A level further maths - why is it treated so differently?

I don't think anyone would claim it isn't OK to get a C or a D in FM per se, although as most kids doing FM would be those aspiring to a Maths degree, a C or D might indicate they would struggle at degree level.

The grade distribution though simply highlights the self selecting nature of the subject, not the acceptability or otherwise of particular grades.

TheBeautifulVisit, on the grades side of things, I suspect the view might be that it is better to get a C or D in a practical subject like ICT than a C or D in a subject which has very limited practical value for most people. The theory possibly being that if you are 'only' capable of a C or D in Further Maths, is there really any point taking it at all and, like me, diverting your time and brain power from subjects you really will need in your future degree/career?

Maybe.

It does seem to be harder.
At his college there are a high number of overseas students, mainly Chinese who study Maths and FM. They start from a point way beyond the UK students as AntoinetteCosway says.

They do the AQA system of sitting the A level maths modules in Y12 and FM in Y13.
Many of DSs year who got A*GCSE struggled. There was a huge drop out rate at the end of Y12 with many choosing to spend the second year redoing the maths. Even a C or a D was looking unachievable to them.
Those who have continued seem to be a small minority of the most able mathematicians.

I took Further Maths as a fourth A level way back in the Dark Ages (1980s) and I was more or less baffled all year. What I understand is that Maths used to be divided into Pure Maths and Applied Maths (with the Applied Maths having a reasonable cross-over with Physics) and they simply joined the syllabuses (syllabi?) togerther and the easier half became Maths A level and the harder (and more esoteric) stuff Further Maths.

Unless you want to do Physics and/or Maths at degree level you can get by with just the Maths part so there would be little point most A level students taking both. Certainly it was pretty much a waste of time for me (as I went on to study Biochemistry for which the department had to provide a remedial Maths class as so few students had anything above O level).

My friend on the other hand took a joint Physics and Maths degree, so for her it was very useful. Funnily enough, both of us got Cs in the A level and yet she went on to do very well in her degree.

Personally, I think I shouldn't have taken it as it simply tied me up for studying something I didn't really understand when I could have devoted more time to the subjects I did understand (Physics, Chemistry and regular Maths in my case). I think students should think very hard before starting a subject like this as to whether they really need it for their future and whether they love Maths enough to devote so much time to it.

25-odd years on, I can barely remember my O level Maths, never mind the FM stuff (but I am such an old gimmer my brain cells have probably just fallen out).

You don't necessarily need to do A level Maths in one year, or at least you didn't need to at my son's school. You certainly needed to get a high grade to do A level Maths anyway.

Further Maths seemed to be offered to those who had a strong desire to study Maths at University, especially Oxbridge, usually as a fourth A level, rather than one of three, so you could say it was a self-selecting group of high ability mathematicians.

In the schools I've taught in Further Maths is only done by a tiny handful of the most able, talented students. Very often they are foreign students too-in my last school they were nearly all Chinese, I think in part because their Maths teaching lower down school is very rigorous.

Because to do further maths you have to first do A-level maths in a year (with further maths taught in the second year). If you can't do that well then you'd be better off just doing A-level maths over two years as is normal, understanding it all and getting a good grade.

A C or D doesn't really indicate full and confident understanding of the subject matter so its better to get one A/A* than two D/C grades. In terms of computer scientists there is also a "computing" A-level which is more programming based than ICT.

Errr because FM A Level s harder than normal bog standard Maths A Level, so only the most able mathematicians take it. Also most kids want a broader range of subjects at A Level rather than using two of the three subjects on Maths. So it effectively self-selects those likely to get top grades.

A better comparison would be Maths A level not Further Maths, though most sixth forms require an A grade Maths GCSE so again it selects the more able kids.