A Level Mathematics

Entry Requirements: Grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics

Exam Board: Edexcel

Course content:

The new A-level has 100% prescribed content – there are no options or choices. There is a lot more emphasis on students’ ability to apply skills learnt and as such, there are 3 over-arching themes that are central to the learning on the course:

Mathematical argument, language and proof
Mathematical problem solving
Mathematical modeling

Specific topics to be taught are as follows:

Year 1 Pure Algebra and Functions Co-ordinate Geometry The Binomial Expansion Trigonometry Exponentials and Logarithms Differentiation Integration Vectors in 2D

Year 1 Statistics and Mechanics Statistical Sampling Data Representation & Interpretation The Binomial Distribution Probability The Large Data Set Quantities and Units in Mechanics Kinematics Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion

Year 2 Pure Proof Algebra and Functions Parametric Equations The Binomial Expansion Radians Trigonometry Exponentials and Logarithms Differentiation Integration Vectors in 3D

Year 2 Statistics and Mechanics The Normal Distribution Hypothesis Testing Correlation and Regression Forces and Friction Further Kinematics Projectiles Moments

Assessment (at the end of year 2):

Paper 1: Pure Paper

2: Pure Paper

3: Statistics and Mechanics

All 3 papers are 2 hours and have equal weighting. All questions must be answered and a graphic or scientific calculator may be used in each assessment.

Career Value

Maths underpins the whole of the curriculum, especially the sciences, and although it is seen as one of the hardest A-levels you can do, it is one of the most highly regarded facilitating subjects and one that all universities and future employers will be impressed by.