The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the main senior secondary qualification in Victoria. A VCE course is made up of subjects and units. Subjects include English, mathematics, science (physics, chemistry etc.), design and so on, and one subject is made up of four units. Each unit is a semester in length. Units 1 and 2 are usually studied in Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 in Year 12, although students can stop after Unit 2.
There are different ways to structure your VCE program and students are advised to talk to their teachers or a careers teacher to get the advice best suited to their future goals — be that entry into university or commencing work.
This series of articles focuses on one subject — VCE maths, specifically Further Maths — and will look at different resources to help you navigate the VCE maths program as well as the benefits of studying Further Maths as part of your Year 12 package.
Let's start by taking a look at the VCE maths course in general.
The VCE Program for Maths
All subjects within the VCE maths program are designed to expose the student to relevant and challenging mathematical study. The aims of each level are to:
- develop mathematical concepts, knowledge and skills
- apply mathematics to a variety of areas and contexts
- use technology effectively for mathematical work.
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There are four unit levels available in Year 11 and three in Year 12.
Foundation Mathematics
Students who do not wish to continue their study of maths in Year 12 can take the Foundation Mathematics units in Year 11. However, if they change their mind, students can elect to take Further Maths but may need to undertake some supplementary study.
General Mathematics
Topics covered in General Mathematics are non-calculus based and include statistics, linear functions, measurement, data analysis and financial arithmetic. They cover the requisite knowledge and skills for continued study in Units 3 and 4 of Further Maths.
Mathematical Methods
Units 1 and 2 of Mathematical Methods provide an introduction to simple functions, algebra, calculus, probability and statistics. Units 3 and 4 extend this study and provide the background knowledge and skills for further study in areas including science, humanities, economics and medicine.
Specialist Mathematics
Students who are interested in an advanced study of maths will usually take Specialist Mathematics. Each unit includes topics such as calculus, probability and statistics with a focus on mathematical reasoning and structure. The study of Specialist Mathematics requires previous or concurrent study of Mathematical Methods units.
Further Mathematics
Designed to be widely accessible, the Further Mathematics course comprises two units (3 and 4) and provides general preparation for employment or further study, particularly in areas where data analysis and number patterns are important. A student who has completed General Maths will be well prepared for Further Maths, however, if students have only been studying Mathematical Methods, supplementary learning will need to be accessed to ensure the student has the prerequisite skills and knowledge to commence this course.
Okay, I'm thinking of studying Further Mathematics. What else do I need to know?
There are two areas of study in Further Mathematics.
Unit 3 is the compulsory Core Study and consists of two main topics:
- data analysis
- recursion and financial modelling.
Unit 4 focuses on Applications and each student may choose two of the four options:
- matrices
- networks and decision mathematics
- geometry and measurement
- graphs and relations.
What about assessment?
Assessment comprises two main sections.
School-based assessment
Essentially, this component is an assessment of whether the student has satisfactorily met all the outcomes of each unit. Teachers are required to provide a variety of lesson activities and assessment tasks to give each student adequate opportunity to demonstrate their attainment of key knowledge and key skills. The assessment tasks must be part of the regular lesson program and should not add to student workload but should be completed mainly during lesson time and within a reasonable timeframe.
School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 20 per cent to the overall study score. For Unit 4, it contributes 14 per cent to the score.
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External assessment
Each unit is formally assessed via exam. There are two end-of-year exams that must be taken for each unit.
The first exam is one-and-a-half hours in length and consists of multiple choice questions designed to test student knowledge of mathematical concepts, models and techniques and their ability to apply this knowledge in a range of contexts.
The second exam, also one-and-a-half hours long, consists of written response questions, which are designed to test the student's ability to select and apply mathematical facts and concepts to solve extended application problems in different contexts.
I think I may need help!
Knowing that you need help is a crucial step toward success. It may be that you were studying Foundation Maths or Mathematical Methods — so now you need some supplementary learning to increase your skills in preparation for Further Maths. Or perhaps you are finding some of the concepts in Further Maths a little tricky.
Either way, engaging a private Further Maths tutor is going to help you.
What to Look for in a Further Maths Tutor
If you are in need of private maths tuition, you are certainly spoiled for choice because there are hundreds upon hundreds of private tutors out there, including those who work for tutoring agencies and tutors who work for themselves — both online and in person. However, it is important to realise that not all maths tutors offer the same service or cater for every level — and this should be the first thing you check when you are selecting a private tutor.
Will this tutor meet my needs?
Given the importance of the VCE score, you will want to ensure your tutor has a good understanding of the requirements, content and outcomes in the VCE Further Maths units. Do not be afraid to ask questions of any potential tutors; they should be able to assure you that they are familiar with the content and the specifics of the course. If not, they cannot help you.
On your side, it is important that you communicate to your Further Maths tutor, or prospective tutor, exactly where you need assistance to enable them to prepare lessons that specifically address your needs.
Do you need to fill gaps in your knowledge and practical application experience before you can tackle the Further Maths units? If so, make sure you tell your tutor where the gaps are ... probability, algebraic functions, calculus, statistics etc. If you aren't sure, your tutor will probably run you through some assessments so they can assist you in identifying these areas of need.
Alternatively, you may have the knowledge but need help applying it in different contexts. If this is the case, your private tutor should be able to design their lessons to be practical, with sets of open-ended questions and different scenarios for you to practice and discuss.
Or perhaps you are fine during class lessons but freeze in assessment or exam situations? There are tutors who specialise in exam preparation and techniques.
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At the end of the day, though, you also need to make sure you can relate to the private tutor you engage. If you have a good rapport with your tutor, your lessons are easier and your experience is more enjoyable and, therefore, effective.
Where to Find the Best Maths Tutoring in Melbourne
Maths tutoring in Melbourne is easy to find — but make sure you follow the recommendations above to ensure you are getting value for money.
If you're after a private tutor who works for themself, rather than an agency, your best bet would be to check university noticeboards, community noticeboards and social media ads in and around Melbourne. With the ease of online tutoring, you can, of course, look further afield for tutors — Adelaide, Brisbane or even Perth — if you're in Melbourne but don't necessarily want in-person tuition.
One of the best places to check if you want private freelance tutors is the Superprof platform. At Superprof, you will find hundreds of private tutors from Melbourne, other Australian states and throughout the world. Make sure you filter their profiles to find the tutors who have specialist knowledge with VCE maths and take advantage of the 'first lesson for free' offer that most tutors make available.
Most tutors provide a range of tutoring in different subjects, including all VCE subjects, English and science subjects like chemistry and physics.
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