A* at A level for Maths/Further Maths

[webwiz]

Can anyone confirm if I understand how the A* works for the maths and further maths A levels - I have read that for A level it is an average above 80% on all modules and then just above 90% on C4 and C4 not on all three A2 modules.

Then for further maths the 90% is on the best three A2 modules so FP2, FP3 and another such as M2. I presume it is usual to take 4 A2 modules for Further Maths just because there aren't enough AS modules if you are doing maths as well?

I looked it up because I was sure that DD2 was taking an A2 paper this year for Further Maths and wondered how it all worked (she's taking M2 with FP1 as she took M1 in Jan). The Maths A* certainly looks easier to achieve than the Further maths and it seems a bit unfair that one uses two modules and another needs three!

I think FM is FP1 FP2 and FP3 plus M2 and S2, or there's a new D section (which apparently is easier than Mechanics or Statistics, adn DD1 is keen to do that). It does sound right that an A* is "easier" in Maths than FM, as FM follows on from Maths.

DD1s school does all the Maths togther in Y12 then the FM in Y13, rather than mixing them up, but they will do some FM papers in January (along with any C3/C4 resits they want) then cash in the two A levels at the end of Y13.

Not sure that's been of any help, but I'll keep a look out for any Maths teachers explaining it properly.

Mmm I think DD2 will be doing some of the Decision maths but not sure in which maths though! I think she would hate to do S2 as she isn't enjoying S1 at all.

DD2 is doing the two A levels side by side so she has taken C1(maths) M1(further maths - I know it can be either)in Jan and will do C2,S1(maths), FP1 M2(further maths)in May. At her school I think about 40 take maths and only 6 are doing further maths as well so I think it makes it easier to timetable them both side by side.

Surely it would be fairer to just make the A in further maths FP2 and FP3 and then it would be comparable with the maths?! It just seems a bit unfair that the A is obviously not going to be consistent across subjects.

I think for further it is just going to be 90% across FP2 and FP3.

On the OCR website

For A level Mathematics you need to

Get grade A for the A level (an average of at least 80 UMS)

Get an average of 90 UMS on Core 3 and Core 4

For A level Further Mathematics you need to

Get grade A for the A level (an average of at least 80 UMS)

Get an average of 90 UMS on your best three A2 units

Actually does that mean you could get 95 on core 3 and 85 on core 4 and still get the A for maths?!! I give up! After looking at other subjects I think maths is the only subject that doesn't include all the A2 modules in the A.