Description

KS3 Maths Year 2

For Autumn 2026

This KS3 Maths Year 2 class is for students who are preparing to begin iGCSE mathematics, and aligns with KS3 mathematics (Year 8 England /S2 Scotland/ 8th Grade USA). It builds on the skills taught in KS3 Mathematics Year 1 and builds the foundation required for iGCSE mathematics success.

This Pre-iGCSE level maths class is perfect for any budding mathematicians who are not quite at the exam stage yet.  Students who have finished KS3 Maths Year 1 (or equivalent) are perfectly suited for this course.

We will loosely follow Education Scotland’s Benchmarks for Second and Third Level Numeracy and Mathematics, with a view to preparing students for iGCSE Mathematics.

KS3 Maths Year 2 Course Details

In the class, we will complete the Math Year 2 curriculum over two semesters (30 weeks total) in our live online sessions.

Day & Time: Thursdays 11 am – 12:30 pm UK Timezone (Two 40-minute sessions each week.)

Location: Zoom Meeting

Tutor: Emma Cummings

Required Materials: 

• Textbook
• this scientific calculator (or similar),
• Maths kit (includes ruler, protractor, and compass)
• (optional) Math Facts Helps

Laying the Foundation for iGCSE Maths

What are the key skills required for starting iGCSE Maths? Knowing that your teen is ready for the step up to iGCSE maths can be challenging, and knowing how best to prepare a younger teen to be ready when the time is right can be challenging.

As a home educator, I have found it difficult to find a good curriculum for my younger teens. There are many good maths curricula for primary-aged children. But the UK’s early high school curriculum is harder to find. Therefore, we have worked hard to create a maths curriculum to prepare students for iGCSE maths.

Watch on YouTube.

Sample Lessons available here.

Course Topics

In KS3 Maths Year 2, we will learn and strengthen the key mathematical skills required for further study of maths and the sciences at the GCSE/US high school level. We will cover:

Number

• Numbers, powers and roots
• Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages
• Ratio and proportion
• Rounding

In this topic, we will look to gain confidence in working with numbers. This lays the foundation for manipulating indices and powers in iGCSE maths. We will also work on working between fractions, decimals, and percentages: exploring how they are equivalent ways to look at a number. When working with fractions, we will look at equivalent fractions, proper, improper, and mixed numbers.

We will consider ratios and apply the ratio relationship in different situations.

Finally, we will look at rounding numbers, including whole numbers and decimals.

Algebra

• Symbols and formulae
• Equations and inequalities
• Solving simple equations

This topic introduces algebra. This can be an area of mathematics that many students dread. We will begin by exploring how symbols can be used to represent numbers.

We will use symbols to write equations and inequalities, and explore solving simple equations.

Functions

• Sequences and functions
• Graphs of functions
• Interpreting graphical information

We will look at sequences and how to find the relationship between a sequence of numbers, and how we can describe a sequence with a function.

We will take a function and see how that can be explained by graphing that function to give a visual representation of the function.

Geometry and Measure

• 2D and 3-D shapes
• Angles and bearings
• Scale drawings
• Pythagoras Theorem
• Introduction to trigonometry
• Similar shapes
• Area and Volume
• Units of area and volume

We will look at how to identify the common 2D and 3D shapes. We will learn how to measure an angle using a compass, and how to define a bearing. Applying the principles of ratio, we will consider scale drawings.

We will look more closely at the geometry of a triangle, learn about Pythagoras theorem, and introduce basic trigonometry.

We will look at similar shapes and how to use a scale factor to relate similar shapes together.

Finally, we will consider area and volume. In this unit, we will also consider the units of length, area, and volume and how they are related.

Probability and Statistics.

• Finding the probability of events
• Collecting and organising data
• Representing data

Having a strong foundation in probability and statistics is important for students as they proceed to iGCSE maths and the sciences. We will look at the basic ideas of finding the probability of an event and the probability scale.

Probability and statistics are concerned with the analysis of raw data. So we will look at how data is collected, organised, and interpreted, by introducing averages, ranges, and cumulative frequency graphs.

We will also discuss both the history and the applications of mathematical principles, giving students a foundational understanding of maths and its place in the modern world.

This class is geared toward S2/S3 (Y9-Y10) 8th-9th grade students, but is equally open to younger students who are advanced in their maths skills or older students taking maths a bit slower. Students aged 14+, following the US Qualifications model, are able to put this course on a transcript as proof of their maths education level as ‘Pre-Algebra’.

KS3 Maths Year 2 Live, Online Class

Classes will be interactive, and due to the live nature of the classes, they will be tailored to the individual needs of the students. We will use a number of interactive technologies to help gain an understanding of the concepts of mathematics.

For any inquiries about the course, please contact us at Arise@AriseHomeEducation.com

Spaces are limited, secure your spot today (payment options available), and prepare for an unforgettable home education experience. This class will run with a minimum of 5 students.

More Maths & Science Resources

• Faith & Science Podcast with tutor Hannah Smith
• iGCSE Maths Information
• Math We Love: Top Maths Choices for Your Homeschool