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Mathematics

I think I made a bit of a mistake with my A-level choices. And I have so ended up not doing Maths A-level.

I am in my second year and do Computing, Philosophy, English lit. and Critical Thinking. SHould be on course for an A grade in all if bar one.

i applied to do law this year for uni and then decided i didnt want to do law anymore. So, i then decided i wanted to apply in clearing for English, or Philsophy or a joint honours course. Then i had doubts about doing this.

So, I thought about what else i could do. And seeing as the only A* i got at GCSE was Maths i thought maybe i was good at Maths but had just never really thought i liked it. then today at college i got an A-level text book out and started to have a look through and it really interested me. i actually found it fun :eek:

What i wanted to know is, can i do Maths A-level in one year in my year out. Would this be difficult?, could i teach myself? or should i try and attend evening classes at college (if they exist). Is there a good way to find out if you would like to do maths at uni, or be good at it, trying Step papers, perhaps? should i try and do further maths as well? Should i do maths at all?
Maybe i could apply for Philosophy and Maths?

Sorry for the long post. Any comments are appreciated.

Reply 1

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piemonster411

What i wanted to know is, can i do Maths A-level in one year in my year out. Would this be difficult?, could i teach myself? or should i try and attend evening classes at college (if they exist). Is there a good way to find out if you would like to do maths at uni, or be good at it, trying Step papers, perhaps? should i try and do further maths as well? Should i do maths at all?
Maybe i could apply for Philosophy and Maths?

Sorry for the long post. Any comments are appreciated.

yes you can. i did a one year maths a-level last year, and i had two other subects at AS. Its especially more true if you wont be studying anything else during your year out. You could cover all 6 moda by jan, and sit them then, if you work hard enough, but that would be stretching it, i suppose, buts its defintely possible with no other subjects

cheers

PK

Reply 2

piemonster411

OP

Phil23

yes you can. i did a one year maths a-level last year, and i had two other subects at AS. Its especially more true if you wont be studying anything else during your year out. You could cover all 6 moda by jan, and sit them then, if you work hard enough, but that would be stretching it, i suppose, buts its defintely possible with no other subjects

cheers

PK

cool

but how come you did it in one year?

Reply 3

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piemonster411

cool

but how come you did it in one year?

cos i'm doing double maths, and there is no other way of me doing two A-levels in maths, in two years...just a matter of how my school timetables it. I did AS and A2 in normal maths in one year, last year, and am donig F. maths this year - 6 mods each year. oh, and its partly down to fact that i love maths, and want to do it as much as i can. I'd have done triple if my school offered it. I'mm studk with physics and Geography, which are boring!

Pk

Reply 4

Mop

piemonster411

Is there a good way to find out if you would like to do maths at uni, or be good at it, trying Step papers, perhaps?

You'd have to be slightly crazy to even consider doing this without complete mastery of the A-Level. Having said that, crazyness is certainly not a negative attribute for a mathematician...

Reply 5

El Stevo

11

with an A* at GCSE i don't see you not being able to give A level maths a good go in one year... Like Phil23 I did all A level Maths last year, but with Physics Chemistry and French as well. A level maths in one year is not that uncommon - the places that offer maths and further tend to do single in the first year and further in the second year. You just get double timetabled for maths rather than cramming it into one slot. Its the same with the very few places that offer triple maths, only you get treble timetabled.

Reply 6

mctcdc0710

1

I'm doing A level statistics on my own, within a 5 month period.

Reply 7

mctcdc0710

1

and it's quite easy. But i think A level maths might be a bit more complex than statistics...

Reply 8

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Michael Mourao

and it's quite easy. But i think A level maths might be a bit more complex than statistics...

really? i find pure and applied easier than stats :smile:

...i just can't do stats...can't see logic in it, in any way...all the hypothesis testing and stuff; its as if some guy randomly came up with it. I can't find any books that says how these damn stats things came about...that is what makes stats boring.

(pmy own opinions)

PK

Reply 9

kellywood_5

17

Phil23

I'd have done triple if my school offered it.

What is the third A-level for triple maths then? Maths, further maths and...?

Reply 10

fishpaste

kellywood_5

What is the third A-level for triple maths then? Maths, further maths and...?

SUPER maths, but you have to pronounce it with a lisp, THUPER MATHS

Reply 11

Squishy

11

kellywood_5

What is the third A-level for triple maths then? Maths, further maths and...?

You'd probably get A-levels in Pure, Stats and Mechanics.

Reply 12

~Raphael~

9

It's called Further Additional Maths and if I don't die I will be the proud owner of a certificate saying just that!!!!!!

Reply 13

kellywood_5

17

~Raphael~

It's called Further Additional Maths and if I don't die I will be the proud owner of a certificate saying just that!!!!!!

Whoa. So if you wanted to, you could do 4 A-levels just in maths; maths, further maths, further additional maths and statistics! That's insane! :p:

Reply 14

RichE

15

~Raphael~

It's called Further Additional Maths and if I don't die I will be the proud owner of a certificate saying just that!!!!!!

You definitely doing it then? I thought you'd decided you hate stats. :rolleyes:

Reply 15

Mop

People who have 3 maths A-Levels generally do 6 pure, 6 mech and 6 stats modules, so no you can't have that situation.

Reply 16

~Raphael~

9

RichE

You definitely doing it then? I thought you'd decided you hate stats. :rolleyes:

lol yup, I just know I'll be asked about stats in my interview so I've fought past my fears and decided to do it all!!!! Go me!!!! I've even got a lovely book on probability that I'm studying at the moment written by our lovely friends at Cambridge to allow me to be all knowing lol :rolleyes:

Reply 17

-G-a-v-

16

I'd quite like to do triple maths, wayyy too much work though! lol I'll stick to my good old Maths and Further Maths :p:

Reply 18

RichE

15

~Raphael~

lol yup, I just know I'll be asked about stats in my interview so I've fought past my fears and decided to do it all!!!! Go me!!!! I've even got a lovely book on probability that I'm studying at the moment written by our lovely friends at Cambridge to allow me to be all knowing lol :rolleyes:

Maths interviews in Oxbridge are unlikely to contain any stats, because there'd be no assumption that you've done any stats or mechanics - unless it was clear from your UCAS form, but that makes this argument all rather circular. :eek: