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Numeracy and mathematics – Fourth level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland): What to Teach (Scotland)

Your Teacher Information Pack for Numeracy and mathematics – Fourth level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.

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Country
Scotland
Level
Fourth level
Ages
11/12–14/15
Source
Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
Last checked
2026-10-20

Usually S1–S3; fourth level is broadly in line with SCQF level 4 (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 7–9 (approximate).

Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.

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What to teach

Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.

Number, money and measure: Estimation and rounding

  • MNU 4-01a Use tolerance knowledge to choose accuracy for real-life calculations.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Number and number processes

  • MNU 4-03a Transfer similar solved problems to calculations in unfamiliar contexts.
  • MTH 4-03b Investigate how brackets change order of operations; apply them correctly.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Powers and roots

  • MTH 4-06a Evaluate whole-number powers and roots mentally or with technology.
  • MTH 4-06b Use scientific notation to express large or small real-life numbers efficiently.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages

  • MNU 4-07a Choose the most suitable fraction, decimal or percentage form for calculations.
  • MTH 4-07b Solve contextual fraction and mixed-number problems using add, subtract, multiply.
  • MNU 4-08a Use proportion to find changes in quantities and solve real-life problems.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Money

  • MNU 4-09a Discuss what to consider when judging affordability, credit and debt.
  • MNU 4-09b Source earnings and deductions; calculate net income.
  • MNU 4-09c Research and compare personal finance products; justify preferred choices.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Time

  • MNU 4-10a Research and compare time management aspects affecting personal life.
  • MNU 4-10b Apply the time, speed and distance relationship to related calculations.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Measurement

  • MNU 4-11a Apply measure knowledge, appreciating accuracy's practical importance.
  • MTH 4-11b Use surface area of simple 3D shapes to use materials efficiently.
  • MTH 4-11c Solve prism volume problems with a formula; discuss 3D objects' everyday uses.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Mathematics – its impact on the world, past, present and future

  • MTH 4-12a Discuss maths importance, career skills and workplace applications.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Patterns and relationships

  • MTH 4-13a Model real situations with sequences and general formulas to solve problems.
  • MTH 4-13b Describe a line's slope; calculate and interpret gradient.
  • MTH 4-13c Describe horizontal or vertical line coordinate patterns using an equation.
  • MTH 4-13d Generate straight-line points from a formula, plot them, and answer questions.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Expressions and equations

  • MTH 4-14a Simplify, multiply and evaluate simple bracketed terms using the distributive law.
  • MTH 4-14b Factorise expressions by identifying common factors of algebraic terms.
  • MTH 4-15a Construct and solve inequalities and extended equations for real situations.

Official wording

Shape, position and movement: Properties of 2D shapes and 3D objects

  • MTH 4-16a Use right-angled triangle side and angle relationships to solve problems.
  • MTH 4-16b Apply circle radius, diameter, circumference and area relationships to problems.

Official wording

Shape, position and movement: Angle, symmetry and transformation

  • MTH 4-17a Use radius-tangent and semicircle angle facts to solve problems.
  • MTH 4-17b Solve length and area problems using similar figures' properties.
  • MTH 4-18a Plot and describe points on a four-quadrant coordinate grid.
  • MTH 4-18b Move and describe transformations of points or shapes on a grid.
  • MTH 4-19a Discuss rotational properties of shapes and patterns; apply them in designs.

Official wording

Information handling: Data and analysis

  • MNU 4-20a Evaluate and interpret raw and graphical data; communicate findings clearly.
  • MTH 4-20b Calculate mean, median, mode and range; choose the most appropriate average.
  • MTH 4-21a Select suitable displays for discrete, continuous and grouped data.

Official wording

Information handling: Ideas of chance and uncertainty

  • MNU 4-22a Predict expected event frequency to assess risks and make decisions.

Official wording

Benchmarks (summary)

Guidance Benchmarks and guidance (our summaries)

  • Estimation and rounding: Significant figures, context, impact of error and tolerance (4 benchmark statements in the official document). (4 official benchmark bullets)
  • Number and number processes: Multi-step problems; order of operations with brackets (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)
  • Powers and roots: Roots and powers; scientific notation (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)
  • Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages: Efficient forms, percentage change, fraction operations and proportion (5 benchmark statements in the official document). (5 official benchmark bullets)
  • Money: Credit, debt, net income, personal finance products, currency conversion (6 benchmark statements in the official document). (6 official benchmark bullets)
  • Time: Time management, time zones, speed-distance-time calculations (3 benchmark statements in the official document). (3 official benchmark bullets)
  • Measurement: Impact of rounding, area of quadrilaterals, surface area, prism volume (4 benchmark statements in the official document). (4 official benchmark bullets)
  • Mathematics – its impact on the world: Maths in everyday life and careers; workplace uses (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)
  • Patterns and relationships: Nth-term formulae, gradient, slopes, plotting straight lines (5 benchmark statements in the official document). (5 official benchmark bullets)
  • Expressions and equations: Expanding and factorising, equations and inequalities, modelling (6 benchmark statements in the official document). (6 official benchmark bullets)
  • Properties of 2D shapes and 3D objects: Pythagoras, trigonometry, circle circumference and area (6 benchmark statements in the official document). (6 official benchmark bullets)
  • Angle, symmetry and transformation: Rotation, four-quadrant plotting, transformations, similarity, circle angles (8 benchmark statements in the official document). (8 official benchmark bullets)
  • Data and analysis: Interpreting data, averages, correlation language, choosing charts (6 benchmark statements in the official document). (6 official benchmark bullets)
  • Ideas of chance and uncertainty: Probability and expected occurrences for predictions and decisions (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)

Official wording

Assessments and key dates

Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.

Trusted free resources

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More packs

Numeracy and mathematics – Early level · Numeracy and mathematics – First level · Numeracy and mathematics – Second level · Numeracy and mathematics – Third level · P1 Numeracy and mathematics · P2 Numeracy and mathematics · P3 Numeracy and mathematics · P4 Numeracy and mathematics · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP

Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.

No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.