Which part of Maths A-level do you think...

the part where you have to force yourself to study a beautiful subject reduced to the bastardisation they call "maths a-level"

Reply 21

B_9710

18

Vector questions can be quite difficult at first for a lot of people. For vectors though you just need to do loads of vector questions.

Reply 22

B_9710

18

Original post by Zacken

the part where you have to force yourself to study a beautiful subject reduced to the bastardisation they call "maths a-level"

What do you suppose they should change to A level maths to more accurately reflect real maths?

Reply 23

jahidur99

5

Original post by Frank Peters

I will be starting maths A-level this september so I need some help.

Which part of maths A-level do you think was/is the hardest. And also which part of maths A-level do you think I should pay close attention to in the first year.

Could you please also give reasons why. Thank you!!!

I acc scraped an A by one mark in as maths i got B in C1 and A in C2 and S1

Reply 24

Zacken

22

Original post by B_9710

What do you suppose they should change to A level maths to more accurately reflect real maths?

teach calculus as analysis properly instead of a bunch of unmotivated rules would be one of my key ideas, starts some number theory and set theory is another one. Not sure beyond that.

Reply 25

drandy76

13

Original post by Zacken

teach calculus as analysis properly instead of a bunch of unmotivated rules would be one of my key ideas, starts some number theory and set theory is another one. Not sure beyond that.

I think set theory is being introduced as part of the reform, as much as I hate to admit it, perhaps more geometry is needed too

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Reply 26

Zacken

22

Original post by drandy76

I think set theory is being introduced as part of the reform, as much as I hate to admit it, perhaps more geometry is needed too

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cri

Reply 27

oShahpo

20

FP3 polar co-ordinate problems, anything else is easy.

Reply 28

drandy76

13

Original post by Zacken

cri

Maybe a Geometry 1-3? Not sure how subscribed it would be though

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(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 29

oShahpo

20

Original post by Zacken

teach calculus as analysis properly instead of a bunch of unmotivated rules would be one of my key ideas, starts some number theory and set theory is another one. Not sure beyond that.

I read somewhere on some preface of an analysis book that it's usually better to start with Calculus and then proceed into analysis because it gives the mental flexibility required to tackle analysis problems.
I also disagree that calculus is a bunch of unmotivated rules without analysis. Historically calculus started before analysis was properly studied by the likes of Dirichlet, so again starting with calculus is even more natural in terms of the historical progression of ideas.

But I do agree that "some" analysis stuff must be taught, stuff like limits, continuity, convergence and series, as they're pretty much fundamental to the understanding of calculus.

Reply 30

oShahpo

20

Original post by drandy76

I think set theory is being introduced as part of the reform, as much as I hate to admit it, perhaps more geometry is needed too

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Geometry is the perfect subject all A-Level STEM students must learn. Learning how to prove things geometrically is such a powerful skill that makes you think absolutely differently. You learn how to form a cohesive argument, how to look for flaws or biases in your thinking, how to connect ideas, it's essential!

Reply 31

drandy76

13

Original post by oShahpo

Geometry is the perfect subject all A-Level STEM students must learn. Learning how to prove things geometrically is such a powerful skill that makes you think absolutely differently. You learn how to form a cohesive argument, how to look for flaws or biases in your thinking, how to connect ideas, it's essential!

Now that I think about it, having geometry as a stand alone module could cause the same lopsidedness in students understanding of maths, just in the opposite sense. Maybe reduce content but focus on more in depth understanding of it?

One anecdote I have is that when asked in class, a good 9/13 students didn't know the link between sin^2 +cos^2=1 and the equation for circles.

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Reply 32

Zacken

22

Original post by oShahpo

I read somewhere on some preface of an analysis book that it's usually better to start with Calculus and then proceed into analysis because it gives the mental flexibility required to tackle analysis problems.
I also disagree that calculus is a bunch of unmotivated rules without analysis. Historically calculus started before analysis was properly studied by the likes of Dirichlet, so again starting with calculus is even more natural in terms of the historical progression of ideas.

But I do agree that "some" analysis stuff must be taught, stuff like limits, continuity, convergence and series, as they're pretty much fundamental to the understanding of calculus.

didn't say calculus is a bunch of unmotivated rules, said A-Level calculus was.

Reply 33

TercioOfParma

18

The hardest subject at A level maths for me was probably the nastier end of integration in C4.

Reply 34

username1539513

21

Original post by Frank Peters

I will be starting maths A-level this september so I need some help.

Which part of maths A-level do you think was/is the hardest. And also which part of maths A-level do you think I should pay close attention to in the first year.

Could you please also give reasons why. Thank you!!!

Apparently Mechanics and Decision maths are brutal and to be avoided. Try and do statistics if you can.

Reply 35

Funnycatvideos

2

Original post by Frank Peters

I will be starting maths A-level this september so I need some help.

Which part of maths A-level do you think was/is the hardest. And also which part of maths A-level do you think I should pay close attention to in the first year.

Could you please also give reasons why. Thank you!!!

I am one of those weird people that finds mechanics easier than stats. I got lucky with the grade boundaries which is why I scraped a B in it. Just do past papers and if you want extra prep, do solomon papers. They are hard.