I’ve recently been tutoring a student who is taking this examination. It is very interesting and requires true problem-solving skills, something that A-level examinations have not been very good at. The format is of ten multiple choice questions and four longer questions. It covers the entire A-level syllabus but requires a great deal of intelligence to be able to spot neat methods to solve them. It is required to be taken by anyone applying for a mathematics based degree at Oxford or Cambridge.
It tests the student’s attention to detail, subject knowledge and flexibility in thinking. It is required for any student taking a scientific or mathematical degree. Problem-solving is at the heart of mathematics.