Please find below details of the three different courses (Single Maths, Add Maths and Further Maths) available to Sixth Form Mathematicians:
MATHEMATICS
Why Study Mathematics?
“The study of mathematics has a history of thousands of years and is a discipline which represents the progress of the culture of mankind. Mathematics has contributed to modern science as a base for study in the natural sciences and engineering. In this century in particular, the application of mathematics has advanced and broadened into new areas such as the social sciences, humanities and natural sciences as well as in the advancement of the information age through computer science. The importance of mathematics will continue to grow throughout the 21st century.”
This is part of a proclamation published in Japan in 1994.
Mathematics is a subject studied throughout the world using a common language. It is a subject in its own right as well as one that makes a large contribution to other disciplines. Because of this, the demand for people well qualified in Mathematics is always high.
During the course we aim to foster students’ mathematical skills, to enable them to analyse a problem, identify its structure and find solutions. In addition we endeavour to show students that Mathematics is an enjoyable and rewarding subject.
Apart from the sciences and engineering there are many subjects where a strong mathematical background can be advantageous, for example Geography, Psychology, Economics, Business Studies, Land Surveying, etc. Increasingly, in many career areas, an understanding of Statistics is becoming an important asset, while Mechanics continues to be a very useful tool for Engineers, Physicists and other careers requiring an understanding of forces and motion.
What does the course involve?
We take the OCR Modular Mathematics A-Level. This consists of a number of units, each of which carries equal weight and is tested by a ninety-minute examination. Six units must be taken to obtain an A-level, but it is our intention to cover the work of seven units over the two-year course in order to maintain the rigour of the applied element of the course and to increase the flexibility of the award. For the full A-level, four Pure Mathematics units (C1 - C4) and two applied units are selected - at the High School this will be two Applied units out of three, allowing students to ‘discard’ their weakest Applied unit. The board automatically choose the higher marks.
The Pure units extend much of the work done in GCSE at Key Stage 4. The specification includes algebra, calculus, the study of functions, trigonometry and geometry. The Pure Mathematics section of the course forms the basis for much of the other work at A-level, and for the use of Mathematics in other subjects.
The AS course, taken in the first year sixth, consists of two Pure Mathematics units (C1 and C2) and one in Applied Mathematics. The Pure units consist of algebra, functions, trigonometry, and some early calculus.
The Applied unit will be Mechanics M1. The Mechanics unit includes work on velocity, acceleration, forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Practical work is undertaken to enhance learning and insight, although the assessment of this unit does not involve a coursework element. In addition, we shall be covering some elements of the Statistics S1 course during the first year sixth. This work will include study of the collection and display of data, calculation of averages and spreads and some basic probability work, including Binomial and Geometric distributions.
The A2 Course consists of the study of three further units and the remainder of the Statistics S1 unit. The three further units are two Pure and one Applied. S1 and one of the Pure units (C3) are examined in January, the final two units being examined in June. The Applied unit studied will be either Statistics S2 or Mechanics M2.
The third and fourth Pure units (C3 and C4) extend the work of C1 and C2, looking at more powerful techniques and new areas of trigonometry, calculus, vectors, and proof.
The Statistics part of the course, S2, covers both Probability and Statistics, including the Poisson and Normal Distributions and Hypothesis Testing.
The Mechanics unit, M2, includes study of work and energy, projectiles, torque, circular motion and centres of mass. Where appropriate, practicals and demonstrations are undertaken in order to enhance understanding of mathematical modelling and principles.
AS Further Mathematics (referred to as ‘Add Maths’)
There will be the opportunity for suitable students to follow a Mathematics and AS Further Mathematics course over the two years of the sixth form. Such students will need to have covered the necessary extra topics in Years 10 and 11 (for example in Nottingham High School’s Year 11 A sets).
The course will consist of nine units studied over two years. In the first year sixth students will cover 3 pure units (C1, C2 and FP1, short for Further Pure 1) and 2 applied units (M1 and S1). The FP1 unit covers Proof by Induction, Series, Complex Numbers and Matrices.
In the second year sixth students will study the 2 remaining core units (C3 and C4) and 2 applied units.
N.B. Students who wish to follow this course should opt for ‘Add Maths’ on their option choices. This option counts as one course only, and three other non-mathematics courses will need to be chosen to complete their timetable. Students who wish to study the full further Mathematics course need to read the following page and opt for Mathematics and Further Mathematics as two of their choices.
R Kilby
FURTHER MATHEMATICS
Why study Further Mathematics?
Do you enjoy the challenge of mathematical problems and would you like the opportunity to study Mathematics to a relatively high level? If so, then this is the subject for you. You will have the opportunity to study Mathematics at greater depth and to see some of the more interesting aspects of the subject. The true nature and challenge of Mathematics only really becomes evident at this level.
Further Mathematics is taught as a fourth A-level in combination with Mathematics. If you take Further Mathematics you will not follow the General Studies course in the second year sixth.
During the first year sixth you will complete the full A-level Mathematics course by opting for Mathematics and Further Mathematics as two of your choices and take seven units, with an opportunity to retake units as necessary the following January. The first year sixth course comprises four Pure Mathematics units and three Applied units (two Mechanics and one Statistics).
Two or three Further Mathematics units will be taken in the January of the second year sixth. The remaining units are examined in June, together with any re-sits. The six units comprise three Pure Mathematics units (FP1, FP2 and FP3) in addition to three applied units, and, as with A-level Mathematics, the modular examinations are each of ninety minutes duration.
We would strongly recommend anyone considering reading Mathematics at university to take this subject. At most of the more renowned universities, although Further Mathematics is not a requirement, a substantial proportion of the undergraduates have taken the subject, and taking it can make the transition from school to university Mathematics somewhat easier. If you think that you might be considering reading Mathematics at Oxford or Cambridge then we would regard A-level Further Mathematics as an essential. It is also desirable, although not essential, for anyone considering an Engineering or Computer Science Course at Oxford or Cambridge or Engineering at any of the other top engineering schools.
Finally, it is only fair to say that Further Mathematics A-level is not the subject for students who find Mathematics difficult. It is, however, a subject that you should consider if you find Mathematics interesting and rewarding.
R Kilby
