A2 Mathematics with Mechanics

Vivien Moore

The course• The A2 course consists of three modules: C3, C4 and

M2. We will be finishing C3 by the end of October. After that we will be switching between C4 and M2

• Your full A level consists of six modules C1, C2, C3, C4, M1 and M2

• Resits of First Year modules are possible. You will need to pay yourself and enter before Christmas. Talk to your tutor. They will use the best mark.

• You can get any of your First Year Modules re-marked. It costs £45 or £58 with a photocopy. Marks can go down as well as up. The deadline is September 17th. Contact the exams office.

Continuing With Confidence

• Hand in the Summer Assignment now. Make sure it is marked by you before you do.

• There will be a Continuing With Confidence Test on Monday September 21st. It will last 65 minutes. If you have completed the Summer work, you should get 100%.

Assignments 1• Assignments need to be handed in during

Wednesday’s lesson each week and are on the weekly page of jazzymaths

• Start each question on a new side. Drill A on one side, Drill B on another side, etc.

• There will be a 20 minute test on each assignment every Wednesday. Some weeks I will change the numbers in the questions so that the answers will be different, some weeks they will be the same as the assignment.

• You are expected to achieve 100% in the test otherwise your learning is clearly incomplete

Assignments 2• You have 4 ½ hours lesson time and you are expected to

spend 4 ½ hours working outside lessons. Each assignment is designed to take 3 hours which leaves 1 hour for you to firm up your understanding by completing the “Backpack”. The remaining ½ hour is reserved for watching videos and making notes.

• Write your maths clearly and logically. See the www.jazzymaths.com page “how to write maths” for guidance

• Each assignment must be completed and stapled. The “Backpack” front cover must be completed. The “Backpack” work needs to be handed in, separately and stapled. Incomplete assignments will not be taken in.

Backpack• When completing the assignment, use the “Completed” column

and tick every question on the Backpack sheet as soon as you have completed it. Mark your work as soon as you get it correct.

• Check your graphs on your graphical calculator if you have one or use www.graphsketch.com or Autograph and mark your graphs

• You then need to decide whether or not you would be able to get the question correct if it came up in the assignment test. Be honest. If you think you would get it correct, tick the “Ready” column.

• If you don’t think you would get it correct, wait a day and then try the question again. Keep repeating this question until you know you understand it and would be able to get it correct if tested on it. This work comprises the “Backpack”

Preparing For Lessons• Use the website www.jazzymaths.com to prepare

for each lesson.• Look at the page “week beginning w/b” to see

what each lesson is about and what video you need to watch by what date.

• Make notes in your Survival Kit. The videos will sometimes introduce a topic sometimes they will consolidate something we did in class.

• I have used many of the exam solutions videos because they are brilliant.

• There are also notices on the page where relevant

Support• I recommend that you set up a study group with your friends.• See the SE extension sessions for A2 in room 7 each week• “Drop In With The Doubles” in room 7 – a timetable will be

posted soon.• Use room 7 as a workroom.• Email me• Sunday evening online session with Mick Macve head of

department for help with Pure see VLE link• Textbooks – these will be issued to anyone who wants them.• BHASVIC Maths Facebook.• Survival kit.• Videos on my website or other teachers’ websites – see the

VLE for links

QualityWe must all strive to be perfect.Avoid expensive errors– Arithmetic– Minus signs– Algebraic manipulation– Read the Question– Grammar– Proofs

Use robust checking techniques

Departmental tests

Tracking Tests will be– Monday September 21st

– Monday October 19th

– Monday November 23rd

– Monday January 11th

– Monday February 22nd

Notices• You will be soon be asked if you would like to mentor a First

Year student. This would be good for three reasons– It will help a First Year student– Explaining something to someone else really helps you

understand it yourself– It will look good on your University/Job application

• There is a talk given by Peter Neumann from Queen’s College, Oxford about Galois and the theory of equations. It is in room 3 at 4:30 on 24th September. It is worth going to because– It will be fascinating– Peter Neumann is an eminent mathematician (look him up on

Wikipedia)– It will look good on your University/Job application

• Your AS grade will be your UCAS estimated grade

Other notices• Be punctual to lessons• Attend all lessons. If you are ill, email Vivien to find out

what you missed • I use emails. Please check your BHASVIC email daily and the

website each week.• There are some great Maths books in the library. These are

worth reading because– They are enjoyable and not hard to read. They are not textbooks.– They will give you good background to your studies.– It will look good on your University/Job application

• Make sure you bring your calculator to each lesson. You should have the CASIO FX-991ES PLUS or a graphical calculator.