Wakefield Girls’ High School Wakefield

Technical Information WGHS Senior School (Girls 11-18 years) Course Guide A-level Wentworth Street Wakefield WF1 2QS A-level Unit Awarding Telephone: 01924 372 490 Course Title Code Body Email: [email protected] Twitter: @WGHSYorkshire Further 9FM0 Edexcel A-level www.wgsf.org.uk

A-level Examinations: Further Mathematics Name Method of Marks Assessment Paper 1: Further 1 Hour 30 mins 75 Marks 1 Paper 2: Further 1 Hour 30 mins 75 Marks Pure Mathematics 2 Further Mathematics 1 Hour 30 mins 75 Marks Option 1: – Further – Further Mechanics – Decision Maths Further Mathematics 1 Hour 30 mins 75 Marks Option 2: – Further Statistics – Further Mechanics – Decision Maths Further Mathematics

Background Knowledge What kind of things do Further Statistics include optimisation – finding the and Qualifications I do on this course? most efficient solution to the problem Statistics is of importance to – and employ methods which are You will be expected to have When studying Further Pure everyone who wants to be able to applicable to many real world achieved at least a grade 7 (A or Mathematics at A-level you will be look critically at numerical information situations. There are important above) in GCSE Maths. You may only extending your knowledge of such and not be misled. Statistics models applications of decision mathematics choose Further Mathematics if you topics as algebra, trigonometry, real world problems and then seeks in a broad range of disciplines; from are opting to study Mathematics. and logarithms as well as to analyse these using mathematical electronic circuits to the scheduling learning some new ideas such as techniques. Such problems include of tasks in the construction industry, complex numbers, polar coordinates, finding ways to make a business from computer science to logistics. Course Description formal mathematical proof, differential more profitable right through to equations and matrices. If you improving living standards and Further Mathematics includes the genuinely get a ‘bit of a thrill’ out of fighting cancer. You will look at Use of Course pure and applied topics from the solving mathematical problems, then techniques to interrogate large data and Qualification Mathematics A-level which are you should find the prospect of this sets using ICT which is a valuable explored at greater depth as well course very appealing. If you are skill in the modern age of “big data”. An A-level in Further Mathematics is as introducing new concepts. interested in studying mathematics a much sought after qualification for Statistics involves: investigative for its own sake, and you want to see entry to a variety of full-time courses While studying Further Mathematics questioning, designing ways to ‘just how deep the rabbit hole goes’, in Higher Education. There are also you will be expected to: collect data to answer those then this is the course for you! many areas of employment that see questions, collecting data, and – use mathematical skills and Although many of the ideas you will a Further Mathematics A-level as an making sense of what that data says knowledge to solve problems meet in Further Mathematics are important qualification and it is often to produce reliable answers. You will interesting in their own right, they a requirement for the vocational encounter more sophisticated ways – solve more complicated problems also serve as an important foundation qualifications related to these areas. of processing and analysing data. by using mathematical arguments for other branches of Mathematics. Some Higher Education courses or and logic. You will also have to Many of the ideas you will meet in the careers that either requires A-level understand and demonstrate what Further Mechanics course form an essential introduction Further Mathematics or for which it is meant by proof in mathematics to such important modern fields of might be beneficial include: When you study mechanics you will study as actuarial science, biology – simplify real life situations so that learn how to describe the motion of and chemistry, econometrics, – Actuarial Science/Studies you can use Mathematics to objects and how they respond to cybernetics, robotics, climatology, – Accountancy and other finance explore and model what is forces acting upon them, from cars in biomechanics and sports science, related courses happening and what might happen the street to satellites revolving as well as the more traditional ideas – Aeronautical Engineering in different circumstances around a planet. You will learn the of engineering and physics. – Biochemistry technique of mathematical modelling; – Biomedical Sciences (including – use the mathematics that you learn that is, of turning a complicated Decision Mathematics medicine) to solve problems that are given to physical problem into a simpler one – Chemical Engineering This looks, amongst other things, at you in a real-life context that can be analysed and solved – Chemistry how to solve problems involving using mathematical methods. The – Computing – use calculator technology and other networks (e.g. computer, road, rail ideas used in mechanics form an – Electrical/Electronic Engineering resources (such as the internet, and telephone networks). Problems essential foundation to the more – Engineering (General) formulae booklets or statistical might include finding the shortest complex situations encountered by, – Insurance Student Testimonial tables) effectively and appropriately; route by road from one city to another among others, engineers, architects, – Mathematics use graphical and geometrical or perhaps the cheapest way of physicists and sports scientists. – Mechanical Engineering Year 13 student Studying Mathematics software; understand when not to laying telephone cables to connect – Optometry (Ophthalmic Optics) Proposed University and Further Mathematics has use such technology and its towns. You meet a range of methods, – Physics Course: Economics developed my problem solving limitations. or algorithms, which enable such – Teaching and Education and independent study skills. problems to be tackled. Other topics – Veterinary Science The analytical nature of the subject can be transferred to many university courses.