The 18-week descriptive syllabus for Year 8 Cambridge Mathematics is designed to

provide a structured approach to learning over the academic term. This syllabus covers a wide
range of foundational topics that build upon prior knowledge and set the stage for the more
advanced concepts to be encountered in later years. Here's a breakdown of the content to be
covered week by week:

Week 1: Number - Integers and Operations

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Introduction to integers, positive and negative numbers.
○​ Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers.
○​ Solving problems involving the four operations with integers.
●​ Skills:
○​ Understanding the number line.
○​ Performing operations with positive and negative numbers.

Week 2: Fractions - Simplification and Operations

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Simplifying fractions (e.g., 48=12).
○​ Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.
○​ Converting between improper fractions and mixed numbers.
●​ Skills:
○​ Simplifying and calculating with fractions in different contexts.
○​ Solving problems involving fractions (e.g., in recipes, measurements).

Week 3: Decimals - Operations and Conversion

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Converting fractions to decimals and vice versa.
○​ Performing operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) with
decimals.
●​ Skills:
○​ Accurate decimal placement in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
○​ Converting decimals to fractions and understanding their equivalence.
Week 4: Percentages - Conversion and Applications

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
○​ Finding percentages of numbers (e.g., finding 10% of 150).
○​ Solving problems involving percentage increase/decrease (e.g., discount, sales
tax).
●​ Skills:
○​ Solving real-world problems involving percentages (e.g., profit and loss,
discounts).

Week 5: Algebra - Introduction to Expressions

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Introduction to algebraic expressions (e.g., 2x+3).
○​ Simplifying algebraic expressions (combining like terms).
○​ Expanding simple brackets (e.g., 2(x+3)).
●​ Skills:
○​ Understanding the role of variables in algebraic expressions.
○​ Simplifying expressions and working with algebraic notation.

Week 6: Algebra - Solving Simple Equations

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Solving one-step and two-step equations (e.g., 3x+4=10).
○​ Using inverse operations to solve equations (e.g., adding/subtracting,
multiplying/dividing).
●​ Skills:
○​ Developing an understanding of balancing equations.
○​ Solving for unknowns using algebraic methods.

Week 7: Algebra - Sequences and Patterns

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Recognizing arithmetic sequences (e.g., 3,6,9,12).
○​ Identifying nth terms and using them to generate terms in sequences.
●​ Skills:
○​ Understanding and generating terms in number sequences.
○​ Working with patterns and relationships in numbers.
Week 8: Geometry - Angles

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Recognizing and calculating angles in polygons (e.g., triangles, quadrilaterals).
○​ Understanding angle relationships (e.g., corresponding angles, alternate angles).
●​ Skills:
○​ Using a protractor to measure angles.
○​ Solving problems involving angles, including interior and exterior angles.

Week 9: Geometry - Properties of 2D Shapes

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Identifying and working with properties of common 2D shapes (e.g., triangles,
quadrilaterals).
○​ Recognizing and applying properties of special triangles (e.g., equilateral,
isosceles, scalene).
●​ Skills:
○​ Understanding symmetry in shapes.
○​ Using properties to solve geometric problems.

Week 10: Geometry - Perimeter and Area

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Calculating the perimeter and area of basic 2D shapes (e.g., rectangles, squares,
triangles, circles).
○​ Solving problems involving the perimeter and area of composite shapes.
●​ Skills:
○​ Applying formulae for area and perimeter in geometric problems.

Week 11: Geometry - Transformations

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Introduction to transformations: translations, reflections, rotations, and
enlargements.
○​ Understanding the effects of transformations on shapes.
●​ Skills:
○​ Performing and recognizing transformations on the coordinate plane.
 ○​ Identifying properties of shapes under different transformations.

Week 12: Measurement - Units and Conversion

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Understanding and converting between different units of measurement (length,
mass, volume, time).
○​ Converting between metric and imperial units.
●​ Skills:
○​ Using unit conversion in real-world contexts (e.g., converting from kilometers to
miles, liters to gallons).

Week 13: Measurement - Time and Speed

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Solving problems involving time (e.g., calculating time intervals, converting
between hours and minutes).
○​ Using the formula Speed=DistanceTime to solve problems involving speed,
distance, and time.
●​ Skills:
○​ Applying time and speed formulas to solve real-life problems.
○​ Understanding how to convert between time units.

Week 14: Data Handling - Collecting and Representing Data

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Collecting and organizing data in tables.
○​ Representing data using bar charts, pie charts, and histograms.
●​ Skills:
○​ Interpreting and analyzing graphical data representations.
○​ Creating and interpreting data visualizations.

Week 15: Data Handling - Averages

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Calculating the mean, median, mode, and range of data sets.
○​ Understanding when to use different measures of central tendency.
 ●​ Skills:
○​ Solving problems involving data averages.
○​ Using averages to interpret and analyze data.

Week 16: Probability - Basic Concepts

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Understanding basic probability concepts (e.g., events, sample space).
○​ Calculating the probability of simple events (e.g., tossing a coin, rolling a die).
●​ Skills:
○​ Solving probability problems and understanding probability as a number between
0 and 1.
○​ Using the probability scale to express likelihood.

Week 17: Ratio and Proportion

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Understanding ratios and solving problems involving ratios (e.g., sharing in a
ratio).
○​ Solving direct proportion problems (e.g., scaling recipes, calculating prices).
●​ Skills:
○​ Solving real-world problems using ratios and proportions.
○​ Simplifying and calculating with ratios.

Week 18: Review and Assessment

●​ Topic Focus:
○​ Review key concepts covered throughout the term, including number operations,
algebra, geometry, measurement, data handling, probability, and ratio.
○​ Practice past exam-style questions and problems to reinforce learning.
●​ Skills:
○​ Reviewing and consolidating skills from all topics.
○​ Preparing for assessments and final exams.

Key Skills Developed Over the 18 Weeks:

●​ Mathematical Fluency: Strengthening mental arithmetic and numerical skills.

 ●​ Problem-Solving: Applying mathematical concepts to solve real-world and abstract
problems.
●​ Algebraic Thinking: Developing the ability to manipulate algebraic expressions and
solve equations.
●​ Geometrical Understanding: Building spatial reasoning skills and geometric
problem-solving.
●​ Data Handling and Probability: Analyzing and interpreting data, and understanding the
basics of probability.
●​ Logical Reasoning: Developing the ability to reason logically and use mathematical
arguments.

This 18-week syllabus is structured to ensure consistent progress in mathematics, helping Year
8 students develop a solid foundation in key mathematical areas in preparation for later stages
of their education.