Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Subjects

Mathematics - Sixth Form

Aims of the Course & Reasons to Study this Subject

The AS Applied Mathematics and A Level Mathematics courses give students a broad knowledge of pure, mechanics and statistics, and as a result students gain experience in the three areas of mathematical study at this level.

One major reason for studying a mathematics course at this level is that it supports your studies in other subjects. The Mechanics module will support studies in Physics and Technology, and the Statistics modules will be beneficial for studies in Biology, Economics and Geography.

However, the courses are also worth studying in their own right. They are challenging but interesting. They build on work you will have met at GCSE, but also involve new ideas that some of the greatest minds in history have produced.

While studying mathematics you will be expected to:

• Use mathematical skills and knowledge to solve problems.
• Solve quite complex problems by using mathematical arguments and logic.
• Use calculator technology and other resources effectively and appropriately.
• Use the mathematics that you learn to solve problems that are given to you in a real-life context.

• Student Guide to AS Maths (PDF)
• Student Guide to AS Further Maths (PDF)

Scheme of Assessment

You will study three modules in Year 12: Core 1, Core 2 and Statistics 1, and sit the examinations for these modules in the January of Year 12 (C1) and June (C2& S1). These modules are combined to give an AS qualification in Applied Mathematics.

You will then go on to study three more modules in Year 13: Core 3, Core 4 and Mechanics 1, and sit the examinations for these modules in January and June. These modules (along with the three from Year 12) are combined to give an Advanced qualification in mathematics.

Further Mathematics

Further Mathematics is a an extra A Level that can be taken on top of the A Level Mathematics course and extends the topics and skills learnt. As a result, it is recommended for only the very best students who have gained an excellent GCSE grade.

Further Mathematics supports and strengthens the student's performance in Mathematics and related A Level subjects. Any student who is considering reading Mathematics or a closely related subject at University, should consider taking the course because they enjoy the subject and wish to push themselves to understand some mathematical topics beyond the normal A Level.

Accelerated Mathematics

We also offer the opportunity for students to gain their A Level in Mathematics in one year, by taking all of the module examinations in Year 12. These students join the Further Mathematicians and study the same course in Year 12. This option enables good mathematicians to complete a full A Level in Year 12 and therefore free up some additional time for their other A Levels in Year 13.

For further details, please see Mr M. Seager, Head of Mathematics

Examination Board:

OCR
AS Applied Mathematics (Modules P1, M1 and S1)
A Level Mathematics (Modules P1, P2, P3, S1, S2, M1)
A Level Further Mathematics (Modules P4, P5, P6, S3, M2, M3)