Assessment - A-Levels Maths
Assessment information Overview
• The assessment is 2 hours.
• The assessment is out of 100 marks.
• Students must answer all questions.
• Calculators can be used in the assessment.
• The booklet 'Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables' will be provided for use in the assessment.
Synoptic assessment Synopticity
Synoptic assessment requires students to work across different parts of a qualification and to show their accumulated knowledge and understanding of a topic or subject area.
Synoptic assessment enables students to show their ability to combine their skills, knowledge and understanding with breadth and depth of the subject.
This paper assesses synopticity.
Assessment Objectives Details
NB: Totals have been rounded either up or down.
Assessment Objectives Structure
| Students must: | % in GCE A Level |
|---|---|
| AO1 Use and apply standard techniques Students should be able to: • select and correctly carry out routine procedures; and • accurately recall facts, terminology and definitions | 48–52 |
| AO2 Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically Students should be able to: • construct rigorous mathematical arguments (including proofs) • make deductions and inferences • assess the validity of mathematical arguments • explain their reasoning; and • use mathematical language and notation correctly. Where questions/tasks targeting this Assessment Objective will also credit candidates for the ability to 'use and apply standard techniques' (AO1) and/or to 'solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts' (AO3) an appropriate proportion of the marks for the question/task must be attributed to the corresponding Assessment Objective(s). | 23–27 |
| AO3 Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts Students should be able to: • translate problems in mathematical and non-mathematical contexts into mathematical processes • interpret solutions to problems in their original context, and, where appropriate, evaluate their accuracy and limitations • translate situations in context into mathematical models • use mathematical models; and • evaluate the outcomes of modelling in context, recognise the limitations of models and, where appropriate, explain how to refine them. Where questions/tasks targeting this Assessment Objective will also credit candidates for the ability to 'use and apply standard techniques' (AO1) and/or to 'reason, interpret and communicate mathematically' (AO2) an appropriate proportion of the marks for the question/task must be attributed to the corresponding Assessment Objective(s). | 23–27 |
| Total | 100% |
Breakdown of Assessment Objectives
| Paper | Assessment Objectives | Total for all Assessment Objectives | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AO1 % | AO2 % | AO3 % | ||
| Paper 1: Pure Mathematics 1 | 16.00–17.33 | 8.66–10 | 6.33–7.67 | 33.33% |
| Paper 2: Pure Mathematics 2 | 16.00–17.33 | 8.66–10 | 6.33–7.67 | 33.33% |
| Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics | 16.00–17.33 | 5.66–7.00 | 10.33–11.67 | 33.33% |
| Total for GCE A Level | 48–52 | 23–27 | 23–27 | 100% |
Strands and Elements of Assessment Objectives
The following tables outline in detail the strands and elements of each Assessment Objective for A Level Mathematics, as provided by Ofqual in the document GCE Subject Level Guidance for Mathematics.
• A 'strand' is a discrete bullet point that is formally part of an assessment objective.
• An 'element' is an ability that the assessment objective does not formally separate, but that could be discretely targeted or credited.
AO1: Use and apply standard techniques (50% A Level / 60% AS)
| Strands | Elements |
|---|---|
| 1. select and correctly carry out routine procedures | 1a – select routine procedures |
| 1b – correctly carry out routine procedures | |
| 2. accurately recall facts, terminology and definitions | This strand is a single element |
AO2: Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically (25% A Level / 20% AS)
| Strands | Elements |
|---|---|
| 1. construct rigorous mathematical arguments (including proofs) | This strand is a single element |
| 2. make deductions and inferences | 2a – make deductions |
| 2b – make inferences | |
| 3. assess the validity of mathematical arguments | This strand is a single element |
| 4. explain their reasoning | This strand is a single element |
| 5. use mathematical language and notation correctly | This strand is a single element |
AO3: Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts (25% A Level / 20% AS)
| Strands | Elements |
|---|---|
| 1. translate problems in mathematical and non-mathematical contexts into mathematical processes | 1a – translate problems in mathematical contexts into mathematical processes |
| 1b – translate problems in non-mathematical contexts into mathematical processes | |
| 2. interpret solutions to problems in their original context, and, where appropriate, evaluate their accuracy and limitations | 2a – interpret solutions to problems in their original context |
| 2b – where appropriate, evaluation the accuracy and limitations of solutions to problems | |
| 3. translate situations in context into mathematical models | This strand is a single element |
| 4. use mathematical models | This strand is a single element |
| 5. evaluate the outcomes of modelling in context, recognise the limitations of models and, where appropriate, explain how to refine them | 5a – evaluate the outcomes of modelling in context |
| 5b – recognise the limitations of models | |
| 5c – where appropriate, explain how to refine models |
Assessment Objectives coverage Coverage details
There will be full coverage of all elements of the Assessment Objectives, with the exception of AO3.2b and AO3.5c, in each set of A Level Mathematics assessments offered by Pearson. Elements AO3.2b and AO3.5c will be covered in each route through the qualification within three years.