AS and A Level Further Mathematics A: What’s the difference between Mathematics A and Mathematics B?

A Level

Specification A has four 90 minute exams: 

• Paper 1: Pure Core 1
• Paper 2: Pure Core 2
• Paper 3: Optional choice
• Paper 4: Optional choice

Paper 3 and 4 are chosen from the following: Statistics, Mechanics, Discrete Mathematics, Additional Pure Mathematics.

Any of the pure content can be assessed on any pure paper.

Specification B is more complex with students taking three or four exams. There is a choice of three different route:

• Route A: Candidates must take the mandatory Core Pure and Mechanics Major papers and then one further optional minor paper. This paper must not be Mechanics Minor.
• Route B: Candidates must take the mandatory Core Pure and Statistics Major papers and then one further optional minor paper. This paper must not be Statistics Minor.
• Route C: Candidates must take the mandatory Core Pure paper and then three further minor optional papers.

Learners may not enter for Mechanics Major Y421 and Mechanics Minor Y431, Statistics Major Y422 and Statistics Minor Y432 or Mechanics Major Y421 and Statistics Major Y422.

Minor options available are Mechanics, Statistics, Modelling with Algorithms, Numerical Methods, Extra Pure, Further Pure with Technology.

AS

Both specifications have three 75 minute papers:

Specification A:

• Paper 1: Pure Core
• Paper 2: Optional
• Paper 3: Optional

Paper 2 and 3 are chosen from the following: Statistics, Mechanics, Discrete Mathematics, Additional Pure Mathematics. 

Specification B:

• Paper 1: Core Pure
• Paper 2: Optional
• Paper 3: Optional

Paper 2 and 3 are chosen from the following: Mechanics a, Statistics a, Modelling with Algorithms, Numerical Methods.