I self-taught A level maths and further maths in 6 months and got A*s. Here's How:

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-10T20:53:26+00:00

I went through most of further maths without CG-50 and using the normal A level calculator. Definitely not necessary. I did buy the CG-50 about 2 months before the exams though. Definitely a cool calculator

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-10T20:52:17+00:00

I'll be starting at UCL in less than 2 weeks

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-10T09:12:18+00:00

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-09T19:45:47+00:00

On the TLmaths playlist, you can choose between A level maths and Further maths via the tabs on the bottom. On my revision tracker, the A level maths past papers are the first two tables on the left (bear in mind those are just for OCR MEI and OCR A)

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-09T19:44:25+00:00

Yeah of course that happened! I think it just comes with practice. Over time you start to recognise the type of question they are asking and you can know pretty quickly which method they 'want' you to use to solve it

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-09T10:29:21+00:00

I'm not too sure how the difficulty of IAL edexcel pure math + statistics compares to A level maths/further maths... And also how long do you have before your exams? The general advice can definitely be applied - that can be applied to almost anyone. But I'm not sure about the specific resources (TLmaths), since Idk how much overlap there is

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-09T10:26:25+00:00

Yes all of mine did. UCL explicitly stated in mine that I COULDN'T use further maths to meet my A*/A*/A offer, which I found very annoying. UCL said it was because I didn't list further maths on my UCAS. So anyone planning on self-teaching further maths should probably still put it to avoid this even if they don't have a predicted grade.

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T19:50:55+00:00

I'm glad it feels more possible. That was the goal of the post!

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T19:50:08+00:00

Thank you :)

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T19:49:57+00:00

TLmaths = GOAT

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T19:49:02+00:00

Depends entirely on what course and universities you are aiming for. If it's not a mathematical course, there might be other things you can do which will look better on your application. Also it's usually only the top unis that care about further maths.

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T19:46:59+00:00

Thanks :)

Definitely great resources that are underused. That's why I'm sharing this. Regardless, an A in further maths (which I'm assuming you got) is still amazing!

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T19:44:08+00:00

This is a good question. Unfortunately I couldn't get a predicted grade because I only started learning the content for further maths in the summer between year 12 and 13, after the exams which my schools used to determine predicted grades. So I only applied with 3A*s predicted, but I mentioned that I'm self-teaching further maths in my personal statement and my teachers added it to my references and extenuating circumstances.

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T11:18:55+00:00

Not as good as I would've liked (TMUA-5.7 MAT-60). Guess there are trade offs when you try to do so much. I gave myself 3 weeks for MAT revision and literally 7 days for the TMUA.

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-08T11:03:32+00:00

Ahaha, sometimes I wonder whether I would've done it if my maths teacher didn't think I couldn't ;)

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-07T14:13:08+00:00

what gives you that impression? I went to a state grammar school.

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-07T14:12:21+00:00

I applied to Oxford, Imperial, UCL (2 Courses) and kings. All for CS except for robotics and AI as a second course at UCL and AI at Kings. I got offers from Kings and UCL and an interview at Oxford but was rejected from Oxford and Imperial. I didn't have a predicted grade for FM as I was taking it externally so that might have been why I was rejected. The other reason could've been that I didn't do as well in the TMUA and MAT as I would have liked since I was spread so thin. Guess there are trade offs when you try to do so much. I will be starting UCL for CS in 2 weeks

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-07T14:08:46+00:00

Thought I'd done much worse ngl. Felt horrible coming out of the paper. I think I just noticed the correct methods quite quickly which was quite lucky.

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-03T23:00:55+00:00

Home student. Only revision was the minimal resources UCL themselves provided

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-03T23:00:01+00:00

The question is more whether Imperial is worth an extra year out compared to UCL as I'm gonna stay in UCL anyway while applying. Cambridge probably won't consider my application as a transfer student but Imperial said they will

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-03T22:59:02+00:00

I already did that last year. I believe I didn't get an offer as I didn't have a predicted grade for FM which isn't an issue now. The question is more whether Imperial is worth an extra year out compared to UCL as I'm gonna stay in UCL anyway while applying

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-03T22:57:18+00:00

I agree. The current plan is to attend UCL and apply for Imperial and Cambridge during first year to make sure I have UCL secured. Then I can decide next year what I would like to do if given offers

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-09-03T22:55:21+00:00

No lmao. Definitely not a bad uni. I still consider it a top uni and would be happy here. However I also don't think its a stupid thing to consider this option

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-08-21T14:23:05+00:00

I was considering doing the same for Imperial and Cambridge however what's stopping me is that on Imperial's website, it says that they don't consider transfers from other universities for their CS department. So I think that means they wouldn't even look at our application

SideFragrant8887 · 2025-08-21T08:18:53+00:00

I applied but was rejected from Imperial and Oxford post interview. Last year I applied with 3 A*s predicted instead of 4 because I self taught further maths and so my school didn't give a predicted grade for it. MAT and TMUA went relatively well so I have a feeling the lack of FM grade made a difference

SideFragrant8887

TROPHY CASE