Mathematics A Level builds on the skills and knowledge developed at GCSE level. It emphasizes how mathematical ideas are interconnected and how mathematics can be applied to model situations using algebra, to help make sense of data, to understand the physical world, and to solve problems in a variety of real-life contexts. It prepares students for further study and employment in a wide range of disciplines involving the use of mathematics. A major part of the course is Pure Maths, which is the study of mathematical ideas and methods for their own sake and to give a ‘toolkit’ for solving mathematical problems. All Pure Maths is expressed in terms of algebra. Students will also study both Statistics and Mechanics as part of their A Level. Statistics involves learning how to conclude data. It is very different from Statistics at GCSE and the focus is on probability and hypothesis testing. For example, looking at whether apparent patterns in certain types of situations could be the result merely of chance and random variation, or whether the pattern in the data is unlikely to have arisen in this way. Studying Mechanics allows us to understand the physical world and to work out how objects move when forces such as gravity act on them. In the first year, you will cover topics in Pure Maths, Statistics, and Mechanics. In Pure Maths you will study a wide range of topics including differentiation and trigonometry. In Statistics, you will learn about sampling probability and hypothesis testing, and in Mechanics, you will learn about kinematics (displacement, velocity, and acceleration). In the second year, you will develop your mathematical problem-solving skills and algebraic skills. You will also study the Pure Maths topics in greater depth. In Statistics you will learn about probability distributions and in Mechanics you will learn about moments and friction.