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D1 or M1? Edexcel
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lexieeee
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#1
I know this question has been asked many times before, but I couldnt find any that were fully related to my position.
I am an AS maths student and my school has given us the option to choose between D1 and M1. I sat C1, C2 and S1 this year, with C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers) but C2 and S1 were a lot better.
I studied GCSE Physics (OCR Gateway, supposedly the hardest exam board) and managed to get an A*, but I didn't enjoy it at all, perhaps because I had to self teach most of it and never fully understood.
I've heard that Edexcel D1 is easy, but very easy to make silly mistakes on (which I am prone to) and most students only score average marks because of this. M1 is supposed to be a lot harder, particularly as I didnt do AS Physics, and students either score very high or very low marks.
I've also heard that studying M1 will help with the trig chapters in C3 and C4. But am I right in thinking that studying D1 will leave more time to perfect C3 and 4?
What can anyone tell me about time pressure in both exams?
I want to study economics at uni so neither will be particularly beneficial. Can universities see which modules you pick? In which case, is M1 more highly regarded?
The thing that throws me off about M1 is the fact that I may reach a question and have no idea what to do. Whereas in D1, all the questions are similar, but there is some time pressure and you can easily muck up whole questions due to the lack of method marks. However I am quite a logical person, and keep everything neat and tidy, so I have been told that D1 would be easier for me.
Which one should I pick? Any help is much appreciated.
I am an AS maths student and my school has given us the option to choose between D1 and M1. I sat C1, C2 and S1 this year, with C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers) but C2 and S1 were a lot better.
I studied GCSE Physics (OCR Gateway, supposedly the hardest exam board) and managed to get an A*, but I didn't enjoy it at all, perhaps because I had to self teach most of it and never fully understood.
I've heard that Edexcel D1 is easy, but very easy to make silly mistakes on (which I am prone to) and most students only score average marks because of this. M1 is supposed to be a lot harder, particularly as I didnt do AS Physics, and students either score very high or very low marks.
I've also heard that studying M1 will help with the trig chapters in C3 and C4. But am I right in thinking that studying D1 will leave more time to perfect C3 and 4?
What can anyone tell me about time pressure in both exams?
I want to study economics at uni so neither will be particularly beneficial. Can universities see which modules you pick? In which case, is M1 more highly regarded?
The thing that throws me off about M1 is the fact that I may reach a question and have no idea what to do. Whereas in D1, all the questions are similar, but there is some time pressure and you can easily muck up whole questions due to the lack of method marks. However I am quite a logical person, and keep everything neat and tidy, so I have been told that D1 would be easier for me.
Which one should I pick? Any help is much appreciated.
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HopelessMedic
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#2
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#2
It sounds like D1 would be better suited for you. However if you are a hard worker then I would recommend M1 because although it an be hard if you practise it a lot you can achieve very high ums due to the relatively low grade boundaries and the exams aren't very different from each other.
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34908seikj
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#3
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#3
"C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers)"
Edexcel C1 is out of 75...
Edexcel C1 is out of 75...
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lexieeee
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#4
(Original post by 34908seikj)
"C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers)"
Edexcel C1 is out of 75...
"C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers)"
Edexcel C1 is out of 75...
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Whyhuyrah
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#5
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#5
M1 is 1000× easier, okay. It's literally force triangles and areas of shapes if you get a time graph. Oh and 5 suvats. I took both on further maths, and D1 was way harder, it's full of 1 and 2 markers in the exam. Just do M1, you won't regret it, life will be better if you choose M1. Trust me. M1 is easier than C2.
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JLegion
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#6
I studied both of these alongside each other, and don't do Physics either.
I really enjoyed M1 a lot more than D1, generally because it was more interesting and I actually like Physics-y maths. D1 was rather boring, repetitive, and I struggled to finish the exam paper in the required time. It is pretty easy if you have a half decent memory, however.
For the vast majority of people D1 is an easier choice, but M1 isn't nearly as bad as everyone suggests. I found M1 easier, but that may be due to studying M2 alongside it.
No-one but yourself can accurately predict the best choice for you. Do you have access to both textbooks to see which you'd rather study?
I really enjoyed M1 a lot more than D1, generally because it was more interesting and I actually like Physics-y maths. D1 was rather boring, repetitive, and I struggled to finish the exam paper in the required time. It is pretty easy if you have a half decent memory, however.
For the vast majority of people D1 is an easier choice, but M1 isn't nearly as bad as everyone suggests. I found M1 easier, but that may be due to studying M2 alongside it.
No-one but yourself can accurately predict the best choice for you. Do you have access to both textbooks to see which you'd rather study?
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fefssdf
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#7
lexieeee
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#8
(Original post by JLegion)
I studied both of these alongside each other, and don't do Physics either.
I really enjoyed M1 a lot more than D1, generally because it was more interesting and I actually like Physics-y maths. D1 was rather boring, repetitive, and I struggled to finish the exam paper in the required time. It is pretty easy if you have a half decent memory, however.
For the vast majority of people D1 is an easier choice, but M1 isn't nearly as bad as everyone suggests. I found M1 easier, but that may be due to studying M2 alongside it.
No-one but yourself can accurately predict the best choice for you. Do you have access to both textbooks to see which you'd rather study?
I studied both of these alongside each other, and don't do Physics either.
I really enjoyed M1 a lot more than D1, generally because it was more interesting and I actually like Physics-y maths. D1 was rather boring, repetitive, and I struggled to finish the exam paper in the required time. It is pretty easy if you have a half decent memory, however.
For the vast majority of people D1 is an easier choice, but M1 isn't nearly as bad as everyone suggests. I found M1 easier, but that may be due to studying M2 alongside it.
No-one but yourself can accurately predict the best choice for you. Do you have access to both textbooks to see which you'd rather study?
What's the time pressure like in M1?
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samb1234
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#9
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#9
(Original post by lexieeee)
Thank you for your help. I have looked at both textbooks, and D1 looks, well, I don't even know how to describe it other than "long". I'm not sure I would have the patience for all the drawings that you see in the book. M1 however looks more interesting, but it does bring back bad memories from GCSE Physics haha
What's the time pressure like in M1?
Thank you for your help. I have looked at both textbooks, and D1 looks, well, I don't even know how to describe it other than "long". I'm not sure I would have the patience for all the drawings that you see in the book. M1 however looks more interesting, but it does bring back bad memories from GCSE Physics haha
What's the time pressure like in M1?
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JLegion
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#10
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#10
(Original post by lexieeee)
Thank you for your help. I have looked at both textbooks, and D1 looks, well, I don't even know how to describe it other than "long". I'm not sure I would have the patience for all the drawings that you see in the book. M1 however looks more interesting, but it does bring back bad memories from GCSE Physics haha
What's the time pressure like in M1?
Thank you for your help. I have looked at both textbooks, and D1 looks, well, I don't even know how to describe it other than "long". I'm not sure I would have the patience for all the drawings that you see in the book. M1 however looks more interesting, but it does bring back bad memories from GCSE Physics haha
What's the time pressure like in M1?
For me, I finished M1 in about an hour. I'd consider myself a slow worker; though M2 helped significantly. With M1 there are only so many variations of questions they will ask you, and if you've done a lot of papers you'll recognise the majority of them.
If you aren't a natural physicist though, you may struggle to get the ball rolling. If you do pick M1, I'd recommend you start studying at the start of the year to ensure you get enough practice and grasp the concepts; it can be a very time-consuming module for some.
I'm sorry I can't be more decisive for you.
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lexieeee
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#11
(Original post by JLegion)
D1 is long, sure, but the content is quick to get through as most of it is just repetition; it's also a nightmare to revise with all the drawing you have to do - in the exam though, they give you almost everything you have to draw.
For me, I finished M1 in about an hour. I'd consider myself a slow worker; though M2 helped significantly. With M1 there are only so many variations of questions they will ask you, and if you've done a lot of papers you'll recognise the majority of them.
If you aren't a natural physicist though, you may struggle to get the ball rolling. If you do pick M1, I'd recommend you start studying at the start of the year to ensure you get enough practice and grasp the concepts; it can be a very time-consuming module for some.
I'm sorry I can't be more decisive for you.
D1 is long, sure, but the content is quick to get through as most of it is just repetition; it's also a nightmare to revise with all the drawing you have to do - in the exam though, they give you almost everything you have to draw.
For me, I finished M1 in about an hour. I'd consider myself a slow worker; though M2 helped significantly. With M1 there are only so many variations of questions they will ask you, and if you've done a lot of papers you'll recognise the majority of them.
If you aren't a natural physicist though, you may struggle to get the ball rolling. If you do pick M1, I'd recommend you start studying at the start of the year to ensure you get enough practice and grasp the concepts; it can be a very time-consuming module for some.
I'm sorry I can't be more decisive for you.
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lexieeee
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#12
kprime2
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#13
JLegion
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#14
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#14
(Original post by lexieeee)
So for M1 if I do all the past papers, similar questions are likely to come up. Is this the same for the D1 exam? Are questions vaguely similar each year?
So for M1 if I do all the past papers, similar questions are likely to come up. Is this the same for the D1 exam? Are questions vaguely similar each year?
For example, Kruskal's and Prim's algorithm (two 'methods' to learn) are part of the syllabus, but (90% of the time) only one will come up. Scheduling diagrams and Gantt charts are part of the syllabus, but either only one or neither will come up. So I'd say the questions are probably less predictable than those in M1, as there's more it could cover.
For its predictability however, as previously said, M1 can be considered more difficult.
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username1408342
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#15
Definitely D1. You can teach yourself D1 in two days, give yourself the extra revision time for C3/4. If your mind doesn't click with M1, you'll end up getting low marks as Edexcel have a lot more scope to be abstract with M1 than D1.
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fefssdf
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#16
(Original post by lexieeee)
Why?
Why?
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Whyhuyrah
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#17
(Original post by ChrisP97)
Definitely D1. You can teach yourself D1 in two days, give yourself the extra revision time for C3/4. If your mind doesn't click with M1, you'll end up getting low marks as Edexcel have a lot more scope to be abstract with M1 than D1.
Definitely D1. You can teach yourself D1 in two days, give yourself the extra revision time for C3/4. If your mind doesn't click with M1, you'll end up getting low marks as Edexcel have a lot more scope to be abstract with M1 than D1.
How is M1 hard? All you do is make a triangle out of the forces if you get stuck, and you get it right, really not hard at all. Almost everyone in my regular maths class that didn't do M1 in Further Maths AS regretted choosing D1 over M1.
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Voltaire98
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#18
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#18
(Original post by lexieeee)
I know this question has been asked many times before, but I couldnt find any that were fully related to my position.
I am an AS maths student and my school has given us the option to choose between D1 and M1. I sat C1, C2 and S1 this year, with C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers) but C2 and S1 were a lot better.
I studied GCSE Physics (OCR Gateway, supposedly the hardest exam board) and managed to get an A*, but I didn't enjoy it at all, perhaps because I had to self teach most of it and never fully understood.
I've heard that Edexcel D1 is easy, but very easy to make silly mistakes on (which I am prone to) and most students only score average marks because of this. M1 is supposed to be a lot harder, particularly as I didnt do AS Physics, and students either score very high or very low marks.
I've also heard that studying M1 will help with the trig chapters in C3 and C4. But am I right in thinking that studying D1 will leave more time to perfect C3 and 4?
What can anyone tell me about time pressure in both exams?
I want to study economics at uni so neither will be particularly beneficial. Can universities see which modules you pick? In which case, is M1 more highly regarded?
The thing that throws me off about M1 is the fact that I may reach a question and have no idea what to do. Whereas in D1, all the questions are similar, but there is some time pressure and you can easily muck up whole questions due to the lack of method marks. However I am quite a logical person, and keep everything neat and tidy, so I have been told that D1 would be easier for me.
Which one should I pick? Any help is much appreciated.
I know this question has been asked many times before, but I couldnt find any that were fully related to my position.
I am an AS maths student and my school has given us the option to choose between D1 and M1. I sat C1, C2 and S1 this year, with C1 not going so well (even though I'd been scoring 90+ on all past papers) but C2 and S1 were a lot better.
I studied GCSE Physics (OCR Gateway, supposedly the hardest exam board) and managed to get an A*, but I didn't enjoy it at all, perhaps because I had to self teach most of it and never fully understood.
I've heard that Edexcel D1 is easy, but very easy to make silly mistakes on (which I am prone to) and most students only score average marks because of this. M1 is supposed to be a lot harder, particularly as I didnt do AS Physics, and students either score very high or very low marks.
I've also heard that studying M1 will help with the trig chapters in C3 and C4. But am I right in thinking that studying D1 will leave more time to perfect C3 and 4?
What can anyone tell me about time pressure in both exams?
I want to study economics at uni so neither will be particularly beneficial. Can universities see which modules you pick? In which case, is M1 more highly regarded?
The thing that throws me off about M1 is the fact that I may reach a question and have no idea what to do. Whereas in D1, all the questions are similar, but there is some time pressure and you can easily muck up whole questions due to the lack of method marks. However I am quite a logical person, and keep everything neat and tidy, so I have been told that D1 would be easier for me.
Which one should I pick? Any help is much appreciated.
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Gogregg
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#19
(Original post by samb1234)
in any D1 exam the most difficult question you will face will almost certainly be 'what am i doing with my life' - the questions are just so mind numbingly dull. It's easy yes, but some of the stuff can take a long time to do and if you make any sort of mistakes you get absolutely crucified by the mark schemes. M1 if you are good at mechanics tends to be much less time pressured, as more of the questions involve thinking rather than mindlessly applying algorithms drawing annoying graphs etc etc.
in any D1 exam the most difficult question you will face will almost certainly be 'what am i doing with my life' - the questions are just so mind numbingly dull. It's easy yes, but some of the stuff can take a long time to do and if you make any sort of mistakes you get absolutely crucified by the mark schemes. M1 if you are good at mechanics tends to be much less time pressured, as more of the questions involve thinking rather than mindlessly applying algorithms drawing annoying graphs etc etc.
The questions were more interesting than those in S1 and the core modules, and if you know the algorithms, it really isn't all that difficult. It's just when they ask weird abstract worded-answer questions that it's annoying.That said, I did OCR, not Edexcel, so my experience won't properly relate
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TercioOfParma
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