Further Mathematics

Examination Board: Edexcel

The Further Mathematics A-level is for those girls who really enjoy the subject, and are very good at it. There is no requirement that girls have followed the GCSE Further Mathematics course that we offer as an enrichment in Year 11, however, it is a demanding course and should only be undertaken by the most enthusiastic and able mathematicians. For this reason, Further Mathematics can only be taken as a fourth A-level choice, and must be chosen alongside the 'single subject' Mathematics A-level choice. Girls choosing this double Mathematics option will find that half of their timetabled lessons are allocated to Mathematics lessons, and they will sit 12 hours of Mathematics exams at the end of Year 13, which includes the six hours of exams (three two-hour papers) sat by girls choosing the Mathematics option.

In the single subject, girls have no choice in their topics of study, however, in the Further Mathematics A-level they will. All girls studying Further Mathematics A-level will have to sit four 90-minute papers; two of which cover topics in Pure Mathematics and are compulsory, with the remaining two papers being selected from a variety of different options. This allows girls to tailor half of their Further Mathematics A-level: they could choose to specialise in Mechanics, Statistics or Decision Mathematics (this is the mathematics of algorithms and is relevant to optimisation problems and computer programming). Alternatively, they may choose the two Further Pure Mathematics options and thereby have an A-level comprised entirely of Pure Mathematics. Alternatively, they may choose two different, non-consecutive modules for a broader experience of the subject.

Paper 1 – Further Pure Mathematics 1

Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (75 marks)

All questions are compulsory. Calculators can be used.

Proof; Complex Numbers, Matrices; Further Algebra and Functions, Further Differentiation and Integration, Further Vectors.

Paper 2 – Further Pure Mathematics 2

Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (75 marks)

All questions are compulsory. Calculators can be used.

Complex Numbers, Further Algebra and Functions, Further Differentiation and Integration, Polar Coordinates, Hyperbolic Functions, Differential Equations.

Paper 3 – Further Mathematics Option 1

Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (75 marks)

All questions are compulsory. Calculators can be used.

Girls choose one of the following four options: 3A: Further Pure Mathematics 3 (FP3) 3B: Further Statistics 1 (FS1) 3C: Further Mechanics 1 (FM1) 3D: Decision Maths 1 (DM1)

Paper 4 – Further Mathematics Option 2

Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (75 marks)

All questions are compulsory. Calculators can be used.

Girls choose one of the following four options: 4A: Further Pure Mathematics 4 (If FP3 was chosen for Paper 3) 4B: Further Statistics 1

4C: Further Statistics 2 (If FS1 was chosen for Paper 3) 4D: Further Mechanics 1

4E: Further Mechanics 2 (If FM1 was chosen for Paper 3) 4F: Decision Maths 1

4G: Decision Maths 2 (If DM1 was chosen for Paper 3)