• Background
• GCSE Mathematics
• GCSE Additional Mathematics
• A-level Mathematics
• Further Mathematics
• FSMQ developments
• A-level Use of Mathematics
• GCSE Use of Mathematics
• Summary

2011 exams update

Examples of completed answer books – good practice and areas for improvement – added June 2011

Our question paper style and how our examiners will mark long answers on screen

As confirmed in December 2009 and March 2010 Updates, exams with separate question papers and answer books (unconstrained answer books) will use the new:

• simplified, two-digit question numbering system
• style of answer book with spaces for candidates to write the two-digit question numbers.

Here is confirmation of the approach taken in your subject:

June 2011 9307 Mathematics Pilot

Unit code	Title	Numbering system	Type of answer book	Size of answer book
93002FA	Number and Statistics Tier F	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	8 pages
93002FH	Number and Statistics Tier F	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	8 pages
93002HA	Number and Statistics Tier H	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	8 pages
93002HB	Number and Statistics Tier H	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	8 pages
930031F	Algebra, Geometry and Measures Tier F	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	16 pages
930032F	Algebra, Geometry and Measures Tier F	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	16 pages
930031H	Algebra, Geometry and Measures Tier H	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	16 pages
930032H	Algebra, Geometry and Measures Tier H	traditional	Combined question paper answer book	16 pages

If components are working with combined question paper answer books, you need read no further.

This guidance supports you to work with the new numbering system and new answer books with continued success and confidence in the 2011 exams:

• Review of summer 2010 exams and guidance for centres on 2011 exams
• Teacher Guide (revised)
• Exams Officer and Invigilator Guide (revised)
• Student Guide (revised)
• Question papers and mark schemes:
• Summer 2010 materials are available to view in the Secure Key Materials area of e-AQA
• Specimen materials are available for download from the subject pages of aqa.org.uk
• Examples of candidates' work:
  • Good practice
  • Areas for improvement
• AQA Research Team Papers:

Marking long answers on screen

• Reliability of on-screen marking of essays
• A concurrent approach to estimating the reliability of electronic marking of long form answers
• Using the Think Aloud Method to investigate electronic marking of long form answers
• The impact of e-marking on Enquiries After Results 2006/2007
• The impact of e-marking on Enquiries After Results 2005/2006

New AQA Numbering System

• Nested Numbering

Archive

• Exams Officer questionnaire feedback
• Exams Officer questionnaire

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• AQA's specification offers a 2-unit structure for teaching, learning and assessment which leads to a GCSE qualification in Maths
• Most candidates entering this pilot have also been involved in the AQA pilot assessment of functional skills as a stand alone qualification. This enables us to compare performance across the two qualifications which remains important even though it has now been confirmed that functional skills will not be a hurdle to grades A* to C at GCSE
• From 2009, this specification includes questions which assess the functional elements of mathematics which will be a part of all GCSEs in mathematics in the future
• GCSE Grades A* to G are available to pilot candidates and this will be certificated as GCSE Maths
• The initial proposal, within the 14–19 Education and Skills White Paper, that candidates will receive grade C only if they pass Functional Maths (level 2) will not apply to these pilot qualifications and candidates
• This pilot will continue until June 2011 with a final resit opportunity in January 2012

Update: October 2009

• In the second year of the pilot, overall entries June to June for units 93002/F and 93002/H have reduced slightly, whereas entries for 93003/F are over 2 and a half times higher, and 93003/H over double. Candidates have, overall, coped well with the demands of these papers and performed beyond expectations. This is particularly pleasing given the changing nature of the papers, particularly the introduction of questions with functional elements. There is still evidence that more work needs to be done to ensure that candidates can fully display their mathematical functionality, but the pilot gives cause for future optimism when functionality is incorporated into all GCSE Mathematics specifications after 2010.

2008 activities

• In the first year of the pilot, about 1600 candidates completed this GCSE qualification. It is expected that numbers will increase significantly in year 2. Currently 100 centres nationally are registered for the pilot of this qualification and Additional Maths which means that we cannot accept further centres to the pilot at this time
• The GCSE Maths specification has been revised for 2009. Changes to the specification reflect two strands of development required by QCA detailed below
  • the first is to clarify that Functional Maths is a separate stand-alone assessment that has potential links with, but is not part of GCSE Maths. Hence, much of the information about Functional Maths is now included as an appendix to the specification rather than as part of it. The specification also makes clear that, within the pilot, it is expected that candidates will do both Functional and GCSE Maths but we cannot make this a requirement
  • the second area of change is in the weighting of assessment objectives and the increased focus on the process skills as stated in the revised KS4 Programme of Study. The pilot is developing to reflect national changes and we have produced a full set of specimen papers as well as exemplar questions with commentaries. Both these documents are available on this website. All changes to the specification are indicated by vertical bars and pilot centres are advised to read the revised specification and specimen material carefully.

2007 activities

• In addition to those sitting Functional Maths, around 1000 candidates sat each tier of the pilot GCSE Unit 2 in January. This is a one hour paper covering the Number and Statistics content and worth 33% of the overall GCSE assessment
• The development of the GCSE pilot concentrated on evolving assessments that fully reflect the revised Key Stage 4 Programme of Study, and complement the developments in Functional Skills and Additional Maths leading to a distinctive suite of qualifications for maths for 2010 and beyond.