AS level Mathematics Handbook
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Contents
Welcome
General Aims
The Specification
AS Further Mathematics
Structure of the Course
Progression to A Level.
Student Guidelines
How am I progressing with my course
Induction Exercises
If you would be a real seeker after truth, you must at least once in your life doubt, as far as possible, all things.
Discours de la Méthode. 1637. Descartes, René (1596-1650)
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Welcome The Mathematics team would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Barnet College and hope that you will find your study of mathematics enjoyable, challenging and successful.
General Aims of the Course
To increase the accessibility of mathematics whilst maintaining the rigour required at this level.
To make the study of mathematics more attractive, enjoyable and challenging to you.
To develop your ability and confidence in applying the mathematical knowledge and skills you acquire to a variety of situations and applications.
To develop an appreciation of how mathematical ideas help in interpreting and predicting the world in which you live.
To develop the ability to make appropriate mathematical use of technology.
To enable you to acquire a sound base of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and discipline required for further study in mathematics, in other subjects and for employment.
"History becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe..." Herbert George Wells.
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AS Mathematics - The Specification You will be studying EDEXCEL Mathematics, leading to an AS (Advanced Subsidiary) Level in Mathematics. You will have to take a unit in either Mechanics or Statistics whilst following two compulsory units in Core Mathematics. Compulsory First Year Units Unit C1
(Core Mathematics 1)
Content
Algebra and Functions Coordinate Geometry in the (x, y) plane Sequences and Series Differentiation Integration
Assessment 1 Written Paper
[Pure Mathematics]
1hour 30mins
1/3 of the whole AS
Calculators may not be used in this module. Calculators may be used in all other modules. Unit C2
(Core Mathematics 2)
Content
Algebra and Functions Coordinate Geometry in the (x, y) plane Sequences and Series Trigonometry Differentiation Integration
Assessment 1 Written Paper
[Pure Mathematics]
1hour 30mins
1/3 of the whole AS
Your third unit will depend on whether you choose the mechanics or statistics option.
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Application Units Unit M1
(Mechanics 1)
Content
Mathematical Models in Mechanics Vectors in Mechanics Kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line Dynamics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane Statics of a particle Moments
Assessment 1 Written Paper
1hour 30mins
1/3 of the whole AS
Unit S1
(Statistics 1)
Content
Mathematical models in probability and statistics Representation and summary of data Probability Correlation and regression Discrete random variables The Normal distribution
Assessment 1 Written Paper
1hour 30mins
1/3 of the whole AS
In the Second Year you will study C3 (Core Mathematics 3), C4 (Core Mathematics 4) and another application module and then your marks for all six of your modules studied throughout your two years will be combined to give you A Level Mathematics. Your tutors will gladly answer any queries you have about the syllabus, but if you require further information you can ask the A level coordinator Viera Ferrar. Alternatively you may wish to contact EDEXCEL directly.
Problem Meg and Gabriel each have some money and want to buy a cake but neither has enough money. Meg is 24p short and Gabriel is 2p short. They decide to put their money together to buy the cake but find they are still short. How much was the cake?....
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Structure of the Full Time AS Maths Course. Board – EDEXCEL (full specification can be found at www.edexcel.org.uk )
Start AS 12 Weeks
TUTOR 1 2 1 ½ Hour Classes per Week
TUTOR 2 1 1 ½ Hour Classes per Week
EXAMS
INDUCTION, C1 teaching starts
INDUCTION, 2 weeks algebra
Induction Test
C1
2 weeks Christmas
S1or M1
Mid Term Assessment
C2
Mock exam C1
Revision, External exam C1
C1 exam Half Term - Mid Term Assessment
C2 Easter
2 weeks
REVISION
REVISION
End AS Teaching
C1, C2, S1/M1
External exam C2 End AS Year
External Exam S1orM1
Progression to A2
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AS FURTHER MATHEMATICS – The Specification Provided you achieve at least a grade A at GCSE Mathematics and are studying AS Mathematics, it may be possible to study for an AS in Further Mathematics (you must have enough GCSE grades to have an extra AS level).
Further Mathematics is now required by majority mathematics, physics and engineering degree courses at universities. This will consist of the following three modules. Compulsory Unit is Unit FP1
(Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Content
Complex Numbers Numerical Solution of Equations Coordinate Systems Matrix Algebra Series Proof
Assessment 1 Written Paper
1hour 30mins
1/3 of the whole AS
Other 2 application units are either Unit D1
(Decision Mathematics 1)
Content
Algorithms Algorithms on Graphs The Route Inspection Problem Critical Path Analysis Linear Programming Matchings
Assessment 1 Written Paper
1hour 30mins
Unit M1 or S1 or D2
(Mechanics 1 or Statistics 1 or Decision Maths 2)
1/3 of the whole AS
You will be required to join an AS Mathematics class in order to take either S1 or M1. Please see the AS Mathematics Specification Assessment 1 Written Paper 1hour 30mins 1/3 of the whole AS each The units will be carefully chosen by your teacher so you can cash in your AS Further maths qualification.
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STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE – AS Mathematics You will be taught by usually by two tutors for a total of 4 ½ hours of mathematics per week. Please see the year plan for details of the modules taught by the two tutors. You will be set approximately 5 hours of homework each week. You will sit short tests regularly and a mock examinations. You will be sitting first module Core Maths 1 in early January. The entry will also depend on a good record of attendance and work completion. You will have chance to re-sit this module in May but will need to pay for this resit. Please note that there are 2 other exams in the same week and you will need to study for those too. Make sure you put a lot of effort into January exam. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL LESSONS ARE COMPULSARY AND ALL HOMEWORK MUST BE ATTEMPTED. Failure to do either may result in disciplinary and you not being entered for the AS maths qualifications.
PROGRESSION In order to progress to the Advanced Level Mathematics in year 2 you must obtain at least a grade D in the AS examination in year 1, together with a good record of attendance and work completion.
The infinite! No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man... David Hilbert mathematician (1862-1943)
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STUDENT GUIDELINES
The following guidelines are intended to help you to organise your studies efficiently and effectively. All students studying mathematics are expected to adhere to them. Folders and records will be checked regularly by both tutors and Curriculum Manager.
Keep the work for the two tutors separate. Have two distinct files or separate with a divider. Ensure that all work is filed in an organised way.
Class and homework must be completed on A4 paper. For each separate piece of work you hand in you should write the name of the unit, page number, exercise number, date and name of tutor so that you can easily refer back to it. When returned after marking, it must be filed in the correct order.
You are expected to hand in all set homework completed and to a high standard. Take pride in your work.
If you are having difficulty with the homework then you must seek help from your tutor. You must do this before the homework is due so don’t leave it until the night before.
In mathematics you are constantly building on the previous week’s work so you must get into the habit of going over the class notes, relevant examples and explanations in the text book after each class. In this way you will come to the next class with a clear understanding of what has been covered and this will enable you to gain more from it. This will also increase your confidence.
If you are absent from class it is your responsibility to copy up any notes and complete all set class and homework. Homework must still be handed in to your tutor.
During the course you will be taking a number of tests and exams. Keep these scripts together in an exam practice file for revision purposes.
Keep a list of problem areas and make sure you seek extra support by asking your tutor at appropriate times. Keep this list up to date.
Why are circular manholes better than square or rectangular ones? 18, 46, 94, 63, 52, … What is the next number in the sequence?
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How am I progressing with my Course? By looking at your previous GCSE results it is possible to estimate the minimum grade or level you should be performing at in each subject, module or unit. This is called the target minimum grade or TMG for short. Clearly, the lower the average GCSE score, the lower the TMG. The higher the average GCSE score is, the higher the TMG. This minimum grade is not what we expect you to achieve. We expect you to achieve your potential, which should be higher than your TMG. The TMG just represents an average across the country and is affected by students who do not achieve their potential. In your initial one-to-one tutorial with your personal tutor, you will calculate and record your TMG for each subject, module or course. This will be entered on your monitoring form and on the review record sheet. As you progress through the course your subject tutors will give you and your personal tutor feedback on your progress and ‘an estimated grade at this time’. This is based on your overall progress to date and is an estimate of what you are likely to achieve if you continue in the same way. If your estimated grade at this time matches or is higher than your TMG then Well Done! If your estimated grade is below your TMG then both your personal tutor and you will discuss how you can improve. This may include a number of strategies or targets for you such as
Full punctual attendance to all classes. Completion of all set work by the deadlines set.
(The Student Conduct procedure will be applied to ensure the two targets above.)
Organising your study time. Attendance to specific workshops to get extra help with work. Using the ILC to research and read around the topics. Regularly going over the previous week’s work before a class in order to maximise understanding. Take more pride in the presentation of your work. Organising your work and files. Enlisting support through the various college student services
As the course progresses your estimated grade will become more a more accurate predictor and will inform both references for progression, employment and UCAS.
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