Key Stage 5
Maths A' Level
Intent
Our A-level course takes students on a journey from the topics they have met at GCSE into more complex ideas, some familiar, some brand new, such as exponentials and logarithms, integration and parametric equations. We also study the mathematics of movement of objects in the mechanics section and look more in depth at probability and perform hypothesis tests in the statistics section. Throughout the course proof and problem solving will be interwoven.
Year 12 Learning Journey
Quadratic Functions, Equations and Inequalities
- Solve and sketch any quadratic including hidden quadratics
- Completed the square form
- Solve quadratic inequalities
- Discriminant
- Simultaneous equations
Problem Solving and Proof
- Solving problems
- Use mathematical symbols and notation including implication
- Formal methods of proof
Polynomials
- Add subtract and multiply any two polynomials
- Factor theorem and algebraic division
- Know shape and features of graphs of polynomials
Graphs
- Transformations of graphs
- Reciprocal graphs
- Direct proportion graphs
- Inequalities on graphs
Differentiation
- Differentiation from first principles
- Differentiate polynomials
- Equation of tangents and normal to curves
- Increasing and decreasing functions
- Finding and classifying stationary points
Surds and Indices
- Structure of the number system
- Add, subtract and multiply surds
- Rationalise the denominator
- Use all laws of indices
- Write numbers as a power of another
- Solve problems using indices
Trigonometry
- Sine, cosine and sine rule for area
- Graphs of trigonometric functions
- Trig identities
- Solve equations involving trig functions
Coordinate Geometry
- Distance between two points and midpoint
- Equation of a line in a given format
- Equation of parallel and perpendicular lines
- Equation of a circle
- Equation of the tangent to the circle
- Simultaneous equations with circles
Binomial Expansion
- Binomial expansion to find terms
- Use binomial coefficient to find unknowns
- Use binomial expansion when two binomials are being multiplied
- Use expansions to approximate
Differentiation
- Differentiation from first principles
- Differentiate polynomials
- Equation of tangents and normal to curves
- Increasing and decreasing functions
- Finding and classifying stationary points
Exponentials and Logarithms
- Sketch exponential functions
- Derivative of e^kx
- Use laws of logarithms
- Use logarithms to solve exponential equations
- Sketch logarithmic graphs
- Modelling with exponentials
- Logarithms to transform graphs
Data Collection
- Data handling cycle
- Different types of data
- Types of sampling
Data Processing and Interpretation
- Histograms
- Cumulative frequency
- Variance and standard deviation
- Scatter diagrams
- Outliers
Binomial Expansion
Integration
- Integrate functions with terms of the form ax^n
- Find constant of integration
- Definite integration for area under a curve
- Area between a curve and a line
Vectors
- Change between column vectors and magnitude and direction
- Add and subtract vectors
- Geometric problems with vectors
- Vector proof
Kinematics and Variable Acceleration
Probability
- Calculate probabilities
- Show two events are independent
- Use tree diagrams and Venn diagrams
- Discrete probability distributions
Binomial Distribution
- Formula for number of combinations
- Properties of Binomial distribution
- Calculate probabilities with Binomial distribution
Hypothesis Testing
- One and two tailed hypothesis tests with Binomial distribution
Large Data Set
Kinematics and Variable Acceleration
- Distance-time, displacement-time and velocity-time graphs
- Derive constant acceleration formulae
- Use constant acceleration formulae
- Simultaneous equations and the constant acceleration formulae
- Effect of assumptions
- Link between acceleration, velocity and displacement
- Solve problems with variable acceleration
Forces and Motion
- Force diagrams
- Newton’s laws
- Types of forces
- Solve problems with Newton’s laws
- Modelling assumptions
Year 13 Learning Journey
Functions
- Types of functions
- Graphs of functions including discontinuous
- Domain and range
- Composite and inverse functions
- Modulus function
- Solve equations/ inequalities with the modulus function
- Graph transformations
Differentiation
- Differentiate lnx, sinx, cosx, tanx
- Chain rule
- Product and Quotient rule
- Implicit differentiation
- Differentiate reciprocal trig functions
- Convex and concave curves
- Connected rates of change
Trig Identities
- Compound angle formulae
- Double angle formulae
- New identities and proof
- Form Rcos(x+c) and Rsin(x+d)
Integration
- Integrate Exponential and Trigonometric functions
- Area between two curves
- Reverse chain rule
- Integration by substitution
- Integrate with partial fractions
- Integration by parts
- Integration and trig identities
Proof
- Proof by exhaustion
- Direct proof
- Proof by contradiction
Trigonometry
- Radians
- Graphs of Trig functions
- Area and arc length of a sector
- Are of a segment
- Small angle approximations
Trig Functions
- Reciprocal trig functions and their graphs
- Derive new identities
- Inverse trig functions
- Solve trig equations with reciprocal trig functions
Further Algebra
- Factor theorem with (ax+b)
- Remainders with algebraic division
- Partial fractions
- Expand (ax+b)^n
Sequences and Series
- Different types of sequences and series
- Convergence or divergence
- Sigma notation
- Arithmetic series
- Geometric series
Parametric Equations
- Graphs of parametric equations
- Convert to Cartesian form
- Differentiate and find gradients
- Integrate and find areas
Differential Equations
- Separation of variables
- General solution
- Particular solution
- Forming differential equations
Vectors and Kinematics
- 3D vectors, magnitude and direction
- Use vectors in kinematics (suvat and F=ma)
Forces. Motion and Friction
- Resolve forces on inclined plane
- Friction
- Solve problems involving friction and inclined planes
Moments
- Moment on uniform rods and lamina
- Equilibrium and moments
Projectiles
- Resolve vertically and horizontally
- Solve projectile problems
- Equation of trajectory
Numerical Methods
- Change of sign to find a root
- Newton Raphson
- Staircase and cobweb diagrams
- Using rectangles to estimate area
- Trapezium rule
Probability
- Set notation to describe probability
- Conditional probability formula
- Solve problems with conditional probability
Stats Distributions
- Normal distribution finding probabilities
- Reverse normal distribution
- Standardise to find unknowns
- Approximate binomial distribution
Hypothesis Testing
- Normal distribution when using a sample
- Hypothesis testing with normal distribution
- Product moment correlation coefficient
Revision for Exams and Gap Fill
Examinations
Further Maths A' Level
Intent
Further Maths A-level allows students to go deeper into the mathematical world. We will build on knowledge from GCSE and A-level maths throughout. There is the opportunity to cover more deeply the mechanics of how things move but also to look at some of the more recent mathematical developments in discrete mathematics.
Year 12 Learning Journey
Complex Numbers
- Extend number system
- Solve quadratics with complex roots
- Complex conjugate
- Argand diagram
- Modulus argument form
- Loci of complex numbers
Sequences and Series
- Standard results for sum of integers, squares and cubes
- Method of differences
- Maclaurin series standard results
Proof by Induction
- Proof by induction with series
- Proof by induction with matrices
- Proof by induction with divisibility
Polar Coordinates
- Convert between polar and cartesian coordinates
- Sketch polar curves
- Tangents at the poles
Vectors
- Vector and Cartesian form of a 3D straight line
- Intersection point between two lines
- Angle between two lines
- Parallel and perpendicular lines
- Shortest distance
Hyperbolic Functions
- Exponential form of hyperbolics
- Graphs, domains and ranges of hyperbolics
- Inverse hyperbolics
- Solve equations with hyperbolics
Conics
- Equations and graphs of conic sections
- Equation of tangents
- Intersection of lines with conic curves
- Transformations
Matrices and Transformations
- Multiplication of matrices
- Associativity and commutativity
- Determinant of a matrix
- Inverse of 2x2 matrices
- Matrix transformations
- Geometric interpretations
- Invariant points and lines
Rational Functions
- Sketch graphs of form (ax+b)/(cx+d) or (ax^2+bx+c)/(dx^2+ex+f)
- Inequalities using graph
- Inequalities creating cubics/quartics
- Possible value of a function and stationary point
Roots of Polynomials
- Factorise and solve polynomials with complex roots
- Relationship between roots and coefficients
- Linear transformation of roots
- Complex roots with real coefficients
Graphs
- Language and terminology of graphs
- Euler’s formula for connected planar graphs
- Adjacency matrices
Networks
- Terminology of networks
- Kruskal’s algorithm
- Primm’s algorithm
- Route inspection problems
- Chinese postman problem
- Nearest neighbour algorithm
Linear Programming
- Create linear programming problem
- Graph inequalities
- Solve optimisation problems
Critical Path Analysis
- Construct precedence networks
- Latest start time and earliest finish times
- Refine models and effect
Network Flows
- Interpret flow problems
- Terminology
- Find cuts
- Max flow-minimum cut theorem
- Supersource and supersink
Game Theory
- Construct payoff matrices
- Play safe strategies
- Value of a game
- Stable solution
- Dominated strategies
- Optimal mixed strategies
Forces, Motion and Friction
- Force diagrams and Newton’s laws of motion
- Equilibrium
- Friction
- Vectors in two dimensions
Kinematics
- Derive constant acceleration formulae
- Use constant acceleration formulae
- Effect of assumptions
- Solve problems with variable acceleration
Work, Energy, Power and Hooke's Law
- Work done
- Kinetic and gravitational potential energy
- Conservation of energy
- Work done by a variable force
- Hooke’s law
Momentum and Collisions
- Momentum and impulse
- Impulse of a variable force
- Conservation of momentum
- Newton’s experimental law
Binary Operations
- Construct payoff matrices
- Play safe strategies
- Value of a game
- Stable solution
- Dominated strategies
- Optimal mixed strategies
Further Calculus
- Proof of volume of a revolution
- Find volumes about x and y axes
- Mean value of a function
Vectors
- Vector product and application
- Equation of a plane in vector and Cartesian format
- Ways planes can intersect
- Angles between lines and planes
Polar Coordinates
- Area enclosed by polar curves
Momentum and collisions
- Momentum and impulse
- Impulse of a variable force
- Conservation of momentum
- Newton’s experimental law
Dimensional Analysis
- Dimensional analysis notation
- Validity of formulae
- Predict formulae
Circular Motion
- Forces in circular motion
- Linear speed and angular speed
- Acceleration
- Solve problems
Further Graphs and Inequalities
- Modulus reciprocal graphs and inequalities
- Draw reciprocal graphs with obliques asymptotes
- Sketch and solve equations and inequalities with y=|f(x)|
Conics
- Equation of conics after combinations of transformations
- Find combinations of transformations applied
- Parametric form of conics
Year 13 Learning Journey
Matrices
- Determinant and inverse of a 3x3 matrix
- Row/column operation
- 3 variable simultaneous equations
- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
Complex Numbers
- De Moivre’s theorem
- Exponential form of a complex number
- Roots of unity
- Factorise z^n-a
- De Moivre’s theorem to derive trig identities
Hyperbolic Functions
- Inverse hyperbolic functions
- Reciprocal hyperbolic functions
- Hyperbolic identities
- Differentiation of hyperbolics
- Integration of hyperbolics and inverse hyperbolics
Further Calculus
- Differentiate inverse trig functions
- Inverse trig and hyperbolic functions with substitution
- Partial fractions
- Reduction formulae
- Length of an arc
- Surface area of revolution
Series and Limits
- Maclaurin’s series
- L’Hopital’s rule
- Improper integrals and limits
Differential Equations
- Integrating factor
- 2nd order differential equations
Application of Differential Equations
- Simple harmonic motion
- Damping
- Coupled first order differential equations
Numerical Methods
- Mid-ordinate rule
- Simpson’s rule
- Euler’s method
- Euler’s improved method
Work, Energy and Power
Momentum and Collisions
Dimensional Analysis
Cicular Motion
- Problems with horizontal circular motion
- Variable speed
- Vertical circle
- Solve problems
Moments and Couples
- Solve problems with moments
- Vector method
Centre of Mass
- Centre of mass of particles
- Centre of mass of standard shapes and composite bodies
- Integration to find centre of mass
- Equilibrium, sliding and toppling
Graphs
Linear Programming
- Simplex algorithm
- Interpret a simplex tableau
Critical Path Analysis
- Gantt Chart
- Resource histogram
- Resource levelling
Network Flows
- Augment flows
- Upper and lower arc capacity problems
- Refine network flows
Game Theory
- Optimal mixed strategies with simplex algorithm
- Solve higher order games
Groups
- Language of groups
- Group axioms
- Finite and infinite groups
- Legrange’s theorem
- Isomorphisms
Revision and Gap Filling
Examinations
Mathematics News
- Reading in Maths
Do you want to learn about mathematical mistakes? (22/02/2021) - UKMT Senior Challenges
UK Mathematical Trust Girl’s Mathematical Olympiad and Senior Mathematics Challenges (18/11/2019) - NFS and UKMT
Planning for further success in 2019-20 (24/09/2019)