A level maths

OP

Original post by Notnek

Not having an interest in maths could be a problem but maybe you'll develop an interest as the course goes on. Why do you want to take maths if you don't have any interest in it?

Just broadening my horizons seeing what options I could take.

Original post by Notnek

How were you with GCSE algebra? Most topics you study will contain some algebra and GCSE algbera will be assumed knowledge so you'll need to be confident with it. Bad algebra is one of the main reasons why students struggle with A Level maths,

I quite like algebra although not surds.

Reply 5

OP

Original post by have

With a 7, what I would say, is that means you only got, around 50% at GCSE. So there must've been topics which you didn't fully understand, so it would be a good time to start going over these topics, so you're completely secure with GCSE topics and have a solid foundation to start at A Level.

Yes I do understand grade boundaries were made quite low this year,
On the same topic are A level boundaries also made after the exams are done?

Reply 6

have

17

Original post by That1Nerd

Yes I do understand grade boundaries were made quite low this year,
On the same topic are A level boundaries also made after the exams are done?

of course, why wouldn't they be?

Reply 7

OP

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by have

of course, why wouldn't they be?

Thanks

Reply 8

artful_lounger

21

I got a B in the old (probably old-old; it was in 2008, and I understand the syllabus has been expanded and exams made harder since then :tongue:

) GCSE Maths, and had no trouble with the A-level topics, nor with the maths I continued with on an engineering degree...

However maths in general (at least this kind of maths; the following doesn't necessarily apply to degree level abstract mathematics) requires continued practice, so while it's not "hard" per se, you need to spend time every week on the subject - ideally if possible even just doing one or two problems a day. This will make sure you continually reinforce your skills. It's not a subject you can really "cram" for (arguably no subjects are, if you want to get the best results, but I feel for maths especially this is true).

Provided you're prepared to spend an appropriate amount of time on the subject, a 7 should be more than sufficient...

Reply 9

username3242698

12

I did A Level Maths AND Further Maths after achieving an A* in GCSE Maths in 2015. Here it from me, you'll be fine doing Maths as they start you off quite slow. Think about it, some people in the class would've got a B, some an A and others an A*, so they start off slow and quite basic to get everyone on the same page. If you barely got a B, then we'd be having a different discussion, but an A is fine. I ended up getting an A* in A Level maths, getting 481 UMS, but you need 480 UMS to get an A* (i.e. I BARELY got it, one or two less marks in any paper, I wouldnt have got it). But you know what? An A* is an A* regardless of the absolute marks. JUST DONT DO FURTHER MATHS WHATEVER YOU DO!!!!!!!

Good luck :smile:

Reply 10

OP

Original post by Elliott M

. JUST DONT DO FURTHER MATHS WHATEVER YOU DO!!!!!!!

Good luck :smile:

Wasn’t planning to, EVER!!!

Reply 11

Original post by Elliott M

I did A Level Maths AND Further Maths after achieving an A* in GCSE Maths in 2015. Here it from me, you'll be fine doing Maths as they start you off quite slow. Think about it, some people in the class would've got a B, some an A and others an A*, so they start off slow and quite basic to get everyone on the same page. If you barely got a B, then we'd be having a different discussion, but an A is fine. I ended up getting an A* in A Level maths, getting 481 UMS, but you need 480 UMS to get an A* (i.e. I BARELY got it, one or two less marks in any paper, I wouldnt have got it). But you know what? An A* is an A* regardless of the absolute marks. JUST DONT DO FURTHER MATHS WHATEVER YOU DO!!!!!!!

Good luck :smile:

You didn't do the A levels that exist now ...

Reply 12

Original post by That1Nerd

I got a 7 (A) in maths GCSE(although I think I just barely scraped by) how tough or challenging would A level be for someone who doesn’t naturally have interests in maths.

I already understand the huge benefits of A level maths I just want to know how difficult it is compared to GCSE, preferably the additional content taught and your personal experience with the subject

Thanks in advance.

What does your teacher think? Most are a pretty good judge of who will cope.

Reply 13

OP

Original post by Muttley79

What does your teacher think? Most are a pretty good judge of who will cope.

I did ask my teacher before and they said I would be ok judging by some work I did. It was about triangle formulas I think though I can’t remember exactly

Reply 14

Original post by That1Nerd

I did ask my teacher before and they said I would be ok judging by some work I did. It was about triangle formulas I think though I can’t remember exactly

OK - have you been set holiday work? If not, and you are serious about Maths, I'd do some algebra before you go back.

Reply 15

username3242698

12

Original post by Muttley79

You didn't do the A levels that exist now ...

No, but I did the syllabus immediately before the current one, and in fact some students are still sitting papers from the syllabus which I did, and I only did my exams in 2017 so it's still recently

Reply 16

Original post by Elliott M

No, but I did the syllabus immediately before the current one, and in fact some students are still sitting papers from the syllabus which I did, and I only did my exams in 2017 so it's still recently

Yes but you can't comment on the current spec and your friends must be doing resits as that is all that they can do in 2019!

Reply 17

username3242698

12

Original post by Muttley79

Yes but you can't comment on the current spec and your friends must be doing resits as that is all that they can do in 2019!

I'm simply contributing to this thread based on my RECENT experience with A Level maths, I appreciate that my contribution would be more useful if I was on the current spec but I already got my A*. I apologize, I was just trying to help. Surely it's better to TRY to help than not at all? Have a nice day :smile:

Reply 18

OP