A-level Mathematics/OCR

This is a book about AS (advanced subsidiary) and A (advanced) level Mathematics. It aims to fit in with the OCR New GCE A-level Mathematics syllabus but is not endorsed by OCR. It should be useful as a revision guide or to find alternative explanations to the ones in your textbook. It assumes you have already done GCSE Mathematics. While it is aimed at people studying A-levels, it may be of interest to others in general. More information about A-levels can be obtained from the A-level article in Wikipedia.

Course structure

Current structure

Mathematics

The OCR AS and A-Level Mathematics syllabus is focused on pure mathematics in addition to applications in statistics and mechanics. The current structure uses a linear exam system, meaning students must take all required exams in the same session, at the end of their course.

• To be awarded an AS-level qualification in Mathematics, it is required that a student takes two papers; one covers Pure Mathematics and Statistics, and the other features Pure Mathematics and Mechanics.
• To be awarded an A-level qualification in Mathematics, it is required that a student takes three papers; one covers Pure Mathematics and Statistics, one covers Pure Mathematics and Mechanics, and one consisting of only Pure Mathematics. One of these papers in the OCR B (MEI) specification also features a comprehension section.

Legacy structure

Mathematics

• To be awarded an AS-level qualification in Mathematics, it is required that a student takes 3 modules. These must be C1, C2 and any one of the applied modules.
• To be awarded an A-level qualification in Mathematics, it is required that a student takes 6 modules. These must be C1, C2, C3, C4 and any two of the applied modules.

Further Mathematics

• To be awarded an AS-level qualification in Further Mathematics, it is required that a student takes 3 modules. These must be FP1 and any two of the applied modules.
• To be awarded an A-level qualification in Further Mathematics, it is required that a student take 6 modules. These must be FP1, either FP2 or FP3, and any four other modules.

A module may only be taken as part of a Mathematics or a Further Mathematics course. A student must therefore take 6 unique modules to be awarded an AS-level qualification in Further Mathematics. These 6 modules must be C1, C2, FP1 and any three of the applied modules. A student must take 12 unique modules to receive an A-level qualification in Further Mathematics. You must take all the core modules and FP1. Then you have a choice of taking either FP2 or FP3 with any 6 applied modules or FP2 and FP3 with any 5 applied modules.

Students at schools or colleges that do not offer the Further Mathematics A-Level can now study it through one of the local centres of The Further Mathematics Network.

Modules

AS	AS modules Core Mathematics 1 (C1) Core Mathematics 2 (C2) Further Pure 1 (FP1) Statistics 1 (S1) Mechanics 1 (M1) Decision 1 (D1)

A2	A2 modules Core Mathematics 3 (C3) Core Mathematics 4 (C4) Further Pure 2 (FP2) Further Pure 3 (FP3) Further Pure 4 (FP4) Statistics 2 (S2) Statistics 3 (S3) Statistics 4 (S4) Mechanics 2 (M2) Mechanics 3 (M3) Mechanics 4 (M4) Decision 2 (D2)