Overview

The Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths is a qualification that is designed to deepen and extend the knowledge of mathematics learnt at GCSE.

Core Maths is not as difficult or demanding as A Level Maths, it is worth up to 20 UCAS points and is ideal for students who need transferable mathematical skills to support their other subjects or for future university courses or employment.

What will you learn?

You will study two units: Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning (IQR) and Statistical Problem Solving (SPS). The IQR module builds on traditional GCSE skills such as:

Working with percentages
Probability and risk
Statistical diagrams and interpretation
Measures and scaling

The IQR module also adds more context to questions with links to finance, formulae & spreadsheets and supply & demand.

The SPS module has topics such as:

Spearman’s Rank
Chi-squared tests and
Normal distribution
Hypothesis testing

which have many links to other A Level subjects such as Biology and Psychology.

Who is the course aimed at?

The course is ideal for students who do not need, or wish to study A level Maths, but who are interested in careers or university courses that contain large amounts of mathematical content, such as sport and social sciences, psychology, geography, biology and many business-related courses and careers.

Entry Requirements & Other Info

Entry Requirements

You must have a minimum of five GCSEs grades 9-4, including English Language and a minimum of grade 5 in Maths.

This course is classed as an Additional Study and is completed in Year 1 alongside your full time course/s.
Experiences

This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore maths and prepare you for many different careers and courses in higher education. As a student on the Core Maths course, you will be given the chance to take part in revision sessions and study groups, as well as take part in trips to leading universities. You will also be able to hear from guest speakers on the subject, and take part in multiple career-based college wide activities.
Progression

Many universities can make reduced offers to some of their degree courses to students who have studied Core Maths, recognising that the knowledge of Core Maths will not only support students’ University studies, but also their future career and employment. Core Maths will provide a good basis for starting a higher level apprenticeship or entering the world of work upon leaving college.
Outcomes

Students with a strong background in mathematics can go on to work in a huge variety of fields. Any industry that values strong analytical skills and high-level problem-solving ability will benefit from students that have studied Core Maths.