Maths

What is Maths all about?

It all comes down to what Maths is! Just as languages provide the building blocks and rules we need to communicate, Maths uses its own language, made up of numbers, symbols and formulas, to explore the rules we need to measure or identify essential problems like distance, speed, time, space, change, force and quantities. Studying Maths helps us find patterns and structure in our lives.

For all Sixth Form courses, students must have five GCSE (or equivalent) passes at Grades 9-4. For this course this must include Mathematics at a Grade 6 or above and English Language at a Grade 4 or above.

This course is challenging and enjoyable but does require consistent hard work. The A Level course is linear and approximately two thirds of content is pure mathematics, one sixth mechanics and one sixth statistics. Pupils will sit three exams at the end of Year 13. Full A level content includes Proof, Algebra and functions, Coordinate Geometry, Sequences and series, Trigonometry, Exponentials and logarithms, Differentiation, Integration, Numerical methods, Vectors, Statistical sampling, Data presentation and interpretation, Probability, Statistical distributions, Statistical hypothesis testing, Quantities and units in mechanics, Kinematics, Forces and Newton’s laws and Moments.

Students can take this course to complement other A level courses which in turn could lead onto higher education in Mathematics-related areas such as Engineering, Economics, Physics or more general higher education courses

A level qualifications in Mathematics are highly regarded by prospective employers and universities alike as being good indicators of a logical and analytical mind. Mathematics is useful for any university course involving Mathematics, Science, Business, Technology or Engineering. It is also useful for Arts and Humanities subjects as it teaches some techniques used in these subjects and indicates a breadth of study. Mathematics is applicable for the following career areas: engineering, actuarial work, meteorology, finance, medicine, nursing, sports, the transport industry, computing, including writing games, accountancy, economics, business, banking, air traffic control, retail management, architecture, surveying, cartography, Psychology, teaching and many more.

Course content

Year 1	Applied Mathematics
Pure Mathematics	Mechanics	Statistics
Algebra and functions Coordinate geometry in the (x, y) plane Further algebra Trigonometry Vectors (2D) Differentiation Integration Exponentials and logarithms	Quantities and units in mechanics Kinematics 1 Forces and Newton’s laws Kinematics 2	Statistical sampling Data presentation and interpretation Probability Statistical distributions Statistical hypothesis testing

Year 2

The content for the second year course is the same topics as the first year course but going more in depth. There are two additional topics:

Pure Mathematics	Mechanics
Numerical methods	Moments

Assessment criteria

The first A-Level paper will reassess all the work from year 1.

AS level mathematics

Paper 1: Pure mathematics

62.5%, 2 hours, 100 marks

AS level pure mathematics content assessed

Paper 2: Mechanics and Statistics

37.5%, 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks

AS applied content assessed

Section A: Mechanics (30 marks)

Section B: Statistics (30 marks)

A level mathematics
Paper 1: Pure mathematics 33%, 2 hours, 100 marks	A level pure mathematics content can be assessed on either paper
Paper 2: Pure mathematics 33%, 2 hours, 100 marks
Paper 3: Mechanics and Statistics 33%, 2 hours, 100 marks	AS applied content assessed Section A: Mechanics (50 marks) Section B: Statistics (50 marks)

Future careers linked to this subject:

Engineering
Pilot
Accountant
Economist
Astrophysicist
Game developer

Entry requirement

Preferably Grade 7 or above. Those with Grade 6 may be offered a trial.

Examination board

Edexcel

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