Cambridge AS and A Level


Course Content

The syllabus is intended to provide continuity from IGCSE Mathematics courses.

The content has been divided into two roughly equal halves with candidates taking two papers for AS Mathematics and four papers for the Advanced Level qualification.

Candidates for A Level Mathematics take four papers of which two may have been taken at an earlier examination session for an AS Mathematics qualification.

Alternatively, candidates may take all four papers for an Advanced Level qualification at the same session.

Candidates may take the AS Mathematics qualification only.

The syllabus allows students flexibility to choose from three different routes to AS Mathematics – Pure Mathematics only or Pure Mathematics and Mechanics or Pure Mathematics and Probability and Statistics.

The programme is taught in five lessons a week for 55 minutes per lesson.

The work covered incorporates all branches of mathematics: advanced algebra, geometry, coordinate geometry, vectors, trigonometry, differentiation, integration, logarithms, complex numbers, differential equations, functions, series and progressions.


Assessment

Pupils are constantly being assessed as they work in the classroom under teacher’s supervision. Also homework is set three times a week and can be a very good way of following the student progress.

Formal tests are set at the end of every unit and at the end of every half term. Based on student’s results at these tests the teacher will set the targets and the predicted grades for the AS and AL exam, which will conclude the programme.


Certifications available

The following combinations of units, which are subject to the above relationships, are available for certification. The weighting of each unit within each certification title is shown in brackets.
 

Certification Title Compulsory Units Optional Units
AS Mathematics
(suitable for candidates who
would formerly have studied
Additional or Subsidiary Mathematics)		 P1 (60%) P2 (40%)
or
M1 (40%)
or
S1 (40%)
A Level Mathematics P1 (30%) & P3 (30%) M1 (20%) & S1 (20%)
or
M1 (20%) & M2 (20%)
or
S1 (20%) & S2 (20%)



Alexandra Thomas
Head of Mathematics