AS/A2 Use of Maths

AS / A2 USE OF MATHEMATICS

Exam Board: AQA
Would you like to study Maths beyond GCSE, but in a more hands-on, less abstract way than the traditional AS/A Maths? If so, Use of Maths might be for you. Maths is helpful to your other A-levels, and widens your career options, but the traditional AS/A-level course may take you further than you need to go.

Use of Maths is more user-friendly and accessible and may provide you with the Maths you actually need. We make much use of IT and graphical calculators to reinforce and apply learning.

The course concentrates on the practical application of Maths how to predict the height of the water in Wells harbour at any particular time, the growth of broadband connectivity or the likely spread of swine flu.

Traditional AS Maths was a bit scary, but Use of Maths AS was not; I felt much more confident on this. Jake Biggs AS student 20089

Use of Maths is about how Maths works. If you study traditional trigonometry, you might never use it ever again, but there is a good chance you will use what you learn in Use of Maths in real life. Kieren Haynes AS student 20089.

AS Use of Maths

In AS Use of Maths you will study:

Working with Algebraic and Graphical Techniques

Using calculators and computers to model real situations
Finding the equation that matches some data
Interpreting formulas by looking at the graphs
Increasing your algebraic skills Using and Applying Statistics
Calculating and using averages and standard deviation to compare data
Drawing and interpreting statistical diagrams
Making sense of statistics
Correlation links between sets of data Applying Mathematics
Formulas that calculate the next value of a sequence and how to interpret and apply these.

Assessment

Three 1 written exams and two coursework portfolios.

Entry requirements

At least a grade C in GCSE Maths in addition to the Colleges entry requirement for AS study.