Core Maths

What is Core Maths?

Core Maths is a one-year Level 3 qualification taken alongside your main A-Level or equivalent courses. It’s ideal for students who are not studying A-Level Maths or Statistics but still want to strengthen their maths skills. The course can be taken in Year 12 or Year 13.

You’ll build confidence in reasoning, problem-solving and mathematical communication, with a focus on how maths applies across different subjects.

Core Maths is excellent preparation for university or employment, particularly in areas such as business, psychology, social sciences, healthcare and engineering.

What Will You Study on Core Maths?

AS-Level Core Maths helps you apply mathematical thinking to real-life situations you’re likely to face in study, work and everyday life. From interpreting data to managing finances, the course is designed to keep maths relevant and practical.

You’ll explore topics such as:

Financial calculations – including payslip deductions, tax, loans and mortgages
Data analysis – making sense of graphs, charts and real-world statistics
Fermi Estimation – developing logical estimates for large-scale problems

The course also includes two specialist strands:

Statistical Techniques
Graphical Techniques

These are chosen to align with the subjects you’re studying at Newman, helping you see the link between maths and your wider programme.

The Core Maths AS-Level is ideal for students who want to strengthen their maths skills without taking full A-Level Maths. It’s all about useful, real-world maths that you can apply beyond the classroom.

What Next?

Core Maths is a Level 3 qualification worth the same number of UCAS points as an AS-Level. It can strengthen your university application and show that you’re confident working with numbers beyond GCSE level.

Universities and employers value this qualification because it shows you can: