Entry Requirements

Minimum of grade 5 at GCSE

Examination Board: AQA

Introduction/General Advice and Requirements

Core Maths is a relatively new course which helps to develop students’ mathematical skills and thinking and supports courses such as A-level Psychology, Sciences and Geography as well as technical and vocational qualifications.

The course is designed for those students who wish to pursue mathematics post-16 who do not wish to take an A level in Mathematics. The mathematical content of the course is mostly based on what the students will already know from their GCSEs, but looks to enhance their understanding, problem solving skills, knowledge retention and the ability to apply them to contextualised problems. 

A course of study leading to this qualification should enable students to:

• study a mathematics curriculum that is integrated with other areas of their study, work or interest leading to the application of mathematics in these areas
• develop mathematical modelling, evaluating and reasoning skills
• solve problems some of which will not be well defined and may not have a unique solution
• solve substantial and real life problems encountered by adults
• use ICT as an exploratory tool for developing mathematical understanding and when solving problems
• develop skills in the communication, selection, use and interpretation of their mathematics
• enjoy mathematics and develop confidence in using mathematics

Course Content & Assessment:

Roughly 80% of the course content is focused on using and applying skills learnt at GCSE. Course content will include:

• Analysis of data
  • Collecting and sampling data
  • Representing numerically and diagrammatically
• Maths for personal finance
  • Percentages
  • Interest rates
  • Repayments and cost of credit
  • Graphical representation
  • Taxation
  • Financial problem (e.g. budgeting, exchanges rates etc)
• Estimation
• Statistical techniques
  • Normal distribution
  • Probabilities and estimation
  • Correlation and regression

The exam is made up of two papers which are equally weighted exams, each 1 hour 30 minutes long. Paper 1 covers Analysis of Data, Maths for Personal Finance and Estimation. Paper 2 covers Critical Analysis and Statistical Techniques.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

This Level 3 Certificate Mathematical Studies qualification will consolidate students’ mathematical understanding, build their confidence and competence in applying mathematical techniques to solve a range of problems and introduce them to new techniques and concepts that will prepare them for further study and future employment within a broad range of academic, professional and technical fields.