Mathematics

Course summary

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to: • understand mathematics and mathematical processes in a way that promotes confidence, fosters enjoyment and provides a strong foundation for progress to further study and extend their range of mathematical skills and techniques. • understand coherence and progression in mathematics and how different areas of mathematics are connected. • apply mathematics in other fields of study and be aware of the relevance of mathematics to the world of work and situations in society in general. • use their mathematical knowledge to make logical and reasoned decisions in solving problems both within pure mathematics and in a variety of contexts, and communicate the mathematical rationale for these decisions. • reason logically and recognise incorrect reasoning. • generalise mathematically. • construct mathematical proofs. • use their mathematical skills and techniques to solve challenging problems that require them to decide on the solution strategy. • recognise when mathematics can be used to analyse and solve a problem in context. • represent situations mathematically and understand the relationship between problems in context and mathematical models that may be applied to solve them. • draw diagrams and sketch graphs to help explore mathematical situations and interpret • make deductions and inferences and conclude by using mathematical reasoning. • interpret solutions and communicate their interpretation effectively in the context of the problem. • read and comprehend mathematical arguments, including justifications of methods and formulae, and communicate their understanding. • read and comprehend articles concerning applications of mathematics and communicate their understanding. • use technology such as calculators and computers effectively and recognise when their use may be inappropriate. • take increasing responsibility for their learning and the evaluation of their mathematical development. The A-level Mathematics course has been split into three units, Pure 1, Pure 2 and Statistics and Mechanics. Pure 1 is designed to be covered in Year 12 and then built upon in Year 13. Statistics and Mechanics are covered in Year 12 and then built upon in Year 13. A brief outline of each unit is given below: Pure 1: Proof, Algebra and functions, Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane, Sequences and series, Trigonometry, Exponentials and logarithms, Differentiation, Integration, Vectors. Pure 2: Proof, Algebra and functions, Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane, Sequences and series, Trigonometry, Differentiation, Integration, and Numerical methods. Statistics and Mechanics: Section A: Statistics: Statistical sampling, Data presentation and interpretation, Probability, Statistical distributions, Statistical hypothesis testing. Section B: Mechanics: Quantities and units in mechanics, Kinematics, Forces and Newton’s laws, Moments.