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Mathematics

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Why study Mathematics?

Mathematics is important in everyday life, allowing us to make sense of the world around us and to manage our lives. Using mathematics enables us to model real-life situations and make connections and informed predictions. It equips us with the skills we need to interpret and analyse information, simplify and solve problems, assess risk and make informed decisions.

You will also get to develop skills in the areas of algebra, geometry and trigonometry as well as learn elementary calculus.

The skills you learn in this course are useful in many careers involving engineering, medicine, technology, business and the physical sciences.

Mathematicians are very curious people by nature.  They ask insightful questions to try and make sense of the world around them.  They love being challenged and enjoy that feeling of being stuck.  Being a mathematician is difficult.  It requires perseverance, resilience, diligence and passion.

Levels available   - National 3, National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher

Course Outline

Manage Money and Data 

The general aim of this Unit is to enable learners to apply their skills, knowledge and understanding of mathematics and numeracy to manage money and data in real-life contexts. Learners will build on their mathematical and numerical skills to determine factors affecting income and expenditure, budgeting and saving. Learners will also organise, present and interpret data based on real-life contexts.

Shape, Space and Measures 

The general aims of this Unit is to enable learners to apply their skills, knowledge and understanding of shape, space and measures in real-life contexts. Learners will build on their mathematical and numerical skills by using measures and elementary geometry to tackle real-life situations.

Numeracy

The general aim of this Unit is to develop learners’ numerical and information handling skills to solve simple, real-life problems involving number, money, time and measurement. As learners tackle real-life problems, they will use their knowledge of number processes, information handling and probability to make informed decisions.       Expressions and Formulae 

Learners who complete the Unit will be able to:

  • use mathematical operational skills linked to expressions and formulae
  • use mathematical reasoning skills linked to expressions and formulae

Relationships 

Learners who complete the Unit will be able to:

  • use mathematical operational skills linked to relationships
  • use mathematical reasoning skills linked to relationships
  • 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

Added Value Unit

The learner will draw on and apply the skills they have learned across the other three Units.  This will be assessed through a test, which will offer opportunities to demonstrate the breadth of knowledge and skills acquired from across the Units of the Course, sometimes in integrated ways.         The following provides a broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the course:

  • understand and use mathematical concepts and relationships
  • select and apply numerical skills
  • select and apply skills in algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics
  • use mathematical models
  • use mathematical reasoning skills to interpret information, to select a strategy to solve a problem, and to communicate solutions

Progression

National 3 learners must have previously been successful at Second Level and, if successful, can possibly progress onto National 4 (S5) and then National 5 (S6)                

National 4 learners must have previously been successful at Third Level and, if successful, can possibly progress onto National 5 (S5) and then Higher (S6)       

National 5 learners must have previously been successful at Fourth Level and, if successful, can possibly progress onto Higher (S5) and then Advanced Higher (S6)

Assessment Requirements

•             Continuous class and homework assessment

•             Successful completion of internal assessments

•             No final SQA examination           

•             Continuous class and homework assessment

•             Successful completion of internal assessments

•             Successful completion of internal Added Value assessment

•             No final SQA examination           

•             Continuous class and homework assessment

•             Prelim examination

•             SQA Course Examination

•             Paper 1 (non-calculator) – 50 marks (1 hour and 15 minutes)

•             Paper 2 (calculator) – 60 marks (1 hour and 50 minutes)

Specialist equipment required  

•             Scientific calculator

Possible careers

•             Acoustic consultant

•             Actuarial analyst

•             Actuary

•             Charterer accountant

•             Chartered certified accountant

•             Data analyst      

•             Data scientist

•             Investment analyst

•             Research scientist

•             Secondary school teacher

•             Software engineer

•             Statistician

•             Financial manager           

•             Financial trader

•             Game designer

•             Insurance underwriter

•             Engineer

•             Meteorologist

•             Quantity surveyor

•             Software tester

Links to further info

For study advice, homework questions, exam revision, video links www.bit.ly/stmungosmaths

For videos and topic specific worksheets www.corbettmaths.com

For videos, practice papers and online tutorials www.maths180.com

For practice papers and exam type questions for each topic www.national5maths.co.uk

For past papers, specimen papers and course advice www.sqa.co.uk

For learner guides and revision tests https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/ztrjmp3

For revision notes and questions www.scholar.co.uk

Twitter: @mungomaths