National 5 Application of Maths

National 5 Applications of Maths

The National 5 Applications of Maths course explores the applications of mathematical techniques and skills in everyday situations, including financial matters, statistics, and measurement

National Courses reflect Curriculum for Excellence values, purposes and principles. They offer flexibility, provide more time for learning, more focus on skills and applying learning, and scope for personalisation and choice. Every course provides opportunities for candidates to develop breadth, challenge and application. The focus and balance of assessment is tailored to each subject area. Mathematics engages learners of all ages, interests and abilities. Learning mathematics develops logical reasoning, analysis, problem-solving skills, creativity and the ability to think in abstract ways. It uses a universal language of numbers and symbols, which allows us to communicate ideas in a concise, unambiguous and rigorous way. The National 5 Applications of Mathematics course explores the applications of mathematical techniques and skills in everyday situations, including financial matters, statistics, and measurement. The skills, knowledge and understanding in the course also support learning in other curriculum areas, such as technology, health and wellbeing, science, and social studies.

Purpose and aims of Applications of Maths

The purpose of the National 5 Applications of Mathematics course is to motivate and challenge candidates by enabling them to think through real-life situations involving mathematics and to form a plan of action based on logic.

The mathematical skills within this course are underpinned by numeracy, and designed to develop candidates' mathematical reasoning skills in areas relevant to learning, life and work.

The course aims to:

• Motivate and challenge candidates by enabling them to select and apply mathematical techniques in a variety of real-life situations
• Develop the ability to analyse real-life problems or situations with some complex features involving mathematics
• Develop confidence in the subject and a positive attitude towards the use of mathematics in real-life situations
• Develop the ability to select, apply, combine and adapt mathematical operational skills to new and unfamiliar situations in life and work to an appropriate degree of accuracy
• Develop the ability to use mathematical reasoning skills to generalise, build arguments, draw logical conclusions, assess risk, and make informed decisions
• Develop the ability to use a range of mathematical skills to analyse, interpret and present a range of information
• Develop the ability to communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms
• Develop the ability to think creatively and in abstract ways