Sixth Form: Mathematics

Subject Overview

Mathematics A Level is a chance to extend you skils in Mathematical techniques and problem solving. It covers four modules of Pure Maths, using a lot of your previous knowledge of algebra to build on your previous work with topics such as trigonometry and vectors. As well as learning about new Mathematical concepts such as differentiation and integration, you will also do two applied modules, where you will have the choice of studying Mechanics or Statistics.

Syllabuses (Course Outline and Structure)

At Heart of England Sixth Form we follow the AQA Syllabus. Both the AS and A2 sections of the course are marked out of 300 UMS points. The two sets of marks together constitute the entire A level, out of a total of 600 UMS points. The course is split into AS and A2 Mathematics as follows:

AS Mathematics

• Pure Core 1 - Algebra methods, extended from GCSE, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, sketching and translating polynomials, some work with coordinate geometry extending GCSE methods to work with circles and an introduction to calculus both differentiation and integration.
• Pure Core 2 - Transforming functions and their graphs, introducing the concept of series—summing sequences, extending your GCSE work on trigonometry and introducing the measure of radians, some work with indices, introduction to the topic of logarithms and an extension of the work with differentiation and integration.
  

Choice of:

• Mechanics 1 - Mathematical modelling of real life situations, displacement, velocity and acceleration in one and two dimensions, forces—including friction and tension, momentum, Newton’s laws of motion, problems involving connected particles and projectiles or

• Statistics 1 - Standard deviation and variance, extension of GCSE probability with new notation, introduction of binomial and normal distributions, confidence intervals, correlation and regression.

A2 Mathematics

• Pure Core 3 - Work with functions including inverse, compositions and combinations of transformations, extension of trigonometry including inverse and reciprocal trig functions, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation using the product, quotient and chain rules, integration by substitution and by parts, use of integration to find the volume of a revolution, iterative methods for solving equations and numerical methods of integration.
• Pure Core 4 - Rational functions, algebraic division, partial fractions, conversion between Cartesian and parametric equations, extension of work with binomial series, further work with trigonometry including use of harmonic form and double angle formulae, exponential growth and decay, solving differential equations, differentiating parametric equations, integrating partial fractions and work on vectors including vector equation of lines and scalar product.

Choice of:

• Mechanics 2 - Moments, finding the centre of mass, further work with displacement, velocity and acceleration including in three dimensions, Newton’s Laws in up to three dimensions, application of differential equations, uniform circular motion and vertical circular motion as well as looking at work and energy, including GPE, KE and Hooke’s Law or
• Statistics 2 - Discrete and continuous random variables, poisson distribution, further work with confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and Chi-squared contingency table tests.

The official AQA specifcations for all of the Maths modules are available in pdf form at:

• AQA Mathematics Specification 2013

Entry Requirements

To study A Level Mathematics you must have at least five GCSEs at grade C or above, and we would recommend at least a grade B in your GCSE Maths. Since the course is very algebra based you must also have good skills in manipulating algebra and you will be tested on this during the first week of the course.

The ‘step up’ from GCSE Maths to A Level is quite significant and for those students who would like to get a good start on it, particularly if their algebra skills need a little brushing up, we recommend the CGP text ‘Head Start to AS Maths’

Activities and Trips

We have no mandatory trips or activities in Maths, although throughout the two years there may be the opportunity to take part in activities, such as revision days and team challenges, run by the ‘Further Maths Network’ based at Warwick University, with whom we have been cultivating links over the last few years.

This would incur a small cost, usually of between £10 and £30 dependant on the type of activity, and may involve students arranging their own transport to and from the University.

Expected Costs

Other than the cost of the activities that we may run with the ‘Further  Maths Network’ there are no expected costs associated with the Maths A Level. All the text books are lent to students for the duration of the course and they will only need to pay for them if they fail to return or badly damage them. There are no mandatory excursions and the only equipment they are required to have (other than the usual contents of a pencil case) is a scientific calculator, which they should have anyway from GCSE.
Complementary Subject Combinations and Enrichment Activities

The main links between other subjects and Maths come from the choice of applied topic:

• Mechanics – fits well with Physics as there is a lot of overlap in the content of the courses
• Statistics – fits well with Pyschology and Biology as they use statistical analysis in some of their coursework.

Subject Resources

Schemes of Work

In Maths the Scheme of Work is based on the text books. For each module we have a text book produced by AQA which covers all the topics needed for  that course. Students will be loaned these text books for the duration of their study

Past Papers

Past papers are an essential part of the revision process for Mathematics, it is important to get plenty of practice of the type of questions you will be asked in exams. At the end of each chapter in the text book there is a revision exercise made up of past exam questions and we always leave plenty of time after completing the learning for the module to do past paper practice, both under exam conditions and as an open book revision tool.

The AQA Maths past papers (and several other useful documents) can be found at:

• AQA A Level Maths Materials

Useful Links

The AQA link above is very useful and provides access to past papers, mark schemes, examiners reports, specifications, practice papers for new specifications,  the formula booklet and many other useful documents.

Also the school has paid for access to the website My Maths which students may have used in Key Stage 3 and 4 but which also has a wealth of resources for A Level revision. This can be accessed by asking your teacher for the school's login and password information.

• My Maths

Other Information

Maths A Level will support students who go on to study a wide range of different subjects at University or in other forms of Higher Education, the more obvious ones being Maths, Science and Engineering. It’s logical thinking and problem solving based structure make it a qualification that can pick students ‘out of the crowd’ in the eyes of many universities and employers, even in non-Maths based courses or industries.

For further information contact Mrs M Findley or Miss P Savery