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AS further maths - is it possible to do if your school doesn't offer it?

Hi, I hope you are well!

I am thinking to study 3 A levels including maths. I also want to study further maths but only for 1 year as it will be difficult. Is it possible to study further maths A level for 1 year? My school doesn't offer further maths A level so can I still do it? Is there a way to do A level further maths for 1 year that my school can offer?

I hope you will response me as soon as possible and try to answer my questions as much as you can.
Thanks
Original post by Harman Kaur
Hi, I hope you are well!
I am thinking to study 3 A levels including maths. I also want to study further maths but only for 1 year as it will be difficult. Is it possible to study further maths A level for 1 year? My school doesn't offer further maths A level so can I still do it? Is there a way to do A level further maths for 1 year that my school can offer?
I hope you will response me as soon as possible and try to answer my questions as much as you can.
Thanks

You can study it privately, but if your school doesn't offer it uni admissions won't expect you to have it.

I haven't come across an online course specifically for AS, but you can get the full A Level course and look up the AS specification to see what you actually need to know.

Should you wish to pick up the AS textbook for FM and study it yourself, you can although it's a bit more difficult without tutor support.
Original post by MindMax2000
You can study it privately, but if your school doesn't offer it uni admissions won't expect you to have it.
I haven't come across an online course specifically for AS, but you can get the full A Level course and look up the AS specification to see what you actually need to know.
Should you wish to pick up the AS textbook for FM and study it yourself, you can although it's a bit more difficult without tutor support.

Ok thank you for your help. does studying privately means I have to pay?
if your school doesn't offer it uni admissions won't expect you to have it.
so is it not beneficial to do it?

can you please advice me if it is beneficial to study or not? should I study it or not?
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Harman Kaur
Ok thank you for your help. does studying privately means I have to pay?
if your school doesn't offer it uni admissions won't expect you to have it.
so is it not beneficial to do it?
can you please advice me if it is beneficial to study or not? should I study it or not?

does studying privately means I have to pay?
Yes. The government tend not to fund anything that isn't held inside a recognised college amongst their Ofsted list (I think it's Ofsted, but don't quote me on that). This is assuming you're based in the UK and are attending a UK college.

If you buy a textbook, expect to pay something up to £50 for one (I know, I have issues with it as well).
If you go for a course, then you can pay at least £300 for the course alone. The exams alone cost £250-350, depending on when you book it and where.

so is it not beneficial to do it?
I'm biased because I like maths and I'm doing the full A Level myself, so I would say it's "beneficial" (for a lack of a better word).

If it's not required or advantageous for the course that you want to study, then it's not strictly required. If it's for a quantitative course (e.g. physics, economics, finance, maths, engineering, etc.), having it in your application despite it not offered by your college doesn't hurt. If anything, it shows that you are passionate for maths. In more competitive courses and unis, having it (even as an AS) would help with applications.

It is said though that if your college doesn't offer it, it shouldn't hurt your application.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by MindMax2000
does studying privately means I have to pay?
Yes. The government tend not to fund anything that isn't held inside a recognised college amongst their Ofsted list (I think it's Ofsted, but don't quote me on that). This is assuming you're based in the UK and are attending a UK college.
If you buy a textbook, expect to pay something up to £50 for one (I know, I have issues with it as well).
If you go for a course, then you can pay at least £300 for the course alone. The exams alone cost £250-350, depending on when you book it and where.
so is it not beneficial to do it?
I'm biased because I like maths and I'm doing the full A Level myself, so I would say it's "beneficial" (for a lack of a better word).
If it's not required or advantageous for the course that you want to study, then it's not strictly required. If it's for a quantitative course (e.g. physics, economics, finance, maths, engineering, etc.), having it in your application despite it not offered by your college doesn't hurt. If anything, it shows that you are passionate for maths. In more competitive courses and unis, having it (even as an AS) would help with applications.
It is said though that if your college doesn't offer it, it shouldn't hurt your application.

ok thank you for your help. but I don't want to pay this much just for exam so I think I might not do it.
Original post by Harman Kaur
Hi, I hope you are well!
I am thinking to study 3 A levels including maths. I also want to study further maths but only for 1 year as it will be difficult. Is it possible to study further maths A level for 1 year? My school doesn't offer further maths A level so can I still do it? Is there a way to do A level further maths for 1 year that my school can offer?
I hope you will response me as soon as possible and try to answer my questions as much as you can.
Thanks

if you like maths and are good at it, you probably can teach it to yourself. you'll have to put in the work, but i personally think with the textbook, youtube videos, and online resources for question practice, there is enough material out there to teach it to yourself. i don't think you'll need to take private lessons/tutoring sessions out of school if you are good at maths. bear in mind though your maths ability- at least a very high 8, or 9 in your gcse is probably fine to teach yourself. the topics are easy enough to learn and get a good grasp of by yourself, but if you were to come across a sub-topic/ particular question type, etc, im sure you're maths teacher at school could help you with that. maybe decide whether doing as further maths will give you an advantage for whichever course at whatever unis you want to study at, and try and set out a plan now over summer if you do decide to do it, so you can get started sooner rather than later. good luck
Original post by sophiejones16
if you like maths and are good at it, you probably can teach it to yourself. you'll have to put in the work, but i personally think with the textbook, youtube videos, and online resources for question practice, there is enough material out there to teach it to yourself. i don't think you'll need to take private lessons/tutoring sessions out of school if you are good at maths. bear in mind though your maths ability- at least a very high 8, or 9 in your gcse is probably fine to teach yourself. the topics are easy enough to learn and get a good grasp of by yourself, but if you were to come across a sub-topic/ particular question type, etc, im sure you're maths teacher at school could help you with that. maybe decide whether doing as further maths will give you an advantage for whichever course at whatever unis you want to study at, and try and set out a plan now over summer if you do decide to do it, so you can get started sooner rather than later. good luck

ok thank you so much for your help.
bear in mind though your maths ability- at least a very high 8, or 9 in your gcse is probably fine to teach yourself.
I am alright in maths, not to high standard, I am kind of grade 6-7 student. but I really like maths, and find interesting and enjoy doing.
If I self- study AS further maths, where will I do the exam? and will I have to pay for it to do it?

I hope you will try to answer my questions as much as you can.
thanks
Original post by Harman Kaur
ok thank you so much for your help.
bear in mind though your maths ability- at least a very high 8, or 9 in your gcse is probably fine to teach yourself.
I am alright in maths, not to high standard, I am kind of grade 6-7 student. but I really like maths, and find interesting and enjoy doing.
If I self- study AS further maths, where will I do the exam? and will I have to pay for it to do it?
I hope you will try to answer my questions as much as you can.
thanks

where will I do the exam?
This depends on the individual exam board. The individual exam board would have their own approved list of exam centres to do the exams from, which is why you can self study and get the same qualifications as those who did everything through a college. Having said that, most exam centres that host exams for one exam board in one subject are often certified to host exams for other exam boards in the same subject (maths is also a subject that doesn't require much in terms of invigilation).
Where possible, I would try to see if your current college allow you to sit the exams in their halls. This usually make things easier.

and will I have to pay for it to do it?
Yes. They are roughly £250-350 for the exams only (since FM is 100% exam).
Original post by MindMax2000
where will I do the exam?
This depends on the individual exam board. The individual exam board would have their own approved list of exam centres to do the exams from, which is why you can self study and get the same qualifications as those who did everything through a college. Having said that, most exam centres that host exams for one exam board in one subject are often certified to host exams for other exam boards in the same subject (maths is also a subject that doesn't require much in terms of invigilation).
Where possible, I would try to see if your current college allow you to sit the exams in their halls. This usually make things easier.
and will I have to pay for it to do it?
Yes. They are roughly £250-350 for the exams only (since FM is 100% exam).

ok thank you so much for letting me know.
Where possible, I would try to see if your current college allow you to sit the exams in their halls. This usually make things easier.
Yes please let me know if find any information about it.
Original post by Harman Kaur
ok thank you so much for letting me know.
Where possible, I would try to see if your current college allow you to sit the exams in their halls. This usually make things easier.
Yes please let me know if find any information about it.

Yes please let me know if find any information about it.
If it's at your current college, you would need to your school's exam officer. I don't know who that is and I don't know which college you attend.

If you want to look for an alternative exam centre as a private candidate, consider:
OCR - if you go to the private candidate section (https://www.ocr.org.uk/students/private-candidates/), they will tell you to look at the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
AQA - if you go to the private candidate section and scroll down you would find: https://www.aqa.org.uk/student-and-parent-support/private-candidates/finding-a-school-or-college
Edexcel - if you go to the private candidate section (https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/understanding-our-qualifications/where-can-i-take-edexcel-exams.html), they will point you to the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
Eduqas - if you go to the private candidate section (https://www.eduqas.co.uk/home/student-support/private-candidates/), they will point you to the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
WJEC - if you go to the private candidate section (https://www.wjec.co.uk/home/student-support/private-candidates/), they will point you to the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates

Steps:

1.

Find the private candidate section for the exam board that you are studying under for that specific subject (done for you above)

2.

Find an appropriate exam centre for the exam board

3.

Contact the exam officer for the exam centre

4.

Book your exam and pay the admin and exam fees


If I was mistaken and you go by the international A Level exam boards (OxfordAQA, Edexcel, Cambridge exams/CAIE), then let me know if you can't find the exam centres for these.
Original post by MindMax2000
Yes please let me know if find any information about it.
If it's at your current college, you would need to your school's exam officer. I don't know who that is and I don't know which college you attend.
If you want to look for an alternative exam centre as a private candidate, consider:
OCR - if you go to the private candidate section (https://www.ocr.org.uk/students/private-candidates/), they will tell you to look at the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
AQA - if you go to the private candidate section and scroll down you would find: https://www.aqa.org.uk/student-and-parent-support/private-candidates/finding-a-school-or-college
Edexcel - if you go to the private candidate section (https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/understanding-our-qualifications/where-can-i-take-edexcel-exams.html), they will point you to the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
Eduqas - if you go to the private candidate section (https://www.eduqas.co.uk/home/student-support/private-candidates/), they will point you to the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
WJEC - if you go to the private candidate section (https://www.wjec.co.uk/home/student-support/private-candidates/), they will point you to the following website: https://www.jcq.org.uk/private-candidates
Steps:

1.

Find the private candidate section for the exam board that you are studying under for that specific subject (done for you above)

2.

Find an appropriate exam centre for the exam board

3.

Contact the exam officer for the exam centre

4.

Book your exam and pay the admin and exam fees


If I was mistaken and you go by the international A Level exam boards (OxfordAQA, Edexcel, Cambridge exams/CAIE), then let me know if you can't find the exam centres for these.

thank you so much for taking your time to help me.
Reply 11
Original post by Harman Kaur
ok thank you so much for your help.
bear in mind though your maths ability- at least a very high 8, or 9 in your gcse is probably fine to teach yourself.
I am alright in maths, not to high standard, I am kind of grade 6-7 student. but I really like maths, and find interesting and enjoy doing.
If I self- study AS further maths, where will I do the exam? and will I have to pay for it to do it?
I hope you will try to answer my questions as much as you can.
thanks

It might help if you say exactly why you want to do Further Maths. Is this part of the entry requirements for a degree you intend to apply for? If not then it will simply be an extra burden as you need to get the best possible grades in the other 3 A levels. An AS level in Further Maths will in no way enhance your uni application. In fact there may be some unis that may query why you did not take the full A level.
Original post by nutz99
It might help if you say exactly why you want to do Further Maths. Is this part of the entry requirements for a degree you intend to apply for? If not then it will simply be an extra burden as you need to get the best possible grades in the other 3 A levels. An AS level in Further Maths will in no way enhance your uni application. In fact there may be some unis that may query why you did not take the full A level.

ok thank you for letting me know. I think I should not do AS further maths as you said it is a extra burden.

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