St Joseph’s Catholic High School
Albion Park
2013 Preliminary Year
Mathematics
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
This evening’s Mathematics presentation will
cover…
1. The prescribed BOS Mathematics courses offered at the School
2. The School’s recommendations for entry into these Courses /
the criteria for choosing a Preliminary Mathematics Courses
3. A description of the content & the post secondary studies
applicable to each course.
What are the options for
mathematical study in Year 11 at
St Joseph’s?
In the Preliminary Year there are 3 Mathematics Courses:
1. General Mathematics (2 Unit) - The Preliminary Mathematics General
course allows students to access either the HSC Mathematics General 2
(Board Endorsed) Course or the HSC Mathematics General 1 (Content
Endorsed) Course in their HSC year.
2. Mathematics (2 Unit)
3. Mathematics Extension 1 ( Mathematics 2 Unit accompanied by
an additional 1 Unit of Mathematics)
Which Mathematics course should
my child select?
This decision involves consideration of:
1. the Mathematics Pathway being currently being studied
i.e., the 5.2 or 5.3 Pathway
2. your child’s performance in this year’s
Mathematics Assessment Tasks
3. the School’s recommendation
4. your child’s career interests
General Mathematics
(2 Unit)
•
Assumes mastery of Year 10 – 5.1 Mathematics Pathway
•
focuses on mathematical skills used in everyday life
This is the recommended course of study for:
- 5.1 Mathematics Pathway students who elect to study
Mathematics
- Most 5.2 Mathematics Pathway students
- 5.3 Pathway students who may experience difficulty achieving the 5.3
Pathway outcomes in Year 10.
Exceptions for current 5.2 Pathway
students…
-
Students studying the Year 10 5.2 Mathematics Pathway who have successfully
completed extra outcomes from 5.3 pathway (e.g. products & factors, surds &
indices, further trigonometry)
CAN access
Mathematics 2U
And may choose to do General Mathematics or Mathematics
General Mathematics
(2 Unit) Course Content
• 5 main areas of study are:
- financial Mathematics
Focus Studies
1.
Mathematics and
Communication
2.
Mathematics and Driving
- data analysis
- measurement
- probability
- algebraic modelling
What are the post secondary
opportunities if my child chooses to
study
General Mathematics 2 Unit?
This course:
•
provides a strong foundation for TAFE or university study in
business, humanities, nursing, Primary school teaching
and paramedical sciences
• is ideal for students who do not wish to study
Mathematics as a discipline at the tertiary level
The Mathematics
(2 Unit) Course
• assumes general competence in the skills of Stage 5 Mathematics
• focuses on aspects of Mathematics which have applications to the real world
eg., applications of the calculus; very high algebraic content
This is only recommended as a Course of study for:
-students currently studying the Year 10 5.3 Mathematics Pathway
- the top 10% of students studying the Year 10 5.2 Mathematics Pathway
2 Unit Mathematics
Course Content
Main areas of study include:
- linear, exponential, quadratic, logarithmic and trigonometric functions
- plane and coordinate geometries
- the Calculus and its application to the cartesian plane and the physical world
- sequences and series & their applications
Post secondary study
opportunities
- Mathematics 2 Unit
• further studies at the tertiary level involving Mathematics as a
minor discipline in courses such as the life sciences or commerce
• However, if at the tertiary level, substantial Mathematics
supporting the physical & engineering sciences is required
(eg., computer science or various types of engineering),
then the Extension 1 course is recommended.
Mathematics Extension 1 (1 Unit)
•
assumes a thorough mastery of Year 10 – 5.3 Mathematics Pathway
•
is an available course of study for the top 30% of students studying the
Year 10 - 5.3 Mathematics Pathway Course and is for students who are
capable of a very challenging Mathematics course
NOTE: Students interested in this course must select the Course at the start of Year 11
(it cannot be picked up later in Year 11).
The nature of Extension 1 Mathematics
• consists of the Mathematics 2 U course and additional
content as prescribed in the Mathematics Extension 1
syllabus
• a very rigorous course designed for students who love
Mathematics
• Mathematics Extension 1 is also a prerequisite for
studying the Mathematics Extension 2 course in the HSC
year; students of outstanding mathematical ability will
be encouraged to consider undertaking the HSC
Mathematics Extension 2 Course in 2014.
Preliminary Year Content
Mathematics Extension 1
- other inequalities
- circle geometry
- further trigonometry
-
angle between two lines
-
internal/external division of lines into given ratios
- parametric representation of curves
-
permutations & combinations
-
polynomials
- harder applications of the Prelim. 2 unit course
HSC Course
Mathematics Extension 1
- integration incl. sin2x and cos2x
- further applications to physical world incl. Projectiles and simple
harmonic motion
- inverse functions & inverse trigonometric functions
- mathematical induction
- binomial theorem
- further probability
- numerical estimation of roots of the polynomial equation
- harder applications of HSC 2 unit topics
Post secondary study opportunities
- Mathematics Extension 1
• This course is recommended (as a minimum basis) for:
-for the study of mathematics in support of the physical and
engineering sciences
-further studies in Mathematics as a major discipline at university
How much Preliminary content
is assessable in HSC Year?
• The HSC course builds on the Preliminary course, with up to 30% of
HSC assessments on the preliminary course.
• In Mathematics, it is important your child is placed in the most
suitable course
St Joseph’s recommendations reflect those of
the NSW Board of Studies
In summary, your child is advised
to…
• choose as per the recommendations provided to ensure a
smooth path towards success in the HSC
• talk to seniors about their experiences of the various
courses
• ensure all criteria are satisfied before selecting a
particular Mathematics course
• feel free to ask for additional advice if required