Maths A level limited?

Hey,
This had been on my mind for a while. I apologise as I've been making various posts on A level maths but it's because the school I currently go to does not explain these things. They assume that everyone already know these rules, etc. Ok, Please can someone explain to me why you would need an A to do maths A level? I just realised that once you dive into A level, you specialised in certain areas i.e some do mechanics with C1, C2 etc for AS or some do S1 etc, my point is, if someone is good at the topics in C1 for example, why can't they do AS maths. I was told previously from schools that I could not do A level maths but so far, C1 seems to be going great. The areas it touches, I was quite good at. I realised that in GCSE Maths, it tries to touch all areas whether Statistics etc but in general. But A level maths is in depth...so does that mean that those who do M1, will only have general knowledge in S1 for example. This is why I think it's quite limited also, I used to think that in Maths A level, we would touch almost everything but instead, we dive into different areas. I understand why as it's too much for only two years. I want to become good at maths but my confidence is playing up because I feel as if I am doing something wrong as I am finding C1 good, ok. All I am doing there is learning new add ons and why I feel that I am doing something wrong even more is because A* students from GCSE are complaining but I am not. Could it be that the areas in C1 weren't their strengths. Someone please help as I am panicking and confused :frown:

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 1

indigobluesss

Original post by Cherry82

Pretty sure you can, your school made that policy themselves. My school had a policy of a B grade minimum in GCSE, so it differs. If you feel that this is unfair then you'll have to speak with your head of faculty and take it from there.

If all else fails and you still want to do A-level maths but the school wouldn't permit it, then you can sit the exams externally

Good luck

Reply 2

gdunne42

Original post by Cherry82

Hey,

Each school sets its own entry requirements for A levels. For some it's an A for others it's a B.
You can get a B in GCSE maths with about half of your 2 papers wrong. Students who get a B at gcse maths are usually weak at the more challenging algebra, coordinate geometry and trigonometry - the things that they need to be good at to do well at AS and to progress to A2. Students who got a B without really trying or revising can often improve greatly if they work hard at A level. Students who were in a set that didn't tackle the harder topics may similarly improve. Those who worked their socks off for their B and never mastered the A/A* stuff may find A level too challenging.

Most of C1 is A/A* GCSE with new stuff in sequences and series and, if it's Edexcel, the whole world of calculus (differentiation and integration) is introduced for the first time. Most of C2 will be new and more challenging than C1. If lessons are going well and you are able to do the exercises, homework and progress tests, that sounds good. Have a look at some past papers and see if you can apply what you have learned to solving exam questions. If you can't, ask for help in the maths forum.

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(edited 9 years ago)