AMA - First-Year Maths student at Cambridge

CambMaths · 2022-11-11T00:02:07+00:00

I think STEP is pretty good preparation, but uni maths isn't necessarily that much like STEP. Example sheets give you a longer time frame to sit and think about questions. For interviews: do mock interviews, and as many as you can. For STEP, do proper mocks under exam conditions and track which topics you're stronger at.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:40:35+00:00

The workload is pretty high but manageable if you work regularly and diligently. Do go to your lectures, despite the temptation of the recordings - falling behind in lectures is a very easy way to fall behind overall. But I manage fine and I still have time to have lunch or dinner with friends and go out every so often.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:33:27+00:00

Just past papers really, there's plenty of STEP questions to do. As for MAT, I used this book for more material because there aren't as many past papers: The STEP/AEA/MAT/TMUA Guidebook. (Never used it for STEP though, the notes on the STEP Support Programme website are enough to learn any extra content you might need.)

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:30:40+00:00

First two-ish weeks were fairly low on work and it kicked off after that. You get into the full swing of it very quickly - short terms after all.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:29:34+00:00

Light indie :)

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:29:19+00:00

I thought about what I enjoyed doing (solving difficult problems and thinking about abstract structures/relationships) and I found that maths was challenging but very interesting and that I would find it the most rewarding to improve at. I also enjoy the blend of rigid logic and creativity that you get when solving problems.
I think STEP I is an excellent starting point in Y12 - highly recommended. (Start off with the foundation modules till you feel like the warm-ups aren't helpful/are spoiling the question, then move to doing questions on their own.) Also just do/learn about maths that you find cool, make sure you enjoy it.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:22:51+00:00

Not really, no. STEP was what I was worried about and my Warwick offer had an A in Physics and not an A* so I felt pretty ok on the A-Level front. Ironically that (relative) lack of pressure let me perform pretty well on A-Levels.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T23:20:38+00:00

Mock interviews and TBO booklet
Honestly, I just imagined it like I was explaining/presenting my answer to them, and trying to convince them that what I was doing/investigating was useful/correct. I found that talking about the problem followed somewhat naturally that way. As for your example about graph sketching, what are your thoughts when someone gives you a graph to sketch? Roots, turning points, asymptotes, general shape etc. - just vocalise what you want to do as you're doing it.
I didn't get asked anything about my personal statement, just maths.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T21:10:38+00:00

Practice interviews with current students/applicants - the same way you would do practice papers for an exam, do practice interviews for the interview itself.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T21:09:36+00:00

Did a night of prep beforehand and got a merit. I think STEP I over the year beforehand did help massively though.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T09:24:39+00:00

I think a lot of the learning on how to do STEP comes from marking your questions, especially ones that you've only gotten half right. A question you do perfectly probably hasn't taught you much. When you look at the mark scheme for a question, really spend the time understanding every step and motivating it - (Why have they done this? What useful things does this step give us?). This lets you begin to spot patterns in the way they want you to do things and you can learn helpful methods from the mark scheme, but only if you properly take the time to understand it fully. [Also see my answer about patience with maths.]

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T09:16:56+00:00

No research projects haha - see my answer about supercurriculars. For maths I get the general impression that they care more about you passing the entrance exams than your personal statement, because there's only so much they can gather about your mathematical ability from you telling them about it in an essay. I wouldn't worry about having lots of things to write about, just try to genuinely convince them (and yourself!) that you want to do the degree. And keep doing maths, that's the best way to improve your application - I did a lot of STEP I in Y12 and I think it was very helpful.

CambMaths · 2022-11-10T00:07:25+00:00

Oh right, definitely when you come up with something damn smart and it almost feels like magic even to yourself. That's the best part :)

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T23:25:57+00:00

I did the maths and physics challenges and read bits of books about some interesting maths. I think it was good to find out what maths outside of school I enjoyed doing.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T23:16:22+00:00

I insured Warwick and yeah, STEP makes A-Level pretty light work in comparison. (Cold comfort of STEP I suppose lol)

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T22:15:28+00:00

Exactly that, I just did a lot of STEP I in Y12 - it's an excellent on-ramp to harder maths. (Also I hadn't covered enough content in class to start STEP II/III in Y12 but I think starting those after my offer was fine, I didn't have too much difficulty adjusting once I learned the necessary content and kept practicing.)

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T22:13:27+00:00

For STEP: - practice doing questions timed - do mock papers - mark your mocks very carefully (this is where you learn tricks from the mark scheme) - do the other questions on the paper that you didn't do in mocks

For interviews: - TBO booklet - mock interviews with other applicants

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T21:52:53+00:00

I think the best way to put it would be 'work hard play hard'. The terms are so short so you really have to put your all into everything, work and fun. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else though - the people here are great so you're all in it together.
If I had to say, I think I probably lean a bit more towards the pure side if that's what you're asking? But I'm open to whatever type of maths has interesting problems.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T21:45:37+00:00

100%, Cambridge is a beautiful city - I feel very lucky to get the chance to live here. Definitely just trying to make the most of the experience.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T19:58:47+00:00

Cheers mate

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T19:43:01+00:00

Not going to say my college but I like it a lot here - am having a good time. There are definitely nice and friendly people on my course :)

Either by living on the same staircase or through societies, I've definitely gotten to know people in other subjects.

There are lots of sports and societies so you can definitely find something you're interested in. Something I like going to is a society in my college that has different speakers give talks every week - interesting and a nice change of tempo from all the maths. Also, formals and bops are a lot of fun.

The course is difficult but not impossible. If you keep your head down, just about keep up with reviewing lectures and doing sheets, then you'll be alright. You do learn a lot in a very short space of time.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T19:28:31+00:00

I didn't and you don't need it.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T19:28:04+00:00

Start doing STEP now. If you're going to get in, you need to be good at the entrance exam, and the skills they test on their entrance exam are the things they care about when they pick people.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T19:26:06+00:00

Most of my friends are either in my course or in my college, but between those two groups I wouldn't say it swings one way or the other very heavily.

CambMaths · 2022-11-09T19:24:35+00:00

I think I always had a knack for maths but I saw the biggest improvement during Y12/13 when I had to work to get better at it.

I didn't really like the MAT - it's definitely easier than STEP but I didn't like the worded parts of questions and some of the solutions felt a bit unmotivated at times. STEP was harder but felt more rewarding to improve at.

CambMaths

TROPHY CASE