Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

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nearly there
Posts: 75
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:35 am

Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by nearly there »

My Dc has just finished Yr12 and has belatedly deicided that she needs AS Maths for her chosen Uni course.
Her school won't be able to fit this in, so she is adamant that she's going to do it on her own. She plans to do C1, C2, S1. She got A* at GCSE and does some Maths in one of her A level subjects currently.
Can anyone recommend the best resources or way of doing it?
Are online courses much better than buying a textbook?
We couldn't run to a weekly tutor for a year (I reckon that would be £2000 +) but would be able to do monthly sessions, but we're very rural and a quick look on the tutor webpages have only found Uni students so might struggle to find someone anyway.
Any ideas gratefully received!

Oh and is there an exam board or specification better suited to self-teaching?
Martin_Procter
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:49 pm

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by Martin_Procter »

Hi nearly there

I think the text books might be the best bet. The online courses aren’t always tailored to the right exam board. Avoid the MEI variant of OCR as there are some helpful materials that teachers use that aren’t available to parents. This leaves, in England, Edexcel, AQA and OCR, and there isn’t a good deal to choose between them – if you’re really rural you might start my checking which boards your school is registered with and use that as a guide. Each exam board has C2 and S1 on different dates; final timetables have been published in recent weeks so convenience of dates in May/June 2016 might be a deciding factor.

Don’t use undergraduates as tutors – their exams coincide with school exams and they can become unavailable or unreliable just when you need them most.

Use plenty of past papers – plan to finish “learning” the subjects by March and spend the remainder of the year on the past papers – the fundamental content of the exams is unchanged since 2004 so there are lots and lots. Read and understand the mark scheme and (especially) the examiners’ reports. Don’t forget to print off the formula sheet given in the exams.
KB
Posts: 3030
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by KB »

If Guest55 doesn't see this try sending a PM.

A thought meanwhile -
When you say she is studying maths as part of another A level I assume this is Economics or Biology rather than Physics as she has decided on S1? Physics has a significant cross over with M1.
She might have decided that S1 is more useful or does the degree course stipulate the modules? if its just a question of getting the marks with least effort than it might be worth looking at D1. I know many students who self study D1 in a few days. They are students taking Further Maths ( usually as an additional subject at AS or A2) so strong mathematicians but it might be worth a few days work now to see how she gets on with it.
KenR
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Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 6:12 pm
Location: Birmingham

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by KenR »

My son was in a similar situation 3+ years ago - he was advised by the Univ that he needed Further Maths AS and the school couldn't timetable this into his schedule.

In the end he studied this himself using the resources of the further Maths support programme http://www.furthermaths.org.uk/
The Further Mathematics Support Programme (FMSP) is a government-funded initiative supported by the Department for Education and managed by MEI. The FMSP supports schools and colleges at Key Stage 4 and post-16 level to increase teacher expertise and student participation in AS/A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics
Lots of free materials and resources, including online lectures and also specialist revision day. There are lost of free resources, bit if you speak to your school/college they will be able to help you to get free access to the subscription material (online lectures etc)

Worked very well
nearly there
Posts: 75
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:35 am

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by nearly there »

Ken- thanks for the link. Although DD will be studying AS Maths rather than Further Maths they still seem to have some resources for C1, C2 etc. including revision videos which would be helpful.

KB- DD is taking Physics to A2 but has been advised by an admissions tutor that a grounding in stats and AS Maths would help prepare her for some of the first year work on her chosen course, hence wanting to do S1.

Martin- thanks for the advice, I'll have a look at the dates, it's definitely worth consideration as some students end up in isolation due to exam clashes which sounds pretty miserable.
I'm glad to hear that the textbook route should be doable (and less expensive!). At least there will be lots of past papers, I'm glad Maths hasn't been reformed yet, that might be a step too far for self-teaching.
solimum
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Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:09 pm
Location: Solihull, West Midlands

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by solimum »

Just to add - don't rule out help from a local undergraduate , perhaps home at Easter, who may be able to give a couple of hours boost and encouragement before the final revision push and who, after all, will have taken the exam fairly recently themselves. My DD helped a couple of biology AS pupils earlier this year as they had been struggling with inadequate/ absent teachers and it proved a positive experience for them all
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by Guest55 »

The Edexcel books might be available from your local library and I've even found pdfs online - happy to send link by PM if you ask.

There are some excellent websites e.g. examsolutions which give full worked solutions once she gets to that stage.

http://www.examsolutions.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Other resources:

http://www.kangaroomaths.com/kenny2.php ... schemeASA2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/alevel.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and google as some schools have 'open' resources on their websites

I'm surprised the school won't help - we'd certainly do something and we have a maths help session which could be attended - one lesson a week would be enough.
KB
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Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by KB »

If admissions are going to be looking for study of S1 on an application that is obviously what she needs to do. If not then I'd think about M1 to get the qualification with least distraction from A2 studies and then do any helpful statistics prep after A2 exams.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Self-teaching AS Maths- best way?

Post by Guest55 »

KB - I agree - M1 is a far more interesting than S1 which, in my opinion, is the least inspiring A level module.
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