Senior Phase

National 4 Mathematics

A certificated course with no final exam. National 4 Mathematics builds practical numeracy alongside algebra, geometry and statistics, assessed through three units and an Added Value Unit.

SCQF Level 4 Updated for the 2026 session PDF downloads

Course Outline - Past Papers and Revision for assessment Everything for National 4 Mathematics in three sections: outline, past papers and practice assessments. Open resources

Course outline

What is taught, how it is assessed, and what pupils should be able to do by the end.

National 4 Mathematics is internally assessed but externally quality assured by the SQA. There is no question paper: pupils pass by completing three unit assessments and the Added Value Unit, which requires them to apply skills to an unseen, real-life problem. It is an excellent route to National 5 Applications of Mathematics or National 5 Mathematics.

Topics covered

NumeracyNon-calculator and calculator skills, fractions, percentages, ratio, rounding and tolerance.
Expressions and formulaeSimplifying expressions, expanding brackets, factorising, and evaluating formulae.
RelationshipsStraight-line equations, gradients, simultaneous equations and quadratic graphs.
GeometryArea and volume, circle properties, Pythagoras, angles and scale drawings.
StatisticsCollecting, presenting and interpreting data; mean, median, mode, range and probability.
Added Value UnitA practical, multi-step investigation applying skills across the course.

How this course is assessed

Unit 1 Numeracy — internal assessment, with a resit opportunity.
Unit 2 Expressions and Formulae — internal assessment.
Unit 3 Relationships — internal assessment.
Added Value Unit — a supervised practical task, completed in S4.
No external question paper; SQA quality assurance applies.

Downloads

Course outlines are reviewed each August. If a topic differs from what your child is being taught, speak to their teacher — the class plan always takes precedence.

Past papers

Real papers and official marking instructions, ordered newest first.

Past papers are the most effective revision tool there is — but only when they are marked honestly. Print the paper, work it in one sitting under timed conditions, then mark it against the scheme and write down every question type that cost marks. Bring that list to your teacher.

Past papers and marking instructions are produced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and reproduced here for pupils at Madras High School. Always check the SQA website for the current specification.

Practice assessments

Written by our own teachers for the assessment your child is about to sit.

These are not random worksheets. Each practice assessment mirrors the format, length and mark distribution of the forthcoming classroom assessment, so pupils know exactly what to expect — including the questions that are designed to be difficult.

Answer booklets are included for every practice assessment. Attempt the paper first — the value is in the attempt, not the answer sheet.

Key dates for this course

Assessments, prelims and parents' evenings. Provisional — confirmed by the school.

Nov 2026Unit 1 Numeracy assessment
Dec 2026Senior Phase parents' evening
Feb 2027Unit 2 Expressions and Formulae assessment
Mar 2027Unit 3 Relationships assessment
Apr 2027Added Value Unit completed