Mathematics is a subject which many find difficult. Often problems with the fundamental material such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division sap confidence and limit progress with more advanced topics. However, unlike other subjects, the requirement for a good Maths qualification can appear repeatedly throughout our lives.

GCSE grade 4 or sometimes 5 in Maths is a requirement for progression to 6th form at many schools and colleges, even for subjects where maths is not relevant. Similarly, employers frequently require GCSE Maths at a reasonable level when recruiting.

As far as content is concerned, the jump in difficulty between GCSE and A level is initially a little more gentle than some other subjects. The early stages of the pure Maths component of the A level course revisit the more challenging aspects of GCSE Maths. The complexity of problem solving required, however, increases substantially and rapidly. It is this, together with a much greater use of mathematical language and terminology, which seems to pose the greatest difficulties, even for more able students.

I teach all components of the A level Maths course, specifically:

• Pure Maths
• Statistics
• Mechanics

Some schools offer GCSE Statistics to their more able students. It may be taken before the main group of GCSE exams and is sometimes taught over one year rather than the usual two. Statistics is substantially different from much of pre-GCSE Maths. Consequently, even students who have sailed through Maths till now may welcome the additional help of weekly tuition.