🎓Oxford Mathematics Grade 8 (Algebra Foundations)

Everything in this course is chosen because an IGCSE or high-school algebra teacher will assume it is already there. Quadratic factorising, y = mx + c, and the three trigonometric ratios are the three things students most often arrive without.

There is also a dedicated exam-technique unit, which is unusual at this level. It is here because the gap between knowing the maths and scoring the marks is wide, and it is entirely teachable.

What your child will be able to do

By the end of this course, a learner working at the expected pace will be able to:

• Factorise and solve quadratic equations
• Find the gradient and equation of a straight line from two points
• Apply Pythagoras' theorem and basic trigonometry to right-angled triangles
• Rearrange formulae and solve simultaneous equations
• Analyse data using cumulative frequency and box plots

How the course is structured

Oxford Mathematics Grade 8 (Algebra Foundations) is organised into 6 units covering 186 lessons in total, designed to run across 36 weeks at roughly 5.5 hours a week. The unit outline below shows 27 representative lessons.

Algebra II

• Expanding and factorising quadratics
• Solving quadratics by factorising
• Rearranging formulae
• Simultaneous equations (elimination and substitution)
• Algebraic fractions

Graphs

• y = mx + c
• Gradient and intercept from two points
• Parallel and perpendicular lines
• Quadratic and reciprocal graphs
• Real-life graphs and rates of change

Geometry and trigonometry

• Pythagoras in 2D and 3D
• Sine, cosine and tangent ratios
• Finding missing sides and angles
• Circle theorems (introduction)
• Vectors (introduction)

Number and proportion

• Surds and rationalising
• Recurring decimals to fractions
• Compound growth and decay
• Direct and inverse proportion formulae

Statistics

• Cumulative frequency curves
• Box plots and comparing distributions
• Histograms with unequal widths
• Correlation and lines of best fit

Exam technique

• Reading marks to judge depth
• Showing method for method marks
• Common careless-error traps
• Timing a paper

How it is taught

Each unit ends with a set of exam-style questions sorted by mark allocation, and the solutions show the mark scheme alongside the working, so students learn what earns credit rather than just what the answer is.

What is included

• 186 lessons
• Full solutions to 200+ exam-style questions
• Formula sheets and graph paper printables
• 54 quizzes and six timed papers with mark schemes

Who this course suits

This course sits in the Grade 8 track and follows a oxford-aligned sequence. It suits families who want a complete, sequenced mathematics year rather than a set of loose practice activities, and it assumes no teaching experience — every lesson includes a short method note for the adult. If your child is comfortably ahead or behind the advanced level described here, use the placement check in lesson one and start at the recommended point instead of lesson one.