CCEA GCSE Maths study plan

Apply the four operations confidently to integers, decimals and fractions without a calculator, including negative numbers and the order of operations.

Convert fluently between fractions, decimals and percentages, and calculate percentage change, reverse percentages and compound interest.

Solve ratio and proportion problems, including sharing in a given ratio, direct proportion and best-buy comparisons.

Use index laws and standard form for large and small numbers, and estimate answers by rounding to one or two significant figures.

Calculate angles in parallel lines, triangles and polygons, writing a geometric reason for each step.

Apply Pythagoras' theorem and right-angled trigonometry to find missing sides and angles in 2D and simple 3D contexts.

Compute the area and perimeter of composite shapes and the volume and surface area of prisms, cylinders and related solids.

Convert between metric units and solve bearings and scale-drawing problems with correct diagrams and units.

Expand and factorise algebraic expressions, including double brackets and the difference of two squares.

Solve linear equations and inequalities, and rearrange formulas to change the subject.

Solve simultaneous equations by elimination and substitution, and represent solution sets on a number line.

Generate and describe nth-term rules for linear sequences and simple quadratic sequences.

Perform and describe reflections, rotations, translations and enlargements, including fractional and negative scale factors.

Solve circle problems involving circumference, arc length and sector area, and apply circle theorems at Higher tier or compound circle shapes at Foundation tier.

Construct loci and scale drawings, and interpret bearings in multi-step context questions.

Break unfamiliar multi-step geometry problems into sub-goals and write a clear chain of reasoning from given information to answer.

Plot and interpret straight-line graphs, calculate gradients, and find equations of lines including parallel and perpendicular cases.

Solve quadratic equations by factorising, completing the square and the quadratic formula, and sketch the corresponding graphs.

Calculate and interpret mean, median, mode and range from raw data, frequency tables and grouped data.

Construct and interpret bar charts, histograms, cumulative frequency curves and box plots.

Calculate probabilities from equally likely outcomes, relative frequency and Venn diagrams.

Use tree diagrams and two-way tables for independent and dependent combined events.

Interpret scatter graphs, describe correlation and draw a line of best fit for prediction.

Evaluate statistical claims, sampling methods and misleading graphs, justifying each judgement in one or two sentences.

Decompose unfamiliar multi-step problems into known sub-procedures and identify the mathematics required at each stage.

Justify answers with concise written reasoning, including algebraic proof of identities and simple number properties.

Check reasonableness of answers using estimation, units, inverse operations and comparison with the question context.

Compare alternative solution methods and select the most efficient one under time pressure.

Diagnose the weakest topics from the error log and re-teach each one using worked examples and short retrieval practice.

Practise full papers under exam conditions, one with a calculator and one without, enforcing time allocations per mark.

Apply mark-scheme conventions: show method, state units, round only at the final step and give exact answers where required.

Build a final formula and concept sheet from memory, then check it against the specification for gaps.