Maths

Mathematics 

Welcome to the Faculty of Mathematics. Here you will find information about our Maths staff, Broad General Education courses, and the range of qualifications available to pupils throughout the Senior Phase. Mathematics plays a vital role in everyday life and helps young people develop logical thinking, problem-solving skills and confidence in working with numbers.

Our courses are designed to support progression for all learners, from building strong numeracy foundations in S1–S3 through to preparing pupils for further study, training and employment in S4–S6.

National 3 Applications of Mathematics

Course Overview

The Course, including the freestanding Numeracy Unit at SCQF level 3, motivates and challenges learners to apply mathematical and numerical skills in real-life contexts. It covers number, money, shape, space, and measurement, helping learners interpret data and solve everyday problems. The Course builds confidence, develops skills for learning, life, and work, and encourages a positive attitude toward further study in mathematics and related areas.

Numeracy (N)

• 1.1 Selecting and using appropriate numerical notation and units

• 1.2 Selecting and carrying out calculations

• 1.3 Recording measurements using a straightforward scale on an instrument

• 1.4 Interpreting the measurements and the results of calculations to make decisions

• 1.5 Explaining decisions based on the results of calculations

• 2.1 Extracting and interpreting data from at least one simple graphical form

• 2.2 Making and explaining decisions based on the interpretation of data

• 2.3 Making and explaining decisions based on probability

Manage Money and Data (MMD)

• 1.1 Identifying factors affecting income and expenditure

• 1.2 Preparing a simple budget

• 1.3 Developing a basic savings plan

• 1.4 Making a decision based on the best deal

• 2.1 Organising primary data

• 2.2 Carrying out simple calculations to compare data

• 2.3 Representing data in an appropriate format

• 2.4 Interpreting simple data to draw conclusions

Shape, Space and Measures (SSP)

• 1.1 Calculating and using the perimeter and area of a regular 2D shape

• 1.2 Calculating and using the volume of a cuboid

• 1.3 Giving or following directions

• 1.4 Working with simple patterns

• 2.1 Selecting and using appropriate units of measurement

• 2.2 Stating and using simple formulae expressed in words or symbols

• 2.3 Interpreting simple scale drawings

• 2.4 Applying a basic scale factor

• 2.5 Calculating time intervals to manage tasks or activities

Course Structure

The course consists of three units:

• Manage Money & Data

• Shape, Space & Measure

• Numeracy

For each unit there is a Unit Assessment - this will test competency.

Course Assessment

To achieve the National 3 Lifeskills Mathematics Course, learners must pass all of the required Unit Assessments. Units are assessed as pass or fail by the school (following SQA external quality assurance to meet national standards).

National 3 Courses are not graded and there is no final exam in the SQA Exam Diet in May.

Assessment (or ‘evidence of learning’) may be gathered through class work, tests, oral evidence, computer-generated class work, photographs. Learners may use these to build a portfolio to show their progress through the Units.

Progression

On successful completion of this Course, the learner could progress to embarking on the National 4 Applications of Mathematics course.

National 4 Applications of Mathematics

Course Overview

The purpose of the National 4 Applications of Mathematics Course is to motivate and challenge learners by enabling them to think through real-life situations involving mathematics and to form a plan of action based on logic.

The Course develops confidence in being able to handle mathematical processes and information in a range of real-life contexts. The Course also enables learners to make informed decisions based on data presented in a variety of forms.

The mathematical skills within this Course are underpinned by numeracy and are designed to develop learners’ skills in mathematical reasoning relevant to learning, life and work.

The Course aims to:

• motivate and challenge learners by enabling them to select and apply mathematical skills to tackle straightforward real-life problems or situations

• develop the ability to interpret straightforward real-life problems or situations involving mathematics

• develop confidence in the subject and a positive attitude towards the use of mathematics in straightforward real-life situations

• apply mathematical operational skills with an appropriate degree of accuracy

• use mathematical reasoning skills to assess risk, draw conclusions and explain decisions

• communicate mathematical information in an appropriate way

• In addition, learners will have the opportunity to develop generic and transferable skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. These include numeracy, thinking skills, literacy and employability.

Unit and Content Information

NUMERACY

The general aim of this Unit is to develop learners’ numerical and information handling skills to solve straightforward, real-life problems involving number, money, time and measurement. As learners tackle real-life problems, they will decide what numeracy skills to use and how to apply those skills to an appropriate level of accuracy. Learners will also interpret graphical data and use their knowledge and understanding of probability to identify solutions to straightforward real-life problems involving money, time and measurement. Learners will use their solutions to make and explain decisions.

Learners who complete this Unit will be able to:

• Use numerical skills to solve straightforward, real-life problems involving money/time/measurement

• Interpret graphical data and situations involving probability to solve straightforward, real-life problems involving money/time/measurement

This Unit is a mandatory Unit of the National 4 Mathematics Course and the National 4 Applications of Mathematics Course and is also available as a free-standing Unit. The Unit Specification should be read in conjunction with the Unit Support Notes, which provide advice and guidance on delivery, assessment approaches and development of skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. Exemplification of the standards in this Unit is given in Unit Assessment Support.

MANAGING FINANCE & STATISTICS

The general aim of this Unit is to develop skills that focus on the use of mathematical ideas and strategies that can be applied to managing finance and statistics in straightforward real-life contexts. This includes using skills in budgeting as well as skills in organising and presenting data, to explain solutions and/or draw conclusions. The Outcomes cover aspects of finance and statistics in real-life situations requiring mathematical reasoning.

Learners who complete this Unit will be able to:

• Use reasoning skills and financial skills linked to straightforward real-life contexts

• Use reasoning skills and statistical skills linked to straightforward real-life contexts

GEOMETRY & MEASURES

The general aim of this Unit is to develop skills that focus on the use of mathematical ideas and strategies that can be applied to geometry and measurement in straightforward real-life contexts. This includes using skills in interpreting and in using shape, space and measures to determine and explain solutions. The Outcomes cover aspects of geometry and measurement in real-life situations requiring mathematical reasoning.

Learners who complete this Unit will be able to:

• Use reasoning skills and measurement skills linked to straightforward real-life contexts

• Use reasoning skills and geometric skills linked to straightforward real-life contexts

National 5 Applications of Mathematics

Course rationale

National Courses reflect Curriculum for Excellence values, purposes and principles. They offer flexibility, provide more time for learning, more focus on skills and applying learning, and scope for personalisation and choice.

Every course provides opportunities for candidates to develop breadth, challenge and application. The focus and balance of assessment is tailored to each subject area.

Mathematics engages learners of all ages, interests and abilities. Learning mathematics develops logical reasoning, analysis, problem-solving skills, creativity and the ability to think in abstract ways. It uses a universal language of numbers and symbols, which allows us to communicate ideas in a concise, unambiguous and rigorous way.

The National 5 Applications of Mathematics course explores the applications of mathematical techniques and skills in everyday situations, including financial matters, statistics, and measurement. The skills, knowledge and understanding in the course also support learning in other curriculum areas, such as technology, health and wellbeing, science, and social studies.

Purpose and aims

The purpose of the National 5 Applications of Mathematics course is to motivate and challenge candidates by enabling them to think through real-life situations involving mathematics and to form a plan of action based on logic.

The mathematical skills within this course are underpinned by numeracy, and designed to develop candidates’ mathematical reasoning skills in areas relevant to learning, life and work. The course aims to:

• motivate and challenge candidates by enabling them to select and apply mathematical techniques in a variety of real-life situations

• develop the ability to analyse real-life problems or situations with some complex features involving mathematics

• develop confidence in the subject and a positive attitude towards the use of mathematics in real-life situations

• develop the ability to select, apply, combine and adapt mathematical operational skills to new and unfamiliar situations in life and work to an appropriate degree of accuracy

• develop the ability to use mathematical reasoning skills to generalise, build arguments, draw logical conclusions, assess risk, and make informed decisions

• develop the ability to use a range of mathematical skills to analyse, interpret and present a range of information

• develop the ability to communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms

• develop the ability to think creatively and in abstract ways

Exam

Question paper 1 (non-calculator) – 35 marks – 50 minutes

Question paper 2 – 55 marks – 1 hour 40 minutes 

Course Overview at Irvine Royal Academy 

Higher Applications of Mathematics 

Course Overview

The Higher Applications course prepares learners for modern careers.

Learning skills on spreadsheets and industry standard statistics software give great employability skills. Transferrable planning and project management skills are built into the course. Financial skills developed at National 5 are expanded upon to broaden their use. Research Project gives opportunities for personal enquiry into interesting topics and a chance to hone existing research skills.

Estimation and mathematical modelling skills are developed through use of numeracy skills and builds on knowledge from National 5.

The course is ideally suited for pupils going into: Finance, Statistics, Management, Insurance etc.

Recommended Entry

A–C National 5 Applications or National 5 Maths

Course Outline

• Unit 1 – Planning and Decision Making

• Unit 2 – Finance

• Unit 3 – Statistics 

• Unit 4 – Mathematical Modelling

• Research Project

Course Assessment

Project (27%) – Due April

Exam (73%) – SQA exam diet (usually May)

Homework

Homework will be issued monthly (as appropriate) to gauge progress and aid revision.