Edexcel’s transition to A Level Maths videos and worked examples are a very comprehensive set of free resources designed to help the transition from GCSE to A level Maths. The content focus is on the overlap between GCSE Maths and the first year of the A Level Maths course making the resources useful not only for initial transition but also for the first year of the course.
From Sparx Maths, have a look at their Transition Booklets, one for Year 6 to 7 and one for GCSE to A Level; these booklets are free whether you have Sparx Maths or not. The Year 6 to 7 booklet with over 130 questions is based on the Year 6 DFE/NCETM ‘ready to progress’ guidance from June 2020. The GCSE to A Level booklet uses over 120 questions taken from 11 key topics on Sparx Maths. Answers can be obtained by completing a form with your school details.
For students going on to A Level then a really useful publication is use OCR’s brilliant guide for students Bridging the gap between GCSE and AS/A Level Mathematics – A Student Guide. With sections on Algebra, Trigonometry and graphs including examples, question practice on key topics and suggested reading before starting the A Level this is so valuable for students.
pdf format: bridging-the-gap-between-gcse-and-as-a-level-mathematics-a-student-guide
Free lessons from Colin Hegarty recorded on YouTube are available to help GCSE students prepare for A Level Maths.
From TL Maths GCSE to A-Level Maths Bridging the Gap is a series of videos looking at some of the basics of GCSE Maths Higher Tier that students should be proficient in before they start A-Level Maths.
You could also look at Step Up to A Level Maths from The Centre of Innovation in Mathematics Teaching which helpfully lists skills you should be confident with and provides resources to support your study of these skills.
From AMSP – check Transition to A Level Mathematics – Essential Skills.
These Transition Takeaways from Mohammed Ladak have been specifically chosen to help with A Level Maths preparation.
Transition Resources
The many useful resources from OCR have already been mentioned; also available from OCR are transition guides. See for example this Equations Transition Guide which is very clear on the differences in the demand and approach at the different key stages. Each transition guide includes the relevant checkpoint tasks, in the Equations transition guide these activities focus on solving equations in one variable including those that require some rearrangement.
For the transition from KS2 to KS3 see MEI’s transition resources including an excellent series of webinars. The webinars explore curriculum and pedagogical continuity across the KS2 to 3 transition and look at the Primary Maths Guidance Document. The guidance for Year 6 is a valuable document for looking at the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 and includes example assessment questions for each of the ready-to-progress criteria.
NCETM has produced an extensive library of resources offering support with the Primary Guidance documents. This includes 79 PowerPoints, these focus on the ready-to-progress criteria in the DfE maths guidance for KS1 and KS2. These can usefully be viewed by topic or by year.
You can find NCETM guidance videos on YouTube.
NCETM’s Checkpoints are diagnostic activities designed to help teachers assess the understanding students have on leaving primary school. You can see three examples of Checkpoints activities and teachers of Year 7 can download the first Checkpoints activities using their school or organisation name and email address. There will be further Checkpoint activities published, enough for three Checkpoints a week across the school year.
