Is an AEA in Maths worth taking?

[Smudger]

Good evening guys.

OK, I'm a 6th form student about to go to year 13. I took Maths Physics and English Langauge this year but I'm certain I've failed English Language. I won't be resitting it next year, but will be taking AS further maths.

Firstly, is it worth taking an AEA in Maths? I'm thinking about it but incase I don't pass that, would that be viewed as a negative.

Secondly, does anyone have any advice on unis to look at. At this stage I'm expecting to be looking at A maths, B or C Physics E 'AS' English and I have no idea about 'AS' FM yet.

 

[cristo]

Good evening guys.

OK, I'm a 6th form student about to go to year 13. I took Maths Physics and English Langauge this year but I'm certain I've failed English Language. I won't be resitting it next year, but will be taking AS further maths.

Firstly, is it worth taking an AEA in Maths? I'm thinking about it but incase I don't pass that, would that be viewed as a negative.

Unless you're looking to apply to one of the top universities, I wouldn't bother and would just concentrate on your a levels.

Secondly, does anyone have any advice on unis to look at. At this stage I'm expecting to be looking at A maths, B or C Physics E 'AS' English and I have no idea about 'AS' FM yet.

Well, you're only going to have two a levels and two as levels, so I wouldn't say you'd be able to get into many of the top unis (they tend to require ABB as a minimum). I don't know though; look on the UCAS website for entry requirements.

 

[Kurdt]

If I remember correctly you can enter the AEA and if you don't pass then there's nothing really of it. It doesn't appear as a fail on anything like a certificate, so as I was encouraged to do have a go but don't worry about it. That is don't sacrifice your a-level studies for it.

 

[Smudger]

Yeah thanks guys. I'm not expecting to go to any of the top ones, esp. with failing one of my ASs. Are there any reccomendations of universities that I might get into with slightly lower grades?

As far as I understand, AEAs follow the same syllabus as normal Alevel maths and so preparig for my normal maths exams would be pretty much the same process, am I correct in this?

 

[Kurdt]

As far as I can remember they do follow the syllabus but they are obviously very hard questions. There are plenty of resources on the exam board web sites.

Here is a sample paper from edexcel the main body for a-level maths.

http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/aea/9801

Have a look and see what you think.

 

[Smudger]

Looks fun...

So the main challenge is using maths from all modules together, as opposed to learning small bits of maths for small exams, right?

 

[Kurdt]

Yes its just bringing everything together. Like I said previously don't worry too much about it and have a go at the practise exam.