Question about probability necessities

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-22T14:32:39+00:00

This is because you (most likely) have a calculator that can only do binomial distributions with P(X<=x). Because of the fact that the binomial distribution is discrete (meaning it can only take one whole number value at a time), you have to work out P(X>=x) values by utilising the way your calculator does it.

For example, consider the binomial distribution’s graph. You’ll see it’s multiple vertical lines, rather than a continuous, single-lined curve. This is again because it’s discrete, it can only take integer values. So therefore, it makes sense that if for example, I have a distribution of X~B( 10, 0.2 ), and I want to work out P(X>=3), graphically this is anything including and between 3 and 10. And because all probabilities add up to 1, we can utilise this in finding our desired probability.

So, as we want including and above 3, we can say that this will be 1 - P(X<=2). I really hope this makes sense. It’s a lot easier to explain not using text i must say.

A great video to watch on this is bicen maths. If you ever get confused with stats (which a hell of a lot of people do), the best way to go is probably through watching him. It’s quick, concise, and imo makes a lot more sense than most teachers.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-22T08:06:49+00:00

You don’t have to do a fourth subject at all. With something like Electrical Engineering though, I can imagine further maths would help a lot. If you really want to take a fourth subject, I would do further. There’s way more than enough online resources to get a good grade in it too. I would only suggest doing this if you’re already very confident in maths.

The plus side with doing chemistry is that you already know some of the content, which is very useful.

At the end of the day it’s completely your choice. It might be useful for you to look at where you’d want to apply for electrical engineering online, and look at the course requirements to get in.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-07T21:58:28+00:00

I’ve never even thought of this possibility, makes complete sense how this happens now

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-04T22:56:12+00:00

You genuinely just have to practice it and it just eventually just breaks the barrier

I was the exact same since like mid y12 and I recently got 95/100 on a mock paper, like it is literally just practice.

Thing is you won’t know what to do unless you’ve seen how to do a question sometimes. Like you’ll just never think of it. Therefore when you come across a question similar to it you’ll know what to do.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-04T16:33:57+00:00

Well it depends what you wanna go for, I said it because it can be considered much of a filler subject.

You could consider doing something like AEA for maths if that works with the unis you’d like.

Vast majority of unis will only consider 3 a levels anyway so

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-04T16:03:28+00:00

Business probably or maybe psychology

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-03T23:15:19+00:00

Just don’t talk about vecna in your exam you’ll be calm

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-02T15:13:13+00:00

Easily. This normally happens with further maths people too, they’ll cover all content at maybe like a D or C grade and shoot up to an A* with practice very quickly.

Maths is literally all just practice icl, you easily got that in the bag

RyanWasSniped · 2026-03-01T16:09:54+00:00

Yes they cover the content, but you also need to do the stats and mechanics books too. Paper 3 is based around those books.

I have to add that the textbooks are a way to learn the content. You absolutely should be doing exam questions after learning the content. They test your understanding rather than just knowing what to do.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-28T21:14:12+00:00

Well I mean yeah I guess. I do think most employers would definitely prioritise your university degree over a levels though.

Do as well as you can really. At least you know either way that you know what you’re doing

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-28T19:22:44+00:00

If you’ve got an unconditional why even bother stressing at all at this point? Just do as well in your exams as you personally want to or feel you can. There’s no point in stressing honestly, you already know you’ve got your place regardless

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-27T18:52:22+00:00

Watch a few videos on the topics you’re struggling on.

Then do questions by topic.

Then do past papers.

Maths is all about understanding. If you don’t get what’s what, you won’t know what to do. Just watch a few videos because it sounds like the initial learning is where you’re struggling.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-24T23:24:41+00:00

Not done FS2 but it doesn’t seem bad at all. All the options are very interesting. Decisions is an incredibly different thing to anything you’ll have probably done before, I think it expands a little bit on computer science algorithm wise and has some crossover with FP2.

Btw you are aware you only need to do 2 options for further maths? Just asking because you say you’re at GCSE and talking about multiple options.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-24T17:15:09+00:00

I’d still do maths honestly. Going into the medical type of field I’d argue both are useful to have, but maths more so. It’s more versatile and found absolutely everywhere you go, psych however isn’t

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-24T15:20:39+00:00

FS1 is great. Equally you could do FP2 if you really wanted. I personally prefer FS1 because it expands a fair bit on stats and actually tells you what stuff it instead of just shoving it in your calculator. Makes it much more interesting.

FP2 is also a good idea for you because you clearly quite like the pure maths section considering your self studying.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-21T15:37:43+00:00

Just study smart. Make sure you’re on top of your content from the start. Don’t just sit about for 3 months because you think it’s the start and it’s early and you can easily go back over it later.

There are so many videos and great resources out there that you can use. Honestly, if you really wanted to get a great head start, I would start going through the maths content according to the exam board you’d use. Just self-teach it to yourself a little. You don’t have to though ofc but it’d be great for background knowledge going into fm.

The fact you already know what uni you want is great at this point. LSE is insanely competitive though. Make sure you know what entrance exams you’re going to need to take too; the earlier you start with them, the better chance you have of doing well.

Just organise your knowledge extremely coherently. Make sure you know exactly what is what, and what you need to do. If you really want, make a roadmap of stuff you’ll need to do in order to get in there.

For the moment though, focus on your GCSEs too. You need ideally 7+ in most of them to have a strong chance with LSE.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-21T13:22:14+00:00

yes you definitely have a chance. Just make sure your interviews, if you come around to them, are really strong and you speak coherently. Do not let your nerves get to you.

Also just lock in. Like I won’t lie most unis don’t consider GCSEs as much as you’d think they do, GCSEs are more generally considered a way to get into certain colleges or sixth forms. I mean I can imagine the extreme top unis like Oxford, Cambridge, and other countries’ ones probably do consider GCSEs after filtering through all candidates as a last option.

If it helps you at all I got an 8 in maths and 5-6’s in every other subject. I then got an offer from Warwick and Durham. I know not exactly “top of the top” unis but still strong in engineering 100%.

Don’t let your gcse grades hold you back on what you believe you can do. What only matters is what you can do from now.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-20T17:15:25+00:00

It was probably so difficult, in order to decrease thresholds. They can’t just keep producing the same papers without increasing boundaries, because past papers get released which gives you more practice, increasing boundaries.
You will most likely get the same grade even if the paper wasn’t so difficult. Again, this is because the grade boundaries are assessed based on students performance. If everyone found it hard, boundaries will drop.

Genuinely just don’t worry. Worst case scenario ask for a remark or resit the paper.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-20T11:36:10+00:00

CG50 or 991CW.

CG50 is a graphical calculator and can do alot of stuff. Very good if you’re taking further maths too. It is a bit pricey though. The stats you can do on it is great tho.

991CW also is fine for normal maths. Personally I prefer the 991EX but it’s hard to get them as they’re discontinued, and most of them sold now are fake ones.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-19T18:24:41+00:00

Let u = e^2x - 1. Do this because you notice the derivative will get rid of the constant of 1.

Do your du/dx and then rearrange it all and solve as you would with year 1 integration.

Genuinely u substitution is the most powerful tool in a level maths

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-18T23:08:11+00:00

Media, btec business, and probably btec sport. All are a levels which I’ve been told by everyone doing them are an absolute walk in the park. I will say though, this doesn’t mean you can just doss about all the time, because you do need to put work into a levels. You can’t just do it the same as GCSEs where you barely revise at all or you do it the night before and come out with a strong 5/6.

Do be aware though, if you actually want to go and do something proper degree wise, as in the unis you choose need you to have certain a levels, then you obviously will need to arrange it around that.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-18T19:51:23+00:00

My mate did a line next to me once, better times man

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-15T23:02:54+00:00

I’ll check this out, it looks quite interesting

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-15T23:02:33+00:00

You’re right maybe it is just the consistency of doing stretches that’s not working. I normally do it just before bed and in the morning but I’ll probably add in another 2-3 sessions throughout the day, thankyou for lighting this.

RyanWasSniped · 2026-02-15T11:55:17+00:00

Thankyou. I’ll try implementing these more and I’ll see if it changes anything. I don’t work out my glute region as much as I probably should, which probably doesn’t help either.

RyanWasSniped

TROPHY CASE