AS Maths

[TeaAndALemonTart]

DS is struggling with C2, he said C1 was bad but this is even worse. The teacher isn't the best at explaining, apparently. I think I may get a tutor but am shocked at the hourly rate so only want to do this if I really have to.

Is there something I can do to help? Or somewhere I can point him? At the Moment he's feeling really down and said he's just going to fail it anyway.

[hellsbells99]

Has he tried the Khan Academy? Then lots of practise questions and past papers. Is there another teacher he could go and see at lunchtimes for help?

[TeaAndALemonTart]

He's not tried that before, is it like MyMaths?

[roisin]

Another option would be to ask school if they can recommend a yr13 pupil to work with him, for a more reasonable sum.

ds1 - yr13 - does 1 hr weekly 'mentoring' in Biology with a yr12 student, on a programme organised by school. He doesn't get paid for this at all and has actually found it a very useful way of revising and refreshing his knowledge. (He got almost full marks at AS, so was pretty sharp on the material anyway.)

He wants to do something similar in Maths and has asked his teacher if there is a possibility to do this.

[roisin]

[Btw - is he planning on dropping maths at the end of this year? C3 and C4 are on a completely different level to C1 and C2, so if he's finding it hard already, he may want to consider hos options.]

[hellsbells99]

Good point Roisin - my 2 DDs mentor in maths at school. We also used to pay a 6th former to tutor DD1 and paid him £10 an hour. DD2 now tutors a friends 2 girls in science for £10 an hour. Much cheaper that a proper tutor but of course not qualified teachers.
Kahn academy is a site my girls use when they don't understand a topic.

[TeaAndALemonTart]

Thank you, I will point him to the Khan academy. He is/was predicted a C but feels that is a long way off now.

He wanted to continue to A2 because he really wants to study economics at university but feels like that isn't going to be an option anymore.

[noblegiraffe]

What did he get at GCSE? If an A, then he is not alone in struggling. I have seen many students at this point having just done badly in their mocks manage to turn it around by the summer. However, he needs to be proactive and start putting some really hard work in, from this week.

All of the A-level modules are on mymaths, so he could start working through that. The CGP revision guides and workbooks are also really useful for students to work through. He should work through some past papers to figure out exactly where his issues lie, then work on those until they are sorted.

Algebra is usually the main issue. Can he manipulate equations, solve quadratics using a variety of methods and do arithmetic with fractions? If not, start with the basics. There are plenty of videos on YouTube or the Khan Academy. Buddying up with a better mathematician could be useful too, as would a tutor.

But he can't just let his C1 slide while he tries to figure out C2. One builds on the other.

[TeaAndALemonTart]

Thanks Giraffe, yes he got an A. It was a high one but tbh the A* would have always been just a lucky day really.

He is upstairs now, logging into Khan Academy. I will point him back to MyMaths too.

[roisin]

Sometimes Maths just takes a while to click at the higher level. I never found Maths difficult at school up until O Levels; but I was completely bamboozled by A Level. Fortunately AS levels didn't exist in those days, as it took me 4.5-5 terms until it all finally clicked. I went from E grade to A grade in about 6 weeks!

[paddyclampo]

What exam board is he doing?

[TalkinPeace]

Also, have a look on Youtube - there are online Lectures - some a tad American - but that he can watch, on repeat till it makes sense

DD uses them to help with her AS maths

[TeaAndALemonTart]

Edexcel, Paddy.