Confused- what is the difference between higher maths GCSE,Foundation and advanced GCSE?

[IroningMountain]

Just that really.

Noble I'd guess that the further maths grew out of what was called by my teachers "Paper 5" which (I think) was a pass/fail thing?

When I did GCSE my board had 4 exams 1,2,3,4.
Lower tier did 1&2
Intermediate did 2&3
Higher did 3&4

At my school most of the top set did the maths GCSE in November. Those who didn't in the top set (which was those not on for an easy A) would do it in the summer with the mysterious paper 5. I think you couldn't take it without doing the whole GCSE and then if you passed you got a little 5 next to the A. If you failed you would just get the GCSE grade.
I don't know how easy it was to pass.

FWIW... DC1 did GSCE maths and FSMQ Add maths this year. Got grades 8 and D respectively. I think that depicts the difference in levels!

They're now doing Standard Level maths as part of their IB. The FSMQ will apparently be a big help in preparing for that: similarly for those going on to A levels.

Ad Maths has been around for ever historically it was an A/O level half way between the two at my school if you were good at maths you did Maths and Ad Marhs in what is now year 11 ( upper fifth), then A level maths in year 12 (lower sixth) and final further maths A-level in year 13 ( upper sixth).

So Additional Maths is harder than Further Maths?

Our school only offers Add Maths for Yr11 (not Further Maths). Is it because the difference between the new Gcse and Further Maths isn't so big anymore?

I think additional maths may be what my daughter will be doing next year; she's at a school where the top set do maths gcse a year early. It's important that they then continue with maths! I'm hoping she will want to do A level maths but since she's got such a wide range of interests I really can't guess at this point - so will be glad to see her maths taken as far as possible before she drops it whenever that actually happens!

As to maths ability; developmentally there is a cognitive shift around the age of 12 (I think), that allows children to really start to follow abstract reasoning and logic. There is quite a range as to when this happens, so I'd guess from year 5-9 any given class will have some who look at maths and "get it" and some who really need lots of examples and practical stuff to work with. A child who is not ready for abstract mathematics in year 7 but is in year 9, could make rapid progress at that point.