Additional Mathematics
Additional Mathematics is a UK qualification pilot scheme in its final year of implementation for a GCSE level qualification in mathematics which is applied to a range of problems set out in a different format to the standard Mathematics GCSE. This has been formed because of the standard secondary schools in England offering two GCSE qualifications in Science and English but only one in Mathematics and as Mathematics is also a core subject it needs to be viewed on the same level as the other two core subjects (Science and English.)
Additional Mathematics in Singapore
In Singapore, Additional Mathematics is an optional subject offered to pupils in Secondary School who have an aptitude in Mathematics and are in Normal (Academic) stream or Express stream. The syllabus covered is slightly more in depth as compared to Mathematics. Additional Mathematics is also a prerequisite for students who are intending to offer H2 Mathematics and H2 Further Mathematics at A-level if they choose to enter a Junior college after Secondary School. Students without Additional Mathematics at the 'O' level will usually offer H1 Mathematics instead.
Format for Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (Express stream Additional Mathematics paper) is as follows:
Paper 1 (Duration 2 Hours) A variety of compulsory questions are being set, with a mark weighting from 1 Mark to maximum mark of 7. The total weighting of the paper is 80 marks and constitutes to 44% of the O Level Additional Mathematics grade.
Paper 2 (Duration 2 Hours 30 Minutes) A variety of compulsory questions are set. One of the questions would be a plotting question where one is required to plot a given graph on to a piece of graph paper. This can be either tested in Paper 1 or Paper 2. The total weighting of the paper is 100 marks and constitutes to 56% of the O Level Additional Mathematics grade.
A variety of topics are tested - Differentiation, Integration, Advanced Trigonometry, Binomial Expansion, Surds, Indices, Plane Geometry and many more.
GCSE Additional Mathematics in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, Additional Mathematics was offered as a GCSE subject by the local examination board, CCEA. There were two examination papers: one which tested topics in Pure Mathematics and one which tested topics in Mechanics and Statistics. It was discontinued in 2014 and replaced with GCSE Further Mathematics.
Further Pure Maths IGCSE
Starting from 2012, Edexcel and AQA have started a new course, now that Additional Maths has been abolished, which is an IGCSE in Further Maths. Edexcel and AQA both offer completely different courses, Edexcel including the calculation of solids formed through integration, AQA not touching on integration. AQA's syllabus mainly offers further algebra, with the factor theorem and more complex algebra such as algebraic fractions as well as differentiation up to and including the calculation of normals to a curve. AQA's syllabus also includes a lot of matrices work, which is an AS Further Mathematics topic. AQA's syllabus is much more famous than Edexcel's, mainly for its controversial decision to award an A* with Distinction(A^), a grade higher than the maximum possible grade in any Level 2 qualification; it is known colloquially as a Super A* or A**.
Additional Mathematics in Malaysia
In Malaysia, Additional Mathematics is offered as an elective to upper secondary students studying within the public education system. This subject is included in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. Science stream students are required to apply Additional Mathematics as one of the subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. Additional Mathematics is an optional subject for students who are from arts or commerce streams. Additional Mathematics in Malaysia which commonly known as Add Maths covers various topics including function, differentiation, integration, indices and logarithms, statistics, index numbers, trigonometric functions, solution of triangles, linear programming, permutations and combinations, linear law, and vectors.
Additional Mathematics in Mauritius
In Mauritius, Additional Mathematics is offered in secondary school as an optional subject in the Arts Streams and it is a compulsory subject in the Science, Technical and Economics Stream. This subject is included in the University of Cambridge International Examinations. Topics that are covered in the Additional Mathematics syllabus include functions, quadratic equations, differentiation and integration (calculus). It is more commonly known as Add Maths . Many students found it difficult as it involves a lot of practice to know the subject itself. For at least the past three years, the JOHN KENNEDY COLLEGE of Mauritius had produced the best students ranked 1st .
Additional Mathematics in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the syllabus of HKCEE additional mathematics covered two main topics, algebra and calculus. In algebra, some topics are mathematical induction, binomial theorem, trigonometry, inequalities. In calculus, differentiation, integration, and 2D-vectors. After the replacement of the new syllabus, i.e. the module 2 of mathematics, some new topics are added: matrix and determinant, and an introduction to the Euler's number.