Exam Board: AQA - Higher/OCR - Foundation
This course builds upon work already covered at KS3. Specifically it is broken into 6 strands as summarised in the table below.
Number: Ordering number, four operations with fractions, standard form numbers
Algebra: Representing numbers as letters. Including solving equations, representing real life situations with algebra, equations of lines
Ratio, proportion and rates of change: Change between units of measure, ratio, proportion, comparing length area and volume.
Geometry and measures: Descriptions of shape, transformations, congruent shapes, circles, exact trig values, Pythagoras and Trigonometry
Probability: Understanding of probability, representing in diagrams, theoretical and experimental probability, sample space diagrams
Statistics: Analysis of data sets. Mean, median, mode and range with data and tables. Scatter graphs.
Each area will teach scholars to:
The GCSE Maths course is 100% examination.
There are two tiers of entry for the final exam. These are Foundation which covers grades 1–5 and Higher which covers grades 4–9.
At each level, you will sit three exam papers at the end of the course; Paper 1: Non-Calculator and Paper 2 and 3 which are both calculator. All three papers are written exams worth 80 marks lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Each paper holds a mix of question styles, from short single mark questions to multi-step problems. The mathematical demand increases as a student progresses through the paper. Finally, each paper holds an even weighting of 33.3% of the GCSE Mathematics Assessment.
GCSE Mathematics grade 4 or above is a prerequisite for most college and university courses. Those who do not achieve this level of performance in their GCSEs will need to resit the qualification after Year 11.
A-Level: After GCSE, if the student has been on the higher tier, they can go on to study Mathematics at A Level. The A Level course builds on the skills gained and provides an excellent foundation for many degree courses. There are 4 main A level routes; AS Mathematics and AS Further Mathematics, A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics.
Degree: Mathematics can be studied at Degree level. Having A Level maths is essential for this. Having A level maths is also a requirement for courses like ; Actuarial Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Engineering (General), Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Statistics.
Employment: It has been found that people who take A-level maths earn an average of 11% more over their lifetime: 'It is generally accepted that attaining A level mathematics bestows a significant wage premium. Those securing a strong grade in mathematics will find it advantageous in a wide range of career options. A Level Mathematics is a facilitating subject meaning it is frequently asked for by universities and is essential in a number of areas such as science, engineering, economics, accountancy, computer science and statistics if studied at degree level.