Mathematics

Course summary

Pure mathematics topics: proof, algebra, and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, and vectors. Mechanics topics: quantities and units in mechanics, kinematics, moments, forces, and Newton’s laws. Statistics topics: statistical sampling, data presentation and interpretation, probability, statistical distributions, and hypothesis testing. The AS examination has two written papers, each lasting 90 minutes. Paper 1 contains questions on pure mathematics, paper 2 has questions on mechanics and statistics. Both papers are equally weighted. The A-level examination has three written papers, each lasting 2 hours. Paper 1 is pure mathematics, paper 2 is pure mathematics, and paper 3 is mechanics and statistics. All three papers are equally weighted. The AS content is examined alongside the A-level content. The AS examination can be taken at the end of Y12 but this is not essential for continuing to Y13. Mathematics A level follows on from the GCSE Higher Tier course. Some of the topics are revisited and then studied in more depth. The course covers both the mechanics and statistics elements of applied mathematics and all topics are compulsory.