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
The SQA external exam consists of 2 papers – one calculator, one non-calculator.
Paper 1 – Non-calculator – 45 marks – 1 hour 5 minutes
Paper 2 – Calculator – 65 marks – 2 hours
