2. Understanding Standards: An overview of course assessment
Applications
of Mathematics
(National 5)
An overview of course assessment

3. What this presentation covers
Lifeskills Mathematics to be renamed Applications of Mathematics
revised course assessment structure
an overview of the course components
what is changed/unchanged
grading
guidance on preparing candidates for the course assessment

4. Lifeskills Mathematics to be renamed Applications of Mathematics
Applications of Mathematics is the new name for Lifeskills Mathematics.
The course will continue to support numeracy and develop learners’ mathematical reasoning skills for learning, life and work.
N5 documents from session onwards will now carry this new name.

5. Revised course assessment structure
The course assessment will consist of two components:
Component 1: question paper — paper 1 (non-calculator)
Component 2: question paper — paper 2 (calculator allowed)

6. An overview of the course components
Paper 1 (non-calculator)
number of marks increased from 35 to 45
exam time increased from 50 minutes to 65 minutes
Paper 2 (calculator allowed)
number of marks increased from 55 to 65
exam time increased from 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours

7. What is unchanged the proportion of C level marks remains at 65%
balance of strategy, process and communication marks
course aims and rationale

8. What is changed in the course components
Paper 1 will contain short-answer and extended-response questions, most of which are in context.
Paper 2 will contain short-answer questions, extended-response questions and case studies, most of which are in context.

9. What is changed in the course content
calculation of the mode has been added to the content

10. Grading
The range of notional scores for each grade in the course assessment will be:
A: 70% - 100%
B: 60% - 69%
C: 50% - 59%
D: 40% - 49%

11. Guidance on preparing candidates for the course assessment
Candidates should:
show all working clearly
state units where appropriate
maintain and practice number skills
maintain and practice previously acquired skills
practice medium and extended case study questions
practice questions that require a valid reason or explanation to be given