To think I could do Maths A level?

[AgeingDoc]

Sorry, I know this is not really an AIBU but I wasn't sure where it really fitted.
I've recently retired early and am not in great health physically so a bit limited in what I can do. I'm looking for things to keep me occupied and wondered about doing Maths A level. I've always had a bit of a thing about not having it. I wanted to do it when I was at school but was pushed into doing physics instead. Which was fine, I just would have preferred Maths. So I wondered about doing it now. Ths only thing is that apart from a bit of statistics at University/ for my post grad exams, I haven't done any formal maths study since my O levels in 1982! I was good at it and found it easy, and I'm generally quite bright but obviously I am out of practice and I appreciate things have changed a lot.I know it is hard as my elder son has done it and younget one will be starting next year but if it wasn't a challenge it would be no fun anyway.
Is A level a realistic proposition or would it be sensible to do GCSE first? It's only for my personal satisfaction so doesn't really matter what grade I'd get , but I don't want to waste my time and money if it is a stupid idea. Anyone ever done anything like this? Is 40 years too big a gap between O and A level?! 😂

Maybe download some gcse papers and see how you find them? If they are a breeze go for the a level!

No point in having the gcse if you have the o level.

How about core maths first. It’s equivalent to AS level maths and is more practical

Well, you won't know unless you try.

I love this idea, OP! Your maths and physics background is very much in your favour.

But I strongly recommend you brush up GCSE maths pretty thoroughly. The concepts may be immortal but the pedagogy and even some of the terminology has changed. When I recently taught a Yr 1 mostly maths course in a well known STEM School about half of it was an A Level review. My PhD is maths intensive, DH is a maths professor and there was terminology in this part we are both sure we have never seen elsewhere. That could be off putting if you weren’t prepared for it. But not intrinsically difficult

Best of luck to you

Core maths is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that and it might fill the gap. I know there's no point in having the GCSE, but then there's no real point in having the A level either, I'm only looking for entertainment really. I was just thinking i might need a refresher first.
My DS is doing GCSEs this year so I have looked at the papers and a lot of it is easy, some stuff I have forgotten but comes back to me fairly quickly when he reminds me, but there are some questions where I think WTF, I have never even heard of that! On the other hand, I know there is some stuff on the current A level syllabus that I did at O level - basic calculus for example . Maybe I should just go through the GCSE syllabus and identify the topics I have no knowledge of and teach myself them?
Core maths is definitely a good idea though - thanks for that.