Maths pathways

Background

Functional Skills Certificate

GCSE Mathematics

GCSE Additional Mathematics

A-level Mathematics

A-level Further Mathematics

FSMQ developments

GCE Use of Mathematics

GCSE Use of Mathematics

Summary

Functional Skills Certificate: Maths

• AQA's specification offers free-standing assessments of functional skills at level 1 and level 2
• The level 2 assessment consists of two papers, testing competency and functionality against the functional skills standards at this level. Candidates may be awarded level 2, level 1 or Unclassified based on their performance
• The level 1 assessment consists of a single paper, split into two sections, testing functionality and competency against the functional skills standards at this level. Candidates may be awarded level 1 or Unclassified based on their performance
• Assessments are available and qualifications awarded in January and June of each year throughout the pilot.

Key documents

Read/download in PDF format:

Functional Skills Pilot Specification
Level 1 Specimen Assessment Materials
Level 2 Specimen Assessment Materials
Functional Skills and GCSE Maths Teachers' Guide
Functional Skills and GCSE Maths Tasks

Update: November 2008

• Almost 8000 candidates from over 100 centres sat a Functional Maths Assessment with AQA this summer. Around 1000 of these sat the level 1 paper with the vast majority sitting level 2. Overall, 47% of these candidates achieved level 2 and a further 47% achieved level 1 either from the level 1 assessment or as an exceptional award on the level 2 assessment.
• The AQA Functional Maths pilot has expanded significantly in the second year with many phase 2 Diploma Gateway centres joining. There are now over 300 centres on the pilot covering all centre types and all regions of the country.
• The Specification for Functional Maths (9305) has been revised for 2009. The only significant change is to the weighting of the Competency and Functionality components at level 2. These have now been adjusted to 25% Competency and 75% Functionality. The level 2 Competency Test is now available on-screen as well as on paper. A small number of centres piloted this option in the summer.

2007 activities

• Over 5000 candidates from 46 pilot centres took the first AQA Functional Maths papers at level 2 in January. A further 260 candidates from 10 centres were entered for level 1
• AQA has developed teacher resources, in collaboration with Leeds University, to support pilot centres in the teaching of functional maths. Meetings with centres were held in the New Year and the use of these materials were considered and reviewed
• The Functional Maths specification, specimen papers and teacher resources mentioned above are available as PDF documents. It should be remembered that AQA's approach to the assessment of Functional Maths is just one of a number of models currently being piloted