Level 3 Maths in Context
- Start date(s): September 2025
- Centre(s): Greenheys
- Course duration: 32 weeks
The next intake for this course is September 2025. If you have any questions about Level 3 Maths in Context, please contact our team at maes.info@manchester.gov.uk or complete the Register Your Interest form on the link below.
Course details
The Level 3 Certificate in Maths in Context course builds on GCSE maths to apply maths to real-world contexts and problems.
The course covers four areas of maths: applications of statistics, probability, linear programming and sequences and growth.
This course consists of the following four mandatory units:
Applications of statistics: You will learn about the study of data collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation. It is increasingly important in life, study and employment in various contexts. It is used in areas of study such as actuarial.
Probability: In this unit you will learn about how probability is used to determine a numerical value for the chance or risk of events happening. Probability is used in areas of study such as finance, science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, business, computer science and philosophy.
Linear programming: In this unit you will learn and use problem-solving approaches to achieve the best outcome (such as maximum profit or lowest cost) through consideration of conditions that can be modelled by linear relationships. Linear programming can be applied to a variety of contexts in business and industry such as transportation, energy, telecommunications and manufacturing. Linear programming has proved useful in modelling diverse types of problems in planning, routing, scheduling, task assignment and design.
Sequences and growth: You will learn and gain an understanding of sequences, growth and decay and how they can be applied to a variety of real-life contexts and problem-solving tasks, including financial mathematics, population growth, epidemics, earthquakes and radioactive decay.
This course is delivered face-to-face in our adult learning centres.
You will access materials and complete assignments via Google Classroom and a variety of online platforms including the Integral learning platform.
This course consists of two externally examined papers in May/June. The qualification is graded and certificated on a five-grade scale from A (the highest) to E (the lowest). Students must complete both papers in May/June in any single year.
For this course you will need to have achieved GCSE Maths at Grade 5 (C) or above. If you do not have proof of these qualifications, an assessment to demonstrate maths skills at this level is an essential requirement.
You must also be digitally confident to enable the completion of assignments.
Career and progression routes
Following this course, you could consider joining our Level 3 Award in Education and Training course with the view to teaching maths to adults.
If you’re interested in studying maths at a more advanced level or specialising in a particular topic such as accounting, finance, social science or business you could progress on to higher education to study these topics.
You may also be able to secure employment or advance in your current career with your improved maths knowledge and skills.
