The nature of mathematics means that it is possible to demonstrate competence in the learning outcomes assessed in the class test and supervised assignment by means of a time constrained module test. Therefore students have the option of choosing the combined grouping 1, enabling further time to be devoted to other modules.

Combined grouping 1: A CLASS TEST weighted at 85% (to assess outcomes 1-5). Study skills portfolio 15% (to assess outcome 6).
Combined grouping 2: A CLASS TEST length 1.5 HOURS weighted at 50% (to assess outcomes 1-5). SUPERVISED ASSIGMT length 1500 WORDS weighted at 35% (to assess outcomes 1-5). Study skills portfolio 15% (to assess outcome 6).


Additional assessment information
Combined grouping 1: An initial time constrained module test to demonstrate competence in all the learning outcomes 1-5. (85%) Study skills portfolio 15%
Or
Combined grouping 2: including a 1.5 hr end of module test to test knowledge and ability to solve problems across all learning outcomes 1-5, in a time constrained situation (50%)
Supervised assignments totalling the equivalent of a 1500 word essay to provide practice in problem solving and applying the lecture material (35%)
Study skills portfolio (15%)
Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment, namely coursework and an end of module examination. These will be used to assess both mastery of the subject of each module and the attainment of study skills. Both elements will be used to assess the former of these (these elements will, respectively, be given weightings of 50 % and 50%), whilst study skills will be wholly assessed via the coursework element. In each case, the nature of the coursework will be chosen to develop one or more facets of study skills, such as report writing, essay writing, oral presentation, problem solving, use of IT, teamwork and information retrieval. A tutor will be assigned to monitor and coordinate study skills provision across the modules, thereby ensuring that each student has the opportunity to attain and be assessed in each of the study skills learning outcomes. By the end of each teaching block, each student's overall performance across all 7 of the study skills outcomes will have been assessed. By this means, the study skills element of each module is given a weighting of 15% of the available marks.

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via:
Continuous informal feedback in class and mid-module tests

Subject Specific
The module provides study of the mathematical techniques needed to support the study of physical and life sciences at foundation level and form the basis for study of module Mathematics and data handling 2. Throughout the emphasis will be on practising the application of mathematical techniques in the context of science. Students will study the rules of algebra needed for the manipulation of equations and the transposition of simple formulae. They will be able to appreciate and handle linear and quadratic functions, leading to the solution of simultaneous linear equations and quadratic equations. The data analysis section will concentrate on the construction and interpretation of linear graphs (y=mx+c) in terms of gradient and intercept, including simple examples involving rearranging data into a linear form. Students will apply the basics of trigonometry and Pythagoras to right-angled triangles. The principles of probability and statistical analysis will be introduced, including the calculation of measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the application of the normal distribution to basic statistical data.

Foundation Maths (4th Ed.) by Anthony Croft and Robert Davison, 2006 (published in May 2006 by Prentice Hall)
Basic Mathematics for the Physical Sciences; R Lambourne and M Tinker, Wiley, 2008 (IBSN 0-978-0-470-74131-3)
Foundation Mathematics, K.A. Stroud D J Booth, Addison-Wesley, 2009 (IBSN 978023057907)
Introductory Statistics for Biology, J A Watt, Chapman and Hall, 2007 (IBSN 9781584886525)

module handbook
library and information retrieval facilities
computing facilities, including access to the internet
suitable teaching rooms

Meet the admissions requirements of the Science Foundation Year

Subject Specific
You will attend interactive lectures interspersed with tutorials and problem solving classes (48 hours). There will be 4 hours contact time per week. This will be supported by independent study, library work, assignment work and revision (102 hours). Your formative learning will be aided by assignment work, including problem sheet assignments. Summative learning will be assessed by an end of module test, assessment of coursework and classwork assignments.

Study Skills
When the Science Foundation Year is viewed as a whole, there are 72 hours of class contact and 96 hours of independent study (guided reading, tutorial tasks etc.) that are dedicated to study skills. All modules will have an equal share of this time. The 72 hours of class contact will be spread evenly throughout the teaching year and will be split between tutorials (48 hours) and IT workshops (24 hours). The tutorial programme will be designed to emphasise and develop independent study, whilst delivering the study skills indicative content outlined above. The dedicated IT workshops are to familiarise the students with the use of the common computer packages, indicated above, within a scientific context. The overall ethos will be one of encouraging active rather than passive learning.
These 72 hours will therefore be spread amongst the 24 teaching weeks of semesters 1 and 2 combined. Practically this means that students will spend 3 hours of contact time each week, (2 hours in tutorials and 1 hour in IT workshops). This contact time being equally split amongst all eight modules means that each module's 'share' is 9 hours.