Is it worth doing A-level further maths?
I’m going into year 12 in September to do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. I’m just debating further maths as I’m wondering if it’s really necessary and worth the extra work?
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
It’s worthwhile, if you think your Uni course might be maths-related (not just maths but also Physics, Engineering, Chemistry etc).
When I first went to University the students in my Physics classes who hadn’t done further maths ended up needing to take remedial
maths sessions because they didn’t have adequate knowledge for the Physics lectures. I realise you’re not doing Physics but I think similar issues apply to Engineering and Chemistry.
If you don’t think your Uni course will be maths-related e.g. Biology, Medicine etc, then FM is unnecessary
When I first went to University the students in my Physics classes who hadn’t done further maths ended up needing to take remedial
maths sessions because they didn’t have adequate knowledge for the Physics lectures. I realise you’re not doing Physics but I think similar issues apply to Engineering and Chemistry.
If you don’t think your Uni course will be maths-related e.g. Biology, Medicine etc, then FM is unnecessary
Thank you!!
Original post by milliepaigew
Thank you!!
Only a few unis require F Maths for Engineering and many good ones don't. If it's not required they have to teach the content - do you get a choice of modules?
Original post by milliepaigew
I’m going into year 12 in September to do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. I’m just debating further maths as I’m wondering if it’s really necessary and worth the extra work?
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
Original post by milliepaigew
I’m going into year 12 in September to do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. I’m just debating further maths as I’m wondering if it’s really necessary and worth the extra work?
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
Many colleges allow you to drop a subject at the end of the first year if it proves too much. It is quite rare that universities will ask for further maths, even for a maths degree as they teach as if no one has done it.
Original post by bigbill044
Many colleges allow you to drop a subject at the end of the first year if it proves too much. It is quite rare that universities will ask for further maths, even for a maths degree as they teach as if no one has done it.
This is not true.
My University ran extra sessions in the first term for people who hadn’t done Further Maths. They had to come to lectures in the evenings after everyone else had finished classes.
They didn’t “teach as if no one has done it”. Quite the opposite; the course generally worked on the assumption that you already had the knowledge from FM, so if you didn’t then you had to catch up.
Original post by Chwirkytheappleboy
This is not true.
My University ran extra sessions in the first term for people who hadn’t done Further Maths. They had to come to lectures in the evenings after everyone else had finished classes.
They didn’t “teach as if no one has done it”. Quite the opposite; the course generally worked on the assumption that you already had the knowledge from FM, so if you didn’t then you had to catch up.
My University ran extra sessions in the first term for people who hadn’t done Further Maths. They had to come to lectures in the evenings after everyone else had finished classes.
They didn’t “teach as if no one has done it”. Quite the opposite; the course generally worked on the assumption that you already had the knowledge from FM, so if you didn’t then you had to catch up.
Which university? I guess it depends on the university. I did maths at Birmingham and was at absolutely no disadvantage for having not done any further maths before. Also, for universities who only ask for a B in maths for example, are likely not gonna require students to have done further maths.
(edited 4 months ago)
Original post by milliepaigew
I’m going into year 12 in September to do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. I’m just debating further maths as I’m wondering if it’s really necessary and worth the extra work?
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
It all depends on what you want to do at uni I believe.
If you are aiming for the best unis like LSE, Imperial, Oxbridge, etc, it will obviously be good to have but not all courses require it. Some unis may say “ further Maths is preferred” but not always a requirement. I think if you want to do Mathematics or Engineering courses at certain unis, it might be a requirement but for the vast majority of courses in finance, accounting, economics, STEM, etc, A-Level Maths is only required.
Original post by milliepaigew
I’m going into year 12 in September to do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. I’m just debating further maths as I’m wondering if it’s really necessary and worth the extra work?
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
From what I've heard, further maths is a pretty good A-level choice if you want to do engineering at university. It all depends on what you want to do at university I suppose, but if you're good at maths then I'd say go for it! 🙂
Original post by Dxjxdaniel
Some unis may say “ further Maths is preferred” but not always a requirement. I think if you want to do Mathematics or Engineering courses at certain unis, it might be a requirement but for the vast majority of courses in finance, accounting, economics, STEM, etc, A-Level Maths is only required.
Anecdotally, when I went to Cambridge, my college said "further maths is preferred but not required" for Economics. Literally everyone admitted had an A in further maths (this predates when A* was a possible grade).
Original post by DFranklin
Just to warn on this - when a top uni says something is preferred, you might want to check that it's not a defacto requirement.
Anecdotally, when I went to Cambridge, my college said "further maths is preferred but not required" for Economics. Literally everyone admitted had an A in further maths (this predates when A* was a possible grade).
Anecdotally, when I went to Cambridge, my college said "further maths is preferred but not required" for Economics. Literally everyone admitted had an A in further maths (this predates when A* was a possible grade).
Ahh fair enough. Sorry 😅
Original post by bigbill044
Which university? I guess it depends on the university. I did maths at Birmingham and was at absolutely no disadvantage for having not done any further maths before. Also, for universities who only ask for a B in maths for example, are likely not gonna require students to have done further maths.
This was Durham.
And it wasn’t just in the maths department. I did a joint honours Maths & Physics degree, and there were people in my Physics classes who also had the same issue if they hadn’t done FM
Original post by milliepaigew
I’m going into year 12 in September to do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths. I’m just debating further maths as I’m wondering if it’s really necessary and worth the extra work?
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
I done further maths GCSE with predicted 9s so naturally want to progress in maths. But I don’t know what I want to do at university however it will likely be more science related and not purely maths. I would sit the maths exam at the end of year 12 leaving year 13 to focus on further maths with maths already completed (unless I want to resit if not happy with grade) Is it worth it for another A-level?? Any advice would be great thanks
Just start doing it and if you find that you’re going too quickly in your maths lessons, you don’t have another free time, too much work, etc then drop further maths. You’ll just be put into another maths class and will end up going over a few topics which you’ve already done. Or you can keep doing it until you have a clearer idea of what you want to do at uni, and whether the courses require/don’t require/recommend further maths you can then make a decision. The only thing I would say is that if your course doesn’t actually require further maths, unis like Oxbridge will still offer you on 4 alevels as opposed to 3, and the offer isn’t any lower so you might be putting yourself at a disadvantage. But maybe start and get a feel, talk to the careers people at school and then make a more informed decision about further maths x
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