The pilot GCE Use of Mathematics is distinct from GCE Mathematics and is designed to encourage more students to continue their mathematics studies post-16. Students now have the opportunity to pursue practical and relevant mathematics courses to the same level as traditional GCE Mathematics.

Use of Mathematics, and the constituent Free-Standing Mathematics Qualifications (FSMQ) courses of which it is composed, were developed to enable the study of mathematical topics in practical, real-life contexts. As Professor Adrian Smith stated in his 2004 report into Mathematics 14-19, students involved in FSMQ courses recognise the relevance of the mathematics as they model the real world and develop skills which are readily transferable to either the real world or to their other studies.

Requirements:

Students should have gained a grade C or above at GCSE Mathematics.

What could this lead to?

The pilot GCE Use of Mathematics will be recognised by UCAS. UCAS points are the same as for any other AS qualification. It will support students who are studying other subjects where mathematics is useful, such as Business Studies, Geography, Biology and Psychology amongst others. It is also a valuable qualification in its own right, particularly for those who will be applying mathematics in a real life context.

AS Use of Mathematics comprises the compulsory unit Algebra plus two applications units. FSMQ Advanced units can also be entered as stand-alone short qualifications in their own right.

Algebra USE1

One written paper with pre-release data sheet; calculators allowed
1 Hr 33 1/3 % of the total AS marks

FSMQ Data Analysis 9993 *

One written paper with pre-release data sheet; calculators allowed
1 Hr 33 1/3 % of the total AS marks

FSMQ Decision Mathematics 9997

One written paper with pre-release data sheet; calculators allowed
1 hour 33 1/3% of the total AS marks