Embedded Files
Sixth Form Open Evening Subject Presentation - Maths.mp4Mathsphysics.movIn A Level Mathematics you will study Proof, algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, vectors, statistical sampling, data presentation and interpretation, probability, statistical distributions, statistical hypothesis testing, quantities and units in mechanics, kinematics, Forces and Newton’s laws.
A Level Mathematics Entry Requirements: GCSE grade 5 across subjects including English and GCSE grade 7 in Mathematics. You need to be hard-working and resilient. Additional hours will be required beyond lessons weekly to practise and work with other students.
A Level Mathematics Specification:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/as-and-a-level/mathematics-7357
Detailed Specification (pdf file) - https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/specifications/AQA-7357-SP-2017.PDF
Assessment/Exam details
Paper 1 – Core content only (2hr exam)
Paper 2 – Core + Mechanics content (2hr exam)
Paper 3 – Core + Statistics content (2hr exam)
Full details of what is assessed in each exam at this link
Textbook:
A-Level Maths for AQA: Year 1 & AS Student Book with Online Edition (CGP A-Level Maths)
These resources are available from the sixth form maths team at discounted price.
Please contact dfoster@cowesec.org for further details.
Below are additional resources and a transition task to help prepare you for A Level Maths at Cowes Sixth Form. Please complete the bridging support during the summer and present to your maths teacher in your first maths session at Cowes Sixth Form
HomeLearning-Pack_A-Level-Bridging_Algebra_Contents-page.pdfEQUIPMENT
Casio FX-991EX – Scientific Calculator – all students must have - link
Casio GRAPHICAL Calculator CG50 (not essential due to high purchase price) - link
WIDER READING LIST
Books
Why do buses come in threes? – Rob Easterway
Fermat’s Last Theorem – Simon Singh
Numbers and Proofs - Allenby
What if? – Randall Munroe
Alex’s Adventures in Numberland – Alex Bellos
The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets – Simon Singh
Websites
TL Maths – Videos on each topic from the New A-Level Spec of 2017 - link
TED Talk – Inside the mind of a master procrastinator - link
TED Talk – How we are teaching computers to understand pictures - link
Your life in weeks by Tim Urban - https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html
Integral Core Maths Platform
Integral Core Maths Platform
Website: https://integralmaths.org/2017/
Key stages: key stage 5
Description: activities with the ability for teachers to allocate and track pupil progress.
Registration: requires school registration
Nrich Core Maths
Nrich Core Maths
Website: https://nrich.maths.org/12524
Key stages: key stage 3 to key stage 5
Description: games and puzzles as well as mathematical-thinking and problem-solving questions. Content is categorised by topic and age group.
Registration: not required
Underground Maths
Underground Maths
Website: https://undergroundmathematics.org/
Key stages: key stage 5
Description: a range of interactive tasks and questions linked to the A level maths and further maths curriculums.
Registration: not required
Transition from GCSE to A-Level Maths: A Student’s Guide
The transition from GCSEs to A-Levels is a challenging one and can take some time to get used to. Although it is not a compulsory A-Level, roughly 90,000 students each year take A-Level Maths. As a fellow student taking A-Level Maths, I can confirm that it can be exceptionally demanding sometimes. However, as with all subjects, a good work ethic and preparation is all that’s needed to do well.
In this guide I’ll be discussing what you should expect in an A-Level Maths course and whether it is the right course for you. I currently do Edexcel Maths but hopefully this guide will help you no matter the exam board.
Is A-Level Maths the right subject for you?
Before you take on the challenges of A-Level Maths, you should first consider whether it is the right course for you to be taking.
My own decision to take A-Level Maths was due to the number of pathways it would open up to me after A-Level. Many employers will usually require a grade above C in GCSE Maths and will find an A-Level Maths qualification even more desirable.
This is because skills like problem-solving and critical thinking will be developed throughout the course. It will give you a large skill set that can be applied to many careers from financial handling at large banks to managing your own business.
If you are looking to study a STEM subject at university like myself, you will probably already be aware that A-Level Maths is usually a requirement. Maths is always an essential course for subjects like Engineering and Computer Science. Although not mandatory, courses like Medicine and Biology will often recommend A-Level Maths.
Depending on your school, it may even be compulsory for you to take A-Level Maths. If you are taking another A-Level subject that is heavily maths-based like Physics or Economics, it would be best to take A-Level Maths alongside.
One of the biggest perks of taking A-Level Maths is the chance for a higher salary. Figures taken from the government show that students who took A-Level Maths will earn an average starting salary of £22,500. This figure is even higher at £25,500 for students who took A-Level Further Maths.
What are the differences between A-Level Maths and GCSE Maths?
Maths is very different to the other subjects you will take at A-Level. This is primarily because it is not an essay-based subject where you will have to study set texts, or a content-based subject where you will have to memorise lots of information. All the topics you study at A-Level Maths will be somewhat linked to the topics you have previously studied at GCSE.
Unlike GCSE, there is no Foundation or Higher set. Everyone doing A-Level Maths is expected to complete the same exam papers based on Pure Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics.
Unfortunately, enjoying Maths at GCSE level does not always guarantee that you will enjoy it or be naturally good at it at A-Level.
In general, when you reach A-Level, not everything will be explained to you. It is expected that you do a large amount of independent study to prepare you for life at university.
For example, if you have already covered a topic at GCSE, your teachers may assume you know it well. Any extra work you need to ensure your knowledge of that topic is up to scratch will usually have to be done in your own time, rather than in lessons.
If you choose to pursue A-Level Maths, you will also need to invest in a good calculator.
What do you need to know from GCSE For A-Level Maths?
As mentioned above, A-Level Maths is linked to all the topics you have learned at GCSE. GCSE Further Maths is usually your first introduction to A-Level Maths content. If you have taken Further Maths at GCSE you will be more than ready for A-Level Maths. However, you will definitely not be disadvantaged if you did not take Further Maths.
If you have done some reading ahead or looked at the different A-Level Maths syllabuses, you may have realised that many topics are topics you are already familiar with. Topics like algebra and geometry form the foundation of the pure topics you will be taught and histograms and mean and mode will come up frequently in the statistics part of the course.
The key to succeeding at maths is to do as many questions as you can. Going over the different circle theorems and the types of graphs may seem unnecessary to you. However, these topics will not be taught again and your teachers will expect you to be familiar with them in order to learn harder topics.
Top Tips for A-Level Maths
Having a great teacher for A-Level Maths is a true blessing. However, given the independent nature of A-Levels, that is not enough. You will need to be able to revise and learn effectively outside of the classroom. Here are a few of some of my tips after completing a year of A-Level Maths.
1. Complete all the homework assigned
The structure of your A-Level Maths course will usually include lessons with teachers. In these lessons you will go through an exam board issued textbook and study topic by topic. However, many topics will need to be covered within a short timeframe. Quite often teachers will work through the content in lessons and assign homework questions to consolidate your learning.
Homework at A-Level can be intensive and you will have to complete Maths questions alongside all your essays and past paper questions from other subjects. You will most likely feel overwhelmed by the workload within the first few weeks. It can be tempting to skip a few questions and hope your teacher doesn’t notice or to just skip all homework completely. However, not doing homework can be one of the biggest mistakes students make.
The topics you learn will rarely be covered again. This includes AS topics, as they won’t be taught again in the second year. You may think to yourself that you will cover those homework questions afterwards but by then it could be too late.
The purpose of doing those questions is so that you can understand what you know and don’t know about a topic. Discovering this early will put you in a good position when it comes to reviewing these topics again before the exams.
2. Complete questions from outside the syllabus
The biggest mistake that students make is to limit their resources from the start. Syllabuses do change throughout the years, but the biggest changes will be adding or removing different topics.
Just because a question you come across is from the old syllabus doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attempt it. The question format may be different, but the maths used to solve the question will remain the same.
To achieve the higher grades, you will need to complete questions that challenge you. Older questions will help you familiarise yourself with the different formats that questions can come in. This is especially useful in modelling questions involving calculus, where it may not be obvious what method needs to be used.
The jump from GCSE to A-Level has always been difficult. However, with the right preparation you should be able to do well. Good Luck!
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