Course Overview
Mathematics is a useful, elegant and powerful tool which examines and defines relationships and can analyse abstract ideas. It models and solves problems which arise in many areas of life. Mathematics is challenging but interesting. It builds on work you will have met at GCSE, and also introduces ideas that some of the greatest minds of the last millennium have produced. It is a sought-after qualification, both for courses in higher education and for the workplace. Mathematics at A Level is a course worth studying in its own right, and as a supporting subject for the physical and social sciences as well as encouraging the logical thinking which is needed in Law, History and most other disciplines.
Course Content
Mathematics is a popular option across the Consortium and is available in combination with most other subjects. The course involves both pure maths and applied maths. The course consists of three papers in year 13:
Paper 1: Pure Mathematics 1 (*Paper code: 9MA0/01)
Paper 2: Pure Mathematics 2 (*Paper code: 9MA0/02)
Each paper is: 2-hour written examination 33.33% of the qualification 100 marks
Proof, Algebra and function, Coordinate geometry in the (x, y) plane, Sequences and series, Trigonometry, Exponentials and logarithms, Differentiation, Integration, Numerical methods, Vectors.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics (*Paper code: 9MA0/03)
2-hour written examination 33.33% of the qualification 100 marks
Section A: (Statistics) - Statistical sampling, Data presentation and interpretation, Probability, Statistical distributions, Statistical hypothesis testing.
Section B: (Mechanics) – Quantities and units in mechanics, Kinematics, Forces and Newton’s laws, Moments.
Course Entry Requirements
7 or above at GCSE for Mathematics
Course Specification
Edexcel 9MAO
Homework
At A Level, students are expected to complete a minimum of 5 hours of study a week on top of their allocated lesson time.