How can I self-learn A-Level Further Maths?

So, I've gotten my GCSE grades back and I unfortunately messed up and got a 7 in maths - I usually do pretty well in Maths and am more than capable of getting 8s and 9s; now my sixth form doesn't let me take further maths unless I have an 8 or 9 and even after a lot of begging I wasnt able to convince them. I'm aiming at high level universities (like Imperial and Cambridge) and am set on doing Engineering at uni so I definitely need to take further maths. However, self-studying is obviously pretty hard and as much as I'd try my best I think I'd be better off attending a dedicated further maths course. I've looked online and whilst there are courses I'm looking for weekly zoom call tutoring lessons included in the course but cant seem to find any! Does anyone have any experience with this? I really need an A* so am looking for high quality, dependable organisations.

Reply 1

davros

16

Original post by ssfttgghiyfg

So, I've gotten my GCSE grades back and I unfortunately messed up and got a 7 in maths - I usually do pretty well in Maths and am more than capable of getting 8s and 9s; now my sixth form doesn't let me take further maths unless I have an 8 or 9 and even after a lot of begging I wasnt able to convince them. I'm aiming at high level universities (like Imperial and Cambridge) and am set on doing Engineering at uni so I definitely need to take further maths. However, self-studying is obviously pretty hard and as much as I'd try my best I think I'd be better off attending a dedicated further maths course. I've looked online and whilst there are courses I'm looking for weekly zoom call tutoring lessons included in the course but cant seem to find any! Does anyone have any experience with this? I really need an A* so am looking for high quality, dependable organisations.

Needing weekly zoom call lessons sounds like you're really looking for a local specialist tutor - is that really the route you want to go down? Many students wouldn't have the resources (i.e. finances) for this unless they were really lucky! Otherwise there is plenty of online content to support self-learning, and if you're a genuinely confident A level student, then self-teaching FM is actually one of the easiest things to do!

Is your Sixth Form the same school where you took your GCSEs? Normally the school would be in the best position to judge your abilities and whether you are likely to succeed on the A level course or not. There are some students with solid 9s who find A level a struggle, and occasionally a few students with a grade 6 who "pull themselves up" and manage to cope with A level, but this is really rare because success at A level depends on having really solid GCSE knowledge.

Have you had a serious self-critical look at where you went wrong with the GCSE - were there gaps in your subject knowledge and can you address them? Have you had a look at some "normal" A level content to see how it looks before you start the course?

Reply 2

ssfttgghiyfg

OP

2

Original post by davros

Needing weekly zoom call lessons sounds like you're really looking for a local specialist tutor - is that really the route you want to go down? Many students wouldn't have the resources (i.e. finances) for this unless they were really lucky! Otherwise there is plenty of online content to support self-learning, and if you're a genuinely confident A level student, then self-teaching FM is actually one of the easiest things to do!

Is your Sixth Form the same school where you took your GCSEs? Normally the school would be in the best position to judge your abilities and whether you are likely to succeed on the A level course or not. There are some students with solid 9s who find A level a struggle, and occasionally a few students with a grade 6 who "pull themselves up" and manage to cope with A level, but this is really rare because success at A level depends on having really solid GCSE knowledge.

Have you had a serious self-critical look at where you went wrong with the GCSE - were there gaps in your subject knowledge and can you address them? Have you had a look at some "normal" A level content to see how it looks before you start the course?

hey thanks so much for your reply! :smile:

honestly looking back my main problems was staying calm in the exams themselves - out of the exams I could compete with a grade 9 student and I actually managed to properly deal with all three of the last questions on the papers but I think the stress mightve gotten to me and I made a few silly mistakes. I've looked through both maths and fm content and I atleast want to try and get an AS Level in Fm. To be honest I think I'm a really self motivated student - there's no one pushing me into doing this at all - so I really think that I can complete the A-Level but whether I'll be able to get an A* in it along with 3/4 other subjects is something I'm not comoletely sure about! I've talked to my parents about financing and they said they're ready to help - Do you think 2 or 3 1-to-1 1hr tutoring lessons per week is as supportive as the 4.5 hours of teachibg we get at school? My maths tutor is a bit pricey at £75 per session so we want to make sure we're not *overspending*. Again thank you so much, I've been so stressed over this

Reply 3

mqb2766

21

There are a few people here who have recently posted about self learning fm a/as and just searching for their threads should give you some advice. There are places like amsp
https://mei.org.uk/case-studies/further-mathematics-support-programme/
https://amsp.org.uk/teachers/a-level-further-mathematics/resources/
https://amsp.org.uk/teachers/a-level-further-mathematics/resources/fm-videos/
which was more for kids at schools not offering fm but it would be worth contacting them. Combined with the usual textbooks, there isnt a huge need for a tutor, but it may be worth having one for a chat about problems arising/motivation/reflection/... However those videos and a textbook pretty much cover things.

While its late, are there any other 6th forms locally where you could do it at school as that would be the preferred option.

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 4

Ignorabimus

9

Original post by ssfttgghiyfg

So, I've gotten my GCSE grades back and I unfortunately messed up and got a 7 in maths - I usually do pretty well in Maths and am more than capable of getting 8s and 9s; now my sixth form doesn't let me take further maths unless I have an 8 or 9 and even after a lot of begging I wasnt able to convince them. I'm aiming at high level universities (like Imperial and Cambridge) and am set on doing Engineering at uni so I definitely need to take further maths. However, self-studying is obviously pretty hard and as much as I'd try my best I think I'd be better off attending a dedicated further maths course. I've looked online and whilst there are courses I'm looking for weekly zoom call tutoring lessons included in the course but cant seem to find any! Does anyone have any experience with this? I really need an A* so am looking for high quality, dependable organisations.

Although as u said even after begging ur sixth form, they wouldnt allow it. Perhaps ask whether its possible for you to try some of the first FM lessons and show good knowledge and understanding whilst in those lessons, maybe they'll consider allowing you to continue with FM.

Teaching oneself FM is entirely possible, there are numerous books and rss for self studies; the main benefit from a class is that the teacher regulates ur progression and makes sure that u're adequately understanding the material. From personal experience of zoom meeting like teaching things, it doesn't feel great, it's at most a guiding line, I doubt it would provide the same level of attention and usefulness as doing it in classes. Nevertheless, 75 a session does sound quite expensive, at least assuming u aren't in a private school, those start from like 150/hr, and assuming that a session is an hr.

The FM course doesnt feel difficult if u're used to doing math, but it would just take a while if u're not good at understanding the materials. (but this is very opinonal, some people find it much harder)

Reply 5

BigJ123

10

Original post by ssfttgghiyfg

So, I've gotten my GCSE grades back and I unfortunately messed up and got a 7 in maths - I usually do pretty well in Maths and am more than capable of getting 8s and 9s; now my sixth form doesn't let me take further maths unless I have an 8 or 9 and even after a lot of begging I wasnt able to convince them. I'm aiming at high level universities (like Imperial and Cambridge) and am set on doing Engineering at uni so I definitely need to take further maths. However, self-studying is obviously pretty hard and as much as I'd try my best I think I'd be better off attending a dedicated further maths course. I've looked online and whilst there are courses I'm looking for weekly zoom call tutoring lessons included in the course but cant seem to find any! Does anyone have any experience with this? I really need an A* so am looking for high quality, dependable organisations.

I think actually watching bicen maths on youtube would definitely be the best idea, i really dont see the need in buying tutoring. You can definitely self learn further maths with his videos.

Decide what modules you want to do and learn from his videos or from all the other sets of videos on youtube.

How can I self-learn A-Level Further Maths?

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