Year 13 Regular Problem Solving Classes

Overview

A series of maths problem solving classes designed to develop students' problem solving skills so they have the confidence to apply for universities that include an admissions test as part of their offer.

These regular classes offer students the opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills by trying out challenging problems that require deep mathematical thinking, and so help them meet the challenges they may face in embarking on a maths-rich university course or career. The problems are fun and rewarding and attending the sessions will enrich a student's mathematical experience.

Students will look at problems from a range of sources including Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP) used by Cambridge and Warwick Universities and the Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT) used by Oxford University and Imperial College, London.

Aims

• To develop confidence in dealing with maths problems
• To develop students' resilience when attempting maths problems
• To provide information about the problem solving skills required in university admissions tests
• To give students the opportunity to attempt problems both in groups and on their own
• To give students the opportunity to think about how solutions to problems are presented
• To provide students with the opportunity to explore areas of maths not in the standard curriculum
• To provide students with the opportunity to study questions from the STEP and the MAT examinations.

Who will benefit from attending?

The classes are suitable for any A level Mathematics student with an enquiring mind who wishes to develop their problem solving ability at A level and beyond.

They are particularly suitable for those students who are required to sit an admissions test as part of a university offer.

Content

Students attending the classes will encounter problems covering a variety of topics. These include:

• Working with integers
• Reasoning and logic
• Sequences and series
• Induction
• Curve sketching and identification
• Coordinate geometry
• Vectors
• Trigonometry
• Complex numbers
• Integration
• Differential equations

Materials and Equipment

While the classes are being held online, you will need access to suitable equipment. You are advised to use a headset or headphones with an inline microphone to provide the best sound quality and to prevent audio issues for other users. A laptop with a built-in webcam and microphone may be sufficient if you’re in a quiet area but please take the time to check this before the session. BBB is designed to be used on a variety of platforms but you will get the best experience via a desktop or laptop computer, running either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as the browser.

Note: Internet Explorer and Edge are not suitable currently.

Access to GeoGebra or desmos will also be useful.

Study Schedule

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FOR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AND OXFORDSHIRE ONLY.

These workshops are scheduled to run online most Monday evenings during term time, from Monday 14th September. There will be sessions of 1 hour throughout the year.

Dates:

14, 21, and 28 September, 5, 12, and 19 October, 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 November, 7 December, 18, and 25 January, 1, 8, and 22 February, 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 March, 19, and 26 April, 10, and 17 May.

Currently it is planned that these will all be delivered online.

The AMSP uses Big Blue Button (BBB), which is an online conferencing system that allows participants to collaborate in real time.

You are advised to use a headset or headphones with an inline microphone to provide the best sound quality and to prevent audio issues for other users. A laptop with a built-in webcam and microphone may be sufficient if you’re in a quiet area but please take the time to check this before the session. BBB is designed to be used on a variety of platforms but you will get the best experience via a desktop or laptop computer, running either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as the browser.

Note: Internet Explorer and Edge are not suitable currently.