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Can you get an A in A-Level Maths just by working hard? Watch
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Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
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#2
(Original post by Imfukd)
Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
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#3
(Original post by Glassapple)
"Can you get on a train by going to a station?" is what you're asking, with the answer obviously being yes. A lot of people in my A-level further maths class struggled but put the work in and got As and A*s. It gets very intense very quickly but as long as you put the work in you'll be fine, just don't get complacent. There's nothing from stopping you getting any grade you want.
"Can you get on a train by going to a station?" is what you're asking, with the answer obviously being yes. A lot of people in my A-level further maths class struggled but put the work in and got As and A*s. It gets very intense very quickly but as long as you put the work in you'll be fine, just don't get complacent. There's nothing from stopping you getting any grade you want.
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#4
(Original post by Black Water)
Are you taking Further Maths?
Are you taking Further Maths?
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(Original post by Glassapple)
"Can you get on a train by going to a station?" is what you're asking, with the answer obviously being yes. A lot of people in my A-level further maths class struggled but put the work in and got As and A*s. It gets very intense very quickly but as long as you put the work in you'll be fine, just don't get complacent. There's nothing from stopping you getting any grade you want.
"Can you get on a train by going to a station?" is what you're asking, with the answer obviously being yes. A lot of people in my A-level further maths class struggled but put the work in and got As and A*s. It gets very intense very quickly but as long as you put the work in you'll be fine, just don't get complacent. There's nothing from stopping you getting any grade you want.
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#7
Hello!
I am a bit biased as I've always enjoyed maths a lot. I got and A* in GCSE and have had no trouble with the AS. It is actually the AS I've enjoyed the most as you only need to practice a lot. I think that if you got an A at GCSE you should go for it, as it means that you are pretty good at it, and it may be that you regret not taking it in the future as universities really take it into account.
I hope this has helped.
I am a bit biased as I've always enjoyed maths a lot. I got and A* in GCSE and have had no trouble with the AS. It is actually the AS I've enjoyed the most as you only need to practice a lot. I think that if you got an A at GCSE you should go for it, as it means that you are pretty good at it, and it may be that you regret not taking it in the future as universities really take it into account.
I hope this has helped.
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#8
(Original post by Glassapple)
I took it this year and got an A*.
I took it this year and got an A*.
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#9
(Original post by Black Water)
Wow well done! Mind me asking which other subjects you took?
Wow well done! Mind me asking which other subjects you took?
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#10
(Original post by Glassapple)
Thank you. I got 5 A*s in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and English literature.
Thank you. I got 5 A*s in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and English literature.
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#11
Weird title wording. “just by working hard”
Truely effective hard work can get you the grades you want sure!
Don’t worry about others. I know a student who got a B at GCSE (6) and got an A at A-Level. I know another who got A*A*A^ in Maths, Statistics and FM GCSE, who just got a C overall at A-Level.
It just goes to show that things vary.
Truely effective hard work can get you the grades you want sure!
Don’t worry about others. I know a student who got a B at GCSE (6) and got an A at A-Level. I know another who got A*A*A^ in Maths, Statistics and FM GCSE, who just got a C overall at A-Level.
It just goes to show that things vary.
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So are these teachers wrong when they tell me 'hard work is not enough for a-level maths'? That's literally what they say. Or are they just trying to put me off because it's a popular subject?
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#13
(Original post by Imfukd)
Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
Working hard is no guarantee of an A but if you don't work hard then you certainly won't get a top grade. Make sure you do all the examples in the book, not just the ones your teacher sets, and make sure you ask for help as soon as you get stuck on a topic. DO NOT give up on a question after a minute and look up the answer, you can't do that in the exam, learn to have a few goes at a question then leave it for an hour before trying again - only then look up a solution.
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#14
(Original post by Imfukd)
Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
Scraped a 7 in maths & want to take it for A-Level but I keep seeing horror stories everywhere about these A* students who got Es in A-Level maths and it's putting me off doing it.
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#15
Having done the new spec, I think an A* is possible for you. But it's more than simply working hard. It's very easy to work hard and just end up doing nothing productive. For Maths, the bottom line is, do you understand all of the content. If the answer is yes, than an A* is very achievable, especially with the nice GBs
Of course that's easier said than done. The issue is firstly, that people think they understand something, but they don't really. It's common for some people to spend hours and hours creating posters and flash cards to help them memorise how you do various things in maths, but never really understand the why, or the topic in general. And in the new spec, they like putting questions in unfamilar contexts, so if you don't understand the why, you're basically done outere.
In order to understand, as opoosed to memorise, you need to have a really solid foundation. While a 7 at GCSE is good, it shows some weaknesses, and it'd be in your interests to make sure your GCSE knowledge is in the best possible shape before even starting work on A Level content.
In your head, whenever you learn a new topic, don't just accept what your teacher says at face value. You have to convince yourself that it's true. Prove it for yourself. The goal is to have the topic sit comfortably in your head, so it basically seems common sense to you. You won't have to work as hard memorising, because the method becomes second nature. This happens through a combination of both understanding the theory, and practice. Loads of practice. Try and practice as many harder questions as you can.
The key to doing well at A Level maths is never letting your understanding slip, because once you don't understand one topic, it can quickly snowball because of how topics follow on from eachother.
Good Luck.
Finished the new spec A Level Maths, got 289/300 raw.
Of course that's easier said than done. The issue is firstly, that people think they understand something, but they don't really. It's common for some people to spend hours and hours creating posters and flash cards to help them memorise how you do various things in maths, but never really understand the why, or the topic in general. And in the new spec, they like putting questions in unfamilar contexts, so if you don't understand the why, you're basically done outere.
In order to understand, as opoosed to memorise, you need to have a really solid foundation. While a 7 at GCSE is good, it shows some weaknesses, and it'd be in your interests to make sure your GCSE knowledge is in the best possible shape before even starting work on A Level content.
In your head, whenever you learn a new topic, don't just accept what your teacher says at face value. You have to convince yourself that it's true. Prove it for yourself. The goal is to have the topic sit comfortably in your head, so it basically seems common sense to you. You won't have to work as hard memorising, because the method becomes second nature. This happens through a combination of both understanding the theory, and practice. Loads of practice. Try and practice as many harder questions as you can.
The key to doing well at A Level maths is never letting your understanding slip, because once you don't understand one topic, it can quickly snowball because of how topics follow on from eachother.
Good Luck.
(Original post by Muttley79)
No-one on this thread has completed the new A level math/F Maths.
No-one on this thread has completed the new A level math/F Maths.
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#16
(Original post by have)
Finished the new spec A Level Maths, got 289/300 raw.
Finished the new spec A Level Maths, got 289/300 raw.
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#17
(Original post by Black Water)
have and thekidwhogames have done the new spec and achieved an A*. They should be able to give you a better insight.
have and thekidwhogames have done the new spec and achieved an A*. They should be able to give you a better insight.
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#18
(Original post by Imfukd)
So are these teachers wrong when they tell me 'hard work is not enough for a-level maths'? That's literally what they say. Or are they just trying to put me off because it's a popular subject?
So are these teachers wrong when they tell me 'hard work is not enough for a-level maths'? That's literally what they say. Or are they just trying to put me off because it's a popular subject?
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#19
(Original post by have)
Having done the new spec, I think an A* is possible for you. But it's more than simply working hard. It's very easy to work hard and just end up doing nothing productive. For Maths, the bottom line is, do you understand all of the content. If the answer is yes, than an A* is very achievable, especially with the nice GBs
Of course that's easier said than done. The issue is firstly, that people think they understand something, but they don't really. It's common for some people to spend hours and hours creating posters and flash cards to help them memorise how you do various things in maths, but never really understand the why, or the topic in general. And in the new spec, they like putting questions in unfamilar contexts, so if you don't understand the why, you're basically done outere.
In order to understand, as opoosed to memorise, you need to have a really solid foundation. While a 7 at GCSE is good, it shows some weaknesses, and it'd be in your interests to make sure your GCSE knowledge is in the best possible shape before even starting work on A Level content.
In your head, whenever you learn a new topic, don't just accept what your teacher says at face value. You have to convince yourself that it's true. Prove it for yourself. The goal is to have the topic sit comfortably in your head, so it basically seems common sense to you. You won't have to work as hard memorising, because the method becomes second nature. This happens through a combination of both understanding the theory, and practice. Loads of practice. Try and practice as many harder questions as you can.
The key to doing well at A Level maths is never letting your understanding slip, because once you don't understand one topic, it can quickly snowball because of how topics follow on from eachother.
Good Luck.
Finished the new spec A Level Maths, got 289/300 raw.
Having done the new spec, I think an A* is possible for you. But it's more than simply working hard. It's very easy to work hard and just end up doing nothing productive. For Maths, the bottom line is, do you understand all of the content. If the answer is yes, than an A* is very achievable, especially with the nice GBs
Of course that's easier said than done. The issue is firstly, that people think they understand something, but they don't really. It's common for some people to spend hours and hours creating posters and flash cards to help them memorise how you do various things in maths, but never really understand the why, or the topic in general. And in the new spec, they like putting questions in unfamilar contexts, so if you don't understand the why, you're basically done outere.
In order to understand, as opoosed to memorise, you need to have a really solid foundation. While a 7 at GCSE is good, it shows some weaknesses, and it'd be in your interests to make sure your GCSE knowledge is in the best possible shape before even starting work on A Level content.
In your head, whenever you learn a new topic, don't just accept what your teacher says at face value. You have to convince yourself that it's true. Prove it for yourself. The goal is to have the topic sit comfortably in your head, so it basically seems common sense to you. You won't have to work as hard memorising, because the method becomes second nature. This happens through a combination of both understanding the theory, and practice. Loads of practice. Try and practice as many harder questions as you can.
The key to doing well at A Level maths is never letting your understanding slip, because once you don't understand one topic, it can quickly snowball because of how topics follow on from eachother.
Good Luck.
Finished the new spec A Level Maths, got 289/300 raw.
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#20
(Original post by Muttley79)
You haven't done both though - I was commenting on the post about that.
You haven't done both though - I was commenting on the post about that.
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