Mathematics (Further/Double)

A Level Mathematics (year 1)

The specification is divided into a total of 4 units, 2 AS units and 2 A2 units.

All units are compulsory.

AS Unit 1: Pure Mathematics A

Algebra, vectors, differentiation, integration, logarithms, circle geometry. 

AS Unit 2: Applied Mathematics A

Statistics: discrete distributions including Poison and Binomial, statistical sampling and data presentation.
Mechanics: kinematics, forces, and Newton’s Laws.

A2 Unit 3: Pure Mathematics B

Numerical methods, trigonometry, sequences and series and coordinate geometry.

A2 Unit 4: Applied Mathematics B

Statistics: hypothesis testing, continuous distributions and probability.
Mechanics: applications of trigonometry and integration, moments, forces and vectors.

There is also no coursework. The four written papers will be sat in May/June of Year 12.

A Level Further Mathematics (2^nd Year)

AS/A2 Further Mathematics is then taken in your second year provided you have achieved a C grade at A Level Mathematics (with a minimum of a C in each of the four modules).  

This specification is divided into a total of 5 units, 3 AS units and 2 A2 units.

All AS Units and A2 Unit 4 are compulsory.

The class teacher will decide if Unit 5 or Unit 6 will be sat in the summer. Students performance at A-level Mathematics will be a deciding factor on which module is chosen.

AS Unit 1: Further Pure Mathematics A

Pure Topics: Proof; Complex Numbers; Matrices; Further Algebra and Functions and Further Vectors.

AS Unit 2: Further Statistics A

Statistics Topics: Random Variables and the Poisson Process and Exploring relationships between variables and goodness of fit of a model

AS Unit 3: Further Mechanics A

Mechanics Topics: Momentum and Impulse; Hooke’s Law, Work, Energy and Power; Circular Motion and Differentiation and Integration of Vectors.

A2 Unit 4: Further Pure Mathematics B

Pure Topics: Complex Numbers; Further Trigonometry; Matrices; Further Algebra and Functions; Further Calculus; Polar Coordinates; Hyperbolic functions and Differential equations.

EITHER

A2 Unit 5: Further Statistics B

Statistics Topics: Samples and Populations; Statistical Distributions; Hypothesis Testing and Estimation.

OR

A2 Unit 6: Further Mechanics B

Mechanics Topics: Rectilinear motion; Momentum and Impulse; Moments and Centre of Mass; Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies and Differential Equations.

There is also no coursework. The five written papers will be sat in May/June of Year 13.

Mathematics provides a useful route into many careers. The ability to think logically and be able to solve problems are highly valued skills in the work place. Mathematics is now a requirement for a number of university courses.

Students who take Double Mathematics have twice the usual amount of lessons since they are completing two A-levels.

You move into A2 Double Mathematics in your second year provided you have achieved at least a C grade at all modules in A-Level Mathematics. A Level Further Mathematics contains five modules which are all taken in May/June. A-level Mathematics only consists of four modules.

Any student who is planning to take a Mathematics related degree (Engineering, Sciences, Computing, Finance/Economics, etc., as well as Mathematics itself) will benefit enormously from taking Double Mathematics, at least to AS level. Double Mathematics qualifications are prestigious and are strongly welcomed by universities.

Each student is strongly recommended to purchase a graphical calculator; the models which are most appropriate to the course will be communicated to students by the teacher at the start of the year.

6 grade C’s at GCSE, including a grade A in GCSE Maths (higher tier), and a grade B in GCSE Number (higher tier).