Math Readiness: High School Advanced Maths for Teens

Math Readiness Skills for Home Ed. Success: Understanding Your US & UK Math Choices

For many home educated teens, doing well in GCSE/iGCSE/Nat 5 maths or US early high school math is not enough; they may need advanced mathematics programs. Home Educators can sit  A-Level maths or Higher/Advanced Higher Maths to enable them to progress in their chosen field of study. Many find the jump from that GCSE level to A-level a major challenge. This jump is equal to a US university or college-level math. Understanding math readiness for advanced maths can be challenging. Let’s break it down for a better understanding of both the US qualification and the UK exam models.

At these advanced levels, teens explore more complex mathematical concepts that are essential for students looking to progress in most fields of science, technology, and engineering. Math graduates from university are highly sought after in a vast range of careers, from math occupations like finance, data analysis, and statistics, but they are also broadly seen as markers for individuals who are generally intelligent and who have excellent logic and problem-solving skills. There are also a growing number of graduate apprenticeships, such as accountancy, for which A-level or Higher Maths is a prerequisite. 

Therefore, if your child has above-average skills in maths, a qualification in A-level maths or Higher maths is an excellent choice for home educators. Especially in a world where technology is growing, we see the increasing importance of mathematics. On a practical note, it is also an easy exam to access from a testing point of view since they do not require coursework and is purely exam-based. 

For those taking UK coursework (either iGCSE/Nat 5,  or Scottish Highers, or AS/A Level maths) for US math requirements, it is important to understand that students all end up at the ‘same destination’ at the end of their last maths courses.  American requirements are approached differently.  For the US qualification, we recommend indicating Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 on the transcript rather than GCSE Maths Year 1 and Year 2.

Maths Readiness: The Study of Advanced Math for Real World Learners

A-Level or Higher Maths

For Scottish students, there is the option of Higher Maths rather than AS/A Level Maths. Here are a few factors to consider as you decide which to take:

1. Length of study: A-level maths is a two-year course, whereas Higher Maths is one year. Many Scottish Universities only require Higher Maths. More competitive courses and universities may require Advanced Maths, especially for math majors or students wanting to work specifically in the field of math.
2. Cost! A-levels are more expensive to sit.
3. Access to the exam: This is a key factor. It is important to ensure you have a place to sit the Higher Maths. There are few places to sit SQA qualifications as an external candidate in Scotland, check the provision before making any decision. See our exam Centers resources for additional information.
4. Final pathway. If your child is looking to progress to a very technical course in mathematics, physics, engineering, or statistics, it is worth closely following the course specifications. A-level maths covers a broad scope of mathematics, and importantly, covers a lot of statistics, which is not required in Higher Maths! Science degrees like physics, astrophysics, and various engineering degrees have a lot of statistical analysis. Having a good foundation from A-level Maths will stand you in good stead moving forward into university or college-level learning. 
5. AS/A2 level maths, what does this mean? In recent years,  England’s A-levels have changed. In the past, the two years were split between AS and A2, and although these terms are still used, the AS level exam has, by and large, been scrapped. The Cambridge International A-level in maths still allows students to sit the A-level over 2 sittings, with the AS-level in year 1. However, this is not always recognised by high academic institutions. However, it gives the benefit of spreading the A-level exams over two years. At Arise Home Education, we offer the Edexcel A-level exam prep, so all papers are sat after the second year.

Math Readiness: Advanced Course Prerequisites for A-Level & Higher Maths

There is no real math readiness test for the advanced maths levels. For both A-level and Higher Maths, it is essential that students have covered the material in GCSE/Nat 5 Maths. The math problems and concepts covered in these advanced-level maths courses build on the material covered in these earlier courses. Interestingly, it is often the case that a number of students in my iGCSE math class will stumble while solving a complex algebra problem in A-level maths.  They slip up on the basic math skills of fractions or the key early childhood topics. Ensuring solid maths skills from an early high school age ( from 10 years old onward), is key.  

At Arise, our Pre-iGCSE Maths class helps ensure students have a solid understanding of the basics before moving onward to high levels of math.  It ensures math readiness for upper high school level classes and beyond.

Does a Home Ed Student Need to have Sat the GCSE Maths exam to do A-level Maths?

Technically no. However, there is a definite benefit from sitting the exam. If GCSE/iGCSE maths is the level of maths you decide to stop at, then sit the exam (unless you are using the course for credit on the US high school diploma, along with the SAT exam, will provide proof of education). But if you are not on the US High School diploma track, the GCSE/iGCSE exam is essential. Along with English, Maths is asked for on nearly every college/university course, and is essential for most jobs or apprenticeships. 

If you are certain your child will do A-level/Higher maths, then, although you do not need the Nat 5/GCSE to sit the exam as an external candidate, it has value. This is because the exam itself is designed to test problem-solving skills. Many questions in the exam will pull from different concepts in one question, in a way that the math course they took may not cover. If you do not formally sit the exam, do use the past papers online to ensure your child is able to pass at those higher grades, which will make the transition to A-level or Highers possible.

Interestingly, it is often the case that a number of students in my iGCSE Math class will stumble while solving a complex algebra problem in A-level maths.  They slip up on the basic math skills of fractions or the key early childhood topics. Ensuring solid maths skills from an early high school age ( from 10 years old onward), is key. ~Emma Cummings, Arise Math Tutor

If your child is struggling to pass the GCSE/Nat 5 maths, the jump to A-level or Higher Maths may be too high. Use the past papers for iGCSE/GCSE maths as a gauge of the math level of your child. All math learning is built layer upon layer, and there is no substitute for going through those levels.

Therefore, although a young person who has A-level Maths will not be asked for their GCSE Maths results, it is worth looking at the GCSE Maths exam as a math readiness exam, and an opportunity to build confidence in the exam setting. 

Advanced Math Readiness: Preparing for A-Level/Higher Maths

As previously said, the jump to A-Level/Higher can be quite challenging. Prepare your teen mentally for this jump. If they are not prepared, teens can find it overwhelming and feel they cannot do it. By being mentally prepared for that jump, they are less likely to lose confidence. Everyday activities and review of math concepts are key to success.

It is important to pay attention to the route your teen has taken to A-level/Higher. If you switch exam boards from iGCSE/GCSE to A-level, be aware of any differences in scope and sequence between specs. This may result in some gaps in knowledge. Between GCSE and A-level, these should not be great, but they can exist.  If you switch from English GCSE/iGCSE Maths and move to Scottish SQA Higher Maths, be aware that there are some gaps. The most notable is perhaps in the Scottish Nat 5 coverage of trigonometry. The Nat 5 goes a little further in the introduction of solving trigonometric identities; however, this is readily bridged. Whereas the wider scope of iGCSE/GCSE math’s dealing with algebra and fractional algebraic expressions, prepares the student well if they move to SQA Higher Maths.

In my opinion, it will be easier to move from iGCSE/GCSE maths to SQA Higher maths than it would be Nat 5 Maths to A-level Maths. If your teen has done a Nat 5 in Maths and would like to do A-level maths, I strongly advise looking at a GCSE past paper and use it as a math readiness assessment. If they struggle with that, consider your option for doing Higher Maths and then the Advanced Higher Maths.

Maths Readiness for Higher Level Maths: Understanding What Your Teen Will Learn in Advanced Math

The A-Level course is two years of learning and is split between two modules: Pure Mathematics and Mechanics & Statistics.

AS/A Level Maths Year 1

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Category: Live Courses, New For 25-26

Tags: A Level Maths, live classes, Math, maths, mechanics, pure maths, statisitcs

Pure Mathematics 1

In Pure Mathematics 1, students build those key mathematical skills in:

• Algebra
• Quadratics
• Equations and inequalities
• Graphs and transformations
• Circles
• Polynomials and binomial expansion
• Trigonometry
• Vectors
• Calculus
• Exponentials and Logarithms

Statistics & Mechanics Year 1

• kinematics,
• Newton’s laws,
• moments,
• probability distributions,
• hypothesis testing, and
• statistical modelling.

Higher Maths SQA

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SQA Higher Maths

• Algebraic skills, such as polynomials and logarithmic functions.
• Trigonometry.
• Identifying and sketching functions.
• Composite and Inverse functions
• Solving algebraic equations
• Solving trigonometric functions
• Vectors
• Introducing Calculus: Differentiation and Integration
• Circles
• Sequences
• Using mathematical skills to interpret a situation.

How US Qualifications for Math Track with the UK Exam Model.

For those taking UK coursework (either iGCSE/Nat 5,  or Scottish Highers, or AS/A Level maths) for US math requirements, it is important to understand that students all end up at the ‘same destination’ at the end of their last maths courses.  American requirements are approached differently.  For the US qualification, we recommend indicating Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 on the transcript rather than GCSE Maths Year 1 and Year 2. For Higher Maths aor As/A Level Maths, you would indicate the type of Maths studied, i.e., trigonometry, calculus, statistics, etc. This helps ensure that students meet the specific math requirements for the US qualification model.

Final Thoughts on Math Readiness for Advanced Maths

Deciding the best course for your teen can be a challenge. Having any advanced maths qualification will always be of great value and make a teen’s CV stand out. So if you have a teen who is good at maths, gaining the highest level of qualification is of great value.

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