Advanced level mathematics
Advanced Level (A-Level) Mathematics is a qualification of further education taken in the United Kingdom and occasionaly in other countries aswell. In the UK A-Level exams are traditionaly taken by 16-18 year olds.
Like other A-level subjects, mathematics has been assessed in a modular system since the introduction of Curriculum 2000, whereby each candidate must take 6 modules, with the combined score of these modules determining the final grade. Most students will complete 3 modules in 1 year, which will create an AS-level qualification in their own right and will complete the A-level course the following year with 3 more modules.
Exam Boards
Several different examination boards offer this qualification and include :
Modular System
Mathematics candidates have a certain element of choice over which modules are sat, however examination boards have certain regulations about which combination can and can't be used. In total 6 modules must be completed to obtain an A-level qualification.
This may not be a complete list and some modules may not be offered by all boards
- Core 1
- Core 2
- Core 3
- Core 4
- Statistics 1
- Statistics 2
- Statistics 3
- Statistics 4
- Mechanics 1
- Mechanics 2
- Mechanics 3
- Mechanics 4
- Decision 1
- Decision 2
- Decision Computation
- Differentian Equations
- Further Pure 1
- Further Pure 2
- Further Pure 3
- Numerical Methods
- Numerical Computation
Some of the above modules may not be compatible with the A-level sylabus in single mathematics.
Further Mathematics
Some mathematics student will chose to take an A-level in Further Mathematics which requires taking a further 6 modules to give a second qualification. The grades of the two A-levels will be independent of each other.
Results and Statistics
Each module carries a maximum of 100 points towards the total grade and each module is also given a seperate grade depending on it's score. The number of points required for different grades are defined below:
| Grade | 1 Module ( Out of 100 ) | AS level (Out of 300 ) | A level (Out of 600 ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 80 | 240 | 480 |
| B | 70 | 210 | 420 |
| C | 60 | 180 | 360 |
| D | 50 | 150 | 300 |
| E | 40 | 120 | 240 |
The proportion of candidated acquiring these grade are below : Mathematics :
| Male | Female | Combined | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entries | 34093 | 21889 | 55982 | Grade A | 41.7 | 46.2 | 43.5 | Grade B | 10.6 | 11.9 | 11.1 | Grade C | 15.6 | 15.0 | 15.3 | Grade D | 11.3 | 9.1 | 10.5 | Grade E | 7.3 | 5.2 | 6.5 | Grade U (Fail) | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
Further Mathematics :
| Male | Female | Combined | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entries | 5106 | 2164 | 7270 | Grade A | 56.3 | 58.2 | 56.9 | Grade B | 9.4 | 9.9 | 9.5 | Grade C | 11.5 | 11.4 | 11.5 | Grade D | 7.1 | 5.4 | 6.6 | Grade E | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.6 | Grade U (Fail) | 2.1 | 1.3 | 3.1 |
Critisisms
It has been suggested that the high proportion of candidates who obtain grade A makes it dificult for universities to distinguish between the most able candidates.