Mathematics degree personal statement example (1v) five offers including Oxford, Imperial

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I very much enjoy using analytical thinking, in conjunction with new and abstract ideas, to reach gratifying solutions to mathematical problems. Private exploration of mathematics has been fascinating; a personal favourite being 3D differentiation and its applications.

Reading around the subject has also proved rewarding. Specifically the Taniyama-Shimura conjecture's complex link to Fermat's last theorem allowed me to appreciate the importance of links between seemingly unrelated branches of mathematics. I appreciated how the complex problem was used as a backdrop to the history of mathematics in the same way that the Riemann Hypothesis was used to identify brilliant personalities that have contributed to the subject in 'The Music of the Primes'. I found 'A Mathematician's Apology' to be a very entertaining read that more than validated my fixation with the purer branches of mathematics. My favourite branches of mathematics at A level tended to be pure topics such as complex numbers and hyperbolic functions.

Last year I visited CERN in Geneva; consequently, I was able to appreciate the role of mathematics in physics. I specifically learnt how to model the circular motion of hadrons in particle colliders. At CERN was I also made aware of the connections between chaos theory and quantum physics, in addition to some of the theory's many other applications. Curious about the theory, I read about its relevance in a host of topics from fluid turbulence to finding patterns and predictability in the stock markets and national economy. This gave me insight into how applied mathematics was crucial to the development of so many other disciplines.

I have complete faith in my aptitude for mathematics. The challenge of studying degree level mathematics is an incredibly exciting prospect for me, and one that I will commit myself to entirely.

As I have learnt more about Mathematics, I have found enjoyment in research, and self-development through problem-solving. Solving hard problems can be rewarding; in finding intuitively plausible arguments while completing initially daunting challenges and I look forward to embracing the challenge of a university course in the subject.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Having completed my A levels, during my gap year I intend to progress my knowledge in mathematics by self-teaching at least the M4, FP3 and DE modules. I had particular success in the further pure modules and I am looking forward to increasing my knowledge on multivariable calculus and Markov chains. I will also continue to tutor GCSE, AS and A level mathematics. In addition to this I also frequently work through STEP papers. I believe they are a good way to prepare for a mathematics course at university, primarily because the papers require a high level of mathematical dexterity. I took the Intermediate Maths Challenge twice at school, achieving gold on both occasions.

In the past, I have qualified for the British Maths Olympiad as well as the Maclaurin Olympiad. I greatly enjoy this style of Mathematics, especially learning about new methods such as the AM-GM-HM inequality and how to apply knowledge to uncover solutions within situations. This provided enrichment beyond normal A Level material, because of no real way to prepare for questions as they could be set on almost anything. It also helped prepare me for higher level mathematics.

During the early part of this year, due to ill health which lasted for a few months, my academic performance was less impressive, with less time available for preparation towards STEP and A Levels. Despite this, I managed to score highly in both the Further Maths OCR and Maths modules with 100 UMS in C1,C4 S1 and M3 achieving A* in both. I achieved an S grade, which was then revised to a high 1 grade, for STEP 1, and greatly enjoyed preparation towards other entrance examinations.

This year I self-taught the Further Mathematics syllabus, as the only OCR candidate in our school, and I greatly enjoyed the challenge. I especially liked the Pure modules, delving into topics like Group Theory, and keeping up a fast pace to complete the modules. My favourite topic across Core Mathematics was Calculus, with its variety of techniques which can be applied to solve seemingly impossible integrals. I also enjoyed exploring geometry and number theory, and created a blog to enlist those facts and theorems I found interesting.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Away from maths my competitive nature has been satisfied by dinghy sailing and racing from a young age. I also frequently sail yachts around Europe and have recently achieved a RYA Coastal Skipper Qualification. I plan to sail on at least one ocean passage in 2011. In addition to this I will use the finances from my current job to travel in the spring of next year, during which time I hope to gain independence and maturity. I have received two Outward Bound classic awards and was marketing director in a successful young enterprise company. I love art and continue to develop my Portfolio. Last year I received an offer to purchase one of my paintings for exhibition in a small London art gallery. Over the last two years, I co-managed an annual arts festival in Winchester that exhibited work in several venues around the city. I currently volunteer for the Liberal Democrat party.

I have read 'Does God Play Dice', 'The Code Book' as well as other mathematicians' biographies. I liked reading 'Does God Play Dice', as it demonstrated the true definition of randomness and how to bring order out of chaos through innovative methods. Learning about the historical developments of cryptography to the modern day was fascinating, and I especially enjoyed learning of interesting ciphers. I also enjoy reading non-mathematics material in my spare time.

Out of the classroom I have been an assistant C1 teacher, and have received positive feedback from the students, learning of the importance of having good social relationships to maximise class productivity. Aside from the mathematics, I enjoy badminton and chess. I have been a speaker for the school's Debating Society on occasions as well. I completed my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award only recently, and relished the opportunity to work as a team unit and lead the group through unchartered territory. I am currently studying Mathematics at Warwick to learn about further study and also to extend my mathematical capability. On balance, I am a hard-working, meticulous student who is prepared to tackle and learn from challenges.

Universities applied to:

• Oxford University
• Imperial College London
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• University College London
• Kings College London

Grades achieved:

• Mathematics (A2) - A*
• Further Mathematics (A2) - A*
• Physics (A2) - A
• Economics (A2) - A
• Fine Art (AS) - A

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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