M8 is the completion paper and the gateway paper is M4. Read about the M4 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M8 Northern Ireland Practice Papers here.

M8 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M8 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 55% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are A* – D. The exam is made up of 2 papers that are each 1 hour and 15 minutes long. There is a calculator and a calculator paper.

Students should know the curriculum from M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 and M7 before learning the M8 curriculum.

Learning Outcomes For M8 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• distinguish between rational and irrational numbers
• change a recurring decimal to a fraction
• use index notation and index laws for integer, fractional and negative powers
• set up, solve and interpret the answers in growth and decay problems, for example use the formula for compound interest
• simplify numerical expressions involving surds, including the rationalisation of the denominator of a fraction.
• use index laws in algebra for integer, fractional and negative powers
• set up and solve two simultaneous equations, one linear and one non-linear
• recognise, sketch and interpret graphs of exponential functions [for positive values of k, for example growth and decay rates
• find the intersection points of the graphs of a linear and quadratic function, knowing that these are the approximate solutions of the corresponding simultaneous equations representing the linear and quadratic functions, which may require algebraic manipulation.
• interpret the gradient at a point on a curve as the instantaneous rate of change
• recognise and use the equation of a circle, centre the origin and radius r
• find the equation of a tangent to a circle at a given point on the circle
• set up equations and solve problems involving indirect proportion, including graphical and algebraic representations

Geometry and Measures

• understand and use the sine and cosine rules
• calculate the area of a triangle
• use Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry to solve 2D and 3D problems
• enlarge 2D shapes using negative scale factors; use the relationship between the ratios of lengths, areas and volumes of similar 3D shapes

Data Handling

• use the most appropriate method when solving complex probability problems
• use tree diagrams to represent successive events that are not independent

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M8 Northern Ireland GCSE Practice Papers here.

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M4 is the gateway paper and the completion paper is M8. Read about the M8 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

M4 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

Buy our M4 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M4 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 45% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are A – D. The exam is 2 hours long. Students can use a calculator.

Students should learn the M1, M2 and M3 curriculum before starting M4.

Learning Outcomes For M4:

Number and Algebra

• calculate the upper and lower bounds in calculations involving subtraction and division of numbers expressed to a given degree of accuracy
• factorise quadratic expressions
• add or subtract algebraic fractions with linear denominators
• set up and solve equations
• set up and solve quadratic equations using factors and the formula and more complex equations; understand and use the gradients of perpendicular lines

Geometry and Measures

• solve more complex mensuration problems, for example frustums
• understand and use circle theorems

Data Handling

• understand and use stratified sampling techniques
• construct and interpret histograms for grouped continuous data with unequal class intervals

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M4 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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M7 is the completion paper and the gateway paper is M3. Read about the M3 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M7 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M7 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M7 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 55% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are B – E. The exam is made up of 2 papers that are each 1 hour and 15 minutes long. There is a calculator and a calculator paper.

Students should know the curriculum from M1, M2, M3, M5 and M6 before learning the M7 curriculum.

Learning Outcomes For M7 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• use surds and π in exact calculations
• use index notation and index laws for zero, positive and negative powers
• interpret, order and calculate with numbers written in standard index form
• use index laws in algebra for integer powers
• set up and solve two linear simultaneous equations algebraically
• solve linear inequalities in two variables representing the solution set on a graph
• change the subject of a formula, including cases where a power or root of the subject appears and cases where the subject appears in more than one term
• find the nth term of non-linear sequences
• recognise, sketch and interpret graphs of linear functions, quadratic functions, simple cubic functions and the reciprocal functions
• generate points and plot graphs of simple quadratic functions and use these to find approximate solutions for points of intersection
• set up equations and solve problems involving direct proportion, including graphical and algebraic representations

Geometry and Measures

• describe and transform 2D shapes using combined transformations
• describe and transform 2D shapes using reflections in the lines
• describe and transform 2D shapes using enlargements by a fractional scale factor
• understand and use the effect of enlargement on the volume of solid
• use the relationship between the ratios of lengths and areas of similar 2D shapes

Data Handling

• use the product rule for counting: if there are m ways of doing one task and for each of these, there are n ways of doing another task, then the total number of ways the two tasks can be done is m × n
• know when to add or multiply two probabilities: if A and B are mutually exclusive, then the probability of A or B occurring is P(A) + P(B), whereas if A and B are independent events, the probability of A and B occurring is P(A) × P(B)
• use tree diagrams to represent successive events that are independent

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M7 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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M3 is the gateway paper and the completion paper is M7. Read about the M7 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M3 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M3 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M3 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 45% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are B – E. The exam is 2 hours long and students can use a calculator.

Students should learn the M1 nd M2 curriculum before starting M3.

Learning Outcomes For M3 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• find the least common multiples (LCM) and highest common factor (HCF) of numbers written as the product of their prime factors
• find the original quantity, given the result of a proportional change
• calculate the upper and lower bounds in calculations involving addition and multiplication of numbers expressed to a given degree of accuracy
• know the difference between an equation and an identity
• multiply two linear expressions
• factorise quadratic expressions
• factorise using the difference of two squares
• add or subtract algebraic fractions
• simplify, multiply and divide algebraic fractions with linear or quadratic numerators and denominators
• set up and solve linear equations
• set up and solve quadratic equations using factors
• understand that the form y = mx + c represents a straight line and that m is the gradient of the line and c is the value of the y – intercept
• find the equation of a line through two given points or through one point with a given gradient
• understand and use the gradients of parallel lines

Geometry and Measures

• identify and apply circle definitions and properties, including tangent, arc, sector and segment
• use compound measures or units such as pressure
• solve mensuration problems that involve arc length and area of sector, surface area of a cylinder and volume and surface area of a cone and sphere; understand and use the trigonometric ratios of sine, cosine and tangent to solve 2D problems, including those involving angles of elevation and depression

Data Handling

• calculate quartiles and interquartile range from a list of values and understand their uses
• construct and interpret cumulative frequency tables and the cumulative frequency curve
• estimate the median, quartiles and interquartile range from a cumulative frequency curve and display information using box plots
• infer properties of populations or distributions from a sample and know the limitations of doing so

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M3 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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M6 is the completion paper and the gateway paper is M2. Read about the M2 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M6 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M6 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M6 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 55% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are *C – G. The exam is made up of 2 papers that are each 1 hour long and there is a calculator and a calculator paper.

Students should know the curriculum from M1, M2 and M5 before learning the M6 curriculum.

Learning Outcomes For M6 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• understand the principles of number systems
• convert numbers from decimal to binary (base 2) and vice versa
• use index laws in algebra for positive powers; use systematic trial and improvement to find approximate solutions of equations where there is no simple analytical method of solving them
• solve linear inequalities in one variable, and represent the solution set on a number line
• change the subject of a simple formula
• find the nth term of a sequence where the rule is linear
• solve two linear simultaneous equations graphically
• generate points and plot graphs of simple quadratic functions and use these to find approximate solutions for points of intersection with lines

Geometry and Measures

• understand and use bearings; calculate and use the sums of the interior and exterior angles of polygons; distinguish properties that are preserved under particular transformations
• describe and transform 2D shapes using reflections in lines parallel to the x or y axis
• transform 2D shapes using rotations about any point
• describe and transform 2D shapes using translations, to include using vector notation
• understand and use the effect of enlargement on perimeter and area of shapes
• understand the term congruent; use the standard ruler and compass constructions
• identify the loci of points, including real life problems

Data Handling

• systematically list all outcomes for single events and for two successive events
• understand and use estimates or measures of probability from relative frequency
• compare experimental data and theoretical probabilities
• understand that increasing sample size generally leads to better estimates of probability.

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M6 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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M2 is the gateway paper and the completion paper is M6. Read about the M6 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M2 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M2 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M2 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 45% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are *C – G. The exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Students can use a calculator.

Students should learn the M1 curriculum before starting M2.

Learning Outcomes For M2 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• use index notation and index laws for positive, whole number powers
• use the concepts and vocabulary of divisor, highest common factor, least (lowest) common multiple and prime factor decomposition
• add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals of any size
• round to a specified or appropriate number of significant figures
• recognise that recurring decimals are exact fractions and that some exact fractions are recurring decimals; add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions, including mixed numbers; use percentage and repeated proportional change
• calculate with money and solve problems in a finance context, for example compound interest, insurance, taxation, mortgages and investments; simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions by multiplying a single term over a bracket
• manipulate algebraic expressions by taking out common factors that are terms
• set up and solve linear equations in one unknown, including those with the unknown on both sides of the equation and equations of the form: [latex]\frac{x}{4}+3=7[/latex]
• find the midpoint and length of a line given in 2D co-ordinates
• find and interpret gradients and intercepts of linear graphs, for example plot and interpret the graph of the cost of car hire at £40 per day plus a cost of 20p per mile;

Geometry and Measures

• use compound measures or units such as density
• calculate perimeters and areas of kite, parallelogram, rhombus and trapezium
• calculate perimeters and areas of composite shapes
• calculate volumes of right prisms; and use Pythagoras’ theorem in 2D problems.

Data Handling

• use 3 circle Venn diagrams to sort data
• estimate mean from a grouped frequency distribution
• identify the modal class and the median class from a grouped frequency distribution
• draw and/or use lines of best fit by eye, understanding what these lines represent
• draw conclusions from scatter diagrams; use terms such as positive correlation, negative correlation and little or no correlation
• interpolate and extrapolate from data and know the dangers of doing so
• identify outliers; and appreciate that correlation does not imply causality

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M2 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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M5 is the completion paper and the gateway paper is M1. Read about the M1 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M5 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M5 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M5 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 55% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are D – G. The exam is made up of 2 papers that are each 1 hour long. There is a calculator and a calculator paper.

Learning Outcomes For M5 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• solve problems involving whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages without a calculator; estimate answers and check calculations using approximation and estimation
• use ratio notation, including reduction to its simplest form and its various links to fraction notation; divide a quantity in a given ratio
• apply ratio and proportion to real-life contexts and problems such as conversion, best-buy, comparison, scaling, mixing, concentrations and exchange rates
• recognise and use sequences of, for example, triangular, square and cube numbers; generate terms of a sequence using term-to-term or a position-to-term rule
• plot and interpret graphs modelling real situations, for example conversion graphs, distance/time graphs and intersecting travel graphs.

Geometry and Measures

• interpret scales on a range of measuring instruments and recognise the continuous nature of measure and approximate nature of measurement
• know and use imperial measures still in common use and their approximate metric equivalents
• use and interpret maps, scale factors and scale drawings
• use the sum of angles in a triangle, for example to deduce the angle sum in any polygon; describe and transform 2D shapes using single transformations; describe and transform 2D shapes using reflections about the x and y axes
• describe and transform 2D shapes using single rotations about the origin
• describe and transform 2D shapes using translations
• describe and transform 2D shapes using enlargements by a positive whole number scale factor
• draw triangles and other 2D shapes using a ruler and protractor

Data Handling

• understand and use the vocabulary of probability
• including notions of uncertainty and risk
• use the terms fair, random, evens, certain, likely, unlikely and impossible; understand and use the probability scale from 0 to 1
• list all outcomes for single events, and for two successive events
• apply systematic listing strategies; work out probabilities expressed as fractions or decimals from simple experiments with equally likely outcomes and simple combined events
• identify different mutually exclusive outcomes and know that the sum of the probabilities of all these outcomes is 1
• understand the probability of an event not occurring is one minus the probability that it occurs; and use probabilities to calculate expectation.

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M5 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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M1 is the gateway paper and the completion paper is M5. Read about the M5 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum here.

Buy our M1 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

M1 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum – Foundation

M1 – this can be sat in January or June and makes up 45% of the overall score. The final grades the can be achieved are D – G. The exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Students can use a calculator.

Learning Outcomes For M1 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum:

Number and Algebra

• use the 4 operations applied to positive and negative integers, including efficient written methods
• order positive and negative integers, decimals and fractions; use symbols =, ≠, <, >
• use calculators effectively and efficiently; understand and use conventional notation for the priority of operations, including brackets, powers, roots and reciprocals; recognise and use relationships between operations, including inverse operations; use index notation for squares, cubes and powers of 10
• use the concepts and vocabulary of factor, multiple, common factor, common multiple and prime
• use the terms square, positive and negative square root, cube and cube root.
• understand place value and decimal places
• read, write and compare decimals up to three decimal places
• add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals up to 3 decimal places
• round to a specified or appropriate degree of accuracy, number of decimal places or 1 significant figure, including a given power of 10
• use correct decimal notation when working with money
• understand and use equivalent fractions
• write a simple fraction as a terminating decimal
• add and subtract simple fractions and simple mixed numbers
• calculate a fraction of a quantity
• express one quantity as a fraction of another
• understand that percentage means number of parts per 100
• calculate a percentage of a quantity
• express one quantity as a percentage of another
• calculate percentage increase/decrease
• use equivalences between fractions, decimals and percentages in a variety of contexts
• calculate with money and solve simple problems in the context of finance, for example profit and loss, discount, wages and salaries, bank accounts, simple interest, budgeting, debt, annual percentage rate (APR) and annual equivalent rate (AER)
• distinguish the different roles that letter symbols play in algebra, using the correct notation; understand and use the concepts and vocabulary of expressions, equations, formulae, inequalities, terms and factors
• interpret simple expressions as functions with inputs and outputs; simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions by collecting like terms and multiplying a constant over a bracket
• manipulate algebraic expressions by taking out common factors that are constants; write simple formulae and expressions from real-life contexts
• substitute numbers into formulae (which may be expressed in words or algebraically) and expressions; use standard formulae
• set up and solve linear equations in one unknown; work with co-ordinates in all 4 quadrants; recognise and plot equations that correspond to straight line graphs in the co-ordinate plane; and construct and interpret linear graphs in real world contexts.

Geometry and Measures

• use conventional terms and notations such as points, lines, vertices, edges, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, right angles, polygons, regular polygons and polygons with reflection and/or rotation symmetries
• use the standard conventions for labelling and referring to the sides and angles of shapes; draw diagrams from a written description; apply the properties of angles: – at a point; – at a point on a straight line; and – vertically opposite
• understand and use alternate and corresponding angles on parallel lines
• identify and apply circle definitions and properties, including centre, radius, chord, diameter and circumference
• apply the properties and definitions of triangles and quadrilaterals, including square, rectangle, parallelogram, trapezium, and kite and rhombus
• identify properties of the faces, surfaces, edges and vertices of cubes, cuboids, prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones and spheres
• draw and interpret 2D representations of 3D shapes, for example nets, plans and elevations
• understand and use metric units of measurement
• make sensible estimates of a range of measures; convert metric measurements from one unit to another
• solve problems involving length, area, volume/capacity, mass, time, and temperature.
• measure line segments and angles in geometric figures
• use compound measures/units such as speed, heart beats per minute and miles per gallon
• calculate perimeters and areas of triangles and rectangles and simple compound shapes made from triangles and rectangles
• calculate circumferences and areas of circles
• calculate surface area and volumes of cubes and cuboids;

Data Handling

• understand and use the handling data cycle to solve problems; understand what is meant by a sample and a population
• understand simple random sampling and the effect of sample size on the reliability of conclusions; design an experiment or survey to test hypotheses
• design data-collection sheets, distinguishing between different types of data
• identify possible sources of bias; sort, classify and tabulate qualitative (categorical) data and discrete or continuous quantitative data, including the use of 2 circle Venn diagrams to sort data
• extract data from printed tables and lists
• design and use two-way tables for discrete and grouped data
• find mean, median, mode and range from a list of values and understand their uses
• calculate mean from an ungrouped frequency table and identify the mode and median
• construct and interpret a wide range of graphs and diagrams including frequency tables and diagrams, pictograms, bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, frequency trees and flow charts, recognising that graphs may be misleading
• examine data to find patterns and exceptions
• compare distributions and make inferences
• plot and interpret scatter diagrams and recognise correlation

Find out more on the CCEA website.

Not sure which CCEA exam your child is sitting? Click here.

Buy our M1 CCEA Style Practice Papers here.

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We often get phone calls and queries from parents who are confused about which tests their child will be sitting in the Northern Irish CCEA GCSE Maths exams.

The first question to ask is, are they sitting the Foundation or the Higher papers?

Students often know the answer to this question but if not, reach out to the teacher who will be able to give you more accurate information.

Foundation

M1, M2, M5 and M6 papers
M1 and M5 – finals mark will be between D – G
M2 and M6 – final mark will be between C* – F

Click on these links to find out the curriculum for each M tier.

M1 Curriculum, M5 Curriculum

M2 Curriculum, M6 Curriculum

Higher

M3, M4, M7 and M8
M3 and M7 – final mark will be between B – E
M4 and M8 – final mark will be between A* – C

Click on these links to find out the curriculum for each M tier.

M3 Curriculum, M7 Curriculum

M4 Curriculum, M8 Curriculum

M1, M2, M3 and M4 are known as gateway papers.  The content of these papers overlaps.  For example, if you sit an M2 paper, you will have already covered some of the content of the M3 papers.

M5, M6, M7 and M8 are known as completion papers.  Likewise, these papers overlap in content.  If you sit M5, you will have already covered some of the content of the M6 syllabus.

It is up to the school which examinations you will be entered into.  They will base this decision initially on tests carried out in Year 10. However, they will often adjust the decision if you improve or if you produce lower marks in Year 11.  It is possible that you will start out doing the foundation syllabus but then be moved up to the higher syllabus if you are doing particularly well.

CCEA produces past papers and these are available on their website to download.  The new (M) 2 tier curriculum has only been rolled out to pupils since September 2017. This means there are very few actual past papers for students to practice with.  On Target Resources have produced M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 and M8 practice papers to help fill in this gap.  They are available to buy on our secure website ontargetresources.co.uk/northern-ireland-gcse-maths-papers

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