Studyclix study guide Mathematics - methods

From graphs, to probability, to integrating whatever f(x) means, Maths methods involves a
lot of mathematical… methods. This study guide aims to give you some tips and tricks to
navigate VCE Maths Methods this year.

How to prepare for SACs

Your SACs for methods make up 34% of your final grade. You will have around 3 SACs
throughout the year which should cover much of the content you need to know. The SACs
for maths subjects are usually quite involved taking up a week of class time each. I suggest
you use your SAC preparation wisely as this will put less pressure on you during the exam
period.

Class time is precious

Even though this is true of all other subjects, I think it applies most to maths. The majority of
the time in class is spent doing questions and going through examples. Being surrounded by
30 or so other students also doing the same set of questions, this is the best opportunity to
ask for help when you hit a roadblock. I believe garnering a strong support network in class
is one of the keys to success in maths subjects, and only makes it all the more enjoyable.

Ask your teacher questions

Whether it is in class, afterschool or during lunch times, ask your teacher for help if you are
having trouble with anything. Teachers appreciate you taking the initiative and chasing them
up. Having another pair of eyes look at your work can prove invaluable.

Questions, questions, questions and more questions

Methods is a subject where the more questions you do, the better you’ll grasp the subject
as a whole. I would first go through the Cambridge textbook questions which eases you into
applying the new concepts you have learnt. You don’t have to do every single question, but
do it until you get the hang of a particular type of question. I would then prioritise the topics
based on questions I had difficulty with and read my notes, watch a video (Eddie Woo is
amazing) or go through the textbook until I felt comfortable with it.

Practice SACs
Even though textbook questions are great, I would always do practice SACs provided by the
school before each SAC. These questions offer a level of difficulty which is much more akin
to the actual SAC, hence you’ll be better prepared after you do them. I did around 2 practice
SACs under timed conditions which should be plenty of preparation for the assessment.
Studyclix study guide Mathematics - methods

Make a killer bound reference

A lot of you may view making summaries as a slow and tedious process which can be a
skipped to save time. I however found that notetaking was the single best way to
consolidate your learning onto a few pages. A huge plus is that you’ll be able to take this
into the exam, so work on it consistently throughout the year or you’ll run out of time!
While creating your summary I suggest you:

1. Make it easy to find everything

I saw someone in my class using tabs once and thought that was a great idea.
And it sure was, it made everything so much easier to find especially during
SACs and exams when time is of the essence.

2. Make your explanations brief

When I first made my summary book in year 11 it was an absolute mess,
there was just way too much in there that it could be considered a textbook.
Your notes should be as brief as possible and only contain what you need or
you’ll be bogged down during assessments.

3. Include lots of examples

I believe that examples in maths serve as a much better explanation than
long sentence description. I would make all my examples in blue so they
would stand out from the other notes and you can put little explanations in
the margin. I also suggest you leave a few pages after each major topic - I’d
use this space to write more challenging questions that I had difficulty with in
case I encountered a similar question.

4. Have tips on how to use your graphics calculator

You can use your CAS calculator in a plethora of ways. I would write out the
syntax for common question types so that if I got flustered in assessments I
could refer back and know how to approach the question. Your textbook
should have sections on how to use you calculator which you can copy.

5. Have fun making it

This summary should be uniquely tailored to you and your style. Choose the
colours you want to use and set it out in a way that appeals to you best.
Studyclix study guide Mathematics - methods

How to revise for EXAMS

Be familiar with your graphics calculator
As mentioned before, you should have guides in your summary book in case you get dazzled
in the exam. You should be using the same graphics calculator throughout the year so that
when exam time rolls around you know exactly how to tackle questions.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE EXAMS

You’ve probably heard about practice exams a million times by now, but let me tell you,
they are a godsend when you’re studying for the exam. At the end of the day, 66% of your
methods mark is going to be your exam result. So, what better way to study for this exam
than by doing exams yourself.
 I started doing practice exams a month out from the actual one which gave me
plenty of time to revise.
 Try and do them under timed conditions, so you are really simulating the exam
environment. Of course, it will be hard when you get started so give yourself some
leeway until you get settled into it.
 I recommend you do at least 10 practice exams starting with the recent VCAA
papers, followed by company ones and finally older VCAA papers.
 If you do an exam 1, do the corresponding exam 2. Get equal exposure to both exam
types.
Studyclix study guide Mathematics - methods

REVIEW exams with sample answers and assessor’s report

Now, even though I suggested doing 10 or so exams before, I have to repeat the age-old
mantra “Quality OVER Quantity”
 Completing your exams is only part of the job! After each exam, I made sure to open
up the corresponding examination report which shows you exactly what the
assessors are looking for. There are also some handy tips, so it is a good idea to make
note of them.
 There are also some awesome YouTube videos out there of people going through
the exam with full working out which I found super helpful.
 I would mark my exams harshly (as examiners will surely do) so please don’t say “I
would’ve written that” if you haven’t. You’ll only be cheating yourself and won’t
learn anything from it.

Record Everything
I recorded every exam I did in a logbook. You can just create a spreadsheet or a table to fill
out like the one I’ve made below. This really helped to see my progression as the exam day
loomed closer and closer.
Date Exam Mark Notes
1. Actually show, in show that: show
all of your working out – every
single step you did
2. Misreading the question:
underline key words when reading
the question and don’t move on
without reading the question
2015 VCAA 87/93
DD/MM/YYYY again
Examination 94%
3. Silly calculation errors: Proof-read
your exam to pick up on these slip
ups
4. Forgetting correct notation:
include the correct notation in
your notes so you don’t forget
again
I can’t stress enough how important it is to use the notes section to document your
mistakes. I’ve written the common types of mistakes and how to tackle them in the table.
Don’t worry, I was slapping my forehead a lot during this period too, but making mistakes
now will prevent you from making them during the exam!
Studyclix study guide Mathematics - methods

Exam DAY
You will have 2 exams for methods. One with a calculator and one without.
 Use the reading time to get a feel for what topics are covered and how you will
approach the questions. Make a mental plan of attack.
 Plan your time out before going into the exam. I suggest you play to your strengths
first and come back to topics you have trouble with.
 Put aside 10 minutes at the end to check through your exam. I was notorious for
making silly mistakes throughout the exam, so this part is crucial.
 Do NOT get caught up too long on a question. Countless students run out of time
because of this. Rather move on and try to get as many marks as you can in the time
available.

Exam 1
The first exam seemingly has the same structure every year. The questions start off easy and
get more difficult as you progress. You should be able to smash out the first 3 or 4 questions
quite quickly and spend most of the time on the remaining questions which are more
involved. Just remember that the questions may look strange, but they use the same basic
mathematical principles you have been learning throughout the year. It’s ok to sometimes
start again and try a different approach (keeping time in mind of course).

Exam 2
Multiple choice questions
The methods exam comes with 20 multiple choice questions with some being quite tough.
Your best friend when it comes to MCQs is your graphics calculator. If you are familiar with
how to use it, you should whiz through most of these questions! Just remember while
you’re staring at the question, scratching your head, the answer is staring right back at you
so if worse comes to worst make an educated guess.

Short answer questions tips

How to graph
 If the question asks you to label key features label as much as you can to get full
marks. This includes axes, intercepts, endpoints, stationary points, asymptotes and
don’t forget a scale.
 With restricted domains, if the value is included use a closed dot, if not you use an
open dot. Always check this as many students lose marks here
 Asymptotes should be labelled with equations (y=? or x=?). Your graph should
approach the asymptote very closely but never touch.
Hence questions
 Use the answer you obtained from the previous question
Show that questions
 You must show all of your working out. It’s tempting to just plug everything into a
calculator and get the answer but that’ll only result in you getting one mark.
Some extra random tips
 Your answers should always be in exact form unless otherwise stated
 Write dx after the expression when differentiating and integrating
 Don’t forget the +c when integrating
Studyclix study guide Mathematics - methods

 Remember + or – when square rooting

Final tips
Nag Use your teachers
Teachers are walking fountains of knowledge – having marked hundreds of SACs and exams,
they know what they’re talking about. I’d recommend you build a strong working
relationship with your teacher and ask questions when you need to - even if the question
may seem a bit silly, your teachers are there to help.

Help and be helped by your friends

Having study buddies is equally important, whether it is making a group chat or meeting up
once a week to go through concepts you are having difficulty with. I always found trying to
teach a concept to someone else to be the single best revision technique because you really
need to understand to make someone else understand too!

Enjoy Methods!
Even though the words maths and enjoy are hardly ever used together by students, I’m here
to tell you that maths can be enjoyed. Working methodically and getting to the right answer
with grit and determination gives you a feeling of elation like no other. Having fun with the
subject will result in you appreciating what you’re learning, and this positive attitude will
allow you to excel.