The Student Room Group

Studying A level maths after college

Hi, during college I studied:
Games Design Btec - distinction
Graphic Design A level - B
Computer Science - D (teacher left and I didnt do gcse computer science it was a mess)

I wanted to go down the career path of being a games designer, however the more and more people I spoke to within the industry or who had games design degrees, I decided that it was not for me as it is a very unreliable career, with layoffs running rampant, poor treatment of staff etc. For this reason I decided to take out a gap year to explore my options, and eventually discovered my love for electronics. However, I do not have the required maths A level that many of these courses require, and wondered about the best way to resit, learn and overall the best approach to learning A level maths.

On top of this, I am currently enrolled at MMU on a foundation year, and could transfer to Liverpool if I do well. Manchester have said they would require extra maths qualifications etc.
Any advice is appreciated :smile: I was looking to complete A level maths in 1 year, however I am not sure how doable that is, even though I am willing to work extremely hard for it.
Original post by manifest-chip
Hi, during college I studied:
Games Design Btec - distinction
Graphic Design A level - B
Computer Science - D (teacher left and I didnt do gcse computer science it was a mess)
I wanted to go down the career path of being a games designer, however the more and more people I spoke to within the industry or who had games design degrees, I decided that it was not for me as it is a very unreliable career, with layoffs running rampant, poor treatment of staff etc. For this reason I decided to take out a gap year to explore my options, and eventually discovered my love for electronics. However, I do not have the required maths A level that many of these courses require, and wondered about the best way to resit, learn and overall the best approach to learning A level maths.
On top of this, I am currently enrolled at MMU on a foundation year, and could transfer to Liverpool if I do well. Manchester have said they would require extra maths qualifications etc.
Any advice is appreciated :smile: I was looking to complete A level maths in 1 year, however I am not sure how doable that is, even though I am willing to work extremely hard for it.

being a games designer, however the more and more people I spoke to within the industry or who had games design degrees, I decided that it was not for me as it is a very unreliable career, with layoffs running rampant, poor treatment of staff etc.
Strictly speaking, you can become a game designer without a degree. Depending on the specific role (or whether you want to be a jack of all trades), you would need strong programming skills, digital art design skills, and possibly sound and music. Your current BTEC should be more than enough.

For this reason I decided to take out a gap year to explore my options, and eventually discovered my love for electronics
So electronics engineering? Computer science? Computer engineering? Electrical engineering? Mechatronics engineering? Robotics engineering?

I do not have the required maths A level that many of these courses require, and wondered about the best way to resit, learn and overall the best approach to learning A level maths.
I would have thought A Level Physics would also be important for electronics engineering, but OK.
The best way that pretty much any person who scored a high mark in A Level Maths would vouch for are past papers - lots and lots of past papers. You would want to do the questions, review your answers, learn from your mistakes, and reattempt them. See the following for example (there are more and the below are just from the first page of Google):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wbz3CST8Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeAaACKEiHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--gViX-erOs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ctFrUX9iM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrnUDXvfMCM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNDpM4G8D68
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixf8RJp8H1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0_0E3sV-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOhXvAQS6s

I am currently enrolled at MMU on a foundation year, and could transfer to Liverpool if I do well.
Good luck with that. Usually transfer after foundation years are notoriously difficult.

I was looking to complete A level maths in 1 year, however I am not sure how doable that is, even though I am willing to work extremely hard for it.
A typical A Level should require 300 hours of study to cover the material. It's then recommended that you spend another 300 for revision to score the top grades. Under usual circumstances (e.g. during a gap year or as an extra A Level outside of college), 600 hours in one year (works out to 12 hours a week over 50 weeks) is a doddle The problem is that your foundation year is likely going to be intensive and will require at least 40 hours per week.
If you feel confident that you can complete the A Level between now and by May (which can mean doing 20 or so hours on top per week, or at least 10 hours per week to cover the basic material), then it's doable.
If the hours don't fit, then you would need to work really really smart, and you can't slack at all.
Original post by MindMax2000
being a games designer, however the more and more people I spoke to within the industry or who had games design degrees, I decided that it was not for me as it is a very unreliable career, with layoffs running rampant, poor treatment of staff etc.
Strictly speaking, you can become a game designer without a degree. Depending on the specific role (or whether you want to be a jack of all trades), you would need strong programming skills, digital art design skills, and possibly sound and music. Your current BTEC should be more than enough.
For this reason I decided to take out a gap year to explore my options, and eventually discovered my love for electronics
So electronics engineering? Computer science? Computer engineering? Electrical engineering? Mechatronics engineering? Robotics engineering?
I do not have the required maths A level that many of these courses require, and wondered about the best way to resit, learn and overall the best approach to learning A level maths.
I would have thought A Level Physics would also be important for electronics engineering, but OK.
The best way that pretty much any person who scored a high mark in A Level Maths would vouch for are past papers - lots and lots of past papers. You would want to do the questions, review your answers, learn from your mistakes, and reattempt them. See the following for example (there are more and the below are just from the first page of Google):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wbz3CST8Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeAaACKEiHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--gViX-erOs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ctFrUX9iM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrnUDXvfMCM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNDpM4G8D68
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixf8RJp8H1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0_0E3sV-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOhXvAQS6s
I am currently enrolled at MMU on a foundation year, and could transfer to Liverpool if I do well.
Good luck with that. Usually transfer after foundation years are notoriously difficult.
I was looking to complete A level maths in 1 year, however I am not sure how doable that is, even though I am willing to work extremely hard for it.
A typical A Level should require 300 hours of study to cover the material. It's then recommended that you spend another 300 for revision to score the top grades. Under usual circumstances (e.g. during a gap year or as an extra A Level outside of college), 600 hours in one year (works out to 12 hours a week over 50 weeks) is a doddle The problem is that your foundation year is likely going to be intensive and will require at least 40 hours per week.
If you feel confident that you can complete the A Level between now and by May (which can mean doing 20 or so hours on top per week, or at least 10 hours per week to cover the basic material), then it's doable.
If the hours don't fit, then you would need to work really really smart, and you can't slack at all.

Thanks for your reply!
Firstly, I decided games design is not for me and instead swapped, i'm not interested in it anymore.

The course is Electrical Engineering.

I'm doing A level maths and not A level physics as I spoke to Manchester university and they said they only require one A level from me at B or higher - and they would highly prefer mathematics.

The issue with past papers is I don't have much knowledge to attempt them in the first place, I wanted to learn the material first and then try some past papers somewhere down the line once I have a bit of an understanding which would give me a fighting chance.

Thanks for the good luck wish 🙂 I would have to get 70% or higher which is not easy however I am willing to try.

Finally, 12 hours a week is all it takes?? really??? I was expecting much more than that. Currently I study 4+ hours a day but am willing to work more than that, and dont intend on slacking.

One more question, I was intending to sign up with a provider such as Oxbridge home learning or ICS learn, do you have any information on which is better?

Thank you,
Joe

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