Year 10 Parents’ Briefing Mathematics 2015

Courses on offer At KS4 New GCSE Mathematics (9 – 1) GCSE Mathematics Foundation (Grades 1 – 5) GCSE Mathematics Higher (Grades 4 – 9)

8 things you need to know about the new gcse mathematics 1. There’s a new grading system. Numbers will be used to represent grades, instead of letters. The new grades are on a scale of 9 – 1, with 9 representing the highest grade, and 1 the lowest. 2. The structure of the papers has changed. The new papers will see fewer questions targeted at the lowest grades, and more questions targeted at the highest grades at both tiers.

New Papers & grading Changes to the Foundation Tier Papers (will feel much more like the previous ‘Intermediate Tier’ Exam). Covers Present Grades G - B

Changes to higher paper New Higher Paper will only start with present Grade C material 50% of the paper will be assessing content presently aimed at Grades A/A*

Progression from KS3 to KS4 Level Grade New Grade 8 B 5/6 7 C 4/5 6 D 3 5 E 2 4 F 1 G

8 things you need to know cont: 3. It’s bigger. The new GCSE is bigger in size than the current GCSE, and therefore requires more teaching time to cover it. 4. The assessments will be more demanding. The increased content, the emphasis on problem solving, reasoning & communication, and the change in structure of the paper, will all mean that GCSE Mathematics exams will be more demanding in future.

8 things you need to know continued 5. There’s more content at both tiers. There has been an increase in the breadth & depth of content to be covered at both Foundation & Higher tiers. Some content that previously was assessed at Higher tier only, will now be assessed at Foundation tier (simultaneous equations, trigonometry, solving quadratics, stratified sampling, etc). More, new content, has also been added to the Higher tier to stretch & challenge the most able students, and help them prepare for A Level maths (expanding binomials, quadratic sequences, functions, etc)

8 things you need to know continued 6. There are new Assessment Objectives. The new Assessment Objectives place greater emphasis on mathematical problem solving and mathematical reasoning & communication. These follow on from changes to the new KS3 and KS4 National Curriculum for Maths.

8 things you need to know continued 7. There are more exams papers for the students to take. More assessment time is needed to assess the larger body of content, so students will sit 3 papers (not 2 as at present) for their GCSE Maths. 8. There are more formulae the students will need to memorise for exams. The number of formulae the students are provided with has been greatly reduced. They will need to memorise more formulae.

Restrictions (time / length) Percentage of total grade Gcse mATHEMATICS No coursework/controlled assessment Final Exam: Title Conditions Restrictions (time / length) Percentage of total grade Month Year Paper 1 Paper 1F or 1H Non calculator 1hour 30 mins 33 1 3 % June Year 11 Paper 2 Paper 2F or 2H Calculator Paper 3 Paper 3F or 3H 1 hour 30 mins

Exams & entry procedure Students will sit a one hour paper at the end of each half term to maintain exam practice Students will sit full exam papers at the end of Year 10, during their Mocks in December of Year 11, and in March of Year 11 The student’s final Tier of Entry is not decided until after the December Mocks in Year 11 Students will always be given full feedback & grade following any test sat in Maths

Exam feedback / question analysis ..\GCSE\Mock analysis 2012\Higher papers HJE no names.xlsx

Calculators Students need their own calculator for the GCSE Mathematics course, and must bring them to every Maths lesson The department recommends the Casio scientific calculators (the FX-83GTPLUS is sold in most retailers and supermarket and also sold in the school office for £7)

Revision guides Due to research recently carried out be Ofqual, no exam board has yet had its final sample Exam Papers approved, so publishers have not yet produced revision materials, as they are unsure yet about how best to support pupils learning. Final research & submission of materials by all the exam boards over this month, mean this should be sorted before the end of term, and we will then purchase materials the pupils can buy from September to aid their studies at home.