Mathematical Studies

Course summary

Our Level 3 Mathematical Studies qualification is for students with a grade 5 or above in GCSE. It develops mathematical skills and thinking appropriate for a Level 3 qualification. It provides useful maths skills for students studying courses such as A-level Psychology, Sciences and Geography; as well as technical and vocational qualifications. Students will learn and apply real-world maths skills. It is a new Level 3 maths qualification, half the size of an A-level, with two end-of-course examinations. The content is based around the new GCSE Maths Higher Tier, with around 20% taken from other qualifications, for example A-level Maths. It focuses on realistic contexts to help students enjoy and value the maths. Students will be expected to develop and demonstrate confidence and competence in the understanding and application of mathematical modelling in the solution of problems related to the use of statistical techniques. > Applications of Statistics covering sampling, construct and interpret diagrams, location and dispersion, correlation, linear regression, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient > Probability covering empirical and theoretical probability, sets and Venn diagrams, tree diagrams, conditional probability, exclusive and complementary events, risk > Linear Programming covering the simultaneous equations, plotting graphs, y = mx + c, solving linear equations and inequalities, using algebra to support arguments, formulate linear programming problems, objective lines, interpreting graphical solutions > Sequences and Growth covering the modelling growth and decay, simple and compound interest, graph sketching, exponential functions, gradient and rates of change, linear/quadratic/Fibonacci sequences, arithmetic and geometric sequences, convergence and divergence.