Pure Maths A Level

Pure Maths A Level

Open Plan A Levels
 
Do you need an A Level within 12 months to get into University?
 
We now offer a range of A Levels where we guarantee to prioritise the marking of your coursework so you are fully ready to take your exams in January and June of each year.
 
You will have to find a testing centre in your area to check on the cut off dates for coursework.

 
Specification
 
This course follows the AQA Specification 6360.
 
Course Overview
 
There are 3 modules at AS level :  MPC1, MPC2 and MFP1
 
and 3 at A2 level:  MPC3, MPC4 and MFP3.
 
AS Level
Unit MCP1 – Pure Core 1
Algebra
Quadratic functions
Differentiation
Integration
 
Unit MCP2 – Pure Core 2
Algebra and Functions
Sequences and Series
Trigonometry
Exponentials and logarithms
Differentiation
Integration
 
Unit MFP1 – Further Pure 1
Algebra and Graphs
Complex Numbers
Roots and Coefficients of a quadratic equation
Series
Calculus
Numerical Methods
Trigonometry
Matrices and Transformations
 
A2 Level
Unit MFP1 – Pure Core 3
Algebra and Functions
Trigonometry
Exponentials and Logarithms
Differentiation
Integration
Numerical Methods
 
Unit MCP4 – Pure Core 4
Algebra and Functions
Coordinate Geometry in the (x, y) plane
Sequences and Series
Trigonometry
Exponentials and Logarithms
Differentiation and Integration
Vectors
 
Unit MFP3 – Further Pure 3
Series and Limits
Polar Coordinates
Differential Equations
Differential Equations – First Order
Differential Equations – Second Order
 
There is one examination for each module, and no coursework.
 
Each exam can be taken in January or May/June of each year.
 
A student who passes all three AS level modules achieves the qualification AS Pure Mathematics.
 
Passes in the 3 A2 level modules are then required to achieve the qualification A level Pure Mathematics.
 
The course builds on work covered in GCSE Maths at Higher Level.
 
You need to be familiar with all the mathematics at this level, and your skills should be at least up to Grade B standard.  If you have not studied maths for some time, it would be advisable to brush up your skills by revising some of the Higher Level GCSE topics.  One way to do this is on the BBC website "GCSE Bitesize" which provides an interactive revision programme.
 
This A level course is designed for students working at home.  The topics are presented in small "chunks" with worked examples followed by activities for the student.  Revision tests are provided after every three or four sections, and there is a Test Paper at the end of each module, which is a mock exam, so you should revise the content of the module before you do the Test Paper.
 
You will need a graphics calculator, but you will also need to be skilled in manipulating numbers without using a calculator.  In particular, no calculator is allowed in the exam for the first module, and the work in this module is built around working out answers without a calculator.
 
The course is self-contained; you can learn everything you need by working through the materials provided.  But if you want to read the same content elsewhere, the best resource is the series of books written especially for the AQA Specification.  These are published by Oxford University Press, and the series title is "Advanced Maths for AQA".  The books relevant to this course are:
 
Core Maths C1 + C2, Core Maths C3 + C4, and Further Pure FP1.  At the time of writing, OUP had not published a book for the module FP3, though this may be in preparation.  A large part of the content of FP3 is Differential Equations, and there are many textbooks which cover this topic.
 
Beyond this, there are many other mathematics textbooks, too numerous to list, but the Internet is probably a better additional resource for help with particular topics.  Many academic institutions provide websites presenting mathematical topics with practice questions.  A search, for example, on "area under a curve" will bring up several web pages which you should find helpful.
 
On this course you work at your own pace.  You need to do some forward planning to work out when you will be ready to take the exams, and you will need to register your exam entries at the appropriate time.  All administrative details are given in the specification, which you can download from the AQA website.

 
Examination Centres
 
UK Open Learning provides expertise support and advice for students in their studies through their comprehensive course packs and tutoring system.

However, we do stress that it is the student’s responsibility to find a centre to register and take their exams with. We are aware that sometimes this is difficult or even impossible to arrange.


Now we have come to an arrangement with centres in Birmingham, Bristol and Harrogate so please contact them directly for fees and a timetable.

 
We realise this may still involve a good deal of travelling for some students but the long-term benefits of being able to gain A Levels far outweigh the short-term expense and inconvenience.
 

Please visit AQA for exam information.
 
http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php
 
In some cases you should be prepared to travel to another town or city to take your exams.
 
The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre  and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre.