AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics Paper 2 (8365/2) - 18th June 2025 [Exam Chat]

Hello I'm aiming for a 9 and I'm struggling in circles and sequences

Hello I'm aiming for a 9 and I'm struggling in circles and sequences

I'm assuming you mean the quadratic sequences because those are the ones that are added into the AQA spec.
I can include an example that can help: 2, 7, 14, 23, 34, 47.
First, you see the difference between each number: 5,7,9,11,13
Then, you see the difference of those numbers, which is a common one: 2.
Here, you just need to learn what goes next: halve the 2 to get the an^2. As 2/2 = 1, a = 1, and it is n^2.
The first few terms of n^2 are = 1,4,9,16,25
So we can compare them to the quadratic sequence.
n^2+bn+c = 2 7 14 23
- n^2 = 1 4 9 16
-----------------------------------------------
bn + c = 1 3 5 7
After we get that, we again see the difference between the "bn+c" numbers. I hope you are keeping up.
We can use a+(n-1)d to find bn+c. "d" is 2, the difference between each term in the "bn+c" section, while "a" is 1 as it is the first term of the "bn+c" section.
So, we can substitute them into the equation: 1 + (n-1)2 = 1+ 2n - 2 = 2n - 1 (That is the bn+c).
You can add everything we have had together to make the sequence: n^2 + 2n - 1.
I really hope this helps, or I can simplify it

Anything specific about circles and sequences?

quadratics and circle theorems

Thank you

Does this actually help or is it confusing? I realise that some of the text got pushed along. Hope it goes well.
Also, I can help on circle theorems. Basically, they are not gonna ask for ones that seem impossible. You just have to learn them and apply them in past papers. Sometimes you have to prove an angle is related to another angle. For that, it would help alot to annotate the diagram and just work it out from there. Remember to give reasons, but also remember that circle theorems aren't alot of marks, and are usually simple to solve, so if you have anything specific that troubles you in that topic, pls tell me.

So did the other posters description of a quadratic sequence help or ... ?
Is it the proof or application of the circle theorems? Which ones ...?
It would help to be a bit more specific.

I always get confused in alternate segment theorem and same segment theorem they seem confusing

Both ones you just have to learn. That's only the truth. However, there is hope. Over the past few years, even in the GCSE normal Maths, there has very rarely been an alternate segment theorem. VERY RARELY. So, it is unlikely you can get it. One thing to remember is that if you see a triangle inside the circle, and one of the angles is between the tangent and the chord, then the opposite angle of the triangle is equal to that.
I've attached a link that might help: Alternate Segment Theorem | Circles | Proof | Solutions - Cuemath
And for the angles in the same segment, I've attached another link: Angles in the Same Segment Are Equal - Steps, Examples & Worksheet. If you have 2 triangles, and they touch the same base (you can draw it on), and they extend to the circumference, then both angles would be equal. I hope the links help.
But don't worry, these are very rare theorems to come up in the exam as you cannot create much problems with them, so if you learn the basic foundation, then you are good.

Any tips for Paper 2, besides past papers and 1stCM predicted paper

Have you found any predicted papers anywhere?

Have you found any predicted papers anywhere?

https://www.1stclassmaths.com/_files/ugd/9f3fb0_2d7389889f064339a683a012f4719e14.pdf
This is the predicted paper that 1st class maths has given us for 2025.
You can find the mark scheme if you search up "1st class maths aqa 2025 further maths paper 2"

anyone have any predicted topics