The Student Room Group

A-Level Further Maths Without GCSE further maths

Hi.
I’m predicted an 8 in GCSE maths and I am hoping to do maths and perhaps further maths at A level. Is it realistic to even bother applying for further maths a level if I haven’t done it for GCSE? I was offered to do it at my school however it clashed with another extracurricular GCSE I was doing. I know it is really hard work so I wonder if I will struggle without the experience of doing it at GCSE.

Reply 1

Original post by theonlyoneleft!
Hi.
I’m predicted an 8 in GCSE maths and I am hoping to do maths and perhaps further maths at A level. Is it realistic to even bother applying for further maths a level if I haven’t done it for GCSE? I was offered to do it at my school however it clashed with another extracurricular GCSE I was doing. I know it is really hard work so I wonder if I will struggle without the experience of doing it at GCSE.

Hi there,
I don’t do further maths but I know many you do. And if you want to do further maths, just do it, it is really hard work but if you think you can do it , try it if you get to sixth form and if you don’t enjoy it , see if you’re able to drop it and if you can, you have that option of doing so.
GCSE further maths is usually building up to as-level maths that you’d go through anyways when you’re in year 12 and it helps make the transition easier as you’d know some stuff.

Reply 2

Original post by theonlyoneleft!
Hi.
I’m predicted an 8 in GCSE maths and I am hoping to do maths and perhaps further maths at A level. Is it realistic to even bother applying for further maths a level if I haven’t done it for GCSE? I was offered to do it at my school however it clashed with another extracurricular GCSE I was doing. I know it is really hard work so I wonder if I will struggle without the experience of doing it at GCSE.

I did both further maths and maths gcse and I can say that the further maths gcse isn't such a big deal if you can't do it, especially if your doing IGCSE maths but I didn't realize sixth forms allowed people to do further maths a level without a 9 in maths and/or 8 in further maths cause those were the conditions for us. If you work really hard im sure you will do fine honestly a/a* do it for a level cause further maths is invaluable at that level. Overall if I were in your position I would do further maths at a level it was soooo much fun in the end.
(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 3

Thank you so much for your reply. This was really interesting to hear. At the sixth form I’m planning on going to, the entry for maths requires a 7 and further maths requires an 8. Hopefully I will be ok if I get an 8 or a 9 tho. :smile:
(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 4

Original post by theonlyoneleft!
Thank you so much for your reply. This was really interesting to hear. At the sixth form I’m planning on going to, the entry for maths requires a 7 and further maths requires an 8. Hopefully I will be ok if I get an 8 or a 9.

As above, its no big deal whether you do further maths "gcse". As long as you get 8+ for the usual maths gcse you should be fine with maths+further maths a level (assuming the usual effort).
(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 5

yep i don't do further but have tried topics as part of my supercurriculars lol and a lot of my friends take it, it is totally different at a level anyway so not taking gcse further makes absolutely no difference overall.

Reply 6

I do further maths A-Level (first year) with an 8 in maths but I didnt do further maths gcse. Most things that you need are already taught from gcse maths or you learn them in the A-level maths classes alongside it. It can be a bit hard to wrap your head around certain concepts at first but thats the thrill of it lol.

Reply 7

Original post by jaysnotbad
I do further maths A-Level (first year) with an 8 in maths but I didnt do further maths gcse. Most things that you need are already taught from gcse maths or you learn them in the A-level maths classes alongside it. It can be a bit hard to wrap your head around certain concepts at first but thats the thrill of it lol.

Thank you for this. If you don’t mind me asking, what other courses are u doing with it? Is it a big work load in your opinion? :smile:
(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 8

Original post by theonlyoneleft!
Hi.
I’m predicted an 8 in GCSE maths and I am hoping to do maths and perhaps further maths at A level. Is it realistic to even bother applying for further maths a level if I haven’t done it for GCSE? I was offered to do it at my school however it clashed with another extracurricular GCSE I was doing. I know it is really hard work so I wonder if I will struggle without the experience of doing it at GCSE.

Level 2 FMaths is of no advantage for A level FMaths - we don't even teach it and yet get amazing results.

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