A Level Mathematics

Course Information
Student Resources

Course Information

Advanced Subsidiary	AS
Advanced Level	A2

Examination Board: AQA

Why Study Mathematics at Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level?

Because you enjoy Mathematics.
Because of its importance and usefulness in many other fields. It is fundamental to the study of the physical sciences, design and engineering of all kinds. It is increasingly being used in medicine and the biological sciences, in geography and economics, in business and management studies. It is essential to the operations of industry and commerce.
Because Mathematics develops powers of logical thinking, accuracy and spatial awareness which can be applied to many different areas. This is one reason why Mathematics qualifications are highly regarded. It has been shown that students who gain A level Mathematics have the potential to earn 10% more than those who don't.

Courses Available

Advanced Subsidiary Mathematics; duration one year

Three Units: Pure Core 1, Pure Core 2, and Decision 1
All assessed via three separate 1-hour 30 mins.

Advanced Mathematics; duration two years

Six units: Methods: Pure Core 1, Pure Core 2, Pure Core 3, Pure Core 4, Decision 1, Statistics 1
All assessed via four separate 1-hour 30 mins. exams

Mathematics and Key Skills

You will do a lot of investigations and practicals in your Mathematics course also using computer software and graphical calculators. As a result Mathematics will make a significant contribution to your Key Skills profile.

Key Skills are those generic skills that can enable you to perform well in education, training and life in general. By taking this Mathematics specification you can contribute to your key skills profile up to level 3 in the main areas of Communication, Application of Number and Information Technology.

Remember your Key Skills profile will contribute to your UCAS points total so your Mathematical studies could have extra value in terms of those vital UCAS points.

Qualifications Needed to Start the Course

It is usual for students to have gained a grade B or higher at GCSE to start the course. However, as the Mathematics courses are designed to be accessible to students who have reached a grade C or higher at GCSE, then exceptions can be made for highly motivated students. They would usually start on the AS course and continue with the A2 units subject to their marks from the AS units.

Subject Content in More Detail

Methods

This unit covers Algebra, Co-ordinate Geometry, Differentiation, Integration, Data, Probability and Probability Distributions

Pure 1	This unit covers Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Differentiation, Integration
Pure 2	This unit covers Algebra and Functions, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Exponentials and Logarithms, Differentiation, Integration
Pure 3	This unit covers Algebra and Functions, Trigonometry, Exponentials and Logarithms, Differentiation, Integration, Numerical Methods
Pure 4	This unit covers Algebra and Functions, Coordinate Geometry in the (x, y) plane, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Exponentials and Logarithms, Differentiation and Integration, Vectors
Further Pure 1	This unit covers Algebra and Graphs, Complex Numbers, Roots and Coefficients of a Quadratic Equation, Series, Calculus, Numerical methods, Trigonometry, Matrices and Transformations
Further Pure 2	This unit covers Roots of Polynomials, Complex Numbers, De Moivre's Theorem, Proof by Induction, Finite Series, Hyperbolic Functions, Are Length and Area of surface of revolution about the x-axis
Further Pure 3	This unit covers Series and Limits, Polar Coordinates, Differential Equations, Differential Equations - First Order, Differential Equations - Second Order
Further Pure 4	This unit covers Vectors and Three-Dimensional Coordinate Geometry, matrix Algebra, Solution of Linear Equations, Determinants. Linear Independence
Statistics 1	This unit covers Numerical Measures, Probability, Binomial, Distribution, Normal Distribution, Estimation, Correlation and Regression
Statistics 2	This unit covers Discrete Random Variables, Poisson, Distribution, Continuous Random Variables, Estimation, Hypothesis Testing, Chi-Square (x2) Contingency Table Tests
Statistics 3	This unit covers Further Probability, Linear Combinations of Random Variables, Distributional Approximations, Estimation, Hypothesis Testing
Statistics 4	This unit covers Geometric and Exponential Distributions, Estimators, Estimation, Hypothesis Testing, Chi-Squared (x2) Goodness of Fit Tests
Mechanics 1	This unit covers Mathematical Modeling, Kinematics in One and Two Dimensions, Statics and Forces, Momentum, Newton's Laws of Motion, Connected Particles, Projectiles
Mechanics 2	This unit covers Mathematical Modelling, Moments and Centres of Mass, Kinematics, Newson's Laws of Motion, Application of Differential Equations, Uniform Circular Motion, Work and Energy, Verticular Circular Motion
Mechanics 3	This unit covers Relative Motion, Dimensional Analysis, Collisions in one dimension, Collisions in two dimensions, Further Projectiles, Projectiles on Inclined Planes
Mechanics 4	This unit covers Movements, Frameworks, Vector Product and Movements, Centres of Mass by Integration for Uniform Bodies, Movements of Inertia, Motion of a Rigid Body about a Fixed Axis
Mechanics 5	This unit covers Simple Harmonic Motion, Forced and Damped Harmonic Motion, Stability, Variable Mass Problems, Motion in a Place using Polar Coordinates
Decision 1	This unit covers Simple Ideas of Algorithms, Graphs and Networks, Spanning Tree Problems, Matchings, Shortest Paths in Networks, Route Inspection Problem, Travelling Salesperson Problem, Linear programming, Mathematical Modelling
Decision 2	This unit covers Critical Path Analysis, Allocation, Dynamic Programming, Network Flows, Linear Programming, Game Theory for Zero sum Games, Mathematical Modelling

Student Resources

Core 3 June 2008 Guide

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