Oh my ! Dilemma !

[TX_101]

As loathe as I am to ask for advice on the internet, I thought that since many people here have either done or are doing their A-levels I would ask for some of your valued insight ;)

Basically, I'm currently in year 11 studying for my GCSEs. I did my maths GCSE last year (1 year early) and got an 'A' on it. This year, I've completed an A/S level maths module (Decision 1) which I got a 'B' in and am currently doing C1, which I am taking the exam for on June 6th.

Now, the thing is that, in school, this is the last module we will do in class this year, as the maths teachers decided that it was unwise to try to teach C2 as well so close to the GCSE exams. I have the option of going and doing the C2 exam as well though I will have to effectively teach myself it if I am going to do so.

The question is, - is it worth me doing the extra unit and completing my A/S level maths this year ? The school seem hell bent upon discouraging me, though they admit that it's well within my capabilities, and as such will enter me for the exam if I so wish.

So who here has done said modules ? As a side note, I've looked through what I'm required to learn and I personally think I can manage it without too much trouble. Thoughts please, anyone ? :)

[Darkscull]

i'm doing A2 maths at the moment, and from my experiences of AS i warn you that C2 is much harder than C1. it doesn't look that hard, but for some reason the combination of harder topics to remember for one exam makes it much harder to remember it all, let alone revise it for one exam.

i think you should only push yourself to finish AS maths early if you're planning on using up the extra time in 6th forum usefully.
if you're not aiming on taking an extra AS to fill up the gap, then it might do you some good to go through the AS course again in 6th form, then you can resit the exams to get straight A's. :)
if you're thinking of doing A2 in your first year of 6th form (having done all of AS this year, say) then i will warn you that you need the calculus (both differentiation and integration) as second nature to stand a chance at getting through C3 and C4.

that's all i can really say about it...

PS. what on Earth is Decision? i did Stats

[TX_101]

PS. what on Earth is Decision? i did Stats
Decision is all about algorithms, networks and such like. It didn't interest me much, as it basically just boiled down to remembering methods for working out various problems, without doing much actual thinking.

Thanks for that by the way, I'm thinking that if I do take the C2 module this year, and I get a reasonable grade (B or A, I'd say) then I'll take the A2 next year as well as (possibly) starting further maths as well. IF I get a C or worse, then I'll probably end up doing resits next year, though I'll still be a step ahead with the C2 topics.

The only real bad thing I can think of at the moment is that I have a GCSE English Exam on the same morning as the C1 and C2 (if I do it). This means I'll end up doing around 5 hours of exams consecutively (sp?), which can't be a good thing.

[terrorbite]

If you're going to college, I would say don't finish the AS-Level now. You may as well devote more of your time to it at college, and get a better grade, than concentrate too much on it now while you're doing your GCSEs.

Also, what the hell is C1, C2 etc? Is that the "main" type of maths you get taught at A-Level? Cause when I did my A-Level Maths a few years ago, the main part was called P1, P2 etc...

I did P1, P2, P3, D1, D2 and M1.

D being Decision and M being Mechanics I think. People who took A-Level Physics usually did M and everyone else did S (Stats).

[TX_101]

If you're going to college, I would say don't finish the AS-Level now. You may as well devote more of your time to it at college, and get a better grade, than concentrate too much on it now while you're doing your GCSEs.

Also, what the hell is C1, C2 etc? Is that the "main" type of maths you get taught at A-Level? Cause when I did my A-Level Maths a few years ago, the main part was called P1, P2 etc...

I did P1, P2, P3, D1, D2 and M1.

D being Decision and M being Mechanics I think. People who took A-Level Physics usually did M and everyone else did S (Stats).
Well the "P" in P1, P2 etc. is for "Pure", and "C" is for "Core" or "Pure Core" I believe. I may be wrong, but I think they are the modules that you now have to take as part of the course, with the current "P" modules being optional like Stats, Decision and Mechanics.

[Darkscull]

C stands for Core... C1,2,3,4 replaced the P ones... C3 is half of P2, and half of P3.. tis annoying cos it's really recent, so there arn't any past papers.

mechanics is done in further maths now, cos the physics course doesn't do any mechanics any more.

edit: TX_101 posted while i typed

[terrorbite]

C stands for Core... C1,2,3,4 replaced the P ones... C3 is half of P2, and half of P3.. tis annoying cos it's really recent, so there arn't any past papers.

mechanics is done in further maths now, cos the physics course doesn't do any mechanics any more.

edit: TX_101 posted while i typed
So what you're saying... is that A-Level maths has got much easier since I did it? ffs.

[TX_101]

Just for you, Terrorbite:

Full Modules List

http://img323.imageshack.us/img323/2426/modules2iv.png

I'll probably end up taking Mechanics as well at some point, as I'm doing physics next year as well.

[da-geezer]

fyi I did P1 P2 P3 M1 M2 M3 S1 S2 S3 and for no apparent reason I did P5 in fifteen months and I have absolutley no idea why as those fifteen months are mainly a blur because I was quite enjoying the beer at that time.

Long story short, so whatever modules you enjoy; don't bypass a module because it might stretch you a little bit as you'll only regret it a bit further on. Hell, you can always abandon it if it really fucks you over.

Do as much as you enjoy, and as much as you can do well. Boosh.

[Haroshi]

I'm also in year 11. I'm predicted an A in maths and am capable of taking it on for A levels.
The thing is though, it bores me.
I am just wondering why you want to carry it on.
Is it because you're going into a career which involves maths?
Or maybe You enjoy it?
Or you just want to push yourself to your absolute limit, to open up options in the future.

I'm just curious really.

[terrorbite]

Its a good A-Level to have. I enjoyed most of it. P3 was kinda hard though.

[TX_101]

I'm also in year 11. I'm predicted an A in maths and am capable of taking it on for A levels.
The thing is though, it bores me.
I am just wondering why you want to carry it on.
Is it because you're going into a career which involves maths?
Or maybe You enjoy it?
Or you just want to push yourself to your absolute limit, to open up options in the future.

I'm just curious really.

A few reasons why I'm carrying it on:

1) I'm good at it, which is sort of extra encouragement;
2) It's a challenge, and I'm pushing myself by doing it;
3) I kinda enjoy it, in an 'interested', 'Wow - so that's how that works' sort of way;
4) Will be useful for jobs in future, as well as being a gernerally useful subject;

[Darkscull]

unless you're going to pursue an arts (as opposed to sciences) based career or education (or are going to just get basic job, in which case you don't need 6th form) then maths is probably the most useful a level you could have.

it ties in with all the other sciences subjects, all of them. and is also a useful general qualification on CVs and such.