GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy
This double award is assessed by three written papers, one of them non-calculator, covering number, algebra, geometry and measures, statistics and probability, with Unit 1 given over to financial mathematics in real-world contexts. Literacy matters more than many expect: every paper sets questions in written context and awards two marks for communicating, organising and writing accurately, so learners must read problems closely and explain their working in words. The biggest thing Key Stage 3 should build is solving multi-step worded problems from real contexts, with every step explained and a written conclusion.
- First taught
- September 2025
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- High
- Specification
- Open the WJEC specification (PDF)
How this GCSE is assessed
- Unit 1: Financial Mathematics and Other Applications of Numeracy: Written examination, Higher Tier 1 hour 45 minutes (80 marks), Foundation Tier 1 hour 30 minutes (65 marks), 30%, calculator allowed
- Unit 2: Non-calculator: Written examination, Higher Tier 1 hour 45 minutes (80 marks), Foundation Tier 1 hour 30 minutes (65 marks), 30%, calculator not allowed
- Unit 3: Calculator-allowed: Written examination, Higher Tier 2 hours (90 marks), Foundation Tier 1 hour 45 minutes (75 marks), 40%, calculator allowed
Skills that use Relationships within the number system
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Percentages, ratio and proportion
Learners find fractions and percentages of amounts, calculate percentage change, use multipliers, solve ratio and direct and inverse proportion problems, and at Higher Tier handle repeated proportional change and reverse percentages.
Numeracy: Calculation, Relationships within the number system
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils scale a Welsh cake recipe for 6 people up to 15 using ratio, and find 10%, 5% and 15% of shop prices by building from 10%.
- Year 8
- Pupils calculate the percentage increase in local bus fares over several years and express one quantity as a percentage of another, such as goals scored out of shots taken.
- Year 9
- Pupils use single multipliers such as 0.85 and 1.2 for repeated percentage change, and work back to the original price of an item before a sale.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Units 1 and 3, Section 1.4, pages 14 to 15
“calculate fractional and percentage changes (increase and decrease)”
Progression step 3
I can calculate a percentage, fraction and decimal of any quantity with a calculator where appropriate.
I can use ratio and proportion to calculate quantities.
I can use equivalence of fractions, decimals and percentages to compare proportions.
Progression step 4
I can calculate a percentage increase or decrease.
I can express one quantity as a percentage of another.
I can use ratio and proportion including map scales.
Progression step 5
I can use multipliers as an efficient method when working with percentages, e.g. multiply by 1.2 to increase an amount by 20%.
I can use and understand the idea of reverse percentage to find an original quantity.
Good to know
- Unit 1 allows a calculator: 'A calculator will be allowed in this paper.' (page 5).
- Unit 2 is non-calculator: 'A calculator will not be allowed in this paper.' It holds all probability and much of the geometry (pages 5 and 10).
- Unit 3 allows a calculator and holds most of the data handling and measures content (pages 5 and 10).
- Two marks on each paper, at each tier, are for 'communicating, organising and writing accurately', six marks across the qualification, 'in addition to the marks allocated to the mathematics'. One mark is for communicating and organising, one for writing accurately, and the questions are clearly indicated on the paper (page 51).
- Writing accurately means learners 'show all their working', 'use correct mathematical form in their working' and 'use appropriate terminology, units, etc.' (page 51).
- Calculators must not offer language translators or hold stored dictionaries, formulas or text, and must not be borrowed from another candidate during the examination (page 52).
- Units 1 and 3 have a formula list at the start of the paper; Unit 2 has none. The Foundation Tier lists give only the area of a trapezium and the volume of a prism, so all other formulae must be recalled (pages 52 to 55).
- Metric to imperial equivalences 'will be given to learners' (Section 3.5.7, page 35), and compasses 'will be required' for some constructions and loci in Unit 3 (Section 3.2.2, page 30).
- There is no NEA. All assessment is by written examination, tiered Higher (grades A* to D) and Foundation (grades C to G), and learners may be entered at different tiers across units (pages 6 and 59).
Links with other GCSEs
The finance, percentage, compound measure and statistics content overlaps heavily with Business, Geography, Social Studies and The Sciences, so agreeing shared methods for percentages, graphs and units with those departments will reinforce Key Stage 3 teaching.
Source: WJEC GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award) Specification, for teaching from September 2025, Version 5, September 2025.