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MATHEMATICS A LEVEL

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PEARSON EDEXCEL

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WHY STUDY MATHEMATICS A LEVEL?

A LEVEL

  • One of the most highly regarded Further Education�(Level 3, age 18) qualifications in the world!
  • Opens opportunities in almost every career imaginable!�(Even in work that is not STEM-related, it demonstrates strong abilities for learning complex concepts, logical thinking, and advanced problem solving)
  • Underpins a thorough understanding of how �science, statistics (and more) work!
  • Apply mathematical techniques to solving “puzzles” and �real world problems (not just to answer exam questions).
  • Higher future earnings (on average)!

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WHY STUDY MATHEMATICS A LEVEL?

A LEVEL

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MATHEMATICS A LEVEL – GOALS

A LEVEL

Pass with the

best grade

Be excellent

Mathematicians

Enjoy discovering

& problem-solving

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MATHEMATICS A LEVEL MISCONCEPTIONS

A LEVEL

  • It's straightforward!
  • No, it's hard work.
  • There's not as much to learn as other subjects.
  • 10 hours’ study per week (& holiday work, revision, etc)
  • = hundreds of hours!
  • I can miss out some topics and just catch up at the end.
  • No, they build on each other …
  • And fluency in mathematical concepts & techniques takes time to practise!
  • It's all just calculation techniques.
  • You also have to demonstrate that you can understand mathematical model-ling, assumptions and conclusions, all in the context of real world situations.
  • It’s very rewarding
  • That one’s true!

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MATHEMATICS A LEVEL – OBJECTIVES

A LEVEL

1. Use and apply standard techniques ( ~50% of marks)

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2. Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically ( ~25%)

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3. Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts ( ~25%)

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It’s not about getting the right answer!

just

In final exams, marks are awarded for showing the method too.

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MATHEMATICS A LEVEL – EXAMS

A LEVEL

Pure Paper 1

2 hours, 100 marks

Pure Paper 2

2 hours, 100 marks

Applied Paper

2 hours, 100 marks

All papers are with calculator

Statistics

(1/6 of total)

Mechanics

(1/6 of total)

(Pearson Edexcel)

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MATHEMATICS A LEVEL – SYLLABUS

A LEVEL

Algebra

12%

(Approximate percentages of Pure topics in recent exam papers)

Functions

& Graphs

13%

Trigonometry

12%

Series

10%

Exponentials

10%

Calculus

30%

Numerical

Methods

5%

Proof

4%

Vectors

4%

Statistics

Mechanics

Indices, surds,�quadratics, simultaneous �equations, inequalities, �algebraic division,

factor theorem, �binomial

Curvature,�chain, product,�quotient rules,�trig, exp, log,�parametric�functions,�integration by�substitution, �by parts,�differential�equations

Differentiation,�from first�principles,�gradients, rate�of change,�stationary�points,�integration,�area under�graph

Trapezium rule,�change of sign, iteration,�Newton-Raphson

Position, magnitude, unit vector

Deduction, exhaustion,�counter-example, contradiction

Partial fractions,�general binomial

Growth�& decay,�rate of�change,�logarithms

Arithmetic &�geometric sequences,�recurrence, sums

Triangles,�equations,�cos2+sin2=1

Radians,� small angles,� identities,�reciprocal &�inverse, graphs,�multiple angles,�phase (R)

Sketching, �transformations,�lines, circles

Inverse &�composite�functions,�domain &�range,�parametric

Correlation & regression

Discrete uniform & binomial�distributions, hypothesis testing

Data, sampling, graphs �& calculations

Normal�distribution,�hypothesis�testing

Probability,�Venn diagrams,�conditional

Forces, statics,�joined particles,�F=ma

Friction,�moments

s/v/t graphs,�suvat, gravity

Projectiles

Kine-�matics

Vectors,�calculus,�variable�acceleration

Y12

Y13

(Pearson Edexcel)

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GRADES ACHIEVED NATIONALLY IN 2019

A LEVEL

A

B

C

D

E

A

B

C

D

E

A*

GCSE

grade

A level grade

(Pearson Edexcel)

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ASPIRING TO YOUR BEST GRADE

A LEVEL

A level

grade

Prior

knowledge

Teaching

Conscientious

work

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HOW WILL YOU PREPARE?

A LEVEL

You are encouraged to master your general algebra skills, including factorising, indices, solving equations and rearranging formulae, which underpin every part of Mathematics at an advanced level.

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A confident working knowledge of

  • quadratic functions,
  • graphs,
  • surds, and
  • trigonometry

also makes for a good start to the course.

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  • CGP Head Start to A Level Maths or
  • Alpha Workbooks: Preparation for A Level Maths
  • Transition and revision worksheets etc (ask me)

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TEXT BOOKS & CALCULATOR

A LEVEL

Pearson (Edexcel) text books x4:

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Stats & Mech needed from November,

Year 2 books needed by next Summer

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CGP Exam Practice Workbook

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Pearson (Edexcel) Revision Workbook

(& Revision Guide & Practice Papers)

(Cambridge

text books)

Casio

FX 991 EX

“Class wiz”

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HOW WILL YOU WORK?

A LEVEL

  • Text book
  • Class notes (pdf e-handouts, etc)
  • Example worked solutions
  • Your notes (e-notes, exercise book or paper/folder)
  • Revision notes / summaries of topics

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  • Questions – from text book
    • mark your own (not in red!)
    • worked solutions are available online
    • highlight any queries/problems, for me to check
  • Other exercises (other books, e-handouts, practice exam questions, self study)
    • combination of marking & class feedback
  • Assessed homework & tests / mock exams
    • marked by me
    • occasionally peer marked

Title & date

Use folders,

search & tags

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RESOURCES & LINKS

A LEVEL

All in the Student Shared Drive – drive.google.com

and Classroom – classroom.google.com

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Pearson Edexcel A Level Maths (9MA0):

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-2017.html

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Physics and Maths Tutor: physicsandmathstutor.com (worked solutions)

Maths Genie: mathsgenie.co.uk

Dr Frost Maths: drfrostmaths.com

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Autograph Graphing: completemaths.com/autograph

Geogebra: www.geogebra.org

Desmos: www.desmos.com

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