AO3 — Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts. Students should be able to: translate problems in mathematical or non-mathematical contexts into a process or a series of mathematical processes; make and use connections between different parts of mathematics; interpret results in the context of the given problem; evaluate methods used and results obtained; evaluate solutions to identify how they may have been affected by assumptions made.
(Verbatim spec text private side only — © AQA)
Tests canonical
AO3 cuts across content strands — problem-solving is always about something — but the canonical anchor is the cross-cutting strand.
Cross-overlay equivalents
- Edexcel IGCSE 4MA1 — problem-solving weighted at 25% (Foundation) / 30% (Higher) woven through all AOs
- FS Maths L2 — the five underlying mathematical processes are essentially this AO at the everyday-life level
Awarding-body notes
AQA’s AO3 is the most directly transferable to FS Maths L2 in spirit, even though the surface contexts differ. A learner who has done well on AO3 reasoning on AQA (translating word problems into mathematical processes; evaluating reasonableness of answers) is well-prepared for the FS L2 framing of the same skills around adult-life situations.