i'm planning to take the (last) AEA mathematics next year, (as they are no longer examining it after next summer), and just had a small query.
i read on the edexcel website, in a pdf file about the maths AEA the following:
'Candidates who achieve Distinction will demonstrate understanding and command of most of the topics tested.
Candidates who achieve a Merit will demonstrate understanding and command of many of the topics tested.'
Ok i do music grades, and from what i know in music grades, receiving a distinction is better than receiving a merit, but from this quotation, where it says 'most of the topics tested' for a distinction and then 'many of the topics tested' for a merit, does that mean that a merit in AEA maths is better than a distinction? or have i misinterpreted and misunderstood something?
I will start my A Levels in September. Does that mean I will not be able to do the AEA?
im in the same boat - but im taking the maths AEA a year early so i will be in the last set of AEAs. NO AEAs will take place after next summer - according to edexcel, aqa and some threads and discussions on here, as well as teachers at my school. if you take it in your year 12, like me, you will be ok to participate in the AEAs summer 2009. but none in smmer 2010 and onwards
im in the same boat - but im taking the maths AEA a year early so i will be in the last set of AEAs. NO AEAs will take place after next summer - according to edexcel, aqa and some threads and discussions on here, as well as teachers at my school. if you take it in your year 12, like me, you will be ok to participate in the AEAs summer 2009. but none in smmer 2010 and onwards
Now I'm gonna have to convince my teachers to let me do it a year early.
unlucky mate. but i saw that you're planning to do maths and further maths like me; is your school doing the system where you take the whole AS and A2 maths in year 12, then the whole AS and A2 further maths in year 13? or are you doing maths and further maths AS in year 12 then maths and further amths A2 in year 13?
if you do the former option, you are perfectly able to do the AEA maths in year 12, as all you need is a-level maths - NO further maths necessary!
The reason AEAs are stopping in 2009 is because the people starting AS levels this year are under new specifications with the A* grade, defeating the purpose of the AEAs.
A distinction will earn you 40 points.
A merit will earn you 20 points.
Judging by the way current A levels are graded, an A* at A level will be worth 140 points, which is only 20 (a merit at AEA) more than the A grade, so I can see why you would want to do an AEA. I wanted to do AEAs if possible, but I'm not going to pursue it - I'd rather just get the A* grades if I can.
Besides, have you checked with your place of study that you can do the AEA as a 2008 student?
And do you know if universities will recognise the AEA if you apply after 2009?
The reason AEAs are stopping in 2009 is because the people starting AS levels this year are under new specifications with the A* grade, defeating the purpose of the AEAs.
A distinction will earn you 40 points.
A merit will earn you 20 points.
Judging by the way current A levels are graded, an A* at A level will be worth 140 points, which is only 20 (a merit at AEA) more than the A grade, so I can see why you would want to do an AEA. I wanted to do AEAs if possible, but I'm not going to pursue it - I'd rather just get the A* grades if I can.
Besides, have you checked with your place of study that you can do the AEA as a 2008 student?
And do you know if universities will recognise the AEA if you apply after 2009?
i have checked with my place of study and not only am i doing the AEA but i am alsodoing STEP I mathematics - good fun
even though by 2010 AEAs will be obsolete (sp?), i expect unis will still consider it pretty good that a year 12 student took the AEA a year earlier than expected. plus im doing it partly because i generally enjoy maths (yes im a tad goony, but im happy). i'd say if there were two identical candidates, GCSEs, ASs, predicted A2s, similar PSs, and one of the two candidates had a merit or distinction in AEA, this candidate would get the offer, or at least would have a larger chance of getting an offer. but that's my opinion anyway...
and yeh i heard about that AEAs are stopping due to the introduction of A*s at A-level.
unlucky mate. but i saw that you're planning to do maths and further maths like me; is your school doing the system where you take the whole AS and A2 maths in year 12, then the whole AS and A2 further maths in year 13? or are you doing maths and further maths AS in year 12 then maths and further amths A2 in year 13?
if you do the former option, you are perfectly able to do the AEA maths in year 12, as all you need is a-level maths - NO further maths necessary!
No. We do AS Maths alongside AS Futher Maths and then both A2's in the second year.
I almost forgot about this A* thing. But I still would like to do AEA in Maths. Do you need any knowledge beyond AS Level Maths to do it?
if you do the former option, you are perfectly able to do the AEA maths in year 12, as all you need is a-level maths - NO further maths necessary!
Well, that is true, but many people (even those doing further maths) can't cope with the AEA at the end of year 12. The mathematical maturity and expertise you gain in a year is immense.
A guy in my further maths class took AEA at the end of this year (I'm in year 13), and walked out in the first hour, saying that it was far too difficult. He has a Warwick offer for maths.
I'd like to do the AEA, but I'm not sure how maths is taught at my college.
I've signed up for Double Maths, which is:
C1, C2, C3, C4
S1, S2, S3(?)
M1, M2, M3(?)
But on the actual application thing it had Maths and Further Maths (I only ticked Further Maths, that's how ******ed I am, maybe I shouldn't be doing it!) so I have no idea how it's taught. I don't know which is A level and which is further.
My point is, I doubt I'll have the knowledge to do the AEA, though I'd be prepared to self teach.
But then again, I'd be too embarrassed to ask (story of my life).
Well, that is true, but many people (even those doing further maths) can't cope with the AEA at the end of year 12. The mathematical maturity and expertise you gain in a year is immense.
A guy in my further maths class took AEA at the end of this year (I'm in year 13), and walked out in the first hour, saying that it was far too difficult. He has a Warwick offer for maths.
yeh i know thats all true as well. oh god im doing STEP as well which is apparently even harder. what fun! lol
Discussion about A Level exams and choosing A Level courses, including VCEs.
Useful Resources:
Mathematics AEA
.
