their choice of subjects.
The course runs over two years with examinations at the end of Year 13. The content is based around the higher GCSE with about 20% taken from other qualifications (like A-Level maths). The course has some core topics taken by all students such as an introduction to using spreadsheets and maths for finance (how to manage loans, the best investments for savings taxation and National Insurance), which are key to survival in the real world.
Depending on your other A-Level choices, you will follow one of the following options: “Statistical Techniques” or “Graphical Methods”.
Graphical Methods is very useful for the sciences and economics, whereas Statistical Techniques would be best for the social sciences (both options are useful for biology).
Core maths is a practical subject to support your further education and is taught in a very practical way.
If a student does not achieve a level 7 in their mathematics GCSE and wishes to choose a science, then they will be required to study core maths.