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• Specification23 July 2010PDF, 1 MB

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Overview

GCSE Maths is being revised for first teaching in September 2010 with first certification in June 2012. Learners beginning a new course of GCSE Maths study will need to be working towards the new specification.

This revision takes into account the changes being made to the Key Stage 4 programme of study, which includes the functional elements of Maths.

As well as consulting with key stakeholders in the Maths teaching community throughout the development process, we've also been able to draw on the experience of thousands of learners who've taken part in our pilot GCSEs in Mathematics and Additional Mathematics since September 2006.

We've done all this so that our new GCSE Mathematics B specification, support materials and publisher resources will provide you with everything you need to teach our new GCSEs with confidence.

Introducing GCSE Mathematics B

Our GCSE Mathematics B specification is a linear scheme. Two papers assess the content for the relevant tier. The scheme of assessment consists of two tiers: foundation tier and higher tier. The content is listed in the specification document in four stages within each of the two tiers. The stages are graduated in the level of demand of the content. This allows teachers to use the stages to target teaching to the level of ability of the learners.

Benefits

You and your learners can benefit from our GCSE Mathematics B specification because:

• You are free to teach learners the content for the appropriate tier in whichever order you choose. It gives your learners the chance to make connections between the different areas of maths – and you and your department can plan your own programme of study.
• The terminal assessment means you have more time to use rich investigations to develop learners' mathematical understanding and problem solving skills.
• You can defer decisions about tier entry until certification. This gives all learners, including late-bloomers, the chance to realise their full potential.
• The content is arranged in four stages within each tier: Initial, Bronze, Silver and Gold. The stages are graduated in content and level of difficulty. These stages:
  • Allow you to account for the fact that different learners, or groups, start a GCSE Mathematics course at different points. They allow you to identify content in which learners may already be secure.
  • Give you the opportunity to target teaching appropriately to the needs of different learners or groups.
  • Promote assessment for learning by providing a series of progressive, accessible targets throughout the GCSE course.
  • Allow you to use summative assessments for each stage. This helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement, as well as give an indication of the current level of performance in relation to the whole tier.
  • Can be used objectively to give your learners a Stage Certificate (which does not contribute to the GCSE). This links learners' attainment to criteria, gives them a sense of achievement and progress, and provides both you and your learners with an indication of current performance.
• Your learners have a great choice of options when it comes to entries and re-sits, as a November session is available. Certification will be available in March, June and November from June 2012.
• Weightings for functional elements are 30-40% at foundation tier and 20-30% at higher tier.

Related information

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