GCSE Mathematics

Course outline

Students will continue to study Mathematics including Number, Algebra, Statistics, Geometry and Measures. They will be expected to improve their mathematical processing skills during Year 9, 10 and 11. These skills will allow them to bring various elements of Mathematics together to solve problems. In year 9 if you are in the top set you will also study for GCSE Statistics alongside your maths GCSE. Statistics GCSE is an extra course that we offer to candidates to do in one year. It will help you in other subjects especially if you decided to study subjects in Science and Humanities. In year 10, depending on how you performed in year 9 you will be studying another GCSE called Further Maths alongside your maths GCSE and/or another qualification called Additional Maths. These extra GCSE can help you greatly in the sixth form, especially if you choose to study A level mathematics.

Assessment

Students will be informally assessed on a variety of occasions throughout Year 9, 10 and 11 with mocks and specific topic tests assessments. The Mathematics GCSE is externally assessed by 100% terminal examination in June of Year 10 or 11 depending on your level.

The Statistics GCSE comprises of 25% coursework and 75% final exam and this is completed in year 9. GCSE Further Maths and Additional Maths are based on 100% final year exams.

 

Homework

You will be expected to do three homework each week.

 

Enrichment Opportunities and Costs

No extra costs – except that we expect students to own a scientific calculator. Students will have a GCSE textbook to use and will be given a Revision Guide in Year 11.

Maths help is available in the afternoon with our period 6 extra lessons starting in year 10 and on Saturday morning. Many other interventions are available during your 3 years depending on your levels.

Selected students will take part in the Mathematics Challenge in February.

 

Available grades:

Higher Tier 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 and ungraded

Foundation Tier 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and ungraded

Roughly a grade 5 is equivalent to the old grade C.

 

Specification

The exam board we use over the course of the next academic year is Edexcel. However regardless of which board we choose, the specification for all exam boards will now be the same.

Future Directions Which A level courses can be taken having studied Maths. Depending on your results you will be able to study for an A Level in Maths, Further Maths. For Physics and the Sciences is also desirable to have achieved a good result in your Maths GCSE. In general, your GCSE performance is usually a good indicator of how well you’ll do in A Level or other advanced studies. Which university courses require Maths GCSE The majority of university courses look for at least a grade 4  in maths. Moreover specific degree will be looking at your GCSE grades, for example a management degree at the University of Leeds specifies that you must have at least 5  in Maths. All engineering courses, medicine, mathematics and all science subjects need high grades in maths.   Which careers could Maths lead to? Just about everything! People with Maths degrees and other qualifications can go into: accounting, medicine, engineerng, forensic pathology, finance, business, consultancy, teaching, IT, games development, scientific research, programming, civil service, design, construction and astrophysics to name a few…

It’s not surprising that Maths is one of the most popular A Level choice