Over the two years, you will study Pure Maths, Statistics and Mechanics. The Pure Maths extends the GCSE work on algebra, co-ordinate geometry, vectors and trigonometry and introduces you to exponential and logarithmic functions and calculus.
Mechanics and Statistics both involve the modelling of real-world situations using appropriate techniques; Mechanics relating to the physical world and Statistics to the presentation and handling of data.
A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including a grade 6 in GCSE Maths. However, this is the absolute minimum recommendation and students are more likely to be successful with a grade 7 or above.
| Assessment | Assessment Length |
|---|---|
| Exam | 2 hours |
| Exam | 2 hours |
| Exam | 2 hours |
Assessments take place at the end of the second year.
Algebra, quadratics and trigonometry are three key topics from GCSE which you will need to be fluent with for A-level. Brushing up on these will be excellent preparation. Also, getting a copy of the CGP 'Head Start to A-level Maths' book (ISBN 9781782947929) and working through it before starting the A level course will mean that you will hit the ground running!
You will be learning new techniques and applying them to problems. Some problems will be textbook-style whilst others may be of a more practical nature. Graphical ideas will be explored using the software packages Autograph or Desmos and you are strongly advised to get a graphical calculator. You will be encouraged to see how Maths informs and describes real-world situations and you will become aware of both its power and its limitations in achieving these aims.
There are typically over 500 students in Maths across the two year groups, including about 90 who are also doing some form of Further Maths. Staff in the Department are well-qualified, enthusiastic, hard-working, caring and sympathetic to students when they have difficulties with mathematical problems.
Individual members of the department will support their students and encourage them to succeed. We also run lunchtime and after college support sessions most days and students often comment on how much extra maths support there is available.
In addition to these, we supply a wealth of resources on our Godalming Online pages. These include directed notes, videos, exemplar exam questions and exercise sheets. We also organise trips to lectures and take part in the Surrey Schools Maths Challenge at Surrey University.
Please be aware that the department recommends that students buy a certain type of Graphical Calculator for £70 from the College for which the College receives a 50% discount (normally the calculator is £140).
Maths is known as a facilitating subject with many applications as well as providing a basis for further study in its own right. It will be a requirement for a variety of university courses, ranging from sciences and engineering to economics and aspects of computing. It will also be an advantage for many other university courses which have components of Maths or Statistics within them, for example, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Architecture and Design Technology. Research shows that those workers with qualifications in Maths earn more than those without. With the increasing use of data analysis in many fields of work the opportunities for mathematically competent and confident employees will grow.
“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.” ~ William Paul Thurston