National 4 Maths

Course Content

Unit 1

Expressions and Formulae

• Simplification

• Breaking brackets

• Factorising

• Evaluation of formulae

• Number patterns

• Straight line (gradient)

• Circle (circumference and area)

• Area, volume and surface area

• Symmetry

• Frequency tables

• Averages (mean, median, mode and Range)

• Pie Charts (calculate angles)

• Probability

Unit 2

Relationships

• Straight Line
y = a
x = b
y = mx + c

• Scattergraphs

• Line of best fit (draw and use)

• Equations and inequalities

• Changing the subject of a formula

• Pythagoras

• Scale drawings

• Circle
- tangent/radius
- angle in a semi-circle

• Trigonometry

Unit 3

Numeracy

• Basic Arithmetic (including inequalities)

• Negative Numbers

• Rounding

• Significant figures to 2 decimal places

• Simple Percentages

• Percentage increase and decrease

• Time intervals (12+24 hour)

• DST

• Area (squares and rectangles)

• Volume (cubes and cuboids)

• Perimeter (straight edged shapes)

• Ratio and proportion

• Reading scales

• Conversion of units

• Statistics
- Read, calculate and interpret from
tables, bar graphs, scattergraphs and line
graphs
- Pie Charts (read and draw)
- Stem & Leaf
- Maps/Plans
- Probability/Predictions

Assessment

You need to pass three component units in the course and a final, internally assessed, exam.

The titles of the three component units are:

• Expressions and Formulae

• Relationships

• Numeracy

The final internal exam consists of two papers:

• Paper 1 - Non Calculator (20 minutes)

• Paper 2 - Calculator (40 minutes)

Progression

Successful completion of the National 4 Maths Course can be followed by National 5 Maths (over two years if necessary) in S5/S6.