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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how big the jump from GCSE to A Level Maths is?

71 replies

HollieBush · 26/08/2017 17:04

I recently helped young NDN with some tutoring for her GCSEs. I was supposed to be helping her with essay subjects, but one day she came round and was really struggling with a Physics topic so I had a look with her and after that I started helping with Maths and Science too. I got A/A* for these subjects back in the day but was never really gifted in that area and to be honest luck was on my side with those results. I took all arts A levels and then did a degree in Politics and Economics. A few years ago I self-studied for a degree in Psychology whilst working full-time and got a first, so I know I can self-study as an adult if I have a goal to work towards.

I'd really like to take Maths further because I always felt I wasn't a "maths kind of person" but it all seemed so much clearer looking at it again as an adult and I would feel confident about getting a top mark on a GCSE paper these days. I am genuinely interested in learning more maths as I feel there is a whole new perspective on the world out there that I closed myself off from, but will not be motivated without a goal, hence wanting to do an exam. However, I confess to being proud/vain and not wanting to do A Level maths if there isn't a least a good chance I would get an A Blush (I know, utterly ridiculous but am old enough now to know my faults).

Is an A at Maths A level for 'gifted' mathematicians only? Could an adult of a good-but-not-great natural standard get an A with self-study?

OP posts:
MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 27/08/2017 11:14

Subject leader here. It is a big jump, but one thing to consider is this. Students who find maths relatively easy can get an A or A* at GCSE without doing much work or practise. They are not used to struggling and persevering so by the time they encounter difficult content on the A level they flounder. Those who succeed are the hard workers. The ones who are willing to put in the repetitive (sometimes boring!) practise that is needed. Obviously you need some natural talent also. If you can manage most of the GCSE papers you should be fine. It sounds like you have a great work ethic so I would give it a go.
Start with pure - remember the A level is now linear so the old system of studying module by module has gone. But to give you an idea of what you can manage get hold of the old Heinemann C1, C2, C3, C4 books (Amazon pre loved :-)) and that covers the pure content. The new syllabus is somewhat different with more problem solving and some changes in content but not massively different. Alternatively just order text books for the new syllabus (once you know which exam board you would be using) and start working through them. I'd reccomend the Pearson books. There is a code you can access online content also to help with understanding.
www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/secondary/Mathematics/16plus/EdexcelASandAlevelMathematics2017/EdexcelASandAlevelMathematics2017.aspx

NK493efc93X1277dd3d6d4 · 27/08/2017 11:14

Massive difference - GCSE is fairly basic but for A level you need both to enjoy maths & have an aptitude for it.

BeyondThePage · 27/08/2017 11:15

I did a couple of the level1 and level 2 maths courses with the OU - were really good at getting levels back up to A level standard. And as PP said you get an OU Certificate in Mathematics - which feels nice!

diamond49 · 27/08/2017 11:17

My ds1 (bottom set) got B at GCSE and then A* at A level and a first in engineering at RG university.
I think A level is a different style and DS2 who is doing maths at uni says it is different again

NormaDesmondsEyebrows · 27/08/2017 11:17

Dh often says that his maths A level was harder than his maths based degree...

Original poster
HollieBush · 27/08/2017 12:15

Thank you for the suggestions about the OU and your very helpful post MustTidyUP!

I have been thinking about it this morning, and actually realising this could potentially be very good for me career-wise - that wasn't my initial motivation but am starting to see possibilities opening up. So it would justify investment in OU course etc. BUT it would then really necessitate getting an A to be worthwhile (for the career purposes, no longer just about my vanity)! Would definitely need to be online course/home study as I travel a lot for work so couldn't commit to being around for a tutor or evening classes. So, need to really think about whether a financial commitment is going to be worthwhile (i.e.) if I work hard enough, could I get an A without being a naturally 'gifted' mathematician?

MustTidyUP - are the changes intended to make the A level harder?

OP posts:
QueenMorpheacadoChamelepen · 27/08/2017 12:24

Watching with interest as I've been thinking about taking up a level maths and am also intimidated. Also need at least an A. Feel free to pm me if you want a maths buddy Grin

bojo7 · 27/08/2017 12:32

I would recommend Khan Academy - this is a huge set of excellent and free online videos and other resources at

www.khanacademy.org/

StrawberrySquash · 27/08/2017 13:26

I did my A Level in 1998 so of course things have changed. But I found the jump okay. I did a Further Maths AS and a Maths degree and both of those I did find hard. The A Level was a case of learning the material and it made sense to me. It's still not horribly abstract at that point.
Also, the A thing. I did a low level Spanish GCSE as an adult, the paper where you could only get a D, I think. I see that as separate from my (better) GCSE record IFSWIM. My teenage language GCSEs I approached with completely different expectations as I'd done far more work to get them.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 27/08/2017 13:29

I got a Bit at GCSE and a U at AS Grin

NewDaddie · 27/08/2017 14:19

@OP I still think that you would find it easier than most teenagers

I might be a bit out of date or just plain wrong with my thinking since @MustTidyUpMustTidyUp is an professional in maths education and there have been at least two wholescale changes to A-Levels in the 17 years since I took them.

@OP you pointed out that mine and @Witchend experience might have been different because of our ability but that's exactly the reason why I think you'll find it easier. Your maturity and work ethic will give you a massive advantage over teenagers. From what I remember about A-Levels is that I had to work so much harder than at any other time because there was just so much more of everything to learn and remember.

NewDaddie · 27/08/2017 14:20

Not sure what happened there

Blush

I guess I should forget the maths and improve my typing skills

BlushBlushBlush

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 27/08/2017 16:40

OP Not necessarily harder but it's been brought in line with the new GCSE in terms of looking at how you use the maths to problem solve and model. The syllabus was written with a lot of input from universities so contains what they consider useful to take maths on to degree level. I would say application / problem solving / modelling is something that students find harder. There is more proof and learning required too e.g. Differentiation from first principles. I'm inclined to agree with the poster above in terms of work ethic will get you a long way.
Get a copy of the C1 and C2 books. If you sail through them it's a good indicator that you will manage. Step up to the C3/C4 work is harder again but if you are A* standard at GCSE there is no reason you shouldn't be successful.
Another thing to consider is that there are fantastic websites that will really help your understanding, atudents have never been so spoilt for choice when it comes to excellent resources.

LynetteScavo · 27/08/2017 17:10

OP, I urge you to do it....sometimes failing or not getting a top grade is OK. It really is. And if you don't get an A it will open the gates for you to try anything and not necessarily do amazingly, but at least learn something. Smile

My DS is doing A level maths...he refused to pick up his AS results and will get them when he goes back to college, but at least he's finally realised it's OK to try at fail at something, it really is.

I have never not been offered a job I've applied for. Now, I'm not a high flying person, but who knows where I would be if I put myself out there a bit more.

Give it a go...most people could not get any grade in maths A level.....

Spikeyball · 27/08/2017 17:47

I got a B at 0 level then a B at A level then a 2.1 in my degree in it. I've also done some OU courses in the areas my degree didn't cover and got the equivalent of 1sts in them. I highly recommend the OU for further study although I think it has got a lot more expensive since I did it.

Sequence · 27/08/2017 18:24

I reckon you should, first of all, deliberately take a short course/exam in something where you have no realistic chance of getting a high mark. It could be anything from a karate belt to grade 3 saxophone, just something you'd find really hard. You'll get a lower mark, everything will be the same as ever, the world won't have ended, and you can breathe a sigh of relief at letting go of your perfectionism Smile Then do your maths A-level and get whatever mark you get. If you don't do it, you'll have zero marks so you can't lose!

Sequence · 27/08/2017 18:26

BTW I did Maths A-level and got a much lower grade than previous maths exams. I'm a recovering perfectionist too! I'm still here but my job doesn't involve much maths Grin

Lucysky2017 · 27/08/2017 18:29

Massive jump. Unless A at GCSE I woudl not recommend that and I write that asomeone who loved maths, top set, A etc and my twins were pretty good too but deliberately did not do the A level as it is very very hard. They have friend s at school who got A this summer in Alevel (30% of maths A level is A*, much much higher than many other subjects) but also friends with Ds who really should never have tried maths A level, it is such a risky one.

Original poster
HollieBush · 27/08/2017 22:51

thanks for the khan academy link - it seems to be grouped by US grades so I'm sure there are lots of useful videos on there but think I need to work out what I need to study for UK A level and then go back to it.

New Daddie - I'm sure you're right in that it must be easier for me now than as a teenager. This whole thing was sparked by me helping a teenager with their Maths and Science GCSEs and thinking how very clear and straightforward it was in comparison to when I was sat in the classroom in my mid teens being generally bored and confused. So even though I got A*/A for all Maths and Sciences, I always thought that was through sheer luck/ "dumbing down" of exams because I can't ever say I was really that interested, worked hard, or felt on top it at all. It was always a bit of a fog but in my last-minute panic cramming I memorised some formulae and rules without understanding them and that seemed to do the trick - I remember being annoyed that some of those formulae were given to you on the exam paper because I'd learnt them unnecessarily!

I found something online where a guy has put some you tube videos up of each module. Looked at the first 4 very short (15 minute) "lessons" on surds and they were very simple... so going to go to bed lulled into that very false sense of security and look at more advanced things when feeling a bit braver!

Thanks again for all responses - they are all helping!

OP posts:
Original poster
HollieBush · 27/08/2017 22:53

Oh and Queen - yes, if I go ahead, could definitely do with a maths buddy!

OP posts:
AccrualIntentions · 27/08/2017 22:55

*I did maths gcse and A level

Got an A* at GCSE and a B in a levels.

The jump was substantial.*

Exactly the same here. I found AS maths ok and got an A in that but think I reached the limit of my understanding towards the end of the A Level course.

StickThatInYourPipe · 27/08/2017 22:56

OP I loved Math and did very well at gcse. For Alevels I did the same as you and went for more arts/literature type courses although deeply regretted it and opted to do math in the second year as an As level.

Omg one year out and it was so hard I chucked it in after 5 months! Although you going through the GCSEs with NDN will probably help you catch up so is fresh in your mind.

Go for it but but I would do it 'for fun' so as not to put too much pressure on yourself (will probably make it more doable then too!) good luck!

Nuttynoo · 27/08/2017 22:58

Ok so I got a B (higher paper) in GCSE. Got a C in A Level Maths and a 1st class hons at degree level maths. It's not the level of maths that increases it's the workload. You have to study far,far harder and longer for A Levels while the study load from A Levels to degree is miniscule.

Emillee · 27/08/2017 23:06

Students who find maths relatively easy can get an A or A at GCSE without doing much work or practise. They are not used to struggling and persevering so by the time they encounter difficult content on the A level they flounder.*

Completely my experience.

Found GCSE maths piss easy. Didn't revise one bit. Got A* at GCSE (20 years ago)

Suddenly had to work at A Level. Was bright enough to get an A, but didn't have the work ethic. Got a C.

SheepyFun · 27/08/2017 23:08

I found it quite a jump - and I have three degrees in the physical sciences. Up to GCSE, I could do the maths without thinking about it, it was just obvious. That changed at A-level - I had to work. Possibly not helped by doing double maths in a single A-level 'slot', so having to work at twice the speed as other subjects. I got A's in both maths A levels (before the days of A*'s) - not a boast, just to illustrate that I found there was a jump even though I was reasonably good at it!

DH, who studied maths at uni, said that he found he could do A-level further maths without significant work - it was just obvious to him. That changed when he got to university....