The best ever A Level Maths questions

Had a quick peek, you were right, you do need a solid C1 and C2 knowledge to answer the questions.

Yes but even if you acquire all of the C1 and C2 knowledge, that doesn't mean you'll answer every question correctly. The questions require much 'fluid intelligence' and are much broader in scope, consisting of another layer of reasoning, than any standard A level exam. In order to do well on these tests, knowing your subject inside out is an already assumed prerequisite and instead examines your reasoning skills. You can scrape through standard A level exams by rote learning and doing many questions but here, you must already have an extra dimension to your thinking. In fact you could argue that these tests examine your assimilation of logic, from one step to the next, than simply focusing on obtaining the correct answer. They examine 'how you think' rather than 'can you think', and the University has to ensure if you are mentally capable to handle the rigour of the course.

If that makes sense!

https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/Test2013.pdf

For example, Question A:

For what values of the real number $a$ does the quadratic equation

$2x^2 + ax + a = 1$

have distinct real roots?

(a) a DOES NOT EQUAL 2; (b) a > 2; (c) a = 2; (d) all values of a.

My solution:

$2x^2 + ax + a = 1$

$2x^2+ax+(a-1)=0$

$b^2-4ac>0$

$a^2-4(a-1)>0$

$a^2-4a+4>0$

$(a-2)^2>0$

...

This is their reasoning: For the quadratic to have distinct real roots this needs to be positive and so we need a DOES NOT EQUAL 2. The answer is (a)

You copied the question down wrong - there is no 2 in the first coefficient.

How could it be his solution when he copied the question wrong and got the right answer O_O

Just saying xD

I sat this paper. You should take a look at the functions question - question two I think.

Now that was an absolute beast - I remember being completely and utterly floored by it

I'll second that!

I seem to remember 1J being tough as well

Yep, for me I think that was a case of: "I've not ticked letter __ for a while, that seems like the right answer"! No A Level question has ever made me do that, I can safely say

Did you find out what score you got in the end? I emailed my college and they told me I got 55 Interviews must have gone well!

I got 53, which I wasn't that disappointed with, considering that paper. On a scale of 0 to 9 my interviews were apparently a 7, which was enough, though.

..

Never knew that there were 6 Mechanics books.

My interviews were 7 too actually. This wan't enough for St. John's though, as I was reallocated

How are you feeling about meeting the offer mathswise?

There used to be M1-M6 and S1-S6

Let's see if we can find a winner for peoples favourite ever A Level Maths Question (Ideally in more recent years).

Just put

Exam Board:
Year/Month:
Paper:
Question:
Reason:

(attach if possible)

I will start with one of my fav ones:

Exam Board: Edexcel
Year/Month: 2011 May
Paper: Core 2
Question: 5
Reason: Nice bit of circle theorem from year 10/11 sneaked in there.

See attached.

That's a standard question with WJEC M1