A Level Mathematics 2025-26

Mathematics A Level is a course worth studying not only as a supporting subject for the physical and social sciences, but in its own right. It is challenging but interesting. It builds on work you will have met at GCSE, but also involves new ideas produced by some of the greatest minds of the last millennium.

While studying mathematics you will be expected to:

• Use mathematical skills and knowledge to solve problems.
• Solve problems by using mathematical arguments and logic.

You will also have to understand and demonstrate what is meant by proof in mathematics

• Simplify real-life situations so that you can use mathematics to show what is happening and what might happen in different circumstances.
• Use the mathematics that you learn to solve problems that are given to you in a real-life context.
• Use calculator technology and other resources (such as formulae booklets or statistical tables) effectively and appropriately; understand calculator limitations and when it is inappropriate to use such technology.

Mathematics is rather different from many other subjects. An essential part of mathematical study is the challenge of analysing and solving a problem and the satisfaction and confidence gained from achieving a ‘correct’ answer. If you choose mathematics you will not have to write essays, but you will need to be able to communicate well in written work to explain your solutions. Mathematics is not about learning facts. You will not achieve success by just reading a textbook or by producing and revising from detailed notes… you actually need to ‘do’ mathematics.

Pure Mathematics explores the purely algebraic and abstract concepts of maths. This will build upon techniques seen at GCSE and stretch your abilities further by introducing entirely new theories which are applied into a large number of professions.

You will explore proof, algebra and function, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration and vectors.

The Statistics unit will build on a lot of topics you have already seen in your GCSEs but the content is being delivered in a way that has never been delivered before!
Your statistics units will now focus around performing statistical tests on a large set of data.

The data set consists of weather data samples provided by the Met Office for five UK weather stations and three overseas weather stations in the time periods May to October 1987 and May to October 2015.

Mechanics focuses on the way that forces interact with each other on a very basic level.
We will build on some elements that you will have seen within Physics/Maths already in regards to calculating speed, acceleration and distance travelled of a car travelling at a constant speed.

You will be exploring this in more detail for cars and particles in which acceleration/speed is constantly changing and how we are able to determine the total distance travelled by that object.

A level mathematics offers you access to a huge variety of jobs and job sectors, with the correct choice combinations at A level you can become an actuary, accountant, aeronautics, astronaut, biochemist, computer games developer, pilot, cosmologist, cryptologist, medical doctor, data analyst, marine biologist, statistician, investment banker, architect and many more.

An A Level in mathematics is a much sought-after qualification for entry to a wide variety of full time courses in higher education. There are also many areas of employment that see a Mathematics A Level as an important qualification and it is often a requirement for the vocational qualifications related to these areas.

Higher Education courses or careers that either require A Level Mathematics or are strongly related include: economics; medicine; architecture; engineering; accountancy; teaching; psychology; physics; computing; information and communication technology.

For Mathematics A Level you will need grade 6 or above in GCSE Mathematics.

For a three A Level programme you will need to have a minimum of five 9-4 grade passes at GCSE which includes English and Mathematics.

For a four A Level programme you will need to have a minimum of six 9-4 grade passes at GCSE which includes English and Mathematics; it is expected that the majority of passes will be at 7-9 grade.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

In your second year, you will sit 3 externally marked exam papers.

The main unit is Pure Mathematics and you will sit 2 papers on these areas contributing to 67% of your final grade.
The mechanics & statistics unit will be the final paper contributing to the final 33% of your A level grade.

September 2025

Two years, full time.