This year's GCSE maths.....

[BertrandRussell]

My ds's maths teacher has just told me that the 7000 odd schools that did the new maths GCSE as mocks recently achieved a modal score of 11% for paper 1. 11% ? Surely not!!!!!!

There's foundation, intermediate and higher tiers for each of the two papers, Sostenuto

Yes sounds a great idea actually.

They've been taking annual 'numeracy - procedural' and 'numeracy - reasoning' tests for the last few years, I'm not sure how these relate to the two GCSEs, but assume it's a similar sort of split.

Noble - I suspect it'll be great in a few years, it's just all a bit stressful being in one of the first cohorts to take them! (Even more so for the teachers I imagine . . .)

Is this thread full?

Shouldn't be - it's only at 350 or so messages, so lots more space yet

Hi Sadik seems we are on about 354 or so lol! Hope someone continues with this thread, have learnt a lot and enjoyed conversations.

Hi just wanted to know my ds did 3 example papers for maths 2 calculator and 1 non-calculator he got
16/80
17/80
34/80
What grade is that 4 or 5? he really needs a 5 to do a betech level 3 at 6 form does any one have a rough estimate?

General Election day is the same date as paper two. Bound to cause some issues somewhere.
Sorry Happy mum nobody is positive about grade boundaries. We will all find out in August.

Quick question, does anyone know if they need to know quadratic formula for the exam? Revision video we have looked at says it will be given in the exam, but DD is worried and thinks she needs to know it.

Yes she needs to know it. The video is probably referring to the old A*-C paper where they were given it.

Here's the list of formulae that she will need to learn:

qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/mathematics/2015/misc/gcse-maths-formulae-sheet-a5.pdf

Thank you!

Thanks Nible, it's useful to have that sheet. I've just printed it off for my DD

Noble , do the students sitting AQA maths (9-1) need to know the same formulas please ?

AQA formula guidance looks slightly different:

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/appendix-mathematical-formulae

Be careful, you need to know sections 1 and 2, but section 3 will be given in the question.

I've no idea why these formula lists are different - the syllabuses are supposed to be exactly the same . On the AQA list it's got the formula for compound interest as one you need to know, you need to know how to calculate compound interest for Edexcel too, but it's not on their list (maybe they see it as a method rather than a formula). Similarly for AQA you will need to know the formulae for speed, density and pressure because they're in the syllabus, Edexcel have them on their formula list, but AQA don't.

So, add to the 'need to know' formulae:
Compound interest = initial amount x interest multiplier to the power of number of years (e.g. invest £1500 for 3 years at 6% interest and you have 1500 x 1.06^3 at the end in your account)
Speed = distance/time
Density = mass/volume
Pressure = force/area

Noble- thank you . Your posts are always so informative and helpful. Your students are very lucky to have such a great maths teacher.

Very kind of you, thank you Hopeful :)

Noble, thank you very much. I have been following our posts with great interest. They are informative and very useful. My daughter is in yr 7 so I will be watching your posts for the next few years. Thanks once again

Noble your posts have given me an insight into the maths GCSE and I have used this to help my year 10 dd. Therefore, I would also like to thank you

Hi Everyone,

With the fast approaching GCSE math's exams on the 25th of May. I'm a bit worried that the clock is ticking, my child could do with a little bit of help. Does anyone have revision tips? or helpful sites ?

Thanks everyone

MumYasmineJoy try mrbartonmaths.com as a good starting point. I also like the videos on m4ths.com

Corbett Maths Website is also good. Lots of practice questions on lots of topics and videos to go with most

Just wanted to add my thanks to noble for all her info as I also have a Y10 DS! In fact I think the mock papers he just sat may be very similar to the ones described on this thread!
Are there any style rules the exam boards insist on? DS1 claims he got a couple of marks deducted because his fractions were written with a slanting line rather than a horizontal! My private theory is the teacher is fed up with DS's tiny writing! or just fed up with DS...

As an examiner for one of the main boards there is no guidelines about how a fraction is presented - I have just checked. If it is given with as a ratio that would be wrong, or as a decimal when asked for a fraction etc.

If it is hard to decipher what is written then I would encourage your son to improve legibility - all papers are scanned and small writing can be a challenge.

Bear in mind the rate of pay is about 10p per question!

Thanks! I rather suspected there was no fraction style rule so it must have been something else. If it affects his predicted grade I'll query it, otherwise I'll just stay on his case about presentation - I'll be marking exam scripts this year as well (but not maths!)

As a maths teacher I advise against writing fractions with a slanting line as it makes mixed numbers look like a top-heavy fraction.
E.g. 12/5
Is this 1 and 2/5 or is it meant to be twelve over five?

He's going to need to use horizontal lines for most fractional representations - e.g. algebraic fractions, so it makes sense to do it for all of them.