Maths advice

[CrochetMadRosie]

DD is looking to read either maths or maths and physics at uni starting 2027.

Any top tips please for things that will help with super-curricular bits or other things she should be doing?

I thought we were being organised by sorting uni open days now, but since researching further we’ve realised we’ve missed out on signing up for so many things e.g. COMPOS.

So far we’ve got:

mei courses to look at/ sign up for when the dates are released .

STEP maths resources

Oxford Outreach calendar

Some Supercurricular reading recommended on another thread

We’re hoping to go and visit Warwick, Bath, Nottingham and Surrey and she’s undecided about Oxford at the moment.

I just don’t want to miss anything vital!

Thank you.

I don't know about all the unis you've mentioned but Warwick don't really care about the personal statement - not sure they read it. They are much more concerned about grades and how you do in TMUA.

@AuntyBulgaria Ah, thank you. That’s interesting.

Is she doing the maths challenges at school? There will be a Senior maths challenge in the autumn. it is a good super curricular activity for maths.

For physics look at https://isaacscience.org
for lots of practice and events/masterclasses.

For maths you can look for courses on Coursera and edX run by eg Imperial and other top unis either to strengthen A level or to try out 1st yr uni topics.

Also relevant talks in person or online at the Royal Institution.

Even if she's not considering Cambridge, watch out for maths residentials for girls at Christs (deadline to apply is Monday, I think), Murray Edwards and St John's.

https://www.bpho.org.uk/Competitions/
https://ukmt.org.uk/competition-calendar-2025-26

Cambridge is a great place for those undecided between maths and maths with physics as the maths degree has a lot of applied maths and physics modules starting in the second year.

https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/files/coursesIB.pdf
https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/files/coursesII.pdf

For STEP, you can look at the STEP 1 at the support programme along the "core mathematics" book at this link: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/admissions/step/

Also, you can still do the COMPOS follow along program. And look at Oxford quantum club for next year.

Don't discount the 'lesser' university.
Our DD recently graduated from NTU.
Lectures and lecturers were fabulous and she has two first class honours degrees.

My daughter has applied for maths in 2026.
TMUA prep will be important for Warwick and Oxford (also Imperial and Durham if she decides to look at those).

My daughter attended a 3 day summer residential at Bath last year which she found very useful. They have a widening participation programme for students who are contextual, but also Step into Bath which is for any students. There is a cost (£350 last year) but it is lower than any of the other non-contextual summer residential we looked at. It was really useful.
https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/step-into-bath/

Is she at a state school? (It makes a difference because of what opportunities are out there).

The SUMS magazine (online) has monthly interviews, articles, puzzles but also information about competitions and other opportunities. It’s free and worth looking at https://amsp.org.uk/sums-steps-to-university-for-mathematical-students/

DS is at Warwick doing maths. The top unis like Cambridge Imperial and Warwick don't care about your personal statement.

Best to just focus on TMUA and STEP.

Thank you all for your help.

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad Yes she is doing the maths challenges. School and her new sixth form have been great at doing these. Thank you.

@Notanorthener That looks great for
physics - I’ll pass that on to her. Thanks.

@lanthanum and @Muu9 We’ll have a look at those Cambridge bits thank you. She’s looking at Oxford as her sixth form do maths at the end of Y12 and then further maths in Y13 so that rules out Cambridge… To be fair Oxford is a LOT closer for us if she does decide to try that route! She uses the physics and maths tutor site for revision so I’ll check that she’s seen the step bits. Thank you.

@Muu9Yes, I saw she can do the COMPOS follow along. Thank you for the quantum club info. We’ll have a look at that too.

@Mydogisagentleman We’ve been to look at Portsmouth which she liked (it’s our local uni) and we do need to look at others too. NTU looks good and was on the list. We were hoping the open days would be the same weekend so we could stay up there to reduce on travelling but unfortunately not! We might just go and have a look around while we’re up that way though.

@bettyjane Thank you for all that info. She’s discounted Imperial as she really doesn’t want to be in London and Durham as it’s so very far away from home… We’ll have a look at the Bath residential. Thank you.

@ninja Yes. State school and now a different state sixth form. The SUMS magazine looks great. Thanks you for that!

@Woollyguru That’s interesting. I read that about the PS on another thread, but good to have that backed up! Thanks.

Cambridge is NOT ruled out by doing maths in year 12 (although there may well be other reasons for preferring Oxford).

From their FAQ (https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/admissions/faq):

"My school offers the full Mathematics A-level in Year 12, then Further Mathematics in Year 13. Will my A* in Maths A level in Year 12 count towards my offer? Will I need to take a fourth A level in Year 13?

Astar in Mathematics in Y12 will be normally counted as part of the offer. Many Colleges will accept Astar in Maths in Y12 followed by A*A in two more subjects, one of which must be Further Mathematics, in Y13. If you are not taking three A levels in Year 13, you will need to show evidence of being able to cope with the equivalent amount of workload, but this could mean taking two STEP papers alongside two A levels in Y13."

Birmingham might be worth a look, we liked it at open day. Manchester very good for physics, and also good for maths. We really liked that too, maybe too far for you? Bristol was one of my daughter’s favourites when we visited too.

@lanthanum Thank you for that. We had looked and it definitely said they all had to be taken in the same year but I can’t find where I saw that anywhere now!! Weird!

I’ll get her to take another look. Thank you!

@bettyjane DD liked Bristol and I can’t remember why she ruled it out now! Manchester was on her original list too, but it is a long way (we came up for a concert at Co-op Live last year and it took soooooo long to get there). I know distance shouldn’t count if it’s perfect in every other way, but it does to her… Thank you though.

Isn't two STEP papers in Y13 the standard?

Maths and further maths is generally an exception to the ‘all sat in one year’ rule - if student la are sitting FM in year 13 it will take up the equivalent of 2 A Level blocks - this is quite normal for a lot of sixth form colleges an some schools with bigger cohorts.

all the colleges have slightly different entry requirements - but yes 2 STEP papers is usual