Advanced level mathematics
Advanced Level (A-Level) Mathematics is a qualification of further education taken in the United Kingdom and occasionally in other countries as well. In the UK A-Level exams are traditionally taken by 18-year-olds after a two-year course at a sixth form or college. Advanced Level Further Mathematics is often taken by students who wish to study a mathematics based degree at university.
Like other A-level subjects, mathematics has been assessed in a linear system since the introduction of Curriculum 2000, whereby each candidate must take six modules, with each score of these modules contributing to the final grade (see Results and Statistics below). Most students will complete three modules in one year, which will create an AS-level qualification in their own right and will complete the A-level course the following year with three more modules.
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[edit] Overview
The basic A-Level course consists of six modules, four standard (C1, C2, C3, and C4) and two modules that can be chosen by the student or school/college, etc. The C1 through C4 modules are referred to by A-level textbooks as "Core" modules, encompassing the major topics of mathematics such as logarithms, differentiation/integration and geometric/arithmetic progressions, to name but a few.
The two chosen modules for the final two parts of the A-Level are determined either by a student's personal choices or the course choice of their school/college, but commonly take the form of S1 (Statistics), M1 (Mechanics) or D1 (Decision Maths)
[edit] Further mathematics
Some mathematics students will choose to take an A-level in Further Mathematics which requires taking a further 6 modules to give a second qualification. The grades of the two A-levels will be independent of each other. Further Mathematics requires students to take two compulsory modules, Further Pure 1 and 2 (FP1, FP2), which are simply extentions of the four Core modules from the normal Maths A-Level. Four more modules need to be taken, those available vary with different specifications.
Not all schools are able to offer Further Mathematics, due to teachers not being qualified, so to fulfill the demand extra tutoring such as from the Further Mathematics Support Programme is available.[1]
Some students can also take a third maths qualification, "Additional Further Mathematics", which adds more modules from those not used for Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Schools that offer this qualification usually only take this to AS-level, taking three modules, but some students can go further, taking the extra six modules to gain another full A-Level qualification. Additional Further Mathematics is offered by EdExcel and OCR only.
[edit] Results and statistics
Each module carries a maximum of 100 points towards the total grade and each module is also given a separate grade depending on its score. The number of points required for different grades are defined below:
| Grade | Module (Out of 1) | AS level (Out of 3) | A level (Out of 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 80 | 240 | 480 |
| B | 70 | 210 | 420 |
| C | 60 | 180 | 360 |
| D | 50 | 150 | 300 |
| E | 40 | 120 | 240 |
The proportion of candidates acquiring these grades in 2007 are below :
[edit] Mathematics
| Male | Female | Combined | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entries | 60093 | ||
| Grade A | 42.6% | 45.5% | 43.7% |
| Grade B | 20.8% | 22.2% | 21.4% |
| Grade C | 15.8% | 15.1% | 15.6% |
| Grade D | 10.9% | 10.0% | 10.4% |
| Grade E | 6.4% | 5.0% | 5.9% |
| Grade U (FAIL) | 3.5% | 2.2% | 3.0% |
[edit] Further mathematics
| Male | Female | Combined | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entries | 7972 | ||
| Grade A | 57.1% | 56.2% | 56.8% |
| Grade B | 19.4% | 20.2% | 20.3% |
| Grade C | 11.6% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| Grade D | 6.6% | 6.2% | 6.5% |
| Grade E | 3.6% | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Grade U | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.6% |
[edit] Criticisms
It has been suggested by The Department for Education that the high proportion of candidates who obtain grade A makes it difficult for universities to distinguish between the most able candidates. The 2010 exam session has introduced an A* grade that distinguishes between better candidates.[2]
The A* grade in maths is awarded to candidates who achieve an A (480/600) in their overall A Level as well as achieving a combined score of 180/200 in modules Core 3 and Core 4.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Supporting and Promoting Advanced and Further Mathematics". The Further Mathematics Support Programme. http://www.fmnetwork.org.uk/supporting_maths.php. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ http://www.cie.org.uk/news/features/detail?feature_id=31480
