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GCSE Biology8461

7.0 Mathematical requirements

Students will be required to demonstrate the following mathematics skills in GCSE Biology assessments.

Questions will target maths skills at a level of demand appropriate to each subject. In Foundation Tier papers questions assessing maths requirements will not be lower than that expected at Key Stage 3 (as outlined in Mathematics Programmes of Study: Key Stage 3 , by the DfE, document reference DFE-00179-2013). In Higher Tier papers questions assessing maths requirements will not be lower than that of questions and tasks in assessments for the Foundation Tier in a GCSE Qualification in Mathematics.

1 Arithmetic and numerical computation
aRecognise and use expressions in decimal form
bRecognise and use expressions in standard form
cUse ratios, fractions and percentages
dMake estimates of the results of simple calculations
2 Handling data
aUse an appropriate number of significant figures
bFind arithmetic means
cConstruct and interpret frequency tables and diagrams, bar charts and histograms
dUnderstand the principles of sampling as applied to scientific data
eUnderstand simple probability
fUnderstand the terms mean, mode and median
gUse a scatter diagram to identify a correlation between two variables
hMake order of magnitude calculations
3 Algebra
aUnderstand and use the symbols: =, <, <<, >>, >, ∝ , ~
dSolve simple algebraic equations
4 Graphs
aTranslate information between graphical and numeric form
bUnderstand that y = mx + c represents a linear relationship
cPlot two variables from experimental or other data
dDetermine the slope and intercept of a linear graph
5 Geometry and trigonometry
cCalculate areas of triangles and rectangles, surface areas and volumes of cubes

Mathematical skills references are taken from the DfE subject criteria. Where there is a break in a sequence, the 'missing' references are criteria not applicable to GCSE Biology and have been deliberately omitted from this list.