GCSE to AS/A level Mathematics transition resources

These resources are designed to help you to make the transition from GCSE to AS and A level Mathematics.

Many students say that they find the initial transition from GCSE challenging. These resources focus on key skills that will be used across the whole spectrum of AS and A level Mathematics. Each section includes:

  • transition materials - skill review skills checks
  • transition materials - practice skills a chance to practise and explore
  • transition materials - extension some extra ideas that you may want to investigate further

There will be six sets of resources, released on a weekly basis, and each set should provide about 3 hours of work. If you really get engaged by the enrichment activities, you may want to spend longer than this. Each set includes either written worked solutions, video solutions or links to websites.

We hope you find these resources useful, that they add depth to your understanding, and that they help you make a smooth and successful transition to AS and A level Mathematics.

Guidance on using these resources

Coming next: More support to help you transition to A level Mathematics

The AMSP is also very excited to be in the process of producing a Transition to A level course for students. This will be available from early July to complete over the summer. Completion of the material on this page will be helpful when studying the course, but not essential.

Simplifying

Simplifying numerical and algebraic expressions is an essential component in maths. Here we look at the key skill of simplifying and how it is applied to fractions, indices and surds in particular.

‌ Fractions

‌ Indices

‌ Surds

Expanding

This unit looks at expanding – you will look at visual geometrical approaches, multiplication of numeric values, working through to manipulating algebraic expressions involving single, double, triple brackets and beyond! Expanding and simplifying expressions is a key skill in many areas of maths.

‌ Expanding

‌ Double Brackets

‌ More Brackets

Factorising

In this section we are looking at the topic of factorising. We will look at expressions such as those with common factors or quadratics. Before starting AS or A level Mathematics it is essential that you are confident with factorising expressions and recognising when you can factorise. This skill will become very important when we consider solving and sketching.

‌ Factorising

‌ Further Factorising

‌ Completing the Square

Rearranging

Being able to rearrange formulae or equations is a fundamental process in algebraic manipulation. From simple conversions to more complicated mathematical formulae, rearranging helps to make calculations easier and plays an important role when studying AS or A level Mathematics. For students studying science as well as maths it is hugely important that you can rearrange scientific formulae with confidence.

‌ Rearranging

‌ Rearranging and Factorising

‌ Rearranging and Fractions

Solving

The ability to solve equations is fundamental in maths. Whilst the process of solving equations is essential, the interpretation of solutions gained is equally important in real-world applications. Equations can take many forms from the linear and quadratic ones studied at GCSE to more complex ones studied at AS and A level. In this resource we will also look at inequalities which have many applications including maximising profit in business subject to constraints.

‌ Linear Equations

‌ Quadratic Equations

‌ Other Equations

Sketching

These resources will be available week commencing 8 June

Coming next: More support to help you transition to A level Mathematics

The AMSP is also very excited to be in the process of producing a Transition to A level course for students. This will be available from early July to complete over the summer. Completion of the material on this page will be helpful when studying the course, but not essential.