C3 January 2013 25/01/2013

answer sheet says >1, but dont understand how they got it.

Ah, no, it's Physics I've applied for, actually Oxford, Nottingham, Manchester, Bristol and Lancaster (already got offers from the last three)

Oh, is it 90+? That would be awesome, because I can do 90% and over but I doubt I could reach 95. Lol last year I only got over 95% in one Further Maths module - FP1. C1 and C2 were 90%.

I did S1 last year and swore to myself I would never do statistics again - which is silly of me, since I'm into quantum physics and that involves loads of probability! But yes, I'm focusing on mechanics modules. My Maths teacher doesn't like decision maths, so no one in my class is doing it this year.

Tbh we haven't started FP3 yet, since FP2 is taking a while and we were doing 4 modules at one time, anyway. I've had a look through the book, though, and basically, there's more integration and differentiation, really complex-looking trig and hyperbolic functions and matrices. Some people have told me it's hard; others don't think it's that bad. But I've been told by some older kids last year that FP3 is a really important module and "there's no point doing F. Maths if you don't do FP3". I'm sure it's not like that, but I guess it's one of those modules that really helps in the first year of uni :P

any good tips on chapter 7

Oh fair enough then, I just assumed it'd be Maths as you've take both Maths and Further Maths however Physics does contain a lot of Maths in it so that'd make sense and that's pretty cool that you've already got some offers back which means you'll be able to attend the course next year aslong as you can achieve the grades which I'm sure you'll be able to I'm applying for Maths at university but the Msci/MMath course to Birmingham, Nottingham, Warrick and Manchester.

Also thats quite good really and I thought the same about the Statistics module even though it turned out to be my highest with 96/100 so I was quite pleased and I'm only about a 85% average right now but I'm determined to get that bloody A* grade!

See my year was the first with D1 and D2 so we wouldn't know what to think of it but after self teaching it I came out with an average of 90% which wasn't too bad so I was planning to take it in place for FP3. However if you're saying its a great thing to prepare you for first year at uni then I might as well teach it myself as it'd be a great advantage to me.

Well, it's what I heard, but yeah, it's definitely great to do an extra module if you've got the time. Since I'm going into Physics and going as far as M4, I think I'll probably go through the M5 textbook in summer right before uni - it's quite a thin book and apparently relatively easier than M4.

Ah, that's great! I'm sure you'll get into those unis, since you're so determined about that A* They're all top unis, too!

I really enjoy Maths - especially Further Maths - and all my friends wonder why I didn't go for a Maths degree. Tbh I'm not sure, as it actually is my favourite subject at school, but I think I prefer applied maths (e.g. mechanics).

F. Maths is pretty hard this year, but it's also much more fun! I know I definitely didn't go for the easy modules, but so far not regretting it :P

C3 will be the death of me. Any tips for not making stupid errors, and actually how to work through a trig identity?

The plan is to do well in S2 so I don't need to do amazing in FP3 but Challenge Accepted! xD

I wish you the very best with your exams. By the way what subject are you applying for at uni?

Fair enough then, well I do love myself a good challenge! Also it would make sense that you're going strongly into Mechanics as it has quite a large influence of Physics in my mind and I'm only going to go to M2 but I can't see it being too hard really, see I really would like to carry on with Statistics but we were only allowed to go upto S2 even though I had an avarage of 90%.

Thanks about the support with the university choices and I'm sure you'll get into the course that you want to do at the university of your choice as you sound incredibly clever! You've got to love a challenge and the idea of getting an A* in Maths and Further Maths is just that for me as not long ago I was happy with just getting B's!

See my friends are also the same and currently I don't think they're happy with me as I want to resit an exam for which I acheived a B in which for them would be marvellous, but what they don't understand is that i'd not be happy until I've got the best score I possibly could which I know is better than a B.

And yeah Further Maths isn't for the non-committed, however its incredibly rewarding to achieve great results in it and proves to yourself, well atleast myself that I'm skilled in a subject.

Which part of the Trig identities do you not understand or is it just the majority of them?

Thanks Nah, I'm not really that clever - you're the one aiming for A*s in both A Levels! We've got a couple of really clever kids in my class and I'm trying my best to keep up! What other subjects are you doing, by the way?

M2 is quite nice, especially if you found M1 fairly easy. Starts off with kinematics, which is really nice, and then just basics on centres of mass and stuff like that haha. And yes, Mechanics modules are definitely great if one's planning to do Physics in uni.

Commitment and determination will get you those A*s

I understand the ones we have to learn (like double angle formulae and the pythagorean identities etc) but it's the questions where you have to

'show x is identical to y'

Ah same Usually need about 70ish marks for the A* on C3, hoping to get mid-90s UMS though to set me up well for C4. Easier said than done!

Ah, hate trig so much haha. I just know that I will slip up in the exam on trig! Any tips for me?

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Would those be the ones where you have both a RHS and LHS but in two different forms and you need to involve the identities to change one into the other form? Or would it be something different?

I was getting all the past papers and practice questions right, but just completely messed up the question in the exam. Main tip would be to do all the past papers you possibly can, and just focus on what you're finding difficult.

I've seen some wrong ideas about how you get an A* in A Level maths here...

You need to get an A overall, and at least 90 UMS in both C3 and C4.

yep, those ones i just can't do them.

know the basic identities, and tonnes of practice-it gets easier, I promise!

yep, those ones i just can't do them.