Mathematics Learning Area
Guidelines for selecting courses in Mathematics
There are four Mathematics pathways in Year 10. Again, the pathway structure on page 11 indicates which courses students should take depending on their results in Year 9. Their Mathematics teacher will comment on their choice of pathway on the selection form, and students should discuss those comments with their parents before the parents sign the selection form. Mathematics Pathway A has no prerequisites, but Pathways B, C and D have prerequisites.
Pathway D is the most difficult pathway in Year 10. This course will address outcomes in six strands, namely:-
- Working Mathematically
- Space
- Measurement
- Chance and Data
- Number
- Algebra
Students entering pathway D will have demonstrated high competence at level 5 and be working on level 6 in Year 9. In Year 10, they will consolidate level 6 outcomes and work at level 7. Students from Pathway C in Year 9 who have achieved in the upper half of this pathway (9C) would probably succeed in D Pathway in Year 10. This course leads to any Mathematics course(s) in Year 11 and Year 12 provided the student achieves continued success.
Pathway 10C course covers the same strands as Pathway D. Students entering this Pathway will have achieved most of the level 5 outcomes and be working on level 6 outcomes in Year 9. In Year 10, they will complete level 5 and 6 outcomes, and begin working on level 7 outcomes. Students from Pathway C in Year 9 who have achieved in the lower half of this pathway (9C) would probably succeed in Pathway C in Year 10. This Pathway currently leads to any upper school Mathematics course except Geometry and Trigonometry in Year 11 and Calculus in Year 12. For Year 11 in 2008, it is anticipated that students will study new Courses of Study. Students in 10C Pathway should be well prepared to tackle any of these three new courses at high levels.
Pathway 10B course covers the same strands as Pathways C and D but at an easier level. Students entering this Pathway will have achieved the level 4 outcomes and be working on level 5 outcomes in Year 9. In Year 10, they will complete level 5 outcomes, and begin working on level 6 and level 7 outcomes. Students from Pathway B in Year 9 who have achieved in the upper two thirds of this pathway (9B), or those from Pathway C who had limited success, would probably succeed in Pathway B in Year 10. This Pathway currently leads to Foundations of Mathematics or Mathematics in Practice in Year 11, and Discrete Mathematics or Modelling with Mathematics in Year 12. For Year 11 in 2008, it is anticipated that students will study new Courses of Study. Students in Pathway B should be able to choose units in any of these three new courses.
Pathway 10A course covers the same strands as Pathways B, C and D, but with less concentration on the Algebra strand. Students entering this Pathway will generally have achieved the level 3 outcomes and be working on level 4 outcomes in Year 9. In Year 10, they will complete level 4 outcomes, and begin working on level 5 outcomes. Pathway A has no specific prerequisites. This Pathway currently leads to Mathematics in Practice in Year 11 and Modelling with Mathematics in Year 12. For Year 11 in 2008, it is anticipated that students will study new Courses of Study. There will be opportunity for students doing Pathway A in Year 10 to choose some units in these new Courses of Study for Upper School at an appropriate level.
Within pathways, different classes will undertake extra enrichment work. Also within classes, students will have optional enrichment work given to them which may not necessarily be completed by all students within the class. Activities for the enrichment aim to develop stronger investigation and problem solving skills in mathematics and will come from many sources, including enrichment of the core work as well as separate enrichment work based on other materials and in other contexts.
In each strand, activities will allow students to demonstrate how well they achieve the various levels, and allow them to develop further skills.