Whats A-level Maths like?
Maths and statistics discussion, revision, exam and homework help.
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Whats A-level Maths like?I'm going to start college this August and I'm going to do Maths. Whats it like? I've heard its a MASSIVE jump from GCSE Maths, and I found Maths okay at high school. I'm predicted an B/A and I think I can get a strong B, at least.
Also, I'm planning on doing it as a full A-level, so I'm wondering if it'll get easier as it progresses?
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?I agree. C1 the content is easy if I am honest and C2 is not that much harder, however the jump to C3 is rather large and my opinion on C4 is that it lies between C2 and C3 in terms of difficulty. One massive tip I can give you is revise exam techniques because they will always find some way to trip you up.
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?you'll love it! it's really reallllyyyy fun! It was my favourite a-level by far! It's kinda a big jump up from GCSE but by December of AS levels you'll be settled in and all will be fine.(Original post by oreostastenice)
I'm going to start college this August and I'm going to do Maths. Whats it like? I've heard its a MASSIVE jump from GCSE Maths, and I found Maths okay at high school. I'm predicted an B/A and I think I can get a strong B, at least.
Also, I'm planning on doing it as a full A-level, so I'm wondering if it'll get easier as it progresses?
Thank you!
Good luck!
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?Are you guys serious? I coasted through the whole of gcse not working and missed an A* by 2 percent, then when i started doing A level maths I thought I was doing the hardest thing ever. As i got used to the pace of a level though it got much easier, I was in a double maths class though so we did topics super quick to save time to cover all the material.
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?Depends on why you are getting a B(Original post by oreostastenice)
I'm going to start college this August and I'm going to do Maths. Whats it like? I've heard its a MASSIVE jump from GCSE Maths, and I found Maths okay at high school. I'm predicted an B/A and I think I can get a strong B, at least.
Also, I'm planning on doing it as a full A-level, so I'm wondering if it'll get easier as it progresses?
Thank you!
A B means there is a lot of the Higher GCSE that you are not secure with
If this is predominantly Algebra then the jump is big
If, however, you are strong algebraically then the jump is much less -
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?If you are really good at maths you will find it easier than GCSEs as they ask you questions in bizzarre ways at GCSE. It's really simple when you fully understand it but near impossible to just learn "what to do".
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?16 was missing from your sig.(Original post by k9markiii)
If you are really good at maths you will find it easier than GCSEs as they ask you questions in bizzarre ways at GCSE. It's really simple when you fully understand it but near impossible to just learn "what to do". -
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?Apparently people with A*'s struggle but I suppose everyone is different depending on natural ability, I don't even have a GCSE and I'm on target for 100% give or take for the entire A level.(Original post by oreostastenice)
I'm going to start college this August and I'm going to do Maths. Whats it like? I've heard its a MASSIVE jump from GCSE Maths, and I found Maths okay at high school. I'm predicted an B/A and I think I can get a strong B, at least.
Also, I'm planning on doing it as a full A-level, so I'm wondering if it'll get easier as it progresses?
Thank you! -
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?IIRC, there's a tiny bit in C2.(Original post by ThatPerson)
Just a quick question; how much Geometry is in A-Level Maths? (i.e. Circle Theorems, etc) -
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?yes it's possible! Think of GCSE's and A-levels as completely separate and mutually exclusive (i.e. one doesn't depend on the other). If you put in the hard work, the sky's the limit! I believe if you put in the work, you have a good a chance as anyone to get an A-grade(Original post by chelseafan)
Would it be possible for someone with a B at gcse to get an A at A level. Im asking because i only got a b because i didnt reallt work hard at gcse.
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?Thanks for the confidence boost.(Original post by rock_climber86)
yes it's possible! Think of GCSE's and A-levels as completely separate and mutually exclusive (i.e. one doesn't depend on the other). If you put in the hard work, the sky's the limit! I believe if you put in the work, you have a good a chance as anyone to get an A-grade
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?its weird...C1 starts of easy, C2 and C3 are like WTF, then C4 becomes easier again
The extra modules you take (I did Stats and Mechanics) are not too bad, although mechanics was made easier because I covered most of it during physics
Its not an easy A-Level, but I guess that's why most universities use it as a yardstick to judge applicants -
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?C1 is easy, we were advised to retake it if we got below 90-95% because we did the whole thing in a year, C2 is really fun, because it's more challenging but still fairly comprehendable because it builds off of C1.
C3 and C4 were basically 3 months of not understanding any of it, followed by a chain-reaction of eureka moments, and then a pair of really fun exams.
Maths exams are generally more enjoyable than most subjects, I've found. If you know your stuff then you can understand and work out any question, it's only when you've learnt by rote or repetition, but no real understanding behind that - that you run into trouble.
Anyone who's mentally sound can get a good grade in Maths, you just need to put the effort in to 'crack' things you've not understood yet
Last edited by Architecture-er; 09-07-2012 at 10:19. -
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Re: Whats A-level Maths like?I'll never understand why people have to be so absolute when they talk about this. Everyone has basically either said "It's the easiest thing in the world ever" or "it's impossible and you're going to fail".
The A-level is harder than the GCSE. It builds on knowledge you should have from the GCSE, but it gets harder. Although the core units increase in difficulty as you progress through the year, there is still a pretty big jump up in difficulty (and more noticeably, workload) between GCSE and the start of A-level. Like others have said, how difficult you will find it will depend on which areas of GCSE you were stronger or weaker at. But to generalise, I don't see any reason why someone working at your level should be unable to get a maths A-level. The important thing is to be ready at the beginning of the year, and prepared for the increased workload so it doesn't take you by surprise. Good luck.
