As you move on to Secondary 3, you may be conflicted with the decision whether to take Additional Mathematics (A-Math) in your O-levels Examinations. To take or not to take – that is the question. This post will address some areas to guide you through the question on whether you should you up take A-Math for the O-levels.
In most situations, taking Additional Mathematics means taking on an extra Subject at the O-levels. That also means more content to cover during your preparation for the O-levels. As a result, the revision time spent on each subject will be lesser for sure. To decide your suitability to take on A-Math, you can use your Secondary 2 Mathematics results as a gauge to decide if you should take A-Math. Although the topics covered in A-Math deviates from lower secondary Mathematics, A-Math is all in all linked to certain Mathematical concepts taught earlier. It is also still an additional subject to take on with Elementary Mathematics (E-Math) being a basic requirement at the O-levels for all students. Thus, if you are not strong in your E-Math, you may wish to consider placing more focus on it rather than taking on A-Math.
Furthermore, only take on A-Math if you identify your interest in the topics taught. The topics that will be taught are as follow:
Algebra: Equations and inequalities, Indices and surds, Polynomials and Partial Fractions, Binomial expansions, Power, Exponential, Logarithmic and Modulus functions
Geometry and Trigonometry: Trigonometric functions, identities and equations, Coordinate geometry in two dimensions, Proofs in plane geometry
Calculus: Differentiation, Integration
For more information, do refer to the official syllabus.
For some schools, they do allow students to take on the A-Math at Secondary 3 to test their suitability. The school will then look at their Mid Year examinations or End of Year examinations results to advise them if they should continue taking A-Math at the O-levels. If such opportunity presents itself, do take it up. You never know if you’re gifted in doing the A-Math, so do grasp this opportunity if it presents itself.
Additionally, taking the A-Math will give you one more subject to choose from to include in your L1R4/L1R5 if you take sufficient subjects. This will allow you to optimize the subjects to attain the lowest mark possible for your application to further education paths. It may also be a pre-requisite for entry to various courses at the university level if you did not go through the junior college path with Mathematics or did not take a related course at the polytechnic level.
However, if you do know and recognize that you are not strong in Mathematics early, it is fine if you do not take it as well. You are not losing out by not taking A-Math. Instead, focus on the other subjects that you are taking and try to score for them to do well at the O-levels. Do not worry about not fulfilling the pre-requisite for admission into certain courses at the university level as there are always bridging courses and modules for you to take in the future.
Hence, there is not definite answer to the question on whether you should take A-Math. Both decisions have its pros and cons. It is important that you to make a decision about your suitability for the subject based on your lower secondary Mathematics results and your interest for the subject. You can refer to our previous post on How to score an A1 for A-Math at the O-levels to get a brief understanding on how taking A-Math will be like should you choose to take it on.
