CCEA GCSE Maths Exams Explained
A parents guide to the M CCEA GCSE Maths Exams
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.
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.
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