[xX-LK-Xx]

I am going to be starting MST121 in October along with another OU module. Anyway, i've just received the revision pack and am finding it a little difficult. Does anyone have any experience in studying MST121 and how much maths experience did you have before? I got an A in GCSE maths three years ago and studied the first year of A level maths two years ago. If I do struggle too much with this module, is there an option to downgrade to an easier maths module once ive started? Thank you for any advice

[lau_88]

I would suggest that an A Level in maths is probably the same sort of level as MST121, however I'm not an expert so hopefully someone can come along and clarify!

[xX-LK-Xx]

Well I only studied the first year of a level :/

[sputum]

What are you finding tricky in the revision pack? You have a few months to work on any gremlins etc and all the help you need.
mathschoices might be helpful if you haven't found it already. The gentler option looks to be MU123 and those on my 121 and 221 courses who have done it liked it a lot.

I did 121 in 2010 (and maths A level 20 years before that)

[Moggs]

Obligatory:

KhanAcademy.org
PatrickJMT.org
TheIntegralCalc

Before it all starts, be sure to brush up on those fundamentals as best you can. Maybe put together a folder of them with contents and the like showing derivations, justifications and processes. That really helped me get in to the swing of studying and continues to be really handy when my memory fails.

Taking it one concept at a time, you should be fine. Iirc the content when the module begins also looks fairly scary until you actually get there and realise it isn't I had a nasty habit of looking ahead and getting concerned when this really didn't help at all.

[xX-LK-Xx]

Pretty much all of the revision pack at the moment. I recognise it but i'm struggling with the questions. I'm really thinking maybe I should have gone with the easier maths course first.

At the moment, i'm trying to go through the revision book and make notes on everything

[xX-LK-Xx]

And you're probably right about me looking forward and worrying too much :P lol

[Nitebot]

(Original post by xX-LK-Xx)
And you're probably right about me looking forward and worrying too much :P lol

Yes you are! You're going to have a much better and more recent background in maths than many who will be doing the course. Nearly everyone from my science module who are planning to take MST121 as part of their science degree, last did any sort of maths decades ago!


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[sputum]

(Original post by xX-LK-Xx)
Pretty much all of the revision pack at the moment. I recognise it but i'm struggling with the questions. I'm really thinking maybe I should have gone with the easier maths course first.

It might come back quite quickly with a little practice or it might not if not you can switch. There shouldn't be much you haven't seen before so see if you can shake off the rust and build a little confidence. There might be some deadline for firming up courses so check what it is so you know how long you have to make up your mind. See how you feel near deadline.

[-G-a-v-]

Another possibility if you're finding the revision material tough going is to get hold of a GCSE maths textbook and do extra practice from there. IMO the OU books alone don't really provide enough practice to a develop good understanding. Also, make sure you submit the revision TMA and get lots of feedback from it.

The maths forum on here is also very good, so don't be afraid of asking stuff on there that you're stuck on (though obviously don't post TMA questions!)

As others have said, MST121 is broadly equivalent to A-level Mathematics (though with less calculus, but more stuff that isn't covered in the normal A-level).

There should still be time to transfer to MU123 or similar though if you don't think you're ready for MST121 yet - have a word with the OU and see what they say.

[xX-LK-Xx]

Thank you everyone! I think I just need more confidence in myself. I think mst121 is the right course for me, as i have already gcse maths, it seems logical to do the a level equivalent. If I did Mu123 i think it would be too easy however, i did struggle at a level which was why i didnt finish the second year.

[Nitebot]

(Original post by xX-LK-Xx)
Thank you everyone! I think I just need more confidence in myself. I think mst121 is the right course for me, as i have already gcse maths, it seems logical to do the a level equivalent. If I did Mu123 i think it would be too easy however, i did struggle at a level which was why i didnt finish the second year.

What you find with OU maths, science and engineering level 1 modules, is that they can be deceptively comfortable at first and then half way through the difficulty gets cranked up. That's what you have to be ready for.


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[xX-LK-Xx]

:/

[xX-LK-Xx]

Anyone who has done the course before, have any advice on what topics to concentrate on in my revision before the course starts?

I have also contacted someone about deadlines for changing courses so hopefully they will get back to me soon.

Thank you to everyone again

[sputum]

I had a look at the revision pack and it should give you a good idea. There aren't a lot of questions on any given topic, if more would help we can make some up or find appropriate problem sets. Getting stuff wrong is no big deal, it's when you don't understand the given solution or part of it that you've found something to revise/ask about. There are a couple of MU123 samples available.

When you feel OK with most of it maybe grab the MST121 Handbook and see what you think of the topics (remember it's not a study text) Or try the first bit which is on Openlearn.

[Hippodamos]

(Original post by xX-LK-Xx)
Anyone who has done the course before, have any advice on what topics to concentrate on in my revision before the course starts?

Fractions, powers, logs, trig identities and general algebraic manipulation.

Most of this stuff is in the revision pack. That's what the revision pack is for. To revise the basics.

If you've done the first year of AS, the start of MST121 should not be too much of a problem. You will have to put in the work and hours, of course.

My advice would be to go through the revision pack and if it is all beyond you, drop down to MU123.