If your child has just started studying KS1 or KS2 Maths or you’re getting lots of information sent home about the exams, you may be wondering what is involved in the courses and which key areas you need to focus on. On this page we give you a basic rundown of what is involved in KS1 or KS2 maths so that you know how to prepare your child for the exams.
KS1
Understanding Basic Numbers
The very first module your child will do where they learn to count and say numbers.
Interpreting and Handling Data
This involves lots of different ways that you recognise data, collect it and then interpret it into things like graphs and spreadsheets. A basic example would be recognising all the different types of animals in a farmyard, counting how many of each animal there are and then turning that information into a very basic graph.
Measuring
This will involve vital skills like telling the time, reading scales, using rulers and other basic measuring instruments and learning about directions.
Shapes and Their Properties
This will introduce your child to shapes and how each shape is different IE a circle has no corners, a rectangle has two long side and two short sides etc.
Calculating
Adding, subtracting, multiplication and division.
Number Facts
This relates to the different relationships numbers have with each other, so how two number or more can be multiplied, subtracted or added together to make another number.
Applied Mathematics
This will enable the child to understand how maths is used in real life IE counting money and understanding money values.
KS2 Maths
Using Maths
Mainly involves different ways to problem solve.
Understanding Numbers
An in depth module exploring key skills like division and multiplication.
Number Facts
Square numbers, times tables and factors.
Calculations
Involving maths problems solved without equipment and looking at higher numbers.
Shapes
Looks at shapes in depth and discusses area, angles and volume.
Measuring
Measuring in depth so considering the different types of time like analogue and digital and more complex ways of measuring ie coordinates and mass.
Data Handling
Goes into depth on different types of chart and looks at things like probability, mean, median, mode and range.