Progression in Stage 1 of qualifications in mathematics and statistics

  • Progression in Stage 1 of qualifications in mathematics and statistics

    • Students can manually mark this item complete: In the first few years of learning mathematics at ...

      In the first few years of learning mathematics at the Open University, particularly in Stage 1 of your studies, it is really important that you study the modules in an appropriate order and don’t try to rush through them.

      Here are two examples to show how you might progress through Stage 1.

      The diagram shows two possible routes through Stage 1. The first, known as the Default start, consists of three sections. The first section contains the text 'Study one compulsory module (30 credits) MU123 Discovering mathematics.’ The second section contains the text ‘Next study two compulsory modules (60 credits) MST124 Essential mathematics 1 and M140 Introducing statistics (each worth 30 credits)’. The third section contains the text ‘Next study one compulsory module (30 credits) MST125 Essential mathematics 2.’ The second route, known as the Intensive start, consists of two sections. The first section contains the text 'Study two compulsory modules (60 credits) MST124 Essential mathematics 1 and M140 Introducing statistics (each worth 30 credits).’ The second section contains the text ‘Next study one compulsory module (30 credits) MST125 Essential mathematics 2. And 30 credits from a selection of modules in other subjects.’

      You should aim to do as well as you can in your Stage 1 modules, in order to give yourself the best chance of being successful at Stage 2.

      If you start with Discovering mathematics (MU123) you must:

      • complete Discovering mathematics (MU123) before moving on to Essential
        mathematics 1 (MST124);
      • complete Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) before moving on to Essential
        mathematics 2 (MST125);
      • consider carefully whether you have sufficient time if you might wish to take more than one module at a time (around 10 hours study per module in each of 30 study weeks).

      If you start with Essential mathematics 1 (MST124), known as the intensive start on some qualifications, you should:

      • consider carefully if you have sufficient time to take more than one module concurrently (around 10 hours study per module in each of 30 study weeks);
      • normally complete Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) before moving on to Essential mathematics 2 (MST125) - see Studying MST125 at the same time as MST124 for further information.