M1 CCEA GCSE Maths Curriculum

This is a quick over view of the topics in the M1 CCEA GCSE Maths curriculum.

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.

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