Mathematics (Further)

Course summary

In Further Mathematics, half of the content is compulsory, which has been decided nationally. Throughout the course there is a greater emphasis on problem solving, modelling and reasoning. We have chosen OCR (MEI) H645, which is the closest in content and intention to the very successful modular specification we followed since 1995. There will be three terminal papers: a 2 hour 40 minute paper covering the core pure content, a 2 hour 15 minute paper in mechanics, and a 1 hour 15 minute statistics paper. The core pure content, which is common to all awarding bodies, includes further algebra, calculus and vectors, and introductions to new topics such as complex numbers, matrices and hyperbolic functions. The mechanics content includes collisions and circular motion and applications of calculus to such things as centres of mass. The statistics paper will include work on new probability distributions, correlation and regression, and the chi-squared test (which may overlap with statistical work in, say, Biology and Geography). Further mathematicians will study the A-level Pure and Mechanics content in Year 12, as well as the AS Level Pure Content. The rest will be taught in year 13. Therefore we have decided that we will not enter candidates for the Mathematics A level examinations in Year 12. They would be required to sit all their exams at the end of the 2 years.