[Glutamic Acid]

Thanks. Should give me plenty of time to think about it.

[Y__]

*bobo*, where did you read that? I though it was late February last year - I missed it and had to pay a late-registration fee...

[Opsimathmo]

I thought the ultra deadline was in March as Bobo declares, however schools usually have much earlier deadlines because of all the admin etc.

[Opsimathmo]

Ahhh: "Centres will be able to start registering their candidates in early February 2008 for the tests."

[Skree]

Woot, really looking forward to this course, I just hope I don't screw up the STEP... the 40% rejection statistic has got me a little worried, but I've got a 1,2 offer in STEP II and III from Corpus (as well as AAA of course), so I guess I'm in a stronger position than some/most.

On a different note, that example sheet : just to clarify, the 1/4 means that it's the first of 4 sheets on that course (presumably an early analysis course), so meant to be half a week's work? Not page 1/4, meaning it's supposed to be 1/8 of it or something scary?

Anyway, yeah, good luck everyone on STEP preparation!

[fatuous_philomath]

(Original post by Skree)
On a different note, that example sheet : just to clarify, the 1/4 means that it's the first of 4 sheets on that course (presumably an early analysis course), so meant to be half a week's work? Not page 1/4, meaning it's supposed to be 1/8 of it or something scary?

Yeah, that's the first examples sheet of four for the Analysis I course taken in the second term of your first year (although the sheet might change by the time you guys do the course) - about half a week's work, as you say.

[Andy H]

(Original post by Skree)
but I've got a 1,2 offer in STEP II and III from Corpus (as well as AAA of course), so I guess I'm in a stronger position than some/most.

It is not unncommon for people who get 1,2 at colleges that ask for 1,1 to accept them anyways/summer pool them. It also has happened for people to get 2,2 or 1,3 and still be at Cambridge

Good luck with STEP people. I hope you enjoy the challenge.

[Skree]

(Original post by Andy H)
It is not unncommon for people who get 1,2 at colleges that ask for 1,1 to accept them anyways/summer pool them. It also has happened for people to get 2,2 or 1,3 and still be at Cambridge

Hmm, I have a little sentence in my offer letter which is worrying me a little, although I don't know if its more directed at students reading other subjects:

Pressure on our places is such that if you are unsuccessful in meeting any of our conditions we are unlikely to be able to confirm your offer.

Would just prefer to make all the grades and not have to go through the stress to be honest!

[tommm]

Hi, I'm just wondering what other peoples experiences are of applying to study Maths at Cambridge.

I'm only in Year 11, but I would like to know a few things.

For example, how much is dependent on the STEP? Because, quite frankly, it looks extremely hard, what is the difficulty gap between A-level and STEP?

Also, I'd like some advice as to what A-levels to take. I'm already doing Maths early (have sat 5 of my 6 modules now, got 96 and 97 in C1 and C2 ), but I'm wondering what to take in the 6th Form. I'm of course doing Further Maths and Physics (and Music because that's what'll keep me sane ), but is there anything else which I should take? I'm thinking of Chemistry, Philosophy, or both.

Finally, how hard is it exactly to get a place? I've seen on the website that students applying for Maths at Cambridge had less than a 25% success rate, which scares me slightly. Is this figure a true reflection?

Thanks in advance for any replies, and any other advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

(By the way, I tried to post this in the specific courses board, but it wouldn't let me, so it's here.)

[Y__]

(Original post by tommmmmmmmmm)
Hi, I'm just wondering what other peoples experiences are of applying to study Maths at Cambridge.

I'm only in Year 11, but I would like to know a few things.

For example, how much is dependent on the STEP? Because, quite frankly, it looks extremely hard, what is the difficulty gap between A-level and STEP?

Also, I'd like some advice as to what A-levels to take. I'm already doing Maths early (have sat 5 of my 6 modules now, got 96 and 97 in C1 and C2 ), but I'm wondering what to take in the 6th Form. I'm of course doing Further Maths and Physics (and Music because that's what'll keep me sane ), but is there anything else which I should take? I'm thinking of Chemistry, Philosophy, or both.

Finally, how hard is it exactly to get a place? I've seen on the website that students applying for Maths at Cambridge had less than a 25% success rate, which scares me slightly. Is this figure a true reflection?

Thanks in advance for any replies, and any other advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

(By the way, I tried to post this in the specific courses board, but it wouldn't let me, so it's here.)

You will have to take STEP if you want to get in. It _is_ pretty hard, much harder than A-levels. Expect lengthy and difficult algebraic manipulations and having to prove stuff. Maybe you can have a look at some old questions with your maths teacher?

In general, if you have not come across the "more sophisticated" part of maths yet, it will be worthwhile to talk to a teacher (or a student) at your school who has experience with STEP. Some schools even offer preparatory classes for it.

edit: Typo fixed.

[Cexy]

(Original post by tommmmmmmmmm)
For example, how much is dependent on the STEP?

Almost all colleges make an offer of at least a grade 1 and a grade 2 in STEP, so it's very important. King's College doesn't include STEP as far as I know.

Because, quite frankly, it looks extremely hard, what is the difficulty gap between A-level and STEP?

In terms of material you need to know: not a lot. In terms of difficulty of questions: a great deal. But bear in mind that you'll be taking the exams two years from now - that's plenty of time to practice and as the above poster said, there's a lot of help available (including this website).

Also, I'd like some advice as to what A-levels to take. I'm already doing Maths early (have sat 5 of my 6 modules now, got 96 and 97 in C1 and C2 ), but I'm wondering what to take in the 6th Form. I'm of course doing Further Maths and Physics (and Music because that's what'll keep me sane ), but is there anything else which I should take? I'm thinking of Chemistry, Philosophy, or both.

You will be able to get an offer with just Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Music (I had almost exactly the same A Levels, with History replacing Music). You should take Chemistry and/or Philosophy if you enjoy them, but they probably won't help you get an offer.

Finally, how hard is it exactly to get a place? I've seen on the website that students applying for Maths at Cambridge had less than a 25% success rate, which scares me slightly. Is this figure a true reflection?

25% is an accurate figure for many colleges. But remember that doesn't mean that you have a 25% chance of getting in - it means that the top 25% of applicants are successful. Just make sure that you're in that top 25%!

[Zhen Lin]

(Original post by Solemn Wanderer)
The typical offer is 1,2 but some people get offers of 1,1 (the grades are, from highest to lowest, S, 1, 2, 3, U). You may still get in on 2,2 if you miss a 1,2 offer but don't bank on it.

I think the standard offer has been raised to 1,1 in recent years. Certainly on TSR this year most of the Mathematics offers seem to be 11 (13 out of the 19 who mentioned their conditions).

Now, to add the the scary statistics, 40% of Mathematics offer-holders either fail to meet the conditions of the offer or decline the offer.

Now, since it seems the OP has the option of taking the full Further Maths at then end of year 12, perhaps it would be an idea to take the STEP as well? Certainly STEP II.

[tommm]

Thanks to everyone for the help

I've been doing A-level Maths since part-way through Year 10, after doing GCSE in Year 9. Scarily enough, I've learnt the whole of M1, S1 and C3 (which I sat all of this week and last) and half of C4 in about 5 months without any lessons (I spend 7 periods a week sat there on my own studying, lol) and I reckon I could, possibly, have my AS Further Maths by the end of Year 11, so I'll probably get the A2 in my own time in Year 12, which will give me loads of free time in the 6th Form.

The 6th Form I am going to is small (it's part of my current high school) and it only has 150 people per year, but fortunately there are (apparently) 2 teachers who are good enough to teach STEP Maths, so I think I'm sorted for STEP

Oh yeah, any advice on the A-level modules to take? I seem drawn to the Mechanics ones. What's Decision like, I've never done that?

[steelmole]

The actual maths in decision can be quite interesting, but just covering what you need for the exams will be pretty boring. The way I was taught it skipped a lot of the interesting stuff about discrete maths.

[Zhen Lin]

Eh, that's not small. My sixth form has about 130 students - and that's the combined figure for lower and upper sixth!

It is critical, of course, if you are planning to do mathematics, that you take all the pure modules. As for the applied - either mechanics or statistics is good, since you're taking Physics; the STEP have 3 questions on each so that affords you more choice, rather than limiting yourself to the 8 pure questions.

[Cexy]

I'd recommend taking at least C1-4, FP1-3 and M1-3 at least. The C and FP modules will be necessary for understanding almost any course at Cambridge, and there's a course called Dynamics for which you'd benefit from having done the M modules at least up to 3 (M4-5 wouldn't be a bad choice for the other two, and neither would M4 and S1).

[Winter]

In my opinion, the gap between A-level Mechanics and STEP is much lower than that between A-level pure maths and STEP.
My teacher did say," Mechanics is "equal" to A-level. Statistics and Decision are higher than A-level."
If you're interested in computing, decision is a good choice.
Or just ignore it since it's not easy to get high marks on it relatively.
Mechanics is less tricky.
Q1&2 in STEP are "baby maths" with respect to other pure maths questions.
And just try two mechanics questions.
Then that's four quesions.
That's 1.
Do you feel much better?

BTW, I read the guide to addimission in maths. It's said that the average number of applicants per place is 3.1. Is it as low as 25% now as the statistics as shown on the webside is incorrect?

[tommm]

It says on the Cambridge website:

2006 applications/acceptances
1,116/243

for Maths, which is a bit under 25% success rate (unless my lousy arithmetic has let me down again).

So, if I'm doing STEP, should I specialise in Mechanics so that I can do all of the Mechanics questions easily? Because that sounds a good plan

[Opsimathmo]

Do all Pure, and preferably all Mechanics and as much Stats as you can stomach. As you have so much time though you might as well do all 18 modules.

[Winter]

Hmm....It's just my personal opinion. :s
I'm doing it this summer, that's my plan since I'm good at Mechanics rather than pure maths....( actually the integration questions are formal and they won't crash you too much. compared to others such as Statistics... )
In addition, I think mechanics is more interesting as you can find that's maths which is highly relevant to the real life rather than number games.
"Pure" Mathematician don't shout at me...that's just my thoughts...