Should Maths A-level be COMPULSORY

Original post by tiny hobbit

Why are we discussing an article from the Guardian from July 2012?

A more useful discussion would focus on the proposals for a Core Maths qualification:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/launch-of-new-high-quality-post-16-maths-qualifications

Bumping this up, as noone seems to have read it.

Original post by felamaslen

Perhaps, but I'm biased.

That much is obvious, but the reality is that there are vanishingly few people who are going to make use of A-level maths material throughout their careers. There is a strong case to be made that poor basic maths skills holds people back in their careers and damages the economy, but I'm not sure that lack of advanced maths skills has the same effect.

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XI Ki11JoY IX

1

Original post by felamaslen

Well exactly - a lot of the stuff in the first year of A level should be taught to all GCSE maths students.

But then you have to include everything, and I don't think people who are "Okay" at maths are going to want to do most of the stuff, would you want to do arithmetic and geometric series if you wanted to be a doctor?

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Original post by XI Ki11JoY IX

But then you have to include everything, and I don't think people who are "Okay" at maths are going to want to do most of the stuff, would you want to do arithmetic and geometric series if you wanted to be a doctor?

Yes.

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Original post by Smack

That much is obvious, but the reality is that there are vanishingly few people who are going to make use of A-level maths material throughout their careers. There is a strong case to be made that poor basic maths skills holds people back in their careers and damages the economy, but I'm not sure that lack of advanced maths skills has the same effect.

I would call a lot of the stuff in the first year of A level "basic". By the way, remember that I'm not advocating making the A level compulsory - only transferring some of the more basic A level content to GCSE level.

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Original post by sophie kwon chu

I remember doing simultaneous equations in year 8. Tbh I can't even remember what I did during the years 5-10 awks, but probably just the basics of the GCSE topics.

Yeah I think it was, nevertheless I think if I was personally pushed (and some of my friends) we could have got the A* in maths gcse at the end of year 9 / mid year 10, perhaps those years are confidence boosting years?

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Reply 133

Noble.

17

Just because the content of A-Level Maths is largely irrelevant to the vast majority of jobs/careers, it doesn't mean it's not useful to most people. The vast majority of maths graduates make no use of their degree when they start work, and weren't employed because of what they specifically learnt on their degree - but rather because someone good at maths tends to do very well in a lot of jobs. That said, A-Level Maths shouldn't be compulsory, instead education in this country needs to catch up and a significant portion of A-Level Maths should be taught at GCSE level.

Reply 134

Original post by Dalek1099

What type of simultaneous equations did you do in Year 7 they can vary a lot in difficulty from B-A* at GCSE and even in A Level(Cambridge love introducing solid ones into their entrance exams for Maths).In my school in Year 7 you solved basic algebra balancing things on either side of an equation eg. 6x+7=2x-4 etc. before Secondary I don't think I had really done any algebra other than boxes representing missing values.

They were the type say :

2X + Y = 8
X+3Y = 9 ones. I'd say probably B grade type questions in the gcse I took. I started my algebra back in year 5 with basic algebra and in year 6 I think did the balancing ones? I don't know for sure it was such a long time back :} I think it's serious how there is a two year gap at this stage in education, I went to a private school and I know several state schools which don't do algebra until year 8... It's far too late in my opinion. People moan about people from state schools only counting for around 50% of the intake of undergrads at Oxbridge despite the pupils making up 92%, but with gaps like these in education it makes it difficult for state school pupils to compete for places seeing as Oxbridge (maths in particular!) want the best and can cope.. Yes there are some people who get in but it makes it less likely.

On a side note I'd say Maths is a great way of reducing social inequality. It's greatly accessible (especially with the current resources on the web) and I've seen many articles claim people with further maths as an a level have a good chance of getting paid a bit more in a profession than people who don't. For this reason I find it an absolute outrage how some schools don't offer Further Maths as an A level.

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Reply 135

Original post by felamaslen

I would call a lot of the stuff in the first year of A level "basic". By the way, remember that I'm not advocating making the A level compulsory - only transferring some of the more basic A level content to GCSE level.

Perhaps more applied content from say, M1,S1 & D1 along with C1 and some C2 content?

I think there should be an option to take different modules in year 11 based on what the student wants. For instance there could be modules based around Business, Stats, Mechanics, Computing ? I think by allowing students to choose what they want to do maths wise maths can become useful for them. This obviously would have to be with some strong core content (including integration, sequences).

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Reply 136

Original post by MrJAKEE

Perhaps more applied content from say, M1,S1 & D1 along with C1 and some C2 content?

I think there should be an option to take different modules in year 11 based on what the student wants. For instance there could be modules based around Business, Stats, Mechanics, Computing ? I think by allowing students to choose what they want to do maths wise maths can become useful for them. This obviously would have to be with some strong core content (including integration, sequences).

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Sounds about right!

Maybe leave the non-core modules as optionals. A lot of people seem to despise mechanics (though I love it!).

Reply 137

Original post by felamaslen

Sounds about right!

Maybe leave the non-core modules as optionals. A lot of people seem to despise mechanics (though I love it!).

The A level would probably have to be revamped again to provide adequate content for sixth formers tbh.

I have to say I am one of them haha I'm starting m2 next term though haha so should be interesting :} it's weird tbh I'm usually quick at learning the core stuff but with mechanics it takes me ages..

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(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 138