November 2024 Maths and Statistics Update
Dear Colleagues,
What better way to start the new month than with a thought-provoking 2 minute read to get you thinking about how to stretch and nurture your most talented students?
In this blog post, Dr Simon Singh MBE talks about taking learners "beyond the comfort zone" and how we can empower the generation of maths superstars!
.jpg "1545988719 Right Angle Maths Podcast Ep-27 1200x630 (1)")
Spotlight on mock exams
As we enter mock exam season, this month we have a spotlight on everything you need to deliver a realistic exam experience for your students and make use of results to inform meaningful grade predictions and provide targeted feedback to students.
Mocks Service
Our on-demand Mocks Service takes care of the end to end of mock exams for GCSE Maths (A Level and AS available on request) at a time of year that suits you. You make the entries and we take care of the rest.
Moderation Service
Send us a sample of your marked exam papers, our examiners can supply commentaries and reports to help you understand the mark scheme and provide reassurance that your marking is aligned with Edexcel standard for GCSE Maths (AS/A level on request).
Important information on formulae sheets
The DfE has confirmed that students will not need to memorise formulae and equations for GCSE maths, physics and combined science for summer 2025, 2026 and 2027. This includes the GCSE maths November resit in each of those years.
We expect the outcome of the Ofqual consultation to be communicated in November 2024 with the Exam Aids for 2025 to be published shortly thereafter.
Therefore, we advise centres to continue providing the 2024 formulae sheets in forthcoming mock exams whilst awaiting the outcome of the consultation.
For reference the formulae and equation sheets used in 2024 are provided below.
GCSE Maths Foundation Tier formulae sheet
GCSE Maths Higher Tier formulae sheet
There are a range of assessment materials available to centres to use in their mock exams:
Past papers - the 'live' exams sat by the national Edexcel cohort of students for each series. Grade boundaries on these papers reflect the actual grades awarded.
Shadow papers - slightly amended versions of live papers intended to be used for mock exams. These papers have been created so that teachers can use set unseen mock exams for which the same grade boundaries as the live series may be applied.
Mock papers - full sets of mock exams are available for GCSE Maths, A Level Maths and Further Maths. Grade boundaries are not available for these papers.
Grade boundaries and skills maps - these can be applied to the past papers and associated shadow papers for each series.
There are a number of resources available to support you in interpretting your students' results.
In this short video, Subject Partner Mark Heslop looks at how to use ResultsPlus to analyse your students' mock exam results at an individual, group and cohort level to gain key insights and support student progress.
Our Enhanced QLA spreadsheets for each series allow you to easily analyse student results against the Edexcel average performance and produce individual feedback sheets for each student.
If using the Summer 2024 papers, you may find it helpful to watch our Exam Insights events. In these network event, we discuss the performance of some key questions from each series and provide insights into student outcomes, as well as picking out key statistical performance data that may help you in interpretting your students' performance in context to the actual cohort performance on this series.
Following analysis of your students' mock exam results and identification of your borderline students, you may find our Enhanced Tiering Support package helpful in informing final decisions on tier of entry.
Download the Enhanced Tiering Support
You can also find further guidance on tiering in our Tiering Support Network Session run by our credible specialists Chris and Mel from JustMaths.
Key dates and deadlines
As always, we have information on key dates and deadlines including details of all training events taking place this month.
Key dates and deadlines for November 2024
1 November - deadline to submit access arrangements for Nov series (GCSE/IGCSE)
2 November - high late entry fees will apply Nov series (GCSE/IGCSE)
4 November - first date for special consideration Nov series (GCSE/IGCSE)
6 November - Exam Day (1MA1 - 1F/1H, 4MA1 - 1F/1H)
6 November - Training: GCSE Statistics Marking Guidance
8 November - Exam Day (1MA1 -2F/2H, 4MA1 - 2F/2H)
11 November - Exam Day (1MA1 - 3F/3H, 4MB1-01)
16 November - high late entry fees (Jan series, Edexcel Awards)
19 November - Training: A Level Maths Marking Guidance
20 November - Final date for special consideration (Nov series, GCSE/IGCSE)
21 November - Exam Day (4MB1-02)
21 November - entries open for summer series (all quals, including first entries for L2 Extended Maths Cert)
27 November - Training: L2 Extended Maths Certificate Higher Topics: Equation of a circle and the Trapezium Rule
28 November - Training: Pathways to Support Progression to GCSE and Grade 4 - Session 1: Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics explained.
Key information and new releases by qualification
Key information, new releases of resources and details of upcoming training events can be found for each qualification in the sections below.
GCSE (9-1) Mathematics
Key dates for the November series
A reminder that the latest date that requests for special consideration can be submitted for the November 2024 exam series is 20 November 2024.
Exam Days
Paper 1
Non-calculator
Wednesday 6th Nov
Paper 2
Calculator
Friday 8th Nov
Paper 3
Calculator
Monday 11th Nov
GCSE Maths - Summer 2024 re-ordered papers
1MA1 papers where the questions have been re-ordered in descending mean performance score for all students.
These papers are a great resource and can be used in a variety of ways:
- to identify questions that your lower performing students are likely to be successful in and give them a confidence boost
- papers can be 'chopped up' into manageable chunks of increasing difficulty
- to give students a tangible sense of progress, these papers include clear progress markers indicating when full marks to a given point would be enough to secure each grade
- to identify the most challenging questions to stretch students aiming for grades 8/9
You can access re-ordered papers for all series on the Maths Emporium using the link below.
The re-ordered papers for Summer 2024 will be released on 18 November.
Tea break training videos - GCSE Maths: Making the difference
Watch our new 'tea-break training' videos for Foundation GCSE Maths in which I look at the key differentiators in student performance and highlight some targeted resources to support students in accessing each grade.
Go to the YouTube playlist
Upcoming training event
Pathways to Support Progression to GCSE Maths and Grade 4
Session 1: Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics explained
28 November 2024, 16:00-17:15 BST
In this 2-part training course, Subject Advisor Vicky Wood provides guidance on the various pathways available to support learners working towards accessing GCSE Maths and Grade 4.
Session 1 looks at the various Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics available to learners, including the Entry Level Certificate, Edexcel Awards and Functional Skills.
Event has passed
Recent training events
In our recent Exam Insights and Marking Guidance sessions, we take a closer look at the key takeaways from this summer exams.
The Exam Insights session provides feedback and insights into student performance and outcomes, taking a detailed look at performance on some key questions from the series.
The Marking Guidance session looks at the principles of marking Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics, focusing on the Summer 2024 exams.
GCSE (9-1) Mathematics Post-16
Key dates for the November series
A reminder that the latest date that requests for special consideration can be submitted for the November 2024 exam series is 20 November 2024.
Exam Days
Paper 1
Non-calculator
Wednesday 6th Nov
Paper 2
Calculator
Friday 8th Nov
Paper 3
Calculator
Monday 11th Nov
GCSE (9-1) Statistics
NEW - GCSE Statistics Exemplars
NEW for 2024!
Our Exemplar Materials are PowerPoint presentations that provide exemplification of a selection of key questions with exemplar student responses and examiner commentary.
Below I suggest some ways in which you can use the Exemplar Materials as a CPD resource for staff and in the classroom to support student progress.
As a CPD resource:
- to develop teacher understanding of the application of the mark schemes and key points of marking guidance. Consider using the staged reveals to show and discuss the question first, anticipating what the mark scheme will be and areas that students may struggle with. Then review the mark schemes and examiner commentary before discussing implications for teaching practice.
- to support standardisation of marking across the department. Staff each individually mark the student exemplar responses, (handouts for each question with exemplar responses are included), then compare and discuss before reviewing the actual awarding and examiner commentary for each response.
Working with students in the classroom:
- using the staged reveals, show and discuss the question before students attempt the question either individually or working on a 'best response' in small groups, then self or peer mark against the mark-scheme. Each group shares their response and explains why they were/were not awarded each mark. For each mark, discuss which group's responses the class thought were best and why.
- once students are familiar with the question and mark scheme, ask them to analyse and mark the exemplar responses - what marks would they award, why, what has the student done well, what else would they need to do to get the mark? This is a great "de-personalised" way for them to develop a deeper understanding of the assessment objectives and what they need to do to meet the requirements of the mark schemes.
Upcoming training event
GCSE Statistics: Summer 2024 Marking Guidance
6 November 2024, 16:00-17:00 BST
This session will be hosted by our credible specialist Mel Muldowney from JustMaths and will look at the principles of marking Pearson Edexcel GCSE Statistics, focusing on Summer 2024.
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Recent training event
In our GCSE Statistics Exam Insights sessions, maths specialist Mel Muldowney from JustMaths provides feedback and insights on the May/June 2024 exam series.
Level 2 Extended Mathematics Certificate
Entries for 2025 exam
A reminder that, from this month, centres can submit entries for the first assessment series of the Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate.
Entries for the summer 2025 series of the Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate can be made via Edexcel Online from 21 November 2024.
New resources and support timeline
We are busy releasing lots of new resources to support teachers in delivering this qualification. To assist teachers in their planning, we have summarised the planned resources and training for 2024-25 in this handy timeline document.
All new resources will be available in the Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate cabinet on the Maths Emporium.
NEW - SAMs Exemplar PowerPoint
The Level 2 EMC SAMs Exemplar is a PowerPoint presentation that looks at all questions from the Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs). It shows our worked solutions (by Mel from JustMaths) which have been annotated by the Chair of Examiners for this qualification to demonstrate how the examining team will apply the mark schemes.
Below I suggest some ways in which you can use the Exemplar Materials as a CPD resource for staff and in the classroom to support student progress.
As a CPD resource:
- to develop teacher understanding of the application of the mark schemes and key points of marking guidance. Consider using the staged reveals to show and discuss the question first, anticipating what the mark scheme will be and areas that students may struggle with. Then review the mark schemes and examiner commentary before discussing implications for teaching practice.
Working with students in the classroom:
- Using the staged reveals, show and discuss the question before students attempt the question either individually or working on a 'best response' in pairs, then self mark using the mark-scheme and worked solutions slide with examiner comments. Ask students to share their response and explain why they were/were not awarded each mark. Did some students use a different method to the worked solution and can we show how each alternate method met (or did not meet) the requirements of the mark scheme?
- A good follow up to this activity would be to get students to attempt the equivalent shadow question from the Shadow SAMs, then peer mark and feedback on each other's work.
Upcoming training event
Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate: Extended Topics from GCSE – Free Online Network
27 November 2024, 16:00-17:00 BST
In this session we will be diving deeper into two of the more unfamiliar topics of Level 2 Extended Mathematics Certificate (EMC), equations of circles and the trapezium rule, to help bridge the learning and progress from GCSE to EMC and then into A Level maths. We will take a look at the similarities and differences in the questions across the qualifications as well as sharing teaching strategies and showcasing available resources.
Event has passed
AS/A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics
Summer 2024 Shadow Papers for Maths and Further Maths
Shadow papers are versions of the papers sat in examinations but with numbers and contexts changed where possible. The content and skills that these papers test are much the same as the originals (and so the same grade boundaries apply). However, the shadow papers have the advantage that they are unseen and cannot be found elsewhere by students.
Shadow papers for the summer 2024 exams of 8MA0, 9MA0 and 9FM0 are now available:
Shadow papers for the summer 2024 exams of 8FM0 will be released later this month.
Upcoming training events
A Level Maths: Summer 2024 Marking Guidance
19 November 2024, 16:00-17:30 BST
Event has passed
A Level Further Maths (Core Pure only): Summer 2024 Marking Guidance
1 December 2024, 16:00-17:00 BST
Event has passed
Recent training events
In our recent Exam Insights sessions, we take a closer look at the key takeaways from this summer exams.
The Exam Insights session provides feedback and insights into student performance and outcomes, taking a detailed look at performance on some key questions from the series.
Advanced Extension Award
What is the Advanced Extension Award (AEA)?
The aims and objectives of the AEA qualification are to:
- challenge the most able advanced level students by giving them opportunities to demonstrate a greater depth of understanding, analysis, evaluation and problem solving than that required at GCE Advanced level with no additional study or learning required
- be accessible to all able students studying for GCE Advanced Level in Mathematics
- help differentiate between the most able students, particularly in subjects with a high proportion of A grades at GCE Advanced Level in Mathematics.
The Pearson Edexcel Advanced Extension Award in Mathematics is assessed by one externally-examined examination paper (3 hours, 100 marks) available in May/June in every year.
The paper may contain questions on any topic from GCE Advanced Level in Mathematics and calculators must not be used in the assessment. It will consist of about seven questions. Questions may be multi-step with confidence building parts or unstructured. Some may be of an unusual nature that might include topics from GCSE and logic based items. Questions may be open-ended.
Seven percent of the marks will be assigned for style and clarity of mathematical presentation. The examiners will seek to reward elegance of solution, insight in reaching a solution, rigour in developing a mathematical argument and excellent use of notation.
Getting Started Guide
Our handy Getting Started Guide includes links to the key resources to help you getting started with teaching this qualification.
A Level Statistics
Summer 2024 Shadow Papers for Maths and Further Maths
Shadow papers are versions of the papers sat in examinations but with numbers and contexts changed where possible. The content and skills that these papers test are much the same as the originals (and so the same grade boundaries apply). However, the shadow papers have the advantage that they are unseen and cannot be found elsewhere by students.
Shadow papers for the summer 2024 exams of 9ST0 are now available:
Maths in Context (Level 3 Core Maths)
Recent Training Event
Our Exam Insights training took place on 16 October and looked at the key points that come out of the May/June 2024 series.
Delegates:
• looked in detail at the performance data for each question
• reviewed examples of student responses
• looked at how the examiners applied the mark schemes
• received feedback on specific topics to help with planning for the year ahead.
Download the slides for the Maths in Context Exam Insights session
International GCSE Mathematics
Key dates for the November series
A reminder that the latest date that requests for special consideration can be submitted for the November 2025 exam series is 20 November 2024.
Exam Days
4MA1 - Paper 1F/1H
Wednesday 6th Nov
4MA1 - Paper 2F/2H
Friday 8th Nov
4MB1 - 01
Monday 11th Nov
4MB1 - 02
Thursday 21st Nov
NEW - Textbook mapping for modular
To support you in teaching the modular course, using the linear textbooks, we have created a detailed mapping document.
37 out of the 50 chapters, of the textbooks, are entirely contained within either exam Unit 1 or 2. For the remaining chapters, the mapping document gives you the detail, question by question, as to where content needs to be taught.
NEW - Enhanced Question Level Analysis for June 2024 (4MA1)
The new Enhanced Question Level Analysis spreadsheets are an evolution of traditional QLA's.
A student's performance, on each question, is measured against how students did in the live examinations, rather than just splitting the number of marks into bands, as older QLA's do. There is a teacher summary sheet, to analyse the students performance against their targets, and individual student feedback sheets which gives them the detail, question by question, to help them to improve.
International A Level Mathematics
There are no updates for International A Level Mathematics this month.
You can find all information and resources to support the teaching of this qualification on the qualification page.
Functional Skills
Recent training events
The third year of Pearson's Festival of Functionality was a huge success, delivering 26 hours of CPD over September and October to a total of 2599 delegates.
The festival training events covered a wide range of themes, including this session on Deciphering the Question: Supporting Learners to Understand the Questions in Functional Skills Maths.
You can view this session and other past training events on the Functional Skills YouTube playlist.
FAQs
A reminder that you can find all answers to the most commonly asked questions about Functional Skills on our FAQ page.
All resources to support the teaching of Functional Skills Mathematics can be found on our resources page and accessed using the link below.
Edexcel Awards in Mathematics
Entry deadlines - January series
A reminder that high late entry fees will apply from 16 November 2024.
Training event
Pathways to Support Progression to GCSE Maths and Grade 4
Session 1: Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics explained
28 November 2024, 16:00-17:15 BST
Learn more about the Edexcel Awards in Number and Measure in our training session on pathways to support learners working towards GCSE Maths and Grade 4.
In this 2-part training course, Subject Advisor Vicky Wood provides guidance on the various pathways available to support learners working towards accessing GCSE Mathematics and Grade 4. Session 1 looks at the various Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics available to learners, including the Entry Level Certificate, Edexcel Awards and Functional Skills.
Event has passed
Resources
All resources to support the teaching of the Edexcel Awards can be found under the qualification cabinet on the Maths Emporium and accessed using the link below.
Entry Level Certificate
Training event
Pathways to Support Progression to GCSE Maths and Grade 4
Session 1: Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics explained
28 November 2024, 16:00-17:15 BST
Learn more about the Entry Level Certificate in our training session on pathways to support learners working towards GCSE Maths and Grade 4.
In this 2-part training course, Subject Advisor Vicky Wood provides guidance on the various pathways available to support learners working towards accessing GCSE Mathematics and Grade 4. Session 1 looks at the various Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in mathematics available to learners, including the Entry Level Certificate, Edexcel Awards and Functional Skills.
Event has passed
FAQs
A reminder that you can find all answers to the most commonly asked questions about Entry Level Certificate on our FAQ page.
All resources to support the teaching of Entry Level Certificate can be found under the qualification cabinet on the Maths Emporium and accessed using the link below.
Pearson perspectives: Curriculum and Assessment Review
The government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review is a great opportunity for us and others in the sector to share ideas on how the curriculum can bring together a love of learning with fundamental knowledge and skills. To support this, we’re sharing insights, and recommendations on key topics with the education community over the coming months.
Lastly, a reminder to check out our new Facebook page where we’ll be providing the latest updates about our qualifications and services.
Follow Pearson Edexcel on Facebook
As always, if you need any support in delivering any of the above qualifications, you can contact me using the links in the contact box below.
Best regards
Vicky Wood
Subject Advisor for Maths and Statistics (UK)
Subject advisor
Vicky Wood
Mathematics and Statistics - UK centres
