Maths at A-level

Deehjay

Deehjay

Deehjay

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Hey, I'd like to ask a question about Maths at A-level. I understand the majority of this forum are older people but I'm hoping to get an answer as some of you may have studied Maths at A-level stage. I'm currently in year 10 (Yes, I'm only 15) but I'm determined to go on to Uni and do a Computer Science & Mathematics course after I leave school. Why '& Mathematics?' you may ask.. simply, my answer is that I feel it'd up a wider range of potential jobs within the area of computing and even a job that just involves major mathematics in general. I was wondering if you would consider Maths at A-level 'hard'?. I know it's a bit of a blunt question considering people would have different opinions based on their capabilities in maths but I'd just like an insight. If it helps, I'm predicted an A in GCSE maths...

Thanks for reading.
 
Also, are Universities strict on their entry requirements? I heard some Uni's aren't and that if A is required you might be let off by 1 grade or a few marks off A or something... The Uni's I have been looking at are Nottingham Trent (Although after looking at a chart and reading it's 95/105th ranked in the UK based on Guardian's score for Computer Science I'm starting to decline that), Birmingam, Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham. I think I should stop worrying for now and concentrate on my GCSE's but I'd just like to gain an insight into the future :P
 
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yashiro said:
As an indicator of aptitude at mathematics your actual grade at GCSE, to be honest, means naff all.

A-Level maths, and Degree level maths, is 90% not about the Maths you experience at GCSE level. If you attend the lessons and have an interest in the subject it's not hard.

For A-Level, having your own copy of the curriculum and access to past papers makes it easier.
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Thanks for clearing that up, was getting a little scared that people were saying that there's no point doing it unless I got A* at GCSE.
 
Moses said:
When I see Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham... I think, "decent unis :)". When I see Nottingham Trent... I think, "poly :mad:".

:o

:eek:

I'm not a snob, honestly :angel:.
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Haha yeah, I was gobsmacked when I saw the position on the list also, guess that's the plan of getting the closest Uni to home gone down the pan
 
Arcimbaldo said:
Im doing Maths A level at the moment,
I find the core stuff relatively easy, but the decision maths is the problem for me, i just have no work ethic when it comes to working out the shortest route from A to B, as well it just seems pointless.

Further maths is basically taking the principles of maths and exploring them further and applying them to more situations, would only recommend this if you breeze through GCSE with an A/A*.

But as others have said if you put your head down and don't slack off for the first 3 months (like i did) then you should be fine.
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So how do you do further maths? Is it at college?
 
mavers said:
If you enjoy it and spend enough time on the material you should be able to get through it. If you don't, its going to be painful 2 years.

How well are you doing at GCSE Maths? Its not a direct indicator, but if you are doing poorly at GCSE, I wouldn't consider it for an A-Level. Having said that, getting an A* at GCSE is no guarantee that you'll enjoy/do well at A-Level.
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I'm doing alright, I did a module in year 9 that was supposed to be worth 20% and I was 6 marks off an A, but now that's been scrapped and we're doing 1 linear exam for 100% I think. I do struggle with some things, I'm not the best at angles/shapes etc but everything else I'm (mostly) fairly confident on.
 
Even though I struggle, I really hope I can get through and if it means I have to work hard I will, I want to do Computer Science.
 
Macky said:
I'm doing both Maths & Further maths. Normal maths seems a doddle compared to f.maths. The good thing is that both subjects back each other up immensely (as well as physics which I also took). If you listen in lesson in maths it's pretty easy. Core 1 is really easy it's just recapping stuff from GCSE with a bit of new stuff like differentiation and integration. Both really easy on C1 though. Core 2 is pretty easy so far too. I did my M1 (mechanics 1) exam in January and it is a step up from normal maths yes and it's a bit abstract but if you revise key stuff you should be ok. I think you can do M1 with just normal maths in the 2nd year but with further maths you do it in first year. It also helps physics a LOT.

If you're not interested in further maths then I'll stop talking about it. In summary, if you're decent at GCSE you should do fine. I am doing fine I think. Although further maths certainly requires a lot more effort from me to do well. I only got A in maths at GCSE wanted an A* but what can you do. People in my AS maths class now who got am A* at GCSE actually find it a lot harder than me. Probably because I took f.maths too. Oh yeah that's another thing. The pace of f.maths is much quicker because the teacher expects that you're great at maths. Annoyingly pretty much everyone in my f.maths class is a genius so I can feel kinda dumb sometimes.

/Do maths. Good A level.
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So what if my school doesn't do further maths? Can I do it at college?
 
Macky said:
I'm still at 6th form. My 1st year. Sorry if nobody made it clear, Furher Maths is an A level option. Same as maths. Both are modular. And both have the AS and A level. They both have modules. Standard maths in the 1st year is: core 1, core 2, decision 1. I think haha not even sure. And further maths in the first year is, further pure 1, mechanics 1, and we're doing decision 2. This won't mean much to you I imagine. But the names pretty much sum up what they contain.
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So I'd have to take 2 Maths subjects? Gah that's going to kill me :p
 
I suppose if I failed in Maths or got declined for Comp Sci & Maths I could just go for regular Comp Sci, I definitely want to do either of those.
 
Btw I think I understand now about the further maths thing, would you take further maths for AS then drop it for maths at A-level?
 
Macky said:
No. You do them together. You need to be doing maths to do further maths too. You can drop further maths in the 2nd year and carry on with normal maths or drop both. But not maths and keep further maths.
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Ah, ok. Thanks man.
 
Also, another question that's itching at me, what's the different between an 'MSci' course and a 'BSc' course? All I know is that MSci requires higher grades
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
M is for masters = 4 year degree. Grades needed may be ABB.
B is Bachelors = 3 year degree. Grades needed may be BBC.

Go for the Bachelors is you can switch between the two when on the course. Do well on the Bachelors and you can upgrade. Do badly on the Masters and you're forced to downgrade.
This was the case for Loughborough in Engineering and the same for Engineering at Brum that a friend goes to.
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Right, cheers. So is the 4 year one where you get an opportunity to work for a year?
Also, the grades needed for Comp Sci and maths are as followed for the following Uni's -

Loughborough - ABB-AAB
Birmingham - AAB
Nottingham - AAA
Leicester - ABB
Nottingham looks a little too ambitious, but we'll see in the future :)
(All BSc btw)
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
I am at Loughborough - If you do go there message me and I will tell you which halls are poo and which aren't :p.

With the placement, that is extra. You do the following:
Bachelor Sci -3 years
Bachelor Sci with placement - 4 years
Masters Sci - 4 years
Masters Sci with placement - 4 years

I highly recommend a year in industry, but this is not a choice you need to make now, or even at the end of your first year of University.
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So what if the Uni's don't offer a years placement? What would I then have to do?
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
You can just take a year out to do one by yourself, but I wouldn't get too hung up on the year out.

One thing I would be wary of though is with the subject you pick (comp sci is a good one) many offer no placement years because there are simply no jobs out there in that subject i.e. sports science. This can (but certianly not always) be a guide for which courses are going to get you graduate work and not others.
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So you're saying it'll be hard to get a job within that area? :(
 
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