A level maths as an adult!

[Rumspringer]

I’m a qualified accountant so decent with numbers but studied arts subjects at university. Got a* at maths a level (and physics etc) so fairly numérate but feel like there is a gap in my maths knowledge as never did the a level! Would it be pointless / strange to do as an adult learner? Anyone done it?

Sorry - you say you got an A*!at maths A-Level but then say you didn’t do it?

an A* at

Do you mean you did it as an O level, or GCSE?

There is nothing wrong with doing an A-level as an adult. I am not sure what doing it would add to your established role as an accountant though.
But if you love maths and numbers, then certainly go for it anyway.

I think you’ll struggle if you haven’t recently done the current gcse syllabus. Maths is like a language and if you stop for any period of time it’s difficult to pick up

You could do it but it's a big jump from gcse level even when you've just done gcse. I have A level maths and would in no way shape or form pass it now.

Sorry I mean the gcse… but yeah would re-revise the gcse content too

I would do it over at least a year and would study hard for it - not just going in blind to take the exam or anything 😊

Self-study?

Yep self study with online resources probably

I would look at doing a GCSE maths, or GCSE further maths, as a warm up.
Dad said he would redo Alevel maths with me 25 years ago. Don't think he got past the first month.

I'd start off by downloading a GCSE paper (well all 3) and checking I could do them with relative ease. That will ensure all the core skills are up to speed.

I've a degree in maths. I don't think I'd do very well at A level at all now without a lot of work.

Go for it.

If you find you are ok with GCSE, then start with this:

www.amazon.co.uk/Head-Start-Level-Maths-2017-2018/dp/1782947922

Then if you want to self-study A-level, Edexcel is the exam board to go for as the most popular, so most resources. Spec here qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-2017.html

The textbooks you want are this series www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-level-Mathematics-Textbook-Further/dp/129218339X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=38P7XDGA6B6JC&keywords=edexcel+a+level+maths&qid=1664043977&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjY4IiwicXNhIjoiMy4zMCIsInFzcCI6IjMuMjIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=Edexce%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-3 (you'll need pure, and mechanics and stats for AS and A2).

And there are videos that go through worked examples from the textbooks on this channel: youtube.com/channel/UCyyRmnmtgVy5Sm7_UiCLFgQ

Also free resources here: alevelmathsrevision.com

Good luck!

My son's A level maths is like a foreign language to my accountant husband. He actually did A level maths thirty years ago, but the recent stuff blew his mind.

I work in a secondary school, supporting students with SEN. I go along to lots and lots of maths classes and I love the subject so much! My job isn't to learn the subject obviously, but I do pick bits up.

I had been meaning to do a PGCE in another subject, but I know I would really miss not teaching maths (or being around it being taught as I am now).

I'm now seriously thinking of doing gcse maths and then a level and then PGCE maths with a subject knowledge enhancement course. Or else primary, where they obviously teach maths.

So funny as I did top set maths but never additional maths at GCSE at school and I just scraped a B, but it's such a lovely subject and seeing kids 'get' it is so lovely.

Anyway, excuse the slight tangent. I don't think yabu at all. Might see you in the exam hall some day 😁

I understand this. I didn't take my final psychology a level exam due to illness and always wanted to go back and do it.

Interested in the replies!

@Monkeywithaminiaturesymbol

wouldn't you need a maths degree to teach secondary?

No, you wouldn't, you can do a subject knowledge enhancement course.

@Rumspringer
All well and good to look at GCSE but A level is a different beast.
Get information on the syllabus first. It has been a while since I looked but you used to be able to get the information and download past papers and marking schemes off the exam board websites.
Also decide if you do core and what else... pure, mechanics, stats... I would suggest statistics especially if you are a management accountant as that will really help with data analytics.

@Notwavingbutsignalling no you don't need a maths degree to teach maths. You can do a teaching degree without a first degree!

Don't forget you'd have to pay approx £1k (or have a student loan) to cover it, even if you're self funding.

Self teaching I mean. Most places don't take private candidates, so you'd have to sign up at a college somewhere and pay the fee.