OCR (not MEI) Core 3 - 19/01/2011

Full solutions

You've made a mistake on question 8a(ii).
$\beta = 2\frac{1}{2}\pi - (\alpha - \frac{1}{2}\pi) = 2\frac{1}{2}\pi - \alpha + \frac{1}{2}\pi = 3\pi - \alpha \not= 2\pi - \alpha$.

Other than that, I agree with those solutions.

we'll kill core 4 (and re take C3)

Are they the same as Mr M's? I hope so as I think I only dropped 3 marks (fingers crossed)

Yes (apart from the mistake I pointed out above).

You got pooled for Cambridge??!! Do they know the kind of genius that you are?! You're like some kind of maths wizard!

Will you be hopefully joining us at Imperial if Cambridge doesn't work out?

Re-take looks like a possibility! Hopefully, having done core 4 by summer, that'll help with core 3! Just hoping it's not a HARDER paper in summer...

In the opinion of most people who know of the OCR A-Level maths exams (including my teachers), it is pretty much unanimous that C3 has been a harder paper than C4 for the last 5-6 papers. C4 in itself doesn't particularly help C3 at all really (apart from the integration practice you get in C4). It seems as though they are using C3 to filter most of the A* candidates.

I thought this C4 was harder than this C3, tbh. I must be weird

The C4 paper was harder than last summer's though, in my opinion.

Really? I found the last one (June) pretty difficult, this one I found some what a lot more straight forward. What would you say was more difficult, just in general

Also I agree with you, the C3 papers have been a lot more challenging than the C4 papers in the last 5-6 sittings.

Well I compared how long it took in comparison to last year's C4. It took me 35-40 minutes to finish C4 last year and that was enough time to get 100%. This paper took about 50 minutes to do and I even slipped up on one of the questions (numerical errors ). The possible reason for this difference in timing is that I took the former under exam conditions whereas I was in no rush to finish off the Jan 2011 paper. I thought the paper was ridiculously easy last year so, in my mind, it didn't take much thought to be convinced that this year's paper was more difficult (as there wasn't too much to beat, in terms of difficulty). Just my opinion though, others may disagree.

Same here. So I'm going to have extra tuition outside of school. And yeah I know it's expensive but if it means you can get into the university and course of your choice then I think you should think about it. Even just half an hour a week will help. I am applying for medicine next September and so I need an A, but am only predicted an A/B, and that is what I will get without extra help.

You've made a mistake on question 8a(ii).
$\beta = 2\frac{1}{2}\pi - (\alpha - \frac{1}{2}\pi) = 2\frac{1}{2}\pi - \alpha + \frac{1}{2}\pi = 3\pi - \alpha \not= 2\pi - \alpha$.

Other than that, I agree with those solutions.

...

Just read you were pooled. I'm really surprised. I thought you would certainly get an offer. You are a lot more able than some students I have taught who were successful. Did the interview not go particularly well?

No longer pooled, I've just been rejected. My interview went as well as it possibly could have gone, in my opinion. Answered everything they asked me in a reasonably good time scale with one or two prods throughout. In my second interview, there was a question in which we were only expected to do roughly one half of in the given time of half an hour but I completed it fully and so we were left discussing things other than the question such as my EPQ, for example.

I'm honoured that you think I'm that able although I've always felt as though I'm a bit overrated and, to be honest, this seems to have proven it. I guess I'm considering reapplication as it's where I wanted to be. That decision will wait until results day.

I think what's done it for me is my very poor mechanics mark.

I'm trying to figure out how to get feedback. Do you know who I would need to contact for this?

I think what's done it for me is my very poor mechanics mark.

Yes you can get feedback through your school. Your Head of Sixth Form would normally request it.

Did your school fully back your application? I'm wondering if your reference was lukewarm. Do they rate you highly?