A* at A level question thread

Scroll to see replies

Original post by Minerva McGonagall

This may have been asked before but how do you get an A* in WJEC chemistry?
I know you need 80% UMS for AS but I've heard 2 things for A2
Do you need 90% average in A2 modules (e.g. 89%, 90% and 91%)
or is it at least 90% in each individual module?

Thanks :smile:

You DON'T need 80% UMS for AS. You need at least 480/600 overall and at least 270/300 from the A2 units. It is as simple as that, it does not matter how your 270 is spread over the A2 units.

Reply 1161

Rory_M

Can I get an A* in further maths with these module results:

fp1 100
fp2 90
s1 98
s2 100
m2 80
m3 67

My teacher said that although I have to put M2 before M3, if you do 6 modules it's counted as that as opposed to being split into 3 as and 3 a2?

So can i have fp1, s1, m2, m3, fp2, s2 but get the 270 from m2, fp2, and s2?

Reply 1162

Rory_M

Can I get an A* in further maths with these module results: (edexcel)

fp1 100
fp2 90
s1 98
s2 100
m2 80
m3 67

My teacher said that although I have to put M2 before M3, if you do 6 modules it's counted as that as opposed to being split into 3 as and 3 a2?

So can i have fp1, s1, m2, m3, fp2, s2 but get the 270 from m2, fp2, and s2?

Reply 1163

Data

Original post by Rory_M

Yes, you can get an A*. To calculate the A*, you need to average the best 3 A2 units you have taken (i.e. the ones ending in n where n>1). 90% or over and you have an A*.

Reply 1164

tsveta

ok so in classics at AS i got 84 in one paper and then 100 in the other. what do i need this year at A2 to get an A*??

Reply 1165

117r

Original post by tsveta

ok so in classics at AS i got 84 in one paper and then 100 in the other. what do i need this year at A2 to get an A*??

You need to average over 90% in your modules.

Reply 1166

Data

Original post by tsveta

ok so in classics at AS i got 84 in one paper and then 100 in the other. what do i need this year at A2 to get an A*??

At least 180/200 in the A2 units. It doesn't matter how those marks are split across the 2 units.

Reply 1167

tsveta

Original post by Data

At least 180/200 in the A2 units. It doesn't matter how those marks are split across the 2 units.

right so does that mean i have to get two As in my two modules this summer to get an A*?

Reply 1168

Potally_Tissed

Original post by tsveta

right so does that mean i have to get two As in my two modules this summer to get an A*?

Yes, because you need to average 90/100. However you split that across two modules, the lowest you can get in one is 80/100 (and 100/100 in the other).

Reply 1169

patrickinator

How difficult is it then to get over 90% in C3 and C4 - that means dropping only 5 marks in the exam in each. how easy is it to do this?

Reply 1170

Data

Original post by tsveta

right so does that mean i have to get two As in my two modules this summer to get an A*?

Not necessarily (if the units are different sizes and you get full marks on the bigger one you could get away with a high B in the smaller one), but in practice, yes.

Reply 1171

Data

Original post by patrickinator

How difficult is it then to get over 90% in C3 and C4 - that means dropping only 5 marks in the exam in each. how easy is it to do this?

It is worse than you think. The competition is very fierce and in January the Edexcel raw grade boundaries that converted to 90UMS were about 72/75 for C3 and C4 (and all the A2 units people might use for FM.)

Reply 1172

tsveta

Original post by Data

Not necessarily (if the units are different sizes and you get full marks on the bigger one you could get away with a high B in the smaller one), but in practice, yes.

oh right. so even though i got 184/200 at AS, i still have to get 180/200 at A2 :eek:

Reply 1173

Data

Original post by tsveta

oh right. so even though i got 184/200 at AS, i still have to get 180/200 at A2 :eek:

Yes, for an A*, anything over 160/200 at AS is wasted effort as it doesn't stop you needing to get at least 180/200 in the A2 units.

Reply 1174

Brainiac

Is it possible to get an A* in further maths with the following ums

M2- 100/100
S2- 100/100
FP1-100/100
FP2- 55/100
FP3- 55/100
S3- 70/100

as this would be 480 ums out of 600, so an A, and 3 of the A2 units would give an average of 270/300, correct? or do the average of 90 ums have to be in fp2 or fp3- cause they are quite hard... or do you need 90+ in 3 A2 units and not an average of 90?

this is all theoretical, i dont intend to go in aiming for 55/100

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1175

Data

Original post by Brainiac

Is it possible to get an A* in further maths with the following ums

M2- 100/100
S2- 100/100
FP1-100/100
FP2- 55/100
FP3- 55/100
S3- 70/100

as this would be 480 ums out of 600, so an A, and 3 of the A2 units would give an average of 270/300, correct? or do the average of 90 ums have to be in fp2 or fp3- cause they are quite hard... this is all theoretical, i dont intend to go in aiming for 55/100

Yes.

Reply 1176

Reminisce

I currently have and am doing these maths modules which will make up my Maths A Level, Further Maths A Level and AS Additional Further Maths. My Maths A Level has been certificated but it is on my Statement of Entry for JUNE 2012 so I assume my school is re-certificating it to allow for modules to be transferred. Therefore, I have found this combination which I think satisfies the criteria for an A* in both Maths and Further Maths.

"-" means that the exam is this summer.

Maths:
C1: 100
C2: 96
C3: 100
C4: 100
M1: 97
D1: -

Sum: 493 and C3 and C4 are over 180UMS

Further Maths:
FP1: 100
DE: 93
S1: 100
M2: 98
S2: 96
FP2: -

Sum: 487 and S2, DE and M2 are over 270UMS

Additional Further Maths
M3: -
NM: -
FP3: -

I think that the system works to maximise the grade in maths then further maths then add further maths then maximise UMS. Does this combination abide by the rules of how the Maths A Level works and thus give me an A* in both already regardless of my final exams?