Whether you are currently studying, or planning to study senior maths methods
in Queensland, you’ve come to the right place to know all about this subject,
including some of my personal tips and tricks to help you get the best results
possible.
- What is Maths Methods?
- How is Maths Methods Assessed?
- Study Tips
- FAQs
What is Mathematical Methods?
I’m not going to try to sugarcoat this. Maths methods is not an easy subject.
However it’s definitely a mountain that everyone can conquer. So let’s first break
down this subject to see what kind of hurdle we are dealing with.
Maths methods has 4 units:
- Unit 1 and 2 which are done in Year 11,
- Unit 3 and 4 which are done in Year 12
ATAR only counts your results for Unit 3/4, but Unit 3/4 in maths methods is heavily dependent on content in Unit 1/2. So if you’re currently in Year 12 and struggled in Year 11 methods, I’d recommend you go back and understand Unit 1 and 2 content first (especially sketching functions, solving trig,and derivatives), before proceeding to study Unit 3/4.
If you need some extra support, KIS Academics has many high-achieving tutors who can help you:
How is Maths Methods Assessed?
Out of 100 possible marks in Year 12:
- 20 is allocated to the PSMT
- 15 for each of the Unit 3 and Unit 4 internal exams (so 30 in total)
- 50 marks for the external exam, which covers both Unit 3 and 4 content:
- 60% of marks comes from simple familiar (SF) questions
- 20% from complex familiar (CF) questions
- 20% from complex unfamiliar questions (CU) questions.
So don’t worry, as long as you fully understand the familiar bread and butter of the content, you should get at least ~80% on an exam!
Manoj Arachige
What Study Tips Worked for me?
1. Learn Actively
- Do not just read your notes or revisit slides to retain information. Passive learning may be ok for SF questions, but won’t do for higher level CF andCU questions.
- Think critically about what you learnt, actively engage with the content by practising hard questions, doing brain dumps, teaching concepts to a friend etc.
2. Consistency is Key
- Do not cram your revisions when it is nearing the external exams.
- Consistently revise content every week. It doesn’t matter if you revise 1 or 10 hours of methods every week, you just need to be able to do it consistently.
Manoj Arachige
3. Reflect on your Learning
- Reflect on which style of learning suits you. For example if you identify yourself as a visual learner, then use mind-maps and pictures to help you understand concepts.
- Monitor your progress in different topics in order to work out which ones you really need to work on. Sorting practice exam questions by individual topics, and see which topics you did worse in, then prioritise those
in your next study session.
4. Maximise your Scores
- For most people, the externals are the most dreadful part of Year 12, which is
why you want to maximise the amount of marks you get for your internals. - For the PSMT: get started early, follow the ISMG, and constantly ask for feedback.
- For exams: listen in class, and utilise a variety of exam preparation strategies (cramming is not one of them!)
- In the exams, if you’re struggling on a question, write down everything you can that’s relevant to the question, including formulas, variables and any equations. This allows you to possibly snag a couple of marks, depending on the marking criteria for that question.
Manoj Arachige
1. Learn Actively
2. Consistency is Key
3. Reflect on your learning
4. Maximise your Scores
Conclusion
You might’ve been able to get A’s in maths in lower year levels with barely any
effort, but that might not work for senior maths methods. As mentioned above, to do well in maths methods, you need to be constantly reflecting on your learning, modifying your study plan, and consistently revising. Best of luck with your studies!
FAQ
How difficult is Mathematical Methods compared to other maths subjects?
- Mathematical Methods is more challenging than General Mathematics but less advanced than Specialist Mathematics.
- It is recommended for students with strong algebraic skills and an interest in calculus and statistics
What topics are covered in Mathematical Methods?
- Unit 1: Surds, algebra, functions, and probability
- Unit 2: Calculus and further functions
- Unit 3: Further calculus and introduction to statistics
- Unit 4: Further calculus, trigonometry, and statistics
Written by KIS Academics Tutor for QCE Maths Methods, Jacob Hu. Jacob is
currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering/Master of Engineering at UQ and
has three years of experience tutoring. You can view Jacob’s profile here and
request him as a tutor.
Want personalised study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!
