STUDY SKILLS
Programme of Study – Key Stage 4 – MATHS
Summary
Most students follow a three-year GCSE program with GCSE Mathematics being examined in Year 11 and GCSE
Statistics in Year 10.
The most able students take an extra Level 3 qualification in Year 11 called Additional Maths.
Students on the department’s Support Pathway study Level 1 and 2 Awards in Number & Measure and Statistical
Methods, as they build towards taking the GCSE in Mathematics in Year 11.
Courses
GCSE MATHEMATICS
Year 9
Following changes to GCSE courses the exact specification of the GCSE to be taken by Year 9 has yet to be finalised.
The course will be assessed through examination at the end of Year 11.
Year 10 & 11
This qualification in Mathematics encourages students to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards,
mathematics and to recognise the importance of mathematics in their own lives and to society. This qualification prepares
students to make informed decisions about the use of technology, the management of money, further learning
opportunities and career choices.
This Edexcel GCSE in Mathematics A qualification requires students to:

Develop knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts, including:

Number;

Algebra;

Geometry;

Measures;

Statistics;

Probability;
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
Use their knowledge and understanding to make connections between mathematical concepts;

Apply the functional elements of mathematics in everyday and real-life situations.
Assessment is by two equally weighted exam papers at the end of the course. A calculator is required for one of the
papers.
GCSE STATISTICS
The Edexcel GCSE in Statistics requires students to develop knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
Planning and data collection

Planning a line of enquiry or investigation;

Types of data;

Census and sample data;

Sampling techniques;

Collecting or obtaining data.
Processing, representing and analysing data

Methods of tabulation;

Diagrams and similar forms of representation;

Measures of central tendency;

Measure of dispersion;

Summary statistics;

Scatter diagrams, correlation and regression;

Time series;

Quality assurance;

Estimation.
Reasoning, interpreting and discussing results

Inference and other reasoning;

Predictions;

Interpretation and conclusion.
Probability

Definitions and calculations;

Discrete probability distributions.
Assessment: 25% of the final grade comes from Controlled Assessment and 75% from an examination at the end of Year
10.
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LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 AWARDS IN NUMBER AND MEASURE
At Isleworth & Syon we use this qualification as a stepping stone towards GCSE success.
The Edexcel Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Number and Measure require students to demonstrate application and
understanding of the following:

Integers;

Decimals;

Approximation;

Fractions;

Percentages;

Ratio and proportion (Level 2 only);

Money;

Time;

Measures;

Area and Perimeter;

Volume;

Tables and Charts.
Assessment takes the form of a written examination at the end of the course.
LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 AWARDS IN STATISTICAL METHODS
At Isleworth & Syon we use this qualification as a stepping stone towards GCSE success.
The Edexcel Level 1 and Level 2 and Awards in Statistical Methods require students to demonstrate competency in
statistical methods, concepts and techniques. Level 1 and Level 2 contain:

Data;

Displaying data;

Calculating with data;

Interpreting data;

Probability.
Assessment is through an exam at the end of the course.
LEVEL 3 FSMQ ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS
This course is offered to our most able Year 11 students after they have achieved excellent grades in their Mock GCSE
Mathematics examination.
The content of this OCR course consists of four areas of Pure Mathematics:

Algebra;

Co-ordinate Geometry;
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
Trigonometry;

Calculus.
Each of these is used to support a topic from a recognised branch of Applied Mathematics.
The assessment takes the form of a written examination.
Further Resources
www.mymaths.co.uk- MyMaths
http://www.examsolutions.net/maths-revision/syllabuses/GCSE/period-1/Higher/module.php - Exam Solutions
http://nrich.maths.org/secondary-upper - NRich (Enriching Mathematics)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/z6pfb9q - Maths at the BBC
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