Wakefield Girls’ High School Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield
Course Guide
AS-level Mathematics
Mathematics
Background Knowledge and Qualifications
What kind of things do I do on this course?
You will be expected to have achieved at least a grade 7 in GCSE Maths.
Pure Mathematics
Course Description Mathematics at AS-level is a course worth studying in its own right. It is challenging but interesting. It builds on work you will have met at GCSE, but also looks at new ideas. It serves as a very useful support for many other A level courses that have a Mathematical content, as well as being a sought after qualification for the workplace and courses in Higher Education. While studying Mathematics you will be expected to: – use mathematical skills and knowledge to solve problems – solve more complicated problems by using mathematical arguments and logic. You will also have to understand and demonstrate what is meant by proof in mathematics – simplify real life situations so that you can use mathematics to explore and model what is happening and what might happen in different circumstances – use the mathematics that you learn to solve problems that are given to you in a real-life context – use calculator technology and other resources (such as the internet, formulae booklets or statistical tables) effectively and appropriately; use graphical and geometrical software – understand when not to use such technology and its limitations
Applied Mathematics – Statistics
Statistics is of importance to everyone who wants to be able to look critically at numerical information When studying pure mathematics and not be misled. Statistics models at AS-level you will be extending your real world problems and then seeks knowledge of such topics as algebra to analyse these using mathematical and trigonometry as well as learning techniques. Such problems include some new ideas such as calculus and finding ways to make a business logarithms. If you enjoy the challenge more profitable right through to of problem solving at GCSE using improving living standards and such techniques then you should fighting cancer. Statistics involves: find the prospect of this course very investigative questioning, designing appealing. Although many of the ways to collect data to answer those ideas you will meet in pure questions, collecting data, and mathematics are interesting in their making sense of what that data says own right, they also serve as an to produce reliable answers. Many of important foundation for other the ideas you will meet in the course branches of mathematics. form an essential introduction to such important modern fields of Applied Mathematics – Mechanics study as actuarial science, biology and chemistry, econometrics, When you study mechanics you will cybernetics, robotics, biomechanics learn how to describe the motion of and sports science, as well as the objects and how they respond to more traditional ideas of engineering forces acting upon them, from cars and physics. in the street to satellites revolving around a planet. You will learn the technique of mathematical modelling; Use of Course that is, of turning a complicated and Qualification physical problem into a simpler one that can be analysed and solved An AS-level in Mathematics using mathematical methods. The complements a wide variety of other ideas used in mechanics form an A-level subjects e.g. Chemistry, essential foundation to the more Geography, Psychology. There are complex situations encountered by, also many areas of employment that among others, engineers, architects, see a Mathematics AS-level as an physicists and sports scientists. important qualification and it is often a requirement for the vocational qualifications related to these areas.
Some Higher Education courses or careers that either require AS-level Mathematics or for which it might be highly beneficial include: – Physics – Engineering – Architecture – Surveying – Computing and Computer Science – Natural Sciences – Medicine - Dentistry – Information Technology – Economics – Actuarial Science – Insurance – Accountancy – Other Finance Related Courses – Teaching and Education – Operational Research – Communication – Logistics – Psychology – Environmental Studies – Civil Service and Public Sector
Student Testimonial Year 13 student Proposed University Course: Chemical Engineering
Mathematics has given me a great challenge and stretches my mathematical abilities. I have learnt how to think about problems logically and carefully. Mathematics will be of great benefit during my chosen university course and in later life.
Technical Information A-level A-level Course Title
Unit Code
Awarding Body
Mathematics
SMAO
Edexcel
WGHS Senior School (Girls 11-18 years) Wentworth Street Wakefield WF1 2QS Telephone: 01924 372 490 Email: office@wghsss.org.uk Twitter: @WGHSYorkshire www.wgsf.org.uk
A-level Examinations: Name
Method of Assessment
Marks
Paper 1: Pure Mathematics 1
2 Hours
100 Marks
Paper 2: Statistics and Mechanics
1 Hour 15 mins
60 Marks