Wheelers Hill Secondary College - Senior School Handbook 2024

VCE Mathematics

Creating Futures Together

GENERAL MATHEMATICS 

Students should have successfully completed Year 10 Maths General or Year 10 Maths Methods to undertake General Mathematics Unit 1 & 2. 

 

Units 1, 2, 3 & 4  

Course Description:   

Unit 1 & 2 provides for different combinations of student interests as well as preparation for study of VCE Mathematics at the Unit 3 and 4 level. Some students will not study Mathematics beyond Units 1 and 2, while others will intend to study General Mathematics Units 3 and 4.  Others will also be studying Mathematics Methods Units 1 and 2 and intend to study Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 and, in some cases, Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 as well. 

 

Units 1 and 2 involve the study of selected material from the areas of study: ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’, ‘Algebra, number and structure’, ‘Functions, relations and graphs’, ‘Discrete mathematics’ and ‘Space and measurement’. Students practice mathematical algorithms, routines and techniques and use them to solve standard problems; apply mathematical knowledge and skills in unfamiliar situations which require investigative, modelling, or problem-solving approaches and use technology appropriately and effectively to learn mathematics and apply it in different contexts. They should have facility with relevant mental and by-hand approaches to estimation and computation. 

 

Assessment:                       

  • Tests 
  • Investigation Project(s) 
  • Problem Solving Tasks 
  • Semester Examinations 

Special Course Commitments: 

A CAS Calculator is required and may be retained for Further Mathematics 3 & 4. 

(TI-Nspire recommended)  

 

Units 3 & 4 

Satisfactory completion of General Mathematics Units 1 & 2 and/or Specialist Mathematics/Mathematical Methods Unit 1 & 2 is highly recommended. 

 

Course Description:   

Units 3 and 4 focus on real-life application of mathematics and consist of the areas of study ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’ and ‘Discrete mathematics’. 

 

Unit 3 comprises Data analysis and Recursion and financial modelling, and Unit 4 comprises Matrices and Networks and decision mathematics. 

 

Assumed knowledge and skills for General Mathematics Units 3 and 4 are contained in General Mathematics Units 1 and 2, and will be drawn on, as applicable, in the development of related content from the areas of study, and key knowledge and key skills for the outcomes of General Mathematics Units 3 and 4. 

 

In undertaking these units, students are expected to be able to apply techniques, routines and processes involving rational and real arithmetic, sets, lists, tables and matrices, diagrams, networks, algorithms, algebraic manipulation, recurrence relations, equations and graphs. They should have facility with relevant mental and by-hand approaches to estimation and computation. The use of numerical, graphical, geometric, symbolic statistical and financial functionality of technology for teaching and learning mathematics, for working mathematically, and in related assessment, is to be incorporated throughout each unit as applicable. 

 

Assessment:                    

School-Assessed Coursework for this study consist of 

  • An Application Task 
  • Three Modelling or Problem-Solving tasks. 
    In addition, there are two externally set examinations. 

Expected Skills:                

The ability to apply the skills taught in General Mathematics Units 1 & 2. 

 

Special Course Commitments: 

A CAS Calculator is required – (TI-Nspire recommended) 

MATHEMATICAL METHODS 

It is the expectation that students will have successfully completed Year 10 Maths Methods before under this subject at Unit 1 & 2. Selection criteria will also be applied to students wishing to undertake these classes. This will include consideration of previous assessments, sitting a selection examination and receiving a teacher recommendation. 

 

Units 1, 2, 3 & 4  

 

Course Description:   

Units 1 & 2provide an introductory study of simple elementary functions, algebra, calculus, probability and statistics and their applications in a variety of practical and theoretical contexts and prepares students for Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4. It is also a pre-requisite for Specialist Mathematics Units 3 & 4. Areas of study are ‘Functions, relations and graphs’, ‘Algebra, number and structure’, ‘Calculus’ and ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’. In undertaking this unit, students are expected to be able to apply techniques, routines and processes involving rational and real arithmetic, sets, lists and tables, diagrams and geometric constructions, algebraic manipulation, equations, graphs, differentiation and anti-differentiation with and without the use of technology.  

 

Assessment:                 

  • Application tasks 
  • Topic tests 
  • Modelling and Problem-Solving tasks. 
  • Semester Examinations 

Unit 3 & 4 usually follows satisfactory completion of the Mathematical Methods Unit 1 & 2 course. It extends the study of simple elementary functions to include combinations of these functions, algebra, calculus, probability and statistics, and their applications in a variety of practical and theoretical contexts. They also provide background for further study in, for example, science, humanities, economics and medicine. Throughout Mathematical Methods 3 & 4 students continue to apply mathematical procedures and use technology to solve problems in routine and unfamiliar contexts.  Units 3 and 4 consist of the areas of study ‘Functions, relations and graphs’, ‘Algebra, number and structure’, ‘Calculus’ and ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’. Mathematics Methods 3 & 4 contains assumed knowledge from Mathematics Methods 1 & 2. 

 

Assessment:                      

School Assessed Coursework consists of 

  • An Application Task 
  • Two Problem Solving tasks. 

In addition, there are two externally set examinations, one technology free and one technology enabled. 

 

Expected Skills:                

Good problem-solving skills and the ability to perform algebraic operations (e.g., factorising, transposing, etc.). You are also expected to work very hard both in class and at home.  You will need good organisational skills to manage your time and workload. 

Mathematics Methods 3 & 4 contains assumed knowledge from Mathematics Methods 1 & 2. 

 

Special Course Commitments: 

Students are required to purchase a CAS calculator. (TI-Nspire is recommended) 

SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS 

It is the expectation that students will have successfully completed Year 10 Maths Methods before undertaking Specialist Mathematics at Unit 1 & 2. 

 

Units 1 & 2  

 

Course Description:   

Specialist Mathematics Units 1 and 2 provide a course of study for students who wish to undertake an in-depth study of mathematics, with an emphasis on concepts, skills and processes related to mathematical structure, modelling, problem solving and reasoning. This study focuses on interest in the discipline of mathematics in its own right and investigation of a broad range of applications, as well as development of a sound background for further studies in mathematics and mathematics related fields. 

 

The areas of study for Units 1 and 2 of Specialist Mathematics are are ‘Algebra, number and structure’, ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’, ‘Discrete mathematics’, ‘Functions, relations and graphs’ and ‘Space and measurement’ 

 

Assessment:                       

  • Topic Tests 
  • Application and Analysis tasks 
  • Problem Solving and Modelling tasks. 
  • Semester Examinations 

Units 3 & 4  

 

Course Description:  

Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 extend content from Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 to include rational and other quotient functions as well as other advanced mathematics topics such as reasoning and proof, complex numbers, vectors, differential equations, mechanics and statistical inference. It consists of the areas of study: ‘Algebra, number and structure’, ‘Calculus’, ‘Data analysis, probability and statistics’, ‘Discrete mathematics’, ‘Functions, relations and graphs’, and ‘Space and measurement’. The course highlights mathematical structure, logic and proof, reasoning and applications across a range of modelling contexts. Students practice mathematical algorithms, routines and techniques and use them to solve standard problems; apply mathematical knowledge and skills in unfamiliar situations which require investigative, modelling or problem-solving approaches and use technology appropriately and effectively to learn mathematics and apply it in different contexts. 

 

Assessment:       

School-Assessed Coursework, includes. 

  • An Application Task 
  • Two Modelling or Problem-Solving tasks. 

In addition, there are two externally set examinations, one technology free and one technology enabled. 

 

Expected Skills:                

Good problem-solving skills and the ability to perform algebraic operations (e.g., factorising, transposing, etc.). You are expected to work very hard both in class and at home. You will need good organisational skills to manage your time and workload. 

 

Students preparing to study Specialist Mathematics 3 & 4 are expected to have completed Specialist Mathematic and Mathematical Methods in Units 1 & 2. These, taken in conjunction, provide a comprehensive preparation for Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4. 

 

Study of Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 assumes concurrent study or previous completion of Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4. 

 

Special Course Commitments: 

A CAS calculator is required. (TI-Nspire recommended)