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Do colleges care about what modules I took for my IAL maths and further maths?

I'm aiming to go to UCL or Edinburgh for cs undergraduate. Do they care about which modules I take for maths and further maths?
I've finished studying S1 and deciding if I should go for M1 or D1. From what I've searched from forums, D1 seems to be easy but quite boring and it's easy to lose a lot of marks due to tiny mistakes in the actual exam, which is why I'm quite afraid of going into D1. Plus, I'm taking physics IAL as well, so M1 might be easier for me in terms of doing the actual exam. However, I know that decision maths is heavily related to CS, while for M1 not so much, which is why I'm undecided.

Some extra information: (From forums) For decision maths, the order matters a lot, and the tiniest mistakes could cost a lot of marks, and since the concept is easy the grade boundary is high, not sure if this is true though. Give me some idea about how accurate this is as well, thank you! :smile:

So what do you think, should I go for M1 or D1?

Reply 1

Original post
by Ben123123123
I'm aiming to go to UCL or Edinburgh for cs undergraduate. Do they care about which modules I take for maths and further maths?
I've finished studying S1 and deciding if I should go for M1 or D1. From what I've searched from forums, D1 seems to be easy but quite boring and it's easy to lose a lot of marks due to tiny mistakes in the actual exam, which is why I'm quite afraid of going into D1. Plus, I'm taking physics IAL as well, so M1 might be easier for me in terms of doing the actual exam. However, I know that decision maths is heavily related to CS, while for M1 not so much, which is why I'm undecided.
Some extra information: (From forums) For decision maths, the order matters a lot, and the tiniest mistakes could cost a lot of marks, and since the concept is easy the grade boundary is high, not sure if this is true though. Give me some idea about how accurate this is as well, thank you! :smile:
So what do you think, should I go for M1 or D1?

I would contact the uni and ask them! There are people on here who will tell you that D1 is a good match for CS, but then in the past unis viewed Decision with 'suspicion' and regarded it as an easy option (in terms of content / preparation, not in terms of how easy it was to get full marks).

The bottom line is probably that it doesn't make that much practical difference, so do whichever you think will get you a better grade. M1 certainly isn't difficult even if you're not a "mechanics person"!

btw, are you international? "Normal" A level maths doesn't have an M1 unless you mean FM1 in FM.

Reply 2

Original post
by davros
I would contact the uni and ask them! There are people on here who will tell you that D1 is a good match for CS, but then in the past unis viewed Decision with 'suspicion' and regarded it as an easy option (in terms of content / preparation, not in terms of how easy it was to get full marks).
The bottom line is probably that it doesn't make that much practical difference, so do whichever you think will get you a better grade. M1 certainly isn't difficult even if you're not a "mechanics person"!
btw, are you international? "Normal" A level maths doesn't have an M1 unless you mean FM1 in FM.

Yeah international
Thanks mate :smile:

Reply 3

Original post
by Ben123123123
I'm aiming to go to UCL or Edinburgh for cs undergraduate. Do they care about which modules I take for maths and further maths?
I've finished studying S1 and deciding if I should go for M1 or D1. From what I've searched from forums, D1 seems to be easy but quite boring and it's easy to lose a lot of marks due to tiny mistakes in the actual exam, which is why I'm quite afraid of going into D1. Plus, I'm taking physics IAL as well, so M1 might be easier for me in terms of doing the actual exam. However, I know that decision maths is heavily related to CS, while for M1 not so much, which is why I'm undecided.
Some extra information: (From forums) For decision maths, the order matters a lot, and the tiniest mistakes could cost a lot of marks, and since the concept is easy the grade boundary is high, not sure if this is true though. Give me some idea about how accurate this is as well, thank you! :smile:
So what do you think, should I go for M1 or D1?

It doesn't matter at all and many (if not most) candidates will not have a choice in their school. If you are doing Edexcel IAL Maths and Further Maths then you need results from 12 different units. Do them both. Edexcel will decide how to combine your unit results together to award you the best possible grades.

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