Our Core Maths qualification titles are changing

We’re changing the names of our Core Maths qualifications. From September 2019, Quantitative Reasoning (H866) will change to Core Maths A (H868) and Quantitative Problem Solving (H867) will become Core Maths B (H869).

Why the name changes?

The main rationale for the name changes is to make these qualifications more identifiable. The inclusion of the words ‘Core Maths’ in the qualification titles means they are now instantly recognisable as Core Maths qualifications – employers, university admissions tutors and others are more likely to be familiar with ‘Core Maths’ than the current qualification titles.

The names Quantitative Reasoning and Quantitative Problem Solving had not fully distinguished the differences between our Core Maths qualifications. In fact, both include:

• fluency in reasoning
• confidence in applying mathematical and statistical thinking in a range of new and unfamiliar contexts to solve real life problems
• working with quantitative information
• competency in interpreting and explaining solutions of problems in context.

It is hoped that the new names will eliminate any descriptive ambiguity in the titles, though teachers will still need to delve into the content of the specifications to decide which one is more appropriate for their cohort of students.

Essentially, Core Maths A is appropriate for any post-16 student that is not studying AS or A Level Maths whereas Core Maths B is suitable for students specifically taking A Levels or other Level 3 qualifications in biology, geography, psychology and other social science subjects. You can read a fuller overview of the two qualifications in our recent blog ‘Core Maths – what’s in it for you’.

What does this mean for you?

Only the qualification titles and codes are changing, the course content is remaining the same – so there is no impact on the content or delivery of the course. The schemes of work and teaching resources will still be the same but they may look a little different because we’ll change the title headers. The entries you make for the June 2020 exam series will be for the new qualification codes, H868 or H869, irrespective of whether you deliver Core Maths over one or two years.

If you started teaching Quantitative Reasoning or Quantitative Problem Solving as two year courses from September 2018 and will be entering your students into the exams next June then the entry codes will be H868 or H869 because they are still doing the same course – only the names and entry codes have changed. To minimise any confusion, your Exams Officer will only be able to select H868/H869 entry codes when making the June 2020 entries so there is no possibility that your candidates will be entered for the wrong qualification.

Why offer Core Maths?

There are a whole host of reasons for offering Core Maths. You can read our recent blog ‘Core Maths – what’s in it for you’ and you can also visit the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP) website to discover ‘Strategies for offering Core Maths’.

Core Maths is eligible for the Advanced Maths Premium funding worth £600 for each ‘additional’ pupil and an explanation of how it is calculated is provided by the AMSP.

The AMSP are offering free Core Maths Regional Conferences to provide an opportunity for current and prospective teachers of Core Maths to experience interesting and stimulating ways of introducing Core Maths topics in the classroom, network with other teachers, share ideas for teaching and find out how to establish and sustain Core Maths provision.

A selection of Core Maths taster sessions to introduce some aspects of Core Maths to year 10 and 11 students can be found on MEI Integral. Sign up for these free online resources, sponsored by OCR, by completing the online subscription form. In addition, a set of starter question postcards are available to provide students in year 11 with a taster of Core Maths.

Stay connected

If you have any queries or questions, you can comment below, email us via maths@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or Tweet us @OCR_Maths. You can also sign up to subject updates and receive up-to-date email information about resources, support and upcoming events.

About the author

Ruth Wroe, OCR Maths Subject Advisor

Ruth has worked in the Maths team since 2014. Before joining OCR, Ruth taught Maths in Yorkshire, New Zealand and the Middle East. Ruth worked on the development of OCR's reformed A Level Maths qualifications for first teaching in 2017 and she is responsible for the support and promotion of OCR's Core Maths qualifications.