### Applying to study at NMSC

We have two options available: a two-year programme, which is designed for students who are prepared to begin their A Level studies when applying to the college, or a three-year programme which allows a foundation year for students to consolidate their knowledge of science, mathematics and English before commencing the A Level programme. Our assessment procedure will help us determine which programme is best for you.

### Application form

To apply, please fill out the form below and email it to Chunhua Li at c.li@natmatsci.ac.uk. We will respond as soon as possible.

### Assessments

All students applying to the college will undertake an entrance assessment. This will help us decide if NMSC is the best place for you to study for your A Level, and which programme of study will help you achieve your full potential. The assessment focuses on mathematics and English, and more information about each can be found below.

##### Mathematics

A strong foundation in mathematics is needed to ensure that you are able to fully engage with the college’s curriculum. In the assessment, we are generally interested in the Higher GCSE Mathematics algebra and geometry topics:

1. Quadratics, including: solving by factorising; the quadratic formula; difference of two squares; completing the square; features of parabolas; use of the discriminant
2. Algebra, including: simultaneous equations and points of intersection; simplifying algebraic fractions; laws of indices; laws of indices
3. Triangle geometry, including: Pythagoras’ theorem; trigonometry; the sine and cosine rules; area of a triangle given two sides and included angle; graphs of $$y = \sin(x)$$ and $$y = \cos(x)$$
4. Circle geometry, including: area and circumference of a circle; circle theorems; area of a sector; arc length;
volume of a sphere; volume of a cone
5. Sequences, including: sum of an arithmetic sequence and the formula $$1 + 2 + \ldots + n = \frac{1}{2}n(n+1)$$
6. Properties of numbers, including: greatest common divisors and lowest common multiples; manipulating surds and rationalising the denominator

Section A of the assessment is more straightforward and will give us an idea of your technical skills. Section B of the assessment has two questions of which you must answer one of your choosing. It requires more reasoning and is designed to be a challenge (you don’t need to answer both questions in Section B, but you may if you wish). There may be some question types in the assessment which feel unfamiliar, but it will always be possible to solve the problems using careful, imaginative reasoning and the concepts mentioned above. Please click here to download some sample problems used in previous years.