Qualifications gained
Qualification: Advanced GCE in Mathematics
Awarding body: Edexcel Ltd (EDEXCEL)

What will be studied?
Mathematics at AS and Advanced GCE is a course worth studying not only as a supporting subject for the physical and social sciences, but in its own right. It is challenging but interesting. It builds on work you will have met at GCSE, but also involves new ideas produced by some of the greatest minds of the last millennium.

AS level mathematics consists of three modules. Two of these are Core modules and the third is in Statistics.

In module Core 1 we revisit many ideas already met at GCSE but they are extended further. For instance quadratic equations, simultaneous equations and inequalities are all covered again but in greater depth. The geometry of straight lines is taken further and a new approach to mathematical sequences is given. An important branch of mathematics called Calculus is introduced for the first time.

Module Core 2 is an extension of Core 1. GCSE trigonometry is reviewed and then extended further to include solving easy trigonometric equations. Radian measure is introduced. Geometry is now extended to circles. Exponential and logarithmic functions are introduced.

Statistics 1 is an applied mathematics module and some of it will be familiar from the work covered in GCSE mathematics. When you study statistics you will learn how to analyse and summarise numerical data in order to arrive at conclusions about it. You will extend the range of probability problems that you looked at in GCSE using the new mathematical techniques learnt in the pure mathematics units. Many of the ideas in this part of the course have applications in a wide range of other fields, from assessing what your car insurance is going to cost to how likely it is that the Earth will be hit by a comet in the next few years. Many of the techniques are used in sciences and social sciences. Even if you are not going on to study or work in these fields, in today’s society we are bombarded with information (or data) and the statistics units will give you useful tools for looking at this information critically and efficiently.
Three more modules are studied for A2 Mathematics. Core 3 and Core 4 build upon the ideas already studied in Core 1 and Core 2. However there are several new topics which do not rely on the previous modules. These include Numerical Methods, Parametric Equations and Vectors.

The third module is Mechanics 1, another applied mathematics module. Mechanics deals with the action of forces on objects. It is therefore concerned with many everyday situations, e.g. the motion of cars, the flight of a cricket ball through the air, the stresses in bridges, the motion of the earth around the sun. Such problems have to be simplified or modelled to make them capable of solution using relatively simple mathematics. The study of one or more of the Mechanics units will enable you to use the mathematical techniques which you learn in the Core units to help you to produce solutions to these problems. Many of the ideas you will meet in the course form an almost essential introduction to such important modern fields of study such as cybernetics, robotics, bio-mechanics and sports science, as well as the more traditional areas of engineering and physics.

What assessment is there?
Each module is assessed by a one and a half hour written examination. Students may re-sit an examination to try to improve their mark. There is no coursework element.

Where will it take me?
Advanced GCE mathematics is a much sought-after qualification for entry to a wide variety of full-time courses in higher education. There are also many areas of employment that see a Mathematics Advanced GCE as an important qualification and it is often a requirement for the vocational qualifications related to these areas. Higher Education courses or careers that either require Advanced GCE mathematics or are strongly related include:
economics
medicine
architecture
engineering
accountancy
teaching
psychology
physics
computing
information and communication technology.
If you wanted to continue your study of mathematics after Advanced GCE you could follow a course in mathematics at degree level or even continue further as a postgraduate and get involved in mathematical research. People entering today’s most lucrative industries such as IT, banking and the stock market need to be confident using mathematics on a daily basis. To be sure of this, many employers still look for a traditional mathematics A-level qualification. Researchers at the London School of Economics have recently found that people who have studied mathematics can expect to earn up to 11% more than their colleagues, even in the same job!
Even in areas where pure mathematics isn’t required, other mathematics skills learned at AS and A level, such as logical thinking, problem solving and statistical analysis, are often very desirable in the workplace. Mathematics is the new lingua franca of commerce, business and even journalism.

For more information please see Mr J. Thompson in the Maths Department.