Further Mathematics

Exam Board and Specification

Pearson Edexcel 9FM0 (8FM0 for AS Further Maths)

Entry Requirements

GCSE Mathematics Grade 8 

Course Content

This course builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding set out in the whole GCSE subject content for mathematics and the subject content for Mathematics A Level taught alongside. Assessment is designed to reward students for demonstrating the ability to provide responses that draw together different areas of their knowledge, skills and understanding from across the full course of study for the AS Further Mathematics qualification and also from across the AS Mathematics qualification. Problem solving, proof and mathematical modelling will be assessed in further mathematics in the context of the wider knowledge which students taking A level further mathematics will have studied. 

The course currently consists of Core Pure Maths and Applied Maths (Decision Maths and Further Mechanics). 

At the end of Year 12 there is an opportunity to take the AS qualification, details of which are shared with students where appropriate. 

Career paths

Maths is one of the most popular and desirable A Levels and is essential for most STEM subjects at university as well as developing and demonstrating wider skills valuable for a diverse range of university courses and careers. Further Mathematics is most desirable if you intend to study Mathematics, Engineering or Physics at university. At SMSJ we have experienced teachers who will support learners with all aspects of the course as well as offering support for STEP and MAT and general preparation for Mathematics at university.

Expectations of students

Students are expected to spend at least four hours per week in private study for each qualification they are taking. 

Home learning tasks normally will be set each week. Students will be expected to take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning and to ask questions and actively participate in class discussions. 

Equipment

A calculator of the same standard as the Casio fx-991 which is capable of working with complex numbers and matrices, a protractor, a pair of compasses, ruler, pen and pencil. Students will also need a ring-binder to organise their notes, classwork, home learning and assessments. 

How is the course assessed? 

This course is examined at the end of Year 13 over four equally weighted papers with a total of 300 marks available. 

Paper 1: Core Pure Mathematics 1

Paper 2: Core Pure Mathematics 2 

Each paper is a 90 minute written examination worth 75 marks. Papers 1 and 2 may contain questions on any topics from the Core Pure Mathematics content. Calculators can be used in the assessment. 

Core Pure Mathematics includes:

• proof
• complex numbers
• matrices
• further algebra and functions
• further calculus
• further vectors
• polar coordinates
• hyperbolic functions
• differential equations

Paper 3: Further Mechanics 1

This paper is a 90 minute written examination worth 75 marks. Calculators can be used in the assessment. 

Further Mechanics 1 includes:

• momentum and impulse
• work energy and power
• elastic strings and springs
• elastic energy and elastic collisions

Paper 4: Decision Mathematics 1

This paper is a 90 minute written examination worth 75 marks. Calculators can be used in the assessment. 

Decision Mechanics 1 includes:

• algorithms and graph theory
• algorithms on graphs
• critical path analysis
• linear programming