Question about the new Further Maths A level

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Edexcel if that makes any difference.

So, as I understand it, with the old A levels you could do maths, further maths, and then you could do extra modules and end up with additional further maths AS or A level as well.

With the new versions, it seems to be only maths and FM that's available. Ds's 6th form college get them to choose two out of further stats 1, further mechanics 1, and decision 1 for their FM options. In an ideal world, he'd choose to do further pure 1 and 2 over any of the applied options, and he's wondering at the moment whether he could do an extra paper or two. Obviously he can just study the maths, no one can stop him, lol, but is there any way of getting any credit for the extra work?

Didn’t know that Edexcel did it too, GHGN! Never noticed OCR only had 17 modules, but you didn’t get anything for doing 15 either.

It is one of those things that unless you have a student doing it, you are not aware of it.
But traditionally, Edexcel always had at least 18 modules to offer. I remember doing A Level using the P1-6 M1-6 and T1-6 textbooks a long long time ago. Not sure how many there were when I took the exams because I was also doing the decision modules as well.

Not sure this is true.

I had heard of it, hadn't had to ever find out the details. Irrelevant now anyway

It's definitely true, it's something dd is doing, so she will end up with further additional maths. It's a bit sad if others won't get the opportunity. It doesn't actually add anything of value to the university application, but dd enjoys it.

Am new to teaching Futher maths, and this has been very educational, thank you for the information about different boards and options, particularly about challenging the more able students outside the AS content.
I hope the OP has found it half as useful as I have!

I have indeed! 3rd dc doing A levels, but I'm only just starting to get my head round the new specs.

Is there somewhere I can find out about the new spec? I thought there were only A level exams after 2 years study for both maths and further maths. I also thought for A level mathematics these would consist of 3 exams, two covering core subjects and one either covering either stats or mechanics, but decision maths was being dropped as an option.
Will further maths consist of what was in FM1, 2 and 3 modules? Could anyone explain or link to somewhere that does explain? Dd will be doing OCR.

Content in all exam board specs has changed. Some content has moved to AS maths, and vice versa. Some new content is in, possibly more in options than core. I've not taught the old spec further maths so I can't comment more than that on the changes.
All subjects are moving to linear format. This means that students can still sit an AS exam, but that does not count towards the A2 exam they sit at the end of 2 years.
All exam boards can have different structures for core and options. I'd advise talking to you DD's A-level teachers about what options they are planning on doing, and you can get the full specification from the exam board website.

Thanks StainlessSteelCat, I found the specification for OCR maths and further maths.
It seems for maths there are no options and all students do ore maths, mechanics and stats, but for further maths there is the core maths, then a choice of two from stats, mechanics, what used to be decision maths or pure maths. I have only skim read it, and will look more later.