A-level Advice

[Rixion]

i've chosen a level physics,maths,geography and biology for my options, can anyone give me any basic advice on these subjects, regarding memorising/coursework etc?

[dbgtz]

What type of maths?

[Rixion]

What type of maths?
just Mathematics, not Further

[Teabags]

Other than geog. you shouldn't have any essays/ coursework to do.
Revisionwise you taken on loads - can't really give you much advice as such but make sure you can do it all inside out.
Could have like post it note revision cards in and around the house. and like from the start go back to your old work/notes like two weeks/ month, 12 weeks, etc - easier to learn it, than try to remember how to work it out later.

[LoveToStack]

For maths just do as many past papers as you can. You don't really need to memorize anything just because of the nature of the subject. One thing I do remember memorizing though were the integrals of ex.sin(x) and ex.cos(x) and their derivations because they were so weird.

[Rixion]

Other than geog. you shouldn't have any essays/ coursework to do.

Well the teacher said there's no coursework/essays on the Geo course, so it might all be exams, except in Biology there's some coursework apparently

[Futz]

just Mathematics, not Further

I think he meant, mechanics or statistics.

[DieselShaq]

I took physics, mathematics and biology myself and the only one that really requires memorizing was biology. Mathematics just needs a lot of practice and physics was more about understanding the concepts than anything.

[GirlNextDoor15]

I'm gonna take biology, chemistry and maths(dunno further or not) for sure.
do we have to read out of the syllabus for biology subjects and for chem, how's it like?
is further maths complicated?

[Chippiewill]

is further maths complicated?
I'm only on my first year so I'm not doing any of the further modules yet but if you're considering doing further maths then really the only thing that you could possibly struggle with is the pace and generally you have to put in a lot more work outside of lessons not for homework but to make sure you have a proper grasp of a topic as you won't do it for very long.

From what I've read the further modules involve a lot of what you'd do in the first term at university for studying maths.

As long as you get an A* at GCSE (Or if you're doing Additional Maths just an A) then you should be fine for at least the first year.

[GirlNextDoor15]

I'm only on my first year so I'm not doing any of the further modules yet but if you're considering doing further maths then really the only thing that you could possibly struggle with is the pace and generally you have to put in a lot more work outside of lessons not for homework but to make sure you have a proper grasp of a topic as you won't do it for very long.

From what I've read the further modules involve a lot of what you'd do in the first term at university for studying maths.

As long as you get an A* at GCSE (Or if you're doing Additional Maths just an A) then you should be fine for at least the first year.

I got an A* for Maths and A for Add Maths. If I were to take this subject, what is it mainly for?

[Chippiewill]

I got an A* for Maths and A for Add Maths. If I were to take this subject, what is it mainly for?
Taking Maths at any Russel Group university or taking Maths with any other subject at any university or it looks really good on a UCAS form for anything like engineering, science etc.

Stats is really good for lots of subjects so if you don't want to do maths at university in any way then the stats modules are a good idea.

Don't do the second year of further maths if you want to study English or something as most universities would rather that you show you are good at more than one thing.

[Nemo]

I'm only on my first year so I'm not doing any of the further modules yet but if you're considering doing further maths then really the only thing that you could possibly struggle with is the pace and generally you have to put in a lot more work outside of lessons not for homework but to make sure you have a proper grasp of a topic as you won't do it for very long.

From what I've read the further modules involve a lot of what you'd do in the first term at university for studying maths.

As long as you get an A* at GCSE (Or if you're doing Additional Maths just an A) then you should be fine for at least the first year.

Im on my 2nd year now (AQA) and i pretty much agree with Chippie. In the first year we did Further Pure 1, Mechanics 2 and Decision 1. The only hard thing there was M2 and that was because of 1) the pace and 2) M2 is really ****** hard. So unless you're able to work A LOT or have a good understanding of mechanics (i have horrible understanding), it will bring your grade down.

2nd year is the rest of the FPs (FP2, FP3, FP4) and so far everything is pretty standard. They're quite complicated, but if you're good at maths and particularly core/calculus, you should be fine. There's nothing i've come across yet which wouldn't stick in my head if i practiced it.


Also just gonna reiterate the fact that you really have to do work outside the lesson. In my college, we only have 3 periods of Further Maths a week, whilst every other subject has 6. So you're having half the lesson time with a lot more work. So you have to do something outside of that.

oh, and good luck with physics. blegh.

[cocaine]

physics was very hard. it's good you're doing maths as they're basically the same. physics was mainly mechanics and suvat equations etc etc

[GirlNextDoor15]

i swear to god i wont take physics again. i've always HATED that subject!!!!

[Matthew]

I got an A* for Maths and A for Add Maths. If I were to take this subject, what is it mainly for?
Because you got an A in Add maths, you'll already have met the basics of the maths a-levels and so you'll probably find no problems in keeping up or whatever.

I'm taking additional maths now by the way; I took my gcse early and like you got an A* :)

[Rixion]

i'm a bit confused is additional maths an extra gcse or a-level? i've got a B, possible A in my normal maths GCSE so it should suffice?:S

[Chippiewill]

Additional Maths is a Free-standing Mathematics Qualification equivalent to really an extra GCSE or 20 (Or 10?) UCAS Points


Im on my 2nd year now (AQA) and i pretty much agree with Chippie. In the first year we did Further Pure 1, Mechanics 2 and Decision 1. The only hard thing there was M2 and that was because of 1) the pace and 2) M2 is really ****** hard. So unless you're able to work A LOT or have a good understanding of mechanics (i have horrible understanding), it will bring your grade down.
Wow, the AQA Fmaths is really weird setup. The OCR one is really nice, Core1-4, Stats1 and Mech1 first year, Further Pure 1-3, D1 and then [S2 and M2] or [M2 and M3] or [S2 and D2].

I'm personally finding Mechanics an absolute doddle, then again I'm pretty good at Physics as well.


Also just gonna reiterate the fact that you really have to do work outside the lesson. In my college, we only have 3 periods of Further Maths a week, whilst every other subject has 6. So you're having half the lesson time with a lot more work. So you have to do something outside of that.
Three?! I have ten periods, two more than every other subject. What exactly is the thinking behind three less periods a week on other subjects?

But yeah, extra work is a must, also because you cover so many modules in a year it's a good idea to keep practicing the ones you're not studying so you don't have to do as much revision when it comes to exam time.


I got an A* for Maths and A for Add Maths. If I were to take this subject, what is it mainly for?
I'd like to add to an earlier point that Ad maths is most of Core 1 and Core 2 so essentially you can sprint right through those.

[Matthew]

i'm a bit confused is additional maths an extra gcse or a-level? i've got a B, possible A in my normal maths GCSE so it should suffice?:S
If you only get a B in your GCSE then I'd suggest that you might find further maths a bit hard :P

[Nemo]

Additional Maths is a Free-standing Mathematics Qualification equivalent to really an extra GCSE or 20 (Or 10?) UCAS Points


Wow, the AQA Fmaths is really weird setup. The OCR one is really nice, Core1-4, Stats1 and Mech1 first year, Further Pure 1-3, D1 and then [S2 and M2] or [M2 and M3] or [S2 and D2].

I'm personally finding Mechanics an absolute doddle, then again I'm pretty good at Physics as well.

In normal amths we do C1 + C2 + M1 in the first year, and then C3 + C4 + S1 in the second year, so that combined with further maths kinda gives you what you're doing I guess. It's a bit weird really.

Oh, M1 is a doddle, just wait til you get to M2. It's a whole other kettle of fish, even for those that found physics alright, it's still really hard.



Three?! I have ten periods, two more than every other subject. What exactly is the thinking behind three less periods a week on other subjects?


Honestly? **** knows. It makes no sense at all lol and we just about get by.... i guess.

[MizzBex]

I'm in my first year of A levels and I do physics, chemistry, maths and further maths. Physics is not too hard, and I've got really good teachers for it which helps :) Chemistry and maths are ok aswell. I've found further maths quite hard, the further pure modules seem to have a lot to learn so far, but if you have a good knowledge of maths then it would be a good subject to take. I've also done decision 1, which is really easy, just certain things to memorize really.

[Kardan]

Im on my 2nd year now (AQA) and i pretty much agree with Chippie. In the first year we did Further Pure 1, Mechanics 2 and Decision 1. The only hard thing there was M2 and that was because of 1) the pace and 2) M2 is really ****** hard. So unless you're able to work A LOT or have a good understanding of mechanics (i have horrible understanding), it will bring your grade down.

2nd year is the rest of the FPs (FP2, FP3, FP4) and so far everything is pretty standard. They're quite complicated, but if you're good at maths and particularly core/calculus, you should be fine. There's nothing i've come across yet which wouldn't stick in my head if i practiced it.


Also just gonna reiterate the fact that you really have to do work outside the lesson. In my college, we only have 3 periods of Further Maths a week, whilst every other subject has 6. So you're having half the lesson time with a lot more work. So you have to do something outside of that.

oh, and good luck with physics. blegh.

For AQA Further I did FP1, S1 and D2 at AS and FP2, FP3 and FP4 at A2. Really wanted to do S2 and M2 over FP2 and FP3 (We did FP4 in January). Got A's in FP1, S1, D2 and FP4, and got D's in FP2 and FP3 to get me a B overall :| We also had less time for Further because of scheduling issues, although we only had 3 students in the class...

As for the topic on hand, Maths is pretty straight forward and routine. Physics you may have practical coursework depending on your exam board, I did. We also had half of an exam that was multiple choice questions (although the questions were actually pretty hard). I found the courseworks a lot harder than the exams, but luckily, the exams are worth a lot more. This was with AQA by the way :)

Geography I tried for a month and dropped simply because I was into wordy answers and writing essays in exams and Biology I never took because it clashed with Further Maths :)

[Mr-Trainor]

i'm a bit confused is additional maths an extra gcse or a-level? i've got a B, possible A in my normal maths GCSE so it should suffice?:S
Additional maths counts as an extra A Level. At my college you needed an A at GCSE maths to do it, so if you've only got a B then it'd be best to just to maths imo (I.e. not further maths).

[Rixion]

Additional maths counts as an extra A Level. At my college you needed an A at GCSE maths to do it, so if you've only got a B then it'd be best to just to maths imo (I.e. not further maths).
Ohh so Add Maths and Further are one in the same, well they must be because the college i'm going to requires B for Maths and A for Further, it's fine anyway since i'm not going to be going near Further anyhow! :)

[Nemo]

For AQA Further I did FP1, S1 and D2 at AS and FP2, FP3 and FP4 at A2. Really wanted to do S2 and M2 over FP2 and FP3 (We did FP4 in January). Got A's in FP1, S1, D2 and FP4, and got D's in FP2 and FP3 to get me a B overall :| We also had less time for Further because of scheduling issues, although we only had 3 students in the class...

As for the topic on hand, Maths is pretty straight forward and routine. Physics you may have practical coursework depending on your exam board, I did. We also had half of an exam that was multiple choice questions (although the questions were actually pretty hard). I found the courseworks a lot harder than the exams, but luckily, the exams are worth a lot more. This was with AQA by the way :)

Geography I tried for a month and dropped simply because I was into wordy answers and writing essays in exams and Biology I never took because it clashed with Further Maths :)
We've almost finished FP3 and have finished FP2, and i can assure you that M2 was WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY harder than both of them put together. Then again, you managed physics so you might have been ok. You certainly didn't miss out either way. We too, only have 3 people in the class, last year had 4 :P. TIS A PRETTY POPULAR SUBJECT EH?

[Kardan]

We've almost finished FP3 and have finished FP2, and i can assure you that M2 was WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY harder than both of them put together. Then again, you managed physics so you might have been ok. You certainly didn't miss out either way. We too, only have 3 people in the class, last year had 4 :P. TIS A PRETTY POPULAR SUBJECT EH?

I still would have preferred my chances at M2 I reckon, I got an A in Physics and an A in M1. A girl who took M2 for Further Maths AS in her own time got an A in it aswell, but the other 2 people in my class wanted to do FP2/FP3 over it, so :( I still blame them now, they got D's aswell :P