COURSE FACTSHEET
Advanced Level Foundation — Maths module
Who is this course for?
Recognised by widest choice of quality universities
The Kings Advanced Level Foundation is
based on A-level syllabuses, taught by
A-level teachers, assessed against A-levels
and moderated by an independent Advisory
Board of external examiners. As such, it is one
of the most highly academic and successful
pathways to leading UK universities.
Kings does not work with a narrow range of university partners. This is because our Advanced Level
Foundation is based on, and linked to, A-levels. It is therefore automatically recognised and accepted
by the widest choice of universities. Out of the top 25 universities listed in the Times and Sunday
Times 2015 rankings, 20 have accepted Kings’ Foundation students.
Pearson
assured
Benchmarking against
A-Level grades
Key Facts
The Kings Advanced Level Foundation is
inspected by Pearson and assured as
preparation for Higher Education study in the
UK. Pearson assures the quality of the processes
underpinning the design, delivery, quality
assurance and/or assessment of the
organisation’s own education or training
programme. Pearson do not assure specific
qualifications or programmes offered by Kings.
Typical top 30 university offers to students
following the Programme are based on their
normal A-level offers. The Programme is
benchmarked against A-level grades as follows:
Start dates: 9 January 2017 (Oxford, London
and Bournemouth), 10 April*, 11 September 2017
(all locations)
Locations offered:
Oxford
London
Bournemouth
Brighton
Level: Minimum IELTS 5.5 (standard version);
IELTS 4.5 (extended version). Completed 11 – 12
years of schooling. Minimum age: 17
Length: 1 Academic Year (3 terms).
Or Extended Advanced Level Foundation
of 4 – 7 terms (including 3-term Advanced Level
Foundation)
Lessons: Average 21 hours per week
(plus homework and private study)
Class size: 8 – 12
Learning outcomes:
à Raise academic qualifications to UK
university entrance level
à Raise English to university level
à Develop learning and self study skills
for degree level
Typical
A-level offer
Typical Kings
Foundation offer
A*A*A*
80%
AAA
75%
AAB
70%
ABB
65%
BBB
60%
CCC
50%
Advisory Panel
Extended option
Standards for the Programme are set by an
external and independent Advisory Board
which meets three times each year to ensure
best practice, moderate marks where required
and hear appeals.
It is also possible for students with lower
language levels to join an extended programme
of 4 – 7 terms (included the 3-term Advanced
Level Foundation), from IELTS 4.0. The
Extended Foundation includes practical content
designed to provide a bridge into UK academic
life. It includes:
à English language development
à Maths enrichment
à Information Computer technology
à General academic enrichment
à Elective modules: Humanities, Business and
Enterprise or Scientific Investigation.
*Extended Foundation only
Advanced Level Foundation
Sept
Jun
Apr
Jan
Sept
Jun
Apr
Jan
Sept
Pathways
Vacation
Advanced Level Foundation
IELTS
4.5
Extended Foundation
IELTS
5.0
IELTS
4.5
Extended Foundation
Extended Foundation
Top 20 university
Top 20 university
Vacation
Advanced Level Foundation
Vacation
Top 20 university
Vacation
Advanced Level Foundation
Vacation
Top 20 university
Advanced Level Foundation
Vacation
Top 20 university
COURSE FACTSHEET
Course structure and content
The programme is highly flexible, and able to adapt to the needs and academic aspirations of each student. It does this through a combination of core
modules and a series of elective modules which can be combined in different ways to create main subject streams:
Main subject streams
à Business
à Engineering
à Life Sciences and Pharmacy
à A rchitecture
à Media and Communications
à Humanities and Social Sciences
à Mathematics, Computing and Science
Core modules are:
à Communication and Study Skills
à Data Handling and Information Technology
Elective modules are:
à A rt and Design
à Biology
à Business Studies
à Chemistry
à Economics
à History
à Human Geography
à Law
à Mathematics
à Media
à Physics
à Psychology
à Politics and Government
Maths module structure and content
Equations and Inequalities [C1]
Simultaneous Linear Equations/Inequalities,
Simultaneous Quadratic and Linear
Equations/Inequalities.
Coordinate Geometry [C1]
Equation of a Straight Line; Gradient; Parallel/
Perpendicular.
Curve Sketching [C1]
Quadratic functions, Cubic functions and
Reciprocal functions; Graph Intersections;
Transformations f(x ± a), f(x) ± a, f(ax), af(x).
Sequences and Series [C1]
Definition by Recurrence Relationship; APs;
Sum of an AP; Sigma Notation.
Differentiation [C1]
Meaning of Derivative; Differentiating Powers of
x; Second Order Derivatives; Rate of Change at a
Point; Tangents and Normals.
Integration [C1]
As the Reverse Process of Differentiation;
Integral Sign; Finding Constant of Integration.
More Algebra and Functions [C2]
Dividing A Polynomial by x ± p; Factor and
Remainder Theorems.
Sine and Cosine Rules [C2]
Using the Sine Rule and Cosine Rule to find sides
and angles of triangles. Application of the Sine
and Cosine Rules and Pythagoras’ Theorem in
problem solving; Area of a Triangle using the
Sine Formula.
Exponentials and Logarithms [C2]
Laws of Logs; Logs to Base 10; Solving ax = b;
Change of Base Rule.
Coordinate Geometry in the x-y plane [C2]
The Mid-Point of a line segment; Distance
Between Two Points; Equation of a Circle.
Content for Term 2
Binomial Theorem [C2]
Pascal’s Triangle; Combinations and Factorial
Notation; Expanding (a+bx)n.
Radian Measure [C2]
Circles; Arc Length; Area of Sector and Segment.
Geometric Sequences and Series [C2]
The nth term; Solving problems involving
Growth and Decay; The Sum of a GP; Sum to
Infinity for Convergent Geometric Series.
Graphs of Trigonometric Functions [C2]
Graphs of Sin, Cos, Tan; Exact Values of Sin, Cos,
Tan 30, 45 degrees, etc.
Further Differentiation
Increasing and Decreasing Functions;
Stationary Points; Max, Min and Points Of
Inflection.
Trigonometric Identities/Equations [C2]
Solving trig equations; Sin/Cos/Tan (nx + c) = k;
Quadratic Trig Equations.
Exponential and Log Functions [C3]
Exponential and Log Function; ax , ex, ln x.
Trigonometry [C3]
Sec, Cosec, Cot and their Graphs; Use in Simple
Identities.
Content for Term 3
Further Trigonometric Identities [C3]
Addition Formulae; Double Angle Formulae and
Half Angle Formulae.
Differentiation [C3]
Chain Rule; Product Rule; Quotient Rule;
Differentiating ex, ln x, and Trig Functions.
Partial Fractions [C4]
Up to 3 Linear Factors; Repeated Linear Factors;
Improper.
The Binomial Theorem [C4]
The Binomial Theorem and its application
including use with Partial Fractions.
Differentiation [C4]
Implicit Functions; The Power Function (y = ax);
Connecting Rates of Change; Setting up
Differential Equations.
Further Integration [C4]
Use with Partial Fractions; Trig Identities;
Integration by Substitution; Integration by
Parts.
Further Integration [C2]
Definite Integration; Area Under A Curve; Area
Between Straight Line And A Curve.
Algebraic Fractions [C3]
Simplifying and Manipulating Expressions with
Algebraic Fractions.
Functions [C3]
Function Notation: Range; Mapping Diagrams;
Graphs; Composite Functions; Inverse
Functions.
Continued overleaf æ
1233 07/15
Content for Term 1
Basic Algebra and Quadratic Functions [C1]
Simplifying Expressions; Factorising Quadratics;
Laws of Indices; Surds; Rationalising
Denominators; Completing the Square; Formula
for Solving a Quadratic; Sketching
Quadratics.
COURSE FACTSHEET
Sample enrichment activities
à Bletchley Park visit
à The Big Bang fair, NEC Birmingham
à U K Maths Challenge
à Science Club
à Astronomy Club
à Science in the News Club
Alumni who took the Maths module
Below is a selection of degree courses some of our most recent alumni have gone on to study:
Student name
Advanced Level Foundation Modules
University
Course name
Ademike Olufunmilayo
Abimbola
Mathematics/Geography/Physics/CSS/Data
University of Leeds
Geological Science
Abdulrahman Elgalassi
Mathematics/Chemistry/Physics/CSS/Data
Aston University
Chemical Engineering
Amr Faour
Mathematics/Chemistry/Physics/CSS/Data
University of Nottingham
Pharmacy
Ana Sofia da Silva Ferraz
Mathematics/Business/Art & Design/CSS/Data
Oxford Brookes University
Architecture
Thibault Fievez
Mathematics/Chemistry/Physics/CSS/Data
University of Bath
Civil Engineering
Fisnik Fsahzi
Mathematics/Physics/Economics/CSS/Data
University of Bath
Civil Engineering with Architectural
Studies
Nina Hasebe
Mathematics/Physics/Government and Law/CSS/Data
King’s College London
Robotics and Intelligent Systems
Chian Kiat Lai
Mathematics/Chemistry/Physics/CSS/Data
University of Surrey
Civil Engineering
Yong Ren Leu
Mathematics/Economics/Geography/ CSS/Data
University of Leicester
Law
Baoqiao Liao
Mathematics/Business/Economics/CSS/Data
Lancaster University
Marketing
Sungmin Lim
Mathematics/Geography/Economics/CSS/Data
University of Loughborough
International Business
Gia Bach Pham
Mathematics/Biology/Chemistry/CSS/Data
University of Glasgow
Psychology
Arsalan Samedi
Mathematics/Business/Physics/CSS/Data
University of Sussex
Automotive Engineering
Kristina Urosova
Mathematics/Economics/Government and Politics/
CSS/Data
King’s College London
Computer Science
“
My classes were the best thing for me because back in Japan my
classes were very big so you’d have about 40 people in each
class, and it was very difficult to ask questions during class when
something cropped up that I didn’t understand. I’m quite a shy
person so I don’t really feel comfortable asking in a big class, but
with the smaller class sizes I can ask the teacher straight away, so
it solves my problem really.
”
Nina Hasebe
1233 01/17
Being at Kings also gave me a better understanding of the subject
matter. I like the fact — especially with physics and maths — that I
actually didn’t do very well in Japan, but after coming here I really
improved my understanding of these two subjects. I think it’s partly
because of the small classes, but also the way it’s taught. I noticed
the difference especially with maths because here we do a lot of
proving formulas, and understanding how to apply mathematical
concepts to real life, for example in engineering. In Japan we don’t
do that, it’s all theoretical and more remembering formulas and
applying them to equations — it didn’t feel very interesting for me,
and was a bit harder.