A Level Further Maths is the most demanding A Level offered in UK schools. Students who take it are typically the strongest mathematicians in their year group — and many of them still need a tutor. The pace of Further Maths is unforgiving: it covers roughly twice the content of regular A Level Maths in the same time, and the topics it introduces (complex numbers, matrices, differential equations, hyperbolic functions) have no GCSE equivalent to build on.
Who takes Further Maths — and who needs a tutor
Further Maths is typically taken by students planning to study maths, physics, engineering or computer science at a Russell Group or Oxbridge university. Some of these students are exceptional mathematicians who need little support; many others find specific modules or topics genuinely hard and benefit from targeted tutoring even if they're performing well overall.
The most common tutoring scenarios:
- Struggling with specific Further Maths modules. Decision maths, statistics and mechanics are common pain points. A student strong in pure Further Maths may need targeted support in the applied module their school has chosen.
- Oxbridge preparation. Further Maths A Level is effectively a prerequisite for maths at Oxford and Cambridge. Students targeting these courses often work with tutors to develop deeper mathematical maturity beyond the A Level spec.
- MAT, STEP and TMUA preparation. Applicants for maths and some engineering courses sit additional admissions tests (MAT for Oxford, STEP for Cambridge, TMUA for several universities). These go well beyond the A Level content and almost always require specialist tutoring.
What a Further Maths tutor works on
Pure Further Maths covers: complex numbers, matrices, further algebra and functions, further calculus (polar coordinates, Maclaurin series), differential equations, proof by induction, vectors in 3D and hyperbolic functions.
Optional applied modules (which vary by exam board) include: further statistics, further mechanics, decision maths, discrete maths.
A good Further Maths tutor understands which modules your child's school is doing — it's important to confirm this, as AQA, Edexcel and OCR Further Maths specifications differ significantly in their optional module choices.
Tutoring Maths and Further Maths together
Many tutors who teach Further Maths also cover regular A Level Maths. If your child needs support in both, finding one tutor who can cover the full breadth is more efficient than two separate tutors — and many maths tutors at this level offer exactly this.
Further Maths tutor costs
- A Level Further Maths: £45–£80/hour — significantly higher than regular A Level Maths due to the specialist depth required
- STEP/MAT/TMUA preparation: £50–£90/hour for tutors who specialise in admissions tests
- Online Further Maths tutoring: Usually £5–£10 less per hour. Maths at this level works extremely well online — the content is abstract enough that a physical classroom adds little.
Find a Further Maths tutor
Browse maths tutors on TutorLab. Many tutors list Further Maths experience in their profiles. Look for tutors with maths degrees, postgraduate qualifications or professional backgrounds in quantitative fields.
- Further Maths tutors in London
- Further Maths tutors in Oxford
- Further Maths tutors in Cambridge
- Online Further Maths tutors (UK-wide)
Frequently asked questions
Is Further Maths much harder than A Level Maths?
Yes — significantly. The content is more abstract, the pace is faster and the problem-solving requires greater mathematical maturity. Most students who find A Level Maths straightforward still find specific Further Maths topics genuinely challenging.
Do I need Further Maths to study engineering at university?
Not always, but top engineering schools (Cambridge, Imperial, Bath) strongly prefer it and some require it. Check individual entry requirements — requirements differ between universities and even between engineering specialisms.
Can a tutor help with STEP preparation alongside Further Maths?
Yes — and this is a common combination. STEP questions draw on Further Maths content but require a deeper level of creative problem-solving. Tutors who specialise in STEP run sessions specifically on past STEP problems, which is very different from standard A Level tutoring.
My child's school doesn't offer Further Maths. Can they self-study with a tutor?
Yes — this happens regularly. Students who want Further Maths but whose school doesn't offer it self-study the specification with a private tutor and enter as private candidates. It's a significant commitment but entirely achievable with a strong tutor and disciplined self-study.
What's the difference between AQA, Edexcel and OCR Further Maths?
The pure content is similar across boards. The main differences are in the optional applied modules — each board offers different choices. Your tutor must know which board your school uses and which optional modules are being taught.