Further Maths advice?

Well, do you want Mathematics to consume the next 2 years of your existence?

Cause that's what it will do....

That isn't always a bad thing either....

I don't mind that at all. I'm just wondering how much of a big step it is from GCSEs. I know it's hard of course but as an A level, would you consider it difficult from personal experience?

I don't mind that at all. I'm just wondering how much of a big step it is from GCSEs. I know it's hard if of course but as an A level, would you consider difficult?

From GCSE to A level, GCSE seems like the very basics of maths, it almost feels like what you learned at KS4 should have been taught long before.

But it's not difficult, the first topic, C1 is pretty simple, introduces new concepts like differentiation and integration while expanding on GCSE stuff.

C2 has some more topics expanding on from GCSE, transformations, trig while adding logarithms and more diff/integ

then the applied modules are more fun as they are specialised and not too difficult if you get the hang of it

Then there's Further.

It's tough sometimes, then other parts are straightforward, algebraic skills are vital in both subjects, you also have to take all applied modules at AS (so you would Further pure 1 + 2 applied for your further maths AS).


That means you'll take 6 Maths exams. (unless it changes on the new linear A level system).

A2 is where it gets difficult, even just looking at it for me, i'm scared. but you''l improve as a mathematician and learn rules and certain concepts as second knowledge quickly.

You really should be able to get an A* if you want to do it in further maths, you'll probably get through your AS with an A but A2 will be rather a step.

Thank you for your answer. I've already looked at things such as Matrix and I'm thinking that's the easier stuff since it's not very hard to understand.
Wow 6 exams! That is a lot. Congrats for getting through AS though

Would you recommend any other subjects to help alongside business Btec level 3? That show good maths skills and knowledge?

Well the typical Physics or chemistry would be nice but they ain't no easy A-levels.
Economics would probably relate better to your future plans.

Ayy i'm almost through, getting better at it everyday.

A little advice though. You'll have huge well deserved summer after your GCSEs which you should be having fun but reading ahead could help you a lot for year 12. And if you feel like you can't do it yet, do not worry at all.

I heard taking business with Economics isnt a favoured option for Unis

OP: google some Unis you're interested in and find the course you want to do, they'll tell you what subjects they want.

Yes, I've heard the same thing. I want to get into Bath University however they are looking for applicants with good mathematical skills.

Hello there

So basically I have a past of being terrible at maths as last year I got an f and e in foundation paper.

This year I will be retaking on Higher paper, I have gotten Bs on my mocks and am currently aiming for an A. Unlike before, I'm really starting to enjoy maths so I'm considering taking on further maths for AS. I know I've only just got good in maths and further maths is going to be hard work but I want to get a degree in Business management at the University of Bath so what do you reckon? Any advice? EDIT: I will be doing this aside a Business extended diploma btw

I'm doing both maths and further maths (edexcel) and am currently in my AS year.

AS Maths is all right I guess. C1 is the A*-B topics from GCSE with a few expansions into Sequences and Series, Differentiation and Integration. It's nothing difficult, if you're good at GCSE maths and are achieving A's and A*'s consistently, you will find C1 very easy (or at least I do).

C2 is more difficult than C1 but isn't too demanding, there are expansions into more new topics such as Algebraic division, remainder and factor theorem, more differentiation and integration, binomial expansion, more sequences and series and lots of trig (nothing too difficult, a little more from GCSE and intro to trig functions and graphs). To be honest if you are good at maths in general and enjoy it you won't find C2 too be much of a challenge either. Just make sure you do C2 questions frequently, make sure that you also don't fall behind and you should be ok.

S1 is the most boring thing I have ever seen, it's all right as well, a bit of an expansion from GCSE but not too much of a step-up, BUT IT's SO BORING AND TEDIOUS, every time i am in an S1 lessons i want to smash my head through a wall. But in terms of difficulty isn't too demanding either.

Now for further maths(the FP1 module), if you are good at maths in general you will also be good at further maths. Before you start it, it does look quite scary at first but isn't really all the hype (for me at least), however you do need to be good with your algebra. It is more difficult than C1 and maybe is on par with C2 in terms of difficulty. You will use a few C1 and C2 methods in FP1 topics, such as coordinate geometry, differentiation, remainder and factor theorem and sequences and series. As a result doing FP1 should strengthen your normal maths in those topics. In terms of how hard you must work, just make sure you don't fall behind and frequently do a few extra questions (same as C2).

For the M1 (mechanics)module in AS further maths, for me is the biggie. The ways of doing maths in M1 is very different to all other non-mechanics modules. If watch a few exam solutions M1 videos you should see what I mean. I took me about 2 months to get my head around it (didn't help that I had a s*** teacher). Once you understand it, again just do a few extra questions per week.

D1, decision maths, isn't even maths tbh. It's all using algorithms, using different methods to solve different problems. To understand what I mean, try to look at a D1 textbook. It is very very different to conventional maths, but I think is the easiest out of any maths modules. I find that there is no thinking in it at all, and that when working at it, it's all feels quite automatic.

On the whole nothing too much to fear, just make sure that you achieve A's soon A*'s consistently at GCSE, then once you reach AS-Level just make sure you work, do some questions and read ahead a bit and you should be ok. I haven't gone into A2, but from what I have seen form myself it looks like a different planet compared to AS.

If you're doing an extended diploma that will take up a considerable amount of your time and you probably don't need to take further maths to A level, why not just do the extended diploma which is worth 3 A levels and an extra A level in Maths or another numerate subject like: Physics, Economics, Accounting or Computing, but for Management even that's not completely necessary to take anything extra because Bath require:
D*DD (Extended diploma) + B in GCSE Maths

Although it would probably help you, however Maths at A level is apparently one of the hardest A levels and you would be doing it along side an Extended diploma which, as I said will probably take up most of your time, you could to look into doing a different maths A level like:
'Use of Maths' (which is similar content to A level Maths just less of it)
or
'Statistics' (which will be what you really need for Management and potentially a better choice than straight maths where a lot of the stuff you learn you won't need again)
If your school/college offers those subjects of course.

Hope this helps

Thank you so much for this! I really appreciate the way you went in detail to explain your AS year.
Haha yes, I've heard A2 is a lot more harder than AS maths. Good luck though, you seem really cool and bright