Preparing to Study

MATHS/FURTHER MATHS

Your lessons will be…

• At a fast pace due to first exams in January 2013

• Taught by a subject specialist

• Interesting and include relevant examples to enable you

to independently study outside of the

lesson

• Focused on exam criteria and content

• Taught by staff in a consistent manner

• Followed by plenty of homework

The skills you will need/use

The ability to transfer and use skills between different Maths

modules

High level skills from GCSE e.g. algebraic manipulation and

trigonometry

The ability to show and prove all stages of working clearly and

concisely

Work in a timely manner e.g. meet all deadlines

You can expect the following outside of school work…

• Lots of independent work based on topics taught

• Exam question practice• To attend compulsory after school revision

sessions• Help at lunch times or after school by a

member of staff• Approx 2 – 3 hours of compulsory assessed

homework

The sort of things you will learn about…

Maths Further Maths• Algebra * Calculus• Functions * Complex Numbers• Calculus * Polar Coordinates• Statistics * Matrix Algebra• Algorithms * Proof• Alternating Paths * Maths applied• Linear Programming to real life problems

You can use these qualifications for/to

• Degree in maths or combined degree• Engineering• Computer sciences• Accounting • Economics• Business/Retail/Managerial roles• Intelligence work• Teaching• Research

The equipment you need is…

• Folder for each module • Pens/pencils• Dividers• Revision cards• Casio ‘FX991ES plus’ scientific calculator

approx £15 from WH Smith/Amazon• Lined/graph paper

To prepare for the A Level Maths you could:

Read

Keep up to

date on

WatchWatch…Dora O’Brie“School of Hard Sums”Marcus de Sacky“The Code”

Read…Fermat’s last Theorem – Simon Singh

Keep up to date on…

Collect a ‘Bridging Booklet’ from a maths teacher to be completed over the summer holidays to refine your A/A* skills

The advice we would offer is..

1. Complete the ‘Bridging Booklet’ as there is an assessment at the end of September/early October on which you must gain 40% or above to be allowed to continue on the maths course

2. Stay on top of the work – if you feel you are struggling speak to the teachers

3. Keep organised – especially folder work4. Invest in the equipment mentioned previously