Subject Intent: Why Further Mathematics?
Students who want to continue with Maths or Computer Science at degree level will benefit from studying Further Maths as it is a requirement for some Higher Education providers. Students will see the links between different areas of mathematics and apply their mathematical skills across all areas. Students will learn how to reason logically and recognise incorrect reasoning. Students are taught to read and comprehend mathematical arguments, including justifications of methods and formulae, and students will gain confidence to communicate their understanding. Students will use their mathematical skills and techniques to solve challenging problems, which require them to decide on the solution strategy. All of these skills are highly desirable in the work place and in further education.
What will I study?
If studied, Further Maths must be a fourth subject and you must also be taking A-Level Maths.
The course will include:
- Proof.
- Complex numbers.
- Matrices.
- Further algebra and functions.
- Further calculus.
- Further vectors.
- Polar coordinates.
- Hyperbolic functions.
- Differential equations.
- Further numerical methods
- Further mechanics (including energy, circular motion, momentum, and centres of mass).
- Further statistics (including random variables, further hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals).
Further Mathematics
Please note: Subject videos have been filmed from colleges across our Trust.
What are lessons like in this subject?
Further maths is the ideal subject for students with a flair for maths and an interest in maths-related degrees and careers. It is studied as a fourth subject, alongside A level maths, and adds further depth to topics studied in A level maths (such as vectors and mechanics) and introduces degree level topics (such as matrices and complex numbers). Time in lessons is devoted to doing as much mathematics as possible – individually, in small groups, or in whole-class discussion, with students being invited to contribute their solutions or lead examples on the board. The use of a graphical calculator is essential for further mathematics and so this is explicitly taught in lessons. Further mathematicians often lead our entries to the UKMT individual and team challenges, and support is provided for those wishing to apply to top-tier universities through mock interviews and assistance with preparing for the STEP, MAT, and TMUA.
What our
students
The teaching staff are excellent and provide plenty of opportunities for out-of-lesson support across both years of the course. The lesson calendar covered the entire course materials with plenty of time to prepare for exams. Countless additional resources were provided over teams. The course was appropriately challenging, but not to the point of frustration.
Miles Wootton, The Rodillian Academy
