AQA Core Maths AS Level

The Level 3 Core Maths course is an AS equivalent qualification (not a full A-level) for those who want to strengthen and apply their maths skills to support other numerate A-levels, such as psychology, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, business, accounting and economics. Core maths can also help you predict the wider future: what will be the impact of global warming, oil running out, water becoming scarce and the world population hitting 9 billion? During your studies, you’ll look at how to use and apply maths in many different situations. You will read articles about interpreting data and understanding mathematical information, all from relevant and interesting sources.

The course is designed to help you to understand and apply the mathematics you know to everyday life; after completing the course you will be able do computations such as:

calculating how long it will take to pay off a student loan;

working out if you could own a house;

understanding percentage increases in your salary.

Core Maths can also help you predict the wider future: what will be the impact of global warming, of oil running out, of water becoming scarce and of the world population hitting 9 billion? Core Maths is different from GCSE Maths. During your studies, you'll look at how to use and apply maths in many different situations.

The content has been carefully selected to support the mathematical needs of a range of AS, A level and BTEC Level 3 qualifications, and to provide a progression from GCSE Mathematics. It also provides a good foundation for many university degrees.

The content areas covered in this qualification include: applications of statistics; budgeting; personal finance; modelling and estimation; critical analysis; and graphical methods

The course duration is 1 year. The course is 100% assessed through exams. You will sit two 1 hour and 30 minute examinations during the May/June exam period, each will be worth 50% of your overall grade.

For all Level 3 pathways five passes (9-4) or more at GCSE's are required including at least Grade 4 in Maths and / or English Language. In addition to the college’s standard requirement you will need to have obtained at least a grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics

The course is ideal if you enjoyed mathematics at GCSE and want to see just how useful it can be to everyday life. It will allow you to study Mathematics beyond GCSE without having to commit to an A-Level, and enable you to obtain a full mathematics qualification in only 1 year. It will also show universities that you have developed your mathematical ability, as well as other important skills such as being able to critically analyse information