Common Entrance Level 3 Maths paper compared to Common Academic Scholarship Maths

[MGMidget]

My son is in a school that is phasing out common entrance but for various reasons they are preparing him for the core common entrance papers as the school is going to next still has a sizeable portion of children doing the common entrance exams. He has an offer that isn't dependent on performance in these exams so there's no real pressure but I am wondering whether to suggest he does the level 3 maths paper instead of level 2 and wondered if anyone has any knowledge of how much more difficult this is than level 2 or how it compares to the common academic scholarship paper? The school he is going to will have a sizeable proportion of year 9 entrants having done the common academic scholarship exams. As my DS is good at maths (was definitely top set last year but this year in a mixed ability group of those being prepared for common entrance exams) I want to encourage him to keep up his standards, especially in maths as his future school has a reputation for attacting those with a high standard in maths. Does anyone know anything about the level 3 maths paper and could enlighten me? In my DS's next school they will be put in sets for maths so I'd like to help him be sufficiently challenged now so he doesn't arrive and be put in bottom set (unless that is where he should be!).

My son chose to forgo the scholarship in favour of CE.
The school he will be attending suggest level 3 maths is taken at CE.

Son's school has covered the CE work and after giving level 3 work have now proceeded with throwing in some scholarship maths work.....as you say, to keep the kids challenged

If you DC enjoys maths then why not......if not, stick with just doing level 3 ?

Hope that perspective helps

My son's school says they are preparing everyone for level 2 common entrance unless they are doing the CASE papers. My son isn't strong enough all-round to have been selected for the CASE exams which is fine with me. However, he is pretty strong at maths so it does sound like maybe level 3 CE would be something for him to aim for. Is it easier then than the common academic scholarship maths paper? In which case if it is somewhere between the scholarship paper and the level 2 paper that may be a good level for him to aim for.

PS, I should add that my DS got 80% in his recent CE maths mock on a level 2 paper but so far they haven't been doing level 3 work with him so it sounds like he is not as far ahead as your DS, Keepyourkidssafe.