Code
IB Course (8)
Qualification Type
Other Regulated/Accredited Qualification
Qualification Level
Level 3
Course type
Full Time
The Mathematical Studies course is intended to advance material covered on the GCSE course. It is our intention to increase the student’s confidence in this subject and to develop an appreciation of Mathematics both as a useful tool and for its abstract beauty.
We intend that Mathematical Studies will be excellent preparation for students who intend to follow a wide range of higher education courses. The course content of Mathematical Studies will be rigorous and comprehensive enough to support students who wish to follow career paths in applied sciences, business or financial sectors.
Finally, we hope to develop inquiring students with the Mathematical knowledge, language and skills required to understand (or at least ask questions) about the world around them. This idea of Mathematics being an international language will also enable us to guide students in self-supported studies to trace the history and development of Mathematics across the world as it moves through the centuries and across the cultures.
The course consists of seven compulsory topics:
1. Number and Algebra
2. Functions
3. Geometry and Trigonometry
4. Statistics and Probability
5. Calculus
The course will challenge students to problem solve as certain topics and elements of the course content will be introduced in an investigational way. It is intended that other topic areas will be used for “modelling” analytical thought: in other words we intend to explain clearly why we chose to tackle a certain problem or solution in that manner. The use of a graphics calculator is an integral part of the course. Creativity, lateral thinking, making links discussing results and looking at alternative solution paths will be essential for successfully completing the course. Students will then have the opportunity to use these new skills in their Mathematical project.
This Standard level course is assessed through:
1) 80% external assessment: two written papers at the end of the two year course: Papers each being of 1 hour 30 minutes duration. Paper 1 being shorter questions, and Paper 2 being more demanding, multi-step style problems.
2) 20% internal assessment: a project involving the collection of information, and the mathematical analysis and evaluation of the information.
5 GCSE at 9 - 4 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 4 in English and or Maths
(Students that narrowly miss out on L3 entry requirements can still be accepted subject to decision of subject leader for the chosen course).
If successful on the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme students can follow a pathway onto university, a high-level apprenticeship or straight into employment post-18.