The rationale for the content update in the OCR Level 3 FSMQ - Additional Maths (6993)

This blog was originally published on 9 April 2018.

Our popular Level 3 FSMQ has just been revised for first assessment in summer 2019, bringing in changes updating the qualification for today’s students following the recent reforms to GCSE (9-1), AS and A Level qualifications.

Changes to the content

As with OCR’s reformed GCSE (9–1), AS and A Level Maths specifications, the revised FSMQ specification present the required content in an easy to interpret table structure, enabling the specification to serve as both a reference and as a teaching document.

• Algebra
  
  This section underpins the full qualification. The inclusion of the factor theorem provides students with an extra technique to complement their GCSE (9–1) knowledge, and overall this section encourages a more formal approach to written solutions to problems.
  
  The remainder theorem has been removed as a specific content item following its disappearance from AS and A Level content (although could still be taught alongside factor theorem if desired). The introduction of the recurrence relationships builds upon GCSE sequence work and ties into the revised FSMQ’s numerical methods section.
  
  
• Enumeration
  
  Enumeration expands upon the original binomial work to include an introduction to permutations and combinations. This develops the systematic listing in GCSE (9–1) Maths and introduces content in both the statistics strands of AS Maths and AS Further Maths.
  
  
• Coordinate geometry
  
  Coordinate geometry brings together the graphing work covered in GCSE (9–1) Maths, linking equations, inequalities and Pythagoras’ theorem with extensions to the equation of a circle about any centre and linear programming. Linear programming has been retained due to its natural progression of GCSE (9–1) Maths inequalities work and as an introduction to optional content in AS Further Maths specifications.
  
  
• Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry
  
  This section introduces the link between these two concepts through identities and develops the idea of solving trig equations and solving more complex geometric problems. There is no change in this section apart from making the link between Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry more explicit plus the mention of the ambiguous case for the sine rule.
  
  
• Calculus
  
  There is no change to this section, the main ‘acceleration’ component of the qualification.
  
  
• Numerical methods
  
  This new section on numerical methods is designed to develop the informal estimation work of GCSE (9–1) Maths and introduces the more formal approaches in AS and A Level Maths.
  
  This was included as enrichment, reinforcing the links between algebra and graphs to develop students' fundamental understanding of the theories behind the analytical methods.
  
  
• Exponentials and logarithms
  
  This new section develops the work on indices, standard form and the increased focus on proportional reasoning in GCSE (9–1) Maths, while introducing this AS and A Level topic through modelling data.
  
  This topic has often been cited as the main gap in knowledge that non-A Level Maths students have when studying numerically heavy qualifications post-16, so is something we are pleased to introduce to the revised FSMQ.

Many teachers and other maths education stakeholders have contributed to the revision of this qualification. We would like to give a big thank you to everyone who has completed a survey, given feedback or discussed this qualification with the subject advisor team in recent years.

New materials and webinars now available

Download the new mapping document showing the link between the revised Level 3 FSMQ: Additional Mathematics and the reformed GCSE (9‒1) and to the legacy 2002 FSMQ spec from Planning and teaching at www.ocr.org.uk/fsmq.

Download the revised specification and sample assessment material.

Download the practice paper from Interchange.

Delivery Guides for the entirety of the qualification are available from Planning and teaching at http://www.ocr.org.uk/fsmq. These guides will help you plan and teach the content of the qualification and each includes links to free online resources.

Book onto our Understanding the assessment: exams feedback for FSMQ webinar, or sign up for one of our free online Q&A webinar sessions at our CPD hub pages.

You can submit your comment below or email maths@ocr.org if you have a specific question about the changes. Follow us on Twitter or sign up to our monthly newsletter for the latest updates on all of our maths qualifications.

About the author

Steven Walker – Subject Advisor – Mathematics

Steven joined OCR in July 2014 as a Mathematics Subject Advisor. He has worked on the GCSE and A Level reform and led the redevelopment of R449 Entry Level Certificate Mathematics and 6993 Level 3 FSMQ: Additional Mathematics. Steven graduated in Material Engineering, and gained a PGCE in secondary mathematics from Homerton College, Cambridge, He has taught maths in the UK and overseas.