Edexcel A-level C1 Maths Exam in 3 minutes

Music: Piano Sonata in F# by Han Zhao (composed when he was 7 years old)

Han started learning A-level C1 course since April 2010. He spend 1-2 hours on weekend to learn it. By the end of the year, Han has finished all the topics, so it was a natural progress that he try an exam paper.

Because of his young age, we decided not to sit him for a formal A-level exam. However, both Han and me wanted to do a real exam paper under exam conidtions at home, just to see how many marks he can get.

I throw him at the deep end straight away! Without any revision, Han did the first exam paper, a Edexcel GCE C1 June 2009 paper on 3rd of January 2011. He got 35 marks. We then spend the next two weeks revising, spending half an hour each night. On the 14th January 2011, Han did the Edexcel January 2009 paper, he got 53 marks. Only 6 marks away from grade A. So we decided to do another paper next day, again he was only a few marks away from getting an A!

In both cases, it was his understanding of questions that failed him. His english is not yet as sophiscated as a 16 year old. ;-)

All three papers were marked independently by Mr. Page from Bradford Grammar School.

all the Edexcel C1 papers and mark scheme can be found at this link:

Try it youself, see how many marks you can get.. ;-)

[SupanovaG]

Little star! I remember struggling with this paper. The first time I took it I got a D. That D was the best thing that ever happened and gave me the huge kick up the arse I needed. Many thanks to Dr Page for being such a fantastic and caring teacher, I'v just received my 1st class masters in engineering. Best of luck to Han for his clearly bright future!

[Briggsey]

Really Good! I tend to struggle on the tangent to a curve questions and such, but this young lad is such a clever cloggs to know all that!
Well Done to you little sir, and good luck for your future!

[destinybone]

Wow, you're doing what I'm learning now. That's amazing! The music is so beautiful

[abhikmazumder]

Very nice composition Han. It sounds distinctively Chinese, especially the opening phrase. Your math skills are incredible. Calculus at nine years? That's the mark of a genius.

[YKPOII]

An interesting and slightly unusual video! Oh! You continue to gain knowledge ... I wish you success!

[thinkgreenlovepurple]

wow, all this math at 9 years old! I'm not familiar with the UK math curriculum but you must be really ahead.
I'm actually doing my math homework right now, and this video encouraged me :)
and of course, your music is wonderful!

[helladm]

congratulation Han - great work, great music - bravo - greetings Hella

[christopherwarnock]

I must say, I started doing A-Level Maths by the age of 10. But this is amazing! He's nine and he isn't even doing his SATS! I do wish him all the best luck in Maths; he's got potential to do Further Maths.

[nancyharrison]

the fact he composed the music as well, bit depressing for us

[priyen]

he should be writing in black ball point pen, so he actually would have got 0 because red ink doesn't scan. So don't feel bad!

[boy]

I got 100UMS, 75 raw score in the 2012 edexcel one, took it a year early :') but a NINE year old, jheeez, and the music, thats just woah, multi talented! Parents should be proud

[henryh]

it really rubs it in that he composed the song too

[AndromedaAiken]

Well done Han!! :) Mum and Dad can consider helping him apply for a scholarship to an English public school soon? :)

[xXAnniLuvsYhuXx]

I expected an A* from Han. I don't care what age he is. A 'B' just isn't good enough.
Tiger moms unite!

[Ameiii]

I have this in Jan as well. The problem isn't the actual math, but remember what each question means and remembering which formula goes where.

IMO, the teachers put nowhere near enough into that. I end up looking at a question and doing the complete wrong thing.

Being able to do that at his age is unbelievable though. I would have happily started at the age of 14 and might have got a B/C grade, but I would never be able to do it at his age, and I was the best in my school :/

[ryanw]

It's all well and good having parents that force feed knowledge into a kid 7 years early, but is it really worth depriving him of a childhood.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's amazing and mostly down to sheer talent and intelligence, but I think kids should be kids when their young, not A-Level mathematicians

[courtneygibson]

The highest mark out of every student taking the exam is made to equal 100%, then its 80% compared to that, eg. it the highest mark was 70, an A would be around 55

[zxcvqwer]

Pushy parents!!! Although very impressive, plus can't believe he composed that music

[DrQlimakz]

C2 is also easy, but considering he is 9, thats extremely good.

[danstp]

@qingpiano it depends on the grades in which everyone gets then they set the boundaries proportional to the percentage in which people got marks