Specialist mathematics is tough, but that’s not gonna stop you from taking it is it?
Are you someone who enjoys delving deep into complex mathematical problems (or imagining imaginary numbers)?
If so, you may want to consider VCE Specialist Mathematics as one of your subjects (yay!). This subject is not for the faint-hearted, as it deals with many, many advanced concepts. To list a, topics such as advanced calculus, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry are just a few to name.
One of the key idiosyncrasies of this subject is its heavy reliance on mathematical proofs, which means you’ll need to be more than correct, but additionally precise and fluent in your problem-solving skills. However, the rewards for mastering this subject are high, with an amazing +12 scaling from a raw 30. What’s not to love?
The agenda for this blog is to allow you to give you a bit of an introduction to the world of complex numbers and vector planes and to discover the many ‘wonder’ of Specialist Math.
● So, what is Specialist Math all about?
Specialist maths is about exploring deeper and more theoretical concepts within mathematics. It requires both skill and active thinking in order to approach and answer certain questions correctly. Although it is not required for the majority of courses, for students who are passionate keen, capable and just love maths and want to pursue mathematics in tertiary study, a specialist is a must subject for you! After all, it’s a pre-requiste for many key subjects like Engineering!
● What are some of the topics in Specialist Math?
There are a plethora of topics covered within the four units of Specialist Math. However, here are the topics that will appear on your final exam:
● Complex Numbers
● Circular Functions
● Vectors and Vector Planes
● Differential Calculus
● Differential Equations
● Integration
● Kinematics
● Vector Calculus
● Graphs
What do any of these mean? It’s best if you find out yourself, don’t want to scare you off just yet!
● Exam/SAC tips
Now, if you’ve already been convinced to take Specialist Math, here are some killer tips to help land you your dream study score.
1. Don’t rush your response – Under extreme exam pressure, even the top students are prone to doing questions at a faster-than-usual pace to finish under timed conditions. Such an act can prove to be a double-edged sword. This is the worst mistake you can make during a crucial SAC or in the exam. Rushing makes one more prone to silly mistakes, and silly mistakes may be the difference between a 49 and a 50 (not that it matters sometimes because the scaling is Insane”. The competitive advantage over your peers that you’ve been working up to for the entire year will be thrown away if you are not extremely careful. Hence top students never rush, but always leave time for double-checking at the end of the SAC or exam.
2. Draw up a roadmap of how to solve the problem – Diving into solving a problem without fully understanding what the question is asking or even what information has been provided may cost you precious minutes. Instead, try to lay out the “tools” that the examiner has provided to you for fixing the problem. Within the first 30 seconds of the initial read, the top students would have already had an idea of what the question requires and the steps they need to take to get to the solution. Having a clear idea of what steps you need to take to reach the answer is key to gaining full marks for every question and eliminates the loss of working marks in the exam.
Do the work – There is no subject in VCE that one can get their desired study score in without putting in the hours. Although tedious, focusing on your weaknesses and building a strong foundation is key to putting a good score on the table. Practicing questions will help boost confidence as well as improve speed and accuracy in the real exam.
