About the course
This A Level is included in the following pathways as a RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL SUBJECT: Engineering; Financial Academy; Maths, Physics and Computer Science; Medical Health; STEM and Healthcare. However, you can choose Further Maths, alongside Maths and any other A Level/equivalent combination – there is plenty of choice and flexibility.
“It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul” — Sofia Kovalevskaya, Russian mathematician.
Taking a second A-level in Further Maths opens you to deeper insights into mathematics that enable you to more fully understand the world around you and its intricate workings.
The Further Maths course runs in parallel with the A Level Maths course and introduces a range of new topics such as complex numbers, matrices, three dimensional geometry, differential equations, and hyperbolic functions. All of these are increasingly important in a world that is becoming dominated by computing and cutting-edge scientific discoveries.
The structure of the course is similar to A Level Maths, in that there is a pure section and an applied section that consists of statistics and mechanics.
As with A Level Maths, all lesson material is available electronically enabling you to have access at any time and from any place. This is done using One Note to record all lecture notes, and for uploading and subsequent marking of student work. This allows you to have a digital folder of all of your studying. Lectures may be recorded to aid revision and catch-up.
There is extensive material available online from the College’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), the MEI Integral Maths website and the Cambridge Go online textbooks. There are additional classes for support and extension and you can contact lecturers through Teams and email for help.
Mind Stretching Maths classes are run to explore maths beyond the A-level syllabus and STEP support classes are provided, if needed.
When taking Further Maths, you will study Maths in two pools, so giving you nine hours of Maths per week in your first year and ten hours per week in your second. You should plan on spending an equivalent time on homework and private study, making full use of the extensive resources available to you.
Mock exams are held during the first year (in February/March), but do not count towards the final A Level. Exams for the whole A Level are held in May or June of the second year.
Entry requirements
Five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above. To study Further Maths alongside Maths you will need to have a grade 7/A in GCSE Maths. Good Further Maths students are those who are willing to grapple with problems and are prepared to learn from the mistakes they make along the way to a solution.
Where next?
Past students have gone on to study a wide range of subjects at Oxford, Cambridge and other top universities. Many of the top universities require Further Maths for courses such as Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematical Sciences. Maths is the gateway subject to a wide range of interesting and rewarding careers, such as engineering, sciences, actuarial, risk analytics, and finance.
Work experience and employability
This course does not contain a specific work experience component but inherently has activities that are essential to employability skills. Our Employability Team can help you find local work placements that will support the course if needed.
What additional resources will I need?
You will need your own stationery and a calculator. You are expected to have a Casio fx-991EX ClassWiz calculator. The exam questions are written on the assumption that you have one and are able to make full use of its functionality.
Fees information
This course is free to students aged 16-18.
Students aged 19+ will usually be charged a tuition fee, unless they meet certain eligibility criteria for fee remission. For those paying, an Advanced Learner Loan may be available. For further advice on fees, waivers and loans, please contact the Fees Co-Ordinator at Queens Drive.
Contact
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing enrolment@newcollege.ac.uk