Endorsement: from teachers
Fair yet discriminating
I believe the assessment materials will allow pupils at all levels to show their ability and are fair yet discriminating.
Vanessa Roper
Head of Maths, Rushcliffe School
Increased emphasis on problem solving
I welcome the increased emphasis on problem solving questions and applaud AQA’s move in this direction. I believe that this will drive an improvement in practice in the classroom as long as all awarding bodies follow this route. Allowing specifications and assessment materials that do not embrace problem solving will be deleterious to the whole system.
Heather Davis
Cornwall learning
Robust academic course of study
- define and assess achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be needed by students planning to progress to post-16 study at a school, sixth form or FE college, or to employment
- provide a robust and internationally comparable academic course of study to develop required knowledge, skills and understanding.
Tim Pattison
Head of Maths, Manchester Grammar School
Accessible
I am reassured that the content is both accessible to those students who are working towards vocational qualifications, but also is a sound basis for those students intending to start on a level 3 STEM based course. I applaud your endeavours to test the mathematical ability of the learners, and not their ability to interpret complex prose.
Luke Graham
Director of Maths and Science, Cornwall College
Real life application
- Assessment materials are suitable for the specification requirements. The knowledge required to be successful in this course will support the understanding for students who progress to post-16 study.
- Multiple choice aspect of the assessments will promote good teaching, ie teaching through misconception.
- Transition between AO1, AO2 and AO3 questions is suitable so students can demonstrate skills throughout the paper and also be faced with real life application questions when necessary and in context.
Fay Sheppard
Head of Maths, Burlington Danes Academy
A teacher's story
From 2017, students will be sitting new GCSE Mathematics exams. Earlier this year, St Ives School trialled our new specimen papers with their students.
See what their teachers thought of the new papers.
A student's story
From 2017, students will be sitting new GCSE Mathematics exams. Earlier this year, St Ives School trialled our new specimen papers with their students.