Further Mathematics

Exam board: OCR

Entry requirements: Grade 8 or 9 at GCSE

You will study topics such as matrices, complex numbers, roots of polynomials, vectors, polar coordinates, hyperbolic functions and solving differential equations. You will also study two of Further Mechanics, Additional Further Pure, Discrete or Further Statistics.

The specification for this course can be found at https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/further-mathematics-a-h235-h245-from-2017/#as-level

At the end of year 13 you will sit four exams – 2 Pure and two of Further Mechanics, Additional Further Pure, Discrete or Further Statistics. All papers hold equal weighting and are 75 minutes and out of 60 marks.

There are many good reasons to take Further Mathematics:

Students taking Further Mathematics overwhelmingly find it to be an enjoyable, rewarding, stimulating and empowering experience. It is a challenging qualification, which both extends and deepens your knowledge and understanding beyond the standard A-level Mathematics. Students who do it often say it is their favourite subject.

For someone who enjoys mathematics, it provides a challenge and a chance to explore new and/or more sophisticated mathematical concepts. As well as learning new areas of pure mathematics you will study further applications of mathematics in 2 of Further Mechanics, Additional Further Pure, Discrete or Further Statistics.

Students who take Further Mathematics find that the additional time spent studying mathematics boosts their marks in A level Mathematics. Studying Further Mathematics consolidates and reinforces your standard A level Mathematics work, helping you to achieve your best possible grades.  It makes the transition from sixth form to university courses which are mathematically rich that much easier as more of the first year course content will be familiar.

If you are planning to take a degree such as Engineering, Sciences, Computing, Finance/Economics, etc., or perhaps Mathematics itself, you will benefit enormously from taking Further Mathematics, at least to AS level. AS Further Mathematics introduces new topics such as matrices and complex numbers that are vital in many STEM degrees. Students who have studied Further Mathematics find the transition to such degrees far more straightforward.

It enables students to distinguish themselves as able mathematicians in their applications for university and future employment.

Further Mathematics qualifications are highly regarded and are warmly welcomed by universities. Students who take Further Mathematics are really demonstrating a strong commitment to their studies, as well as learning mathematics that is very useful for any mathematically rich degree. Some prestigious university courses require you to have a Further Mathematics qualification and others may adjust their grade requirements more favourably to students with Further Mathematics.

If you are not planning to study for mathematically rich degrees but are keen on mathematics you will find Further Mathematics a very enjoyable course and having a Further Mathematics qualification identifies you as having excellent analytical skills, whatever area you are considering for a career.