Preparing for the
HSC
General Mathematics
Exam
Acknowledgements
Cath Whalan, Mathematics Head Teacher
Hornsby Girls High School
 Robert Yen, previously Mathematics
teacher Hurlstone Agricultural High School

for their contributions to this PowerPoint.
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
Centre, Mathematics & Numeracy
2
Content
(Click on the link to take you to this section of the PowerPoint)
The syllabus
Performance bands
Exam instructions and equipment
HSC marking process
Examiners’ comments
Resources
How to study for General
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
Centre, Mathematics & Numeracy
3
THE SYLLABUS
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Centre, Mathematics & Numeracy
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The Syllabus

A complete copy of the syllabus is
available from the Board of Studies
website: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

Up to 30% of the paper may be based on
the Preliminary course so you need to
revise the whole course
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
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To access
the HSC
General
mathematics
syllabus click
here
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
(accessed 9/8/2011)
6
Click on M for
Mathematics
Click here
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
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http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/mathematics-general.html accessed 12/8/2011
Access the
syllabus and
other
materials
here for 2011
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Syllabus Outline
Back to content
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PERFORMANCE BANDS
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http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/mathematics-general.html accessed 12/8/2011
Access the
General
Mathematics
performance
bands here
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DRAFT PERFORMANCE BANDS General Mathematics
90
80
70
60
50
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre, Mathematics &
Numeracy
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DRAFT PERFORMANCE BANDS
General Mathematics
The typical performance in this band:
Does this band
describe your current
performance now?
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
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DRAFT PERFORMANCE BANDS
General Mathematics
The typical performance in this band:
Does this band
describe your current
performance now?
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
14
DRAFT PERFORMANCE BANDS
General Mathematics
The typical performance in this band:
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
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DRAFT PERFORMANCE BANDS
General Mathematics
The typical performance in this band:
Does this band
describe your current
performance now?
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
16
DRAFT PERFORMANCE BANDS
General Mathematics
The typical performance in this band:
Well done if it
does because
this is where
you want to be!
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
Mathematics & Numeracy
Or does this band
describe your current
performance now?
17
Draft Performance Descriptors

Which band best describes your
performance now?

Which band are you aiming to achieve in
the HSC?

What do you need to do to achieve this?
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Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
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18
EXAM INSTRUCTIONS AND
EQUIPMENT
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HSC General Exam Instructions

TOTAL MARKS = 100
* Section I: 22 questions each worth 1 mark.
* Section II: questions 23 – 28 worth 13 marks each.

Reading Time - 5 minutes (work out your plan of attack!)

Working time = 2 1/2 hours
(allow 30 minutes for Section I and 2 hours for Section II
– 20 minutes for each question)

Write using blue or black pen

Calculators may be used

A formula sheet is provided at the back of the paper.
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HSC General Exam Equipment



You may only take the equipment listed in the next slide
into the examination room. No other equipment is
allowed.
Any equipment brought into the examination room may
be subject to inspection before the examination
commences.
It is the student’s responsibility to supply equipment that
is in good working order. This includes calculators.
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Mathematics & Numeracy
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HSC General Exam Equipment
Students are expected to provide pens (black is
recommended), pencils and erasers, and a ruler marked
in millimetres and centimetres, for ALL EXAMINATIONS.
 Students may use a pencil sharpener and/or highlighter
pen.
For the General Mathematics exam:
 A calculator (see slide 23 for details)
 A pair of compasses
 A protractor
 Set squares
 (optional) a curve drawing template
(see slide 24 for details)

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HSC General Exam Calculator


In the General Mathematics HSC examination students
are permitted to use calculators, including graphics
calculators.
Note:





Calculators must be handheld and silent in operation.
Permitted devices must be primarily calculators. For example,
devices that include a calculator function among other ‘apps’ or
which incorporate a QWERTY keyboard are NOT permitted.
Calculators that also operate as communication devices are
NOT permitted.
All memories and storage facilities must be cleared before the
calculator is brought into the examination room (see
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exam s/calculators.html ).
Memory cards or other peripheral devices must not be brought
into the examination room.
(taken from HSC Examination Timetable 2011, NSW BOS, page 2)
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HSC General Exam curve drawing
template



Students may take into the HSC mathematics
examination templates for drawing curves and
geometrical figures, measuring, constructing etc.
Such templates may contain equations of simple
curves (eg y=x², y=sin x, y=1/x) that can be
drawn using the template, and decimal
approximations (eg for pi, e), but no other
printed formulae (eg sine rule, cosine rule,
quadratic formulae, area and volume formulae).
Acceptable templates include Mathomat,
Mathomat Senior and Mathaid (Non Formulae).
(taken from HSC Examination Timetable 2011, NSW BOS, page 2)
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http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/mathematics-general.html accessed 12/8/2011
Access the exam
formulae sheet here.
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
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Back to content
Exam formulae sheet
•
•
•
•
•
All the information on this two
page sheet will be given to you
in the exam
Just tear off the formulae sheet
from the back of the paper to
use during your exam
Practice using this sheet when
you are studying
Here are two pages of formulae
that you don't need to
remember
What you do need to know is
when and how to use the
formulae
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HSC MARKING PROCESS
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An Overview of the Marking Process
for the HSC General Mathematics Exam

MARKING GUIDELINES, developed by the
examination committee, are given for all
questions – these guidelines indicate the
process for which marks will be allocated.

PART MARKS for each question are awarded
according to the guidelines.
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An Overview of the Marking Process
for the HSC General Mathematics Exam

HALF MARKS are never used –full marks may
be awarded before the correct numerical answer
is reached

TRANSCRIPTION ERRORS (which do not
make the question easier) are not penalised.
(incorrect substitution into a formula is NOT
a transcription error)
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EXAMINER’S COMMENTS
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC General Mathematics

SHOW substitutions and working out clearly—
marks are allocated for the PROCESS and the
answer, not just the answer.

Watch the number of MARKS allocated to each
part of the question — don’t write half a page of
explanation for 1 mark!
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC General Mathematics

Take CARE—make sure you recall the
FORMULA correctly — marks lost from careless
errors are as ‘expensive’ as marks lost by not
doing the more difficult questions.

You have to WRITE the CORRECT FORMULA
and SUBSTITUTE correctly into it in order to be
awarded a mark.
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics

When PROVING or SHOWING a given result,
check that your answer is the SAME as the
result given in the paper!

CORRECT answers from INCORRECT working
are not awarded marks - if you have made a
mistake, fix the error in EVERY line of working don’t fudge!
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics

LINK parts of a question—If (a) has parts (i) and
(ii), often using the result in (i) makes answering
(ii) easier.

If a question has multiple parts, check that
you have answered the question in the
CORRECT part.
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics

Draw large, clear DIAGRAMS in pencil—about
1/3 a page is a good size and mark on it all
given information.

Use your diagram to PLAN your response (if you
think it, write it on your diagram)

If drawing axes, use a RULER, start the
horizontal axis on a line and mark off points
EVENLY.
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics

Write working out CLEARLY—some students
can’t read their own writing, so markers have
some difficulty awarding marks. (i.e. ‘r’ & ‘n’ & ‘x’
often look similar, as do 5 & 8 and 4 & 9)
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics

Read the question carefully — watch for
KEYWORDS and HIGHLIGHT.
e.g. 3 significant figures.

Check at the end of each part that you have
ANSWERED THE QUESTION THAT WAS
ASKED.
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics
Use NOTATION and TERMINOLOGY correctly.
From the syllabus:

Outcome H11
A student uses mathematical argument and
reasoning to evaluate conclusions drawn
from other sources, communicating his/her
position clearly to others
Don’t contradict yourself
(BOS NSW, General Mathematics Stage 6 syllabus, 1999)
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Examiners’ Comments HSC
General Mathematics

If using a graphics calculator, write the
list of substitutions so you can gain marks
towards the answer even if it is incorrect.
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
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Examiners’ Comments HSC
General Mathematics

Make sure you stay
inside the margins on
each page of your
writing booklet, as
markers receive the
pages vertically as
electronic Adobe files.
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Examiners’ Comments HSC
General Mathematics

You may have to justify or explain your
answer. Be familiar with the appropriate
terminology and read answers after
writing them to ensure they make sense.

Keep an eye on the TIME—don’t spend
so long on the early questions you don’t
get to the last few questions.
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics



Use the FORMULA SHEET provided. There is
no excuse for an incorrect formula!
When using a CALCULATOR, don’t round off
too early and watch for radians/degrees.
Markers can see correct rounding, even if the
answer is incorrect.
Check that your answer is REASONABLE.
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Examiners’ Comments
HSC Mathematics

If you make a mistake, just put a LINE
THROUGH it—NEVER use liquid paper.

A note on multiple attempts of a question...
YOU GET TO ATTEMPT A QUESTION
ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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More than one attempt on a question worth 2 marks
CORRECT
Award 2
INCORRECT
Award 0
Subtract 1 mark for multiple attempt..........Award 1
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More than one attempt on a question worth 2 marks
CORRECT
Award 2
INCORRECT
Award 0
Ignore incorrect as it is crossed out......Award 2
Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre,
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More than one attempt on a question worth 2 marks
CORRECT
Award 2
INCORRECT
Award 0
Subtract 1 mark for crossing out correct response ........Award 1
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RESOURCES
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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics

Your mathematics teacher, any mathematics
teacher, your friends, older brothers or sisters

School assessment task exams

Your own class notes and summaries

NSW General Mathematics Stage 6 Syllabus
Outline
HELP EACH OTHER – you learn the most when
you can teach it to someone else

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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics



Board of Studies website
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
2001 - 2009 HSC exam paper & Notes from the
Marking Centre
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exam
s/papers.html
2010 HSC exam paper, Notes from the Marking
Centre, Marking guidelines & sample answers
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exam
s/hsc2010exams/#g
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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics
NSW BOS HSC Exam Workbook - General
Mathematics
This workbook is designed to help students
prepare for the HSC General Mathematics exam.
The workbook consists of the 2010 exam and
study resources, including:
•
•
•
marking guidelines
marker feedback
top-scoring student answers.
Available from the eBOS Shop Online for $15.40
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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics

HSC examination timetable
In 2011, the General Mathematics exam is
on Tuesday 25 October
9.25 am to 12.00 noon
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Click on
General
Mathematics
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/mcq/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics

NSW HSC Online website www.hsc.csu.edu.au
This website provides study strategies, tutorials
in more than 40 HSC subjects, references, links
to useful websites and other important materials
for HSC students and teachers.
It is hosted by Charles Sturt University and
maintained by the NSW Department of
Education and Communities.
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http://hsc.csu.edu.au/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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http://hsc.csu.edu.au/maths/ Accessed 2/9/2011
Click on this link.
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Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics

HSC Advice Line (Phone: 13 11 12).

A telephone information service for students
preparing for the HSC examinations.

Provides an after-hours and weekend service
leading up to and during the examination period.

The cost is a local call.

Check dates and operating times closer to the
end of term 3.
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Useful Resources for
General Mathematics

MANSW - Mathematical Association of NSW
(Ask you teacher if they order copies through your school)
 Pink
book of Past HSC 2001— 2010 plus
practice papers (General Mathematics)
T (02) 9569 9420
E office@mansw.nsw.edu.au
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66
HOW TO STUDY
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How to Study for Maths
By: Robert Yen - Hurlstone Agricultural High School. 2001

Practise doing questions from textbooks, study
guides, other schools’ Trial HSC’s

Learn the formulae not on the formula sheet and
be familiar with the formula sheet.

Do past HSC papers – the more the better!

Correct your work – ask for help
Just Do It !!!
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HSC General Mathematics
exam questions practice

Now do the solutions for the following
questions. You have 15 minutes for the
following question, then you will swap with
the person next to you and use the
marking guide provided to mark the
question.
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2007 General Mathematics HSC, question 24
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_exams/exam-papers-2007/pdf_doc/gen-maths-07.pdf
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Using the Marking Guidelines

Marking Guidelines are given on the BOS
website for all past HSC’s

These guidelines are used by
HSC markers
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
Mean = 11.4
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
Median remains at 8
Mean decreases to 7.1
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
Question 24 (b)
3.6 seconds
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
Question 24 (c)
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
480 euros
Notes from the marking centre
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
The gradient will increase
(ie. get steeper)
Notes from the marking centre
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2007 HSC General Question 24 (d)
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
Females are skewed towards older
ages, while males are skewed
towards younger ages.
Notes from the marking centre
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
64
Notes from the marking centre
(ii) Weaker responses found the mode for males = 22 and females = 64 and then
did not find the mode for the entire group. A common error was the mode = 22
(male side only). Nearly all responses demonstrated an understanding of the
mode.
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
175
Notes from the marking centre
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2007 General Mathematics HSC
Notes from the marking centre
Using a grouped frequency table to
calculate the mean will only give an
approximation. Caitlyn’s method
will instead give an exact answer for
the mean.
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How did you go?

What did you learn from completing this
HSC question under exam conditions and
then marking your work using the marking
guidelines?
Curriculum and Learning Innovation
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2011 HSC General Mathematics
Exam
ENJOY!!
May You Get the Marks You Deserve!!
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