AS Level Further Mathematics

Course summary

Year 12 From the very start of the course, you will be introduced to areas of Mathematics you have not met at GCSE and will not study in A – Level Maths. In the first year you will be introduced to complex numbers based on the imaginary number i, the square root of -1. Up until this point you will have only worked with Real numbers, so this is a massive Mathematical step. You will also meet Matrices for the first time, an incredibly powerful Mathematical tool, aiding with transformations and simultaneous equations. You will also study formal methods of proof and use them to justify Mathematical concepts you may have previously taken for granted. Outside of Pure Mathematics, you will study Statistics and Mechanics. You have of course met Statistics at GCSE but you will develop much more sophisticated ways to analyse data and probabilities. Mechanics is very closely linked to Physics and is essential for students looking to go on to Engineering degrees. Topics studied in Mechanics include, forces, motion under constant and varying acceleration as well as power and energy. Why Study? Further Mathematics AS is an additional qualification to the standard A-Level Mathematics and as such is much more challenging. You will study this as a 4th subject in year 12. You need to be interested in the subject for its own sake and to enjoy grappling with difficult counter intuitive ideas and complex problems. Studying this course in Year 12 will allow you to achieve an additional qualification by the end of the year which will help you decide whether you would like to continue studying a full A level in Further Mathematics in Year 13. You may want to study Mathematics, Economics, Engineering or Physics at University.