Singapore–Cambridge General Certificate of Education

Advanced Level Higher 2 (2025)

Further Mathematics
(Syllabus 9649)

(First year of examination in 2025)

© MOE & UCLES 2023

 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

CONTENTS
Page
PREAMBLE 3
SYLLABUS AIMS 3
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES (AO) 3
USE OF A GRAPHING CALCULATOR (GC) 4
LIST OF FORMULAE AND RESULTS 4
INTEGRATION AND APPLICATION 4
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION PAPERS 5
CONTENT OUTLINE 6
MATHEMATICAL NOTATION 11

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

PREAMBLE
Mathematics drives many of the advancements in sciences, engineering, economics and technology. It is at the
heart of many of the innovative products and services today. A strong grounding in mathematics is essential for
students who aspire to be scientists or engineers or any other professionals who require mathematical tools to
solve complex problems.

H2 Further Mathematics is designed for students who are mathematically-inclined and who intend to specialise
in mathematics, sciences or engineering or disciplines with higher demand on mathematical skills. It extends
and expands on the range of mathematics and statistics topics in H2 Mathematics and provides these students
with a head start in learning a wider range of mathematical methods and tools that are useful for solving more
complex problems in mathematics and statistics.

H2 Further Mathematics is to be offered with H2 Mathematics as a double mathematics course.

SYLLABUS AIMS
The aims of H2 Further Mathematics are to enable students to:

(a) acquire a wider range of mathematical concepts and stronger set of mathematical skills for their tertiary
studies in mathematics, sciences, engineering and other related disciplines with a heavier demand on
mathematics

(b) develop thinking, reasoning, communication and modelling skills through a mathematical approach to
problem-solving

(c) connect ideas within mathematics and apply mathematics in the contexts of sciences, engineering and
other related disciplines

(d) experience and appreciate the rigour and abstraction in the discipline.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES (AO)

The assessment will test candidates' abilities to:

AO1 Use mathematical techniques and procedures

• recall facts, formulae and notation and use them directly
• Read and use information from tables, graphs, diagrams and texts
• carry out straightforward mathematical procedures

AO2 Formulate and solve problems including those in real-world contexts

• select relevant mathematical concept or strategy to apply
• formulate problems into mathematical expressions or models
• integrate mathematical concepts to solve mathematical problems
• translate between equivalent forms of mathematical expressions or statements
• interpret results in the context of a given problem

AO3 Reason and communicate mathematically

• explain the choice of mathematical models or strategies
• make deductions, inferences and generalisations
• formulate conjectures and justify mathematical statements
• construct mathematical arguments and proofs

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

Approximate weightings for the assessment objectives are as follows:

AO1 30%

AO2 60%

AO3 10%

USE OF A GRAPHING CALCULATOR (GC)

The use of an approved GC without computer algebra system will be expected. The examination papers will be
set with the assumption that candidates will have access to GC. As a general rule, unsupported answers
obtained from GC are allowed unless the question states otherwise. Where unsupported answers from GC are
not allowed, candidates must present the mathematical steps using mathematical notations and not calculator
commands. For questions where graphs are used to find a solution, candidates should sketch these graphs as
part of their answers. Incorrect answers without working will receive no marks. However, if there is written
evidence of using GC correctly, method marks may be awarded.

Candidates should be aware that there are limitations inherent in GC. For example, answers obtained by tracing
along a graph to find roots of an equation may not produce the required accuracy.

LIST OF FORMULAE AND RESULTS

Candidates will be provided in the examination with a list of formulae and results.

INTEGRATION AND APPLICATION

Notwithstanding the presentation of the topics in the syllabus document, it is envisaged that some examination
questions may integrate ideas from more than one topic, and that topics may be tested in the contexts of
problem solving and application of mathematics.

Possible list of H2 Further Mathematics applications and contexts:

Applications and contexts Some possible topics involved

Kinematics and dynamics (e.g. free fall, projectile Functions; Calculus; Vectors
motion, orbital motion, collisions)

Movie graphics Vectors

Optimisation problems (e.g. maximising strength, Inequalities; System of linear equations; Calculus
minimising surface area)

Electrical circuits (including alternating current circuit) Complex numbers; Calculus

Population growth (e.g. spread of diseases), Differential equations

radioactive decay, heating and cooling problems,
mixing, chemical changes, charging

Search engines, cryptography, digital music Matrices and linear spaces

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

Applications and contexts Some possible topics involved

Financial maths (e.g. banking, insurance) Sequences and series; Probability; Sampling
distributions

Standardised testing Normal distribution; Probability

Market research (e.g. consumer preferences, product Sampling distributions; Hypothesis testing;
claims) Correlation and regression

Clinical research (e.g. correlation studies) Sampling distributions; Hypothesis testing;

Correlation and regression

Polling Confidence intervals; Hypothesis testing

Genetics Chi-square tests

The list illustrates some types of contexts in which the mathematics learnt in the syllabus may be applied and is
by no means exhaustive. While problems may be set based on these contexts, no assumptions will be made
about the knowledge of these contexts. All information will be self-contained within the problem.

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION PAPERS

For the examination in H2 Further Mathematics, there will be two 3-hour papers, each carrying 50% of the total
mark, and each marked out of 100, as follows:

PAPER 1 (3 hours)
A paper consisting of 10 to 12 questions of different lengths and marks based on the Pure Mathematics section
of the syllabus.

There will be one question on the application of Mathematics in real-world contexts, including those from
sciences and engineering. The question will carry at least 12 marks and may require concepts and skills from
more than one topic.

Candidates will be expected to answer all questions.

PAPER 2 (3 hours)
A paper consisting of two sections, Sections A and B.

Section A (Pure Mathematics – 50 marks) will consist of 5 to 6 questions of different lengths and marks based
on the Pure Mathematics section (i.e. Algebra and Calculus, and Discrete Mathematics, Matrices and Numerical
Methods) of the syllabus.

Section B (Probability and Statistics – 50 marks) will consist of 5 to 6 questions of different lengths and marks
based on the Probability and Statistics section of the syllabus.

There will be one question in Section B on application of Mathematics in real-world contexts, including those
from sciences and engineering. The question will carry at least 12 marks and may require concepts and skills
from more than one topic.

Candidates will be expected to answer all questions.

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

CONTENT OUTLINE
Knowledge of the content of H2 Mathematics is assumed.

Topic/Sub-topics Content

SECTION A: PURE MATHEMATICS

1 Algebra and Calculus

1.1 Complex numbers Include:

• complex numbers expressed in the form
r ( cosθ + isinθ ) , reiθ , where r > 0 and
−π < θ  π
• multiplication and division of two complex
numbers expressed in polar form and their
geometrical interpretations
• loci of simple equations and inequalities such as
z − c  r , z − a = z − b and arg ( z − a ) =
α
(excluding loci of z − a = k z − b , where k ≠ 1
and arg ( z − a ) − arg ( z − b ) =
α)
• use of de Moivre’s theorem to find the powers and
𝑛𝑛th roots of a complex number, and to derive
trigonometric identities

1.2 Polar coordinates Include:

• simple polar curves (for 0 θ < 2π or −π < θ  π
or a subset of either of these intervals; and where
𝑟𝑟 is non-negative throughout the domain)
1 β 2
• use of formula A =
2 α∫ r dθ for the area of a
sector
• arc length of curves defined in polar form

1.3 Applications of definite integrals Include:

• arc length of curves defined in cartesian form
• volume of revolution about the x- or y-axis for
curves defined in cartesian form using discs or
shells as appropriate
• surface area of revolution about the x- or y-axis for
curves defined in cartesian form

1.4 Functions of two variables Include:

• functions of two variables and surfaces
z = f ( x, y )
• first order and second order partial derivatives
• minimum, maximum and saddle points
• normal and tangent planes and local linearisation
• directional derivatives and gradient
• quadratic approximations
• local maximum and minimum problems

Exclude Jacobian matrix, Lagrange multipliers and

constrained optimisation.

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

Topic/Sub-topics Content

1.5 Differential equations Include:

• analytical solution of first order and second order
linear differential equations of the form:
dy
(i) + p ( x) y =
q ( x ) , using an integrating
dx
factor
d2 y dy
(ii) 2
+a 0 , where a, b ∈ ℝ
+ by =
dx dx
d2 y dy
(iii) 2
+a f ( x ) , where a, b ∈ ℝ and
+ by =
dx dx
f(x) is a polynomial or pekx or p cos(kx) + q
sin(kx)
including those that can be reduced to the
above by means of a given substitution
• relationship between the solution of a non-
homogenous equation and the associated
homogenous equation
• family of solution curves
• phase lines and slope fields*
• exponential growth model
• logistic growth model, equilibrium points and their
stability, and harvesting

2 Discrete Mathematics, Matrices and Numerical Methods

2.1 Recurrence relations Include:

• behaviour of a sequence, such as the limiting
behaviour of a sequence
• solution of
(i) First order linear (homogeneous and non-
homogeneous) recurrence relations with
constant coefficients of the form
un = aun −1 + b, a, b ∈ , a ≠ 0
(ii) Second order linear homogeneous
recurrence relations with constant coefficients
including those that can be transformed to the
above by means of a given substitution
• modelling with recurrence relations of the forms
above

* For teaching and learning only.

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

Topic/Sub-topics Content

2.2 Matrices and linear spaces Include:

• use of matrices to represent a set of linear
equations
• operations on 3 × 3 matrices
• determinant of a square matrix and inverse of a
non-singular matrix (2 × 2 and 3 × 3 matrices only)
• use of matrices to solve a set of linear equations
(including row reduction and echelon forms, and
geometrical interpretation of the solution)
• linear transformations and matrices from
 n →  m , where n, m ⩽ 3
• eigenvalues and eigenvectors of square matrices
(2 × 2 and 3 × 3 matrices, restricted to cases
where the eigenvalues are real)
• diagonalisation of a square matrix M by
expressing the matrix in the form QDQ -1 , where
D is a diagonal matrix of eigenvalues and Q is a
matrix whose columns are eigenvectors, and use
of this expression such as to find the powers of
M
• linear spaces and subspaces, and the axioms
(restricted to spaces of finite dimension over the
field of real numbers only)
• linear independence and span
• basis and dimension (in simple cases), including
use of terms such as ‘column space’, ‘row space’,
‘range space’ and ‘null space’
• rank of a square matrix and relation between rank,
dimension of null space and order of the matrix

2.3 Numerical methods Include:

• location of roots of an equation by simple graphical
or numerical methods
• approximation of roots of equations using linear
interpolation and Newton-Raphson method, with
the aid of a computer, including cases where each
method fails to converge to the required root
• iterations involving recurrence relations of the form
xn +1 = F ( xn ) , including cases where the method
fails to converge
• approximation of integral of a function using the
trapezium rule and Simpson’s rule, with the aid of a
computer
approximation of solutions of first order differential
equations using Euler method (including the use of
the improved Euler formula), with the aid of a
computer

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

Topic/Sub-topics Content

SECTION B: PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS

3 Probability and Statistics

3.1 Discrete random variables Include:

• use of Poisson distribution Po ( µ ) and geometric
distribution Geo(p) as probability models, including
conditions under which each distribution is a
suitable model
• mean and variance for Poisson and geometric
distributions
• additive property of the Poisson distribution

3.2 Continuous random variables Include:

• probability density function of a continuous
random variable and its mean and variance
(includes ‘piecewise’ probability density function)
• cumulative distribution function and its relationship
with the probability density function
• concepts of median and mode of a continuous
random variable
∞
• use of the result E ( g ( x ) ) = ∫ −∞g ( x ) f ( x ) dx in
simple cases, where f ( x ) is the probability
density function of X and g ( x ) is a function of
X
• uniform distribution and exponential distribution as
probability models
• relationship between Poisson and exponential
distributions

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

Topic/Sub-topics Content

3.3 Hypothesis testing and Confidence intervals Include:

• formulation of hypotheses and testing for a
population mean using a small sample drawn from
a normal population of unknown variance using a
t-test
• formulation of hypotheses for the difference of
population means, and apply, as appropriate:
- a paired sample t-test
- a test using a normal distribution
• contingency tables and χ 2 -tests of:
- goodness of fit
- independence
(excluding Yates’ correction for continuity)
• connection between confidence interval and
hypothesis test
• confidence interval for the population mean based
on:
- a random sample from a normal population of
known variance
- of a small random sample drawn from a
normal population of unknown variance
- a large random sample from any population
• confidence interval for population proportion
(including concept of sample proportion) from a
large random sample
• interpretation of confidence intervals and the
results of a hypothesis test in the context of the
problem

Exclude the use of the term ‘Type I error’, concept of

Type II error and power of a test.

3.4 Non-parametric tests Include:

• formulation of hypotheses and testing for:
- a population median using Sign test
- identical probability distributions for two
sampled populations in a paired difference
design using Wilcoxon matched-pair signed
rank test
• advantages and disadvantages of non-parametric
tests

Exclude treatment of tied ranks.

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

MATHEMATICAL NOTATION
The list which follows summarises the notation used in Singapore–Cambridge Mathematics examinations.
Although primarily directed towards A-Level, the list also applies, where relevant, to examinations at all other
levels.

1. Set Notation

∈ is an element of

∉ is not an element of

{x1, x2, …} the set with elements x1, x2, …

{x: …} the set of all x such that

n(A) the number of elements in set A

∅ the empty set

universal set

A′ the complement of the set A

ℤ the set of integers, {0, ±1, ±2, ±3, …}

ℤ+ the set of positive integers, {1, 2, 3, …}

ℚ the set of rational numbers

ℚ+ the set of positive rational numbers, {x ∈ ℚ: x > 0}

ℚ 0+ the set of positive rational numbers and zero, {x ∈ ℚ: x ⩾ 0}

ℝ the set of real numbers

ℝ+ the set of positive real numbers, {x ∈ ℝ: x > 0}

ℝ 0+ the set of positive real numbers and zero, {x ∈ ℝ: x ⩾ 0}

ℝn the real n-tuples

ℂ the set of complex numbers

⊆ is a subset of

⊂ is a proper subset of

⊈ is not a subset of

⊄ is not a proper subset of

∪ union

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∩ intersection

[a, b] the closed interval {x ∈ℝ: a ⩽ x ⩽ b}

[a, b) the interval {x ∈ℝ: a ⩽ x < b}

(a, b] the interval {x ∈ℝ: a < x ⩽ b}

(a, b) the open interval {x ∈ℝ: a < x < b}

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2. Miscellaneous Symbols

= is equal to

≠ is not equal to

≡ is identical to or is congruent to

≈ is approximately equal to

∝ is proportional to

< is less than

⩽; ≯ is less than or equal to; is not greater than

> is greater than

⩾; ≮ is greater than or equal to; is not less than

∞ infinity

3. Operations
n

∑a
i =1
i a1 + a2 + ... + an

n
a the nth root of the real number a

a the modulus of the real number a

n! n factorial for n ∈ ℤ+ ∪ {0}, (0! = 1)

n n!
  the binomial coefficient , for n, r ∈ ℤ+ ∪ {0}, 0 ⩽ r ⩽ n
r r! (n − r )!
n(n − 1)...(n − r + 1)
, for n ∈ ℚ, r ∈ ℤ+∪ {0}
r!

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4. Functions
f the function f
f(x) the value of the function f at x
f: A →B f is a function under which each element of set A has an image in set B
f: x ↦y the function f maps the element x to the element y
f –1 the inverse of the function f

gf the composite function of f and g which is defined by gf(x) = g(f(x))

lim f(x) the limit of f(x) as x tends to a

x→ a

Δx ; δx an increment of x
dy
the derivative of y with respect to x
dx
dn y
the nth derivative of y with respect to x
dx n
f'(x), f''(x), …, f (n)(x) the first, second, … nth derivatives of f(x) with respect to x

∫ y dx indefinite integral of y with respect to x

b
∫ a
y dx the definite integral of y with respect to x for values of x between a and b

x , x , … the first, second, …derivatives of x with respect to time

∂z
the partial derivative of z with respect to x
∂x
∂2 z
the partial derivative of z with respect to x then with respect to y
∂y∂x

fx the partial derivative of f with respect to x

fxy the partial derivative of f with respect to x then with respect to y

5. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

e base of natural logarithms
e , exp x
x
exponential function of x
log a x logarithm to the base a of x

ln x natural logarithm of x
lg x logarithm of x to base 10

6. Circular Functions and Relations

sin, cos, tan,
cosec, sec, cot
} the circular functions
sin–1, cos–1, tan–1
cosec–1, sec–1, cot–1 } the inverse circular functions

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 9649 FURTHER MATHEMATICS GCE ADVANCED LEVEL H2 SYLLABUS

7. Complex Numbers
i the square root of –1
z a complex number, z = x + iy
= r(cos θ + i sin θ ), r ∈ℝ +

= reiθ, r ∈ℝ +

Re z the real part of z, Re (x + iy) = x

Im z the imaginary part of z, Im (x + iy) = y

z the modulus of z, x + iy = x 2 + y 2 , r (cosθ + i sinθ ) = r

arg z the argument of z, arg(r(cos θ + i sin θ )) = θ , –π < θ ⩽ π

z* the complex conjugate of z, (x + iy)* = x – iy

8. Matrices
M a matrix M
M–1 the inverse of the square matrix M
MT the transpose of the matrix M

det M the determinant of the square matrix M

9. Vectors
 x
  a column vector in xy-plane
 y

 x
 
 y a column vector in xyz-space
z
 
a the vector a

AB the vector represented in magnitude and direction by the directed line segment AB

â a unit vector in the direction of the vector a

i, j, k unit vectors in the directions of the cartesian coordinate axes

a the magnitude of a

AB the magnitude of AB

a.b the scalar product of a and b

a×b the vector product of a and b

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10. Probability and Statistics

A, B, C, etc. events
A∪B union of events A and B
A∩B intersection of the events A and B
P(A) probability of the event A
A' complement of the event A, the event ‘not A’

P(A | B) probability of the event A given the event B

X, Y, R, etc. random variables
x, y, r, etc. value of the random variables X, Y, R, etc.

x1, x2, … observations

f1, f2,… frequencies with which the observations, x1, x2, …occur

p(x) the value of the probability function P(X = x) of the discrete random variable X

p1, p2,… probabilities of the values x1, x2, …of the discrete random variable X
f(x), g(x)… the value of the probability density function of the continuous random variable X
F(x), G(x)… the value of the (cumulative) distribution function P(X ⩽ x) of the random variable X

E(X) expectation of the random variable X

E[g(X)] expectation of g(X)
Var(X) variance of the random variable X

B(n, p) binomial distribution, parameters n and p

Po(μ) Poisson distribution, mean μ
1
Geo(p) Geometric distribution, mean
p

N(μ, σ2) normal distribution, mean μ and variance σ2

μ population mean
σ2 population variance
σ population standard deviation
x sample mean
s2 unbiased estimate of population variance from a sample
r linear product-moment correlation coefficient for a sample

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