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Must-haves
to prepare
Clement
Radcliffe, Contributor
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| Tyrone Hall,
Paulanne Green and Mikhail Foster of Meadowbrook High School, which defeated Ardenne
high to secure their place in the finals of the National Schools' Debate competition,
earlier this year. - Kerisa
Arnold Photo | At
the outset, let me welcome you all to the CXC Study Guide series for this school
year. After the improvements of the 2004- 2005 school year, it is with regret
that I inform you of the decline in performance in mathematics in the 2006 examinations.
I implore you to join me in studying together this year. Please be assured that
the material to be presented will go a far way in supporting your efforts.
It is
important to remind you that mathematics is not a subject to fear, but rather
one which will bring you immense pleasure as you learn the various concepts and
solve question after question. In assessing students' performance in the past,
other examiners and I are of the view that too many students are ill-prepared
for the examinations. We also feel that papers have been quite straightforward
and hence better quality results should be achieved. Experience
has confirmed that weaker students wait until it is too late to begin adequate
preparation. Studying maths is quite unattractive to these students so they postpone
their involvement as long as they can. Let me remind these students that they
can begin by emphasising the recall and method levels, (that is, recall of facts;
also do calculations, and apply methods e.g. simultaneous equations). Problem-solving
can be developed later with practice. To
have you adequately prepared for the external examination, I urge you to get the
following materials: 1.
SYLLABUS This
will inform you of the following: - Structure
of the examination
- Details
of the specific objectives.
The
syllabus is available at schools or CXC Western Zone Office at 37 Caenwood Road,
Kingston. 2.
TEXTBOOKS You
may select from any of those available on the market. You should use the one with
which you are most comfortable. 3.
NOTEBOOKs A
hardcover book or folder is recommended. Students must ensure that work done throughout
the course is kept together so that it may be reviewed at any time. The recommended
format for each topic is as follows: Topic:
Date:
Brief
notes. 4.
PAST-PAPER QUESTIONS Available
in bookshops. 5.
RESOURCE MATERIALS Media
publications, for example, weekly CXC Study Guides in the Youthlink, the popular
publication by The Gleaner. A
wide variety of model answers. 6.
INSTRUMENTS Mathematical
instruments and a calculator, which can be used in Paper 2 at both the general
and basic levels. This
is a comprehensive list of the materials which are required and must be used regularly.
To all
tutors of mathematics, let me remind you to motivate your students. Motivation
is the most effective approach in dealing with a student's fear of mathematics.
This strategy requires the continued effort of parents and teachers and may be
achieved through the following: - Constant
encouragement
- Offers
or rewards when earned
- Gentle
persuasion where necessary
- Firm
insistence that they stay the course when there is evidence of tardiness
- Ongoing
involvement in the practice of problems of increased level of difficulty.
- Constant
review of topics done in the lower forms.
Of
those listed above, practice is the most important strategy. The careful selection
of questions should result in some success. This will build the self-confidence
of the students as they attempt more difficult problems. I
wish to use this opportunity to commend those students who have done well in their
examinations. I suspect that it was those who were diligent in their preparation
who did well. To those who were unsuccessful, there is still another chance. You
may wish to register now for the January 2007 sitting of the examination. As
you are no doubt aware, the mathematics examination has two papers as follows:
Paper
1 - 60 multiple choice items
Paper
2 - essay-type questions Please
attempt the following multiple choice items. 1.
26 -
3³ = (a)
3
(b) 8
(c) 27
(d) 37 2.
If 5n is an odd number, which of the following is an even number? (a)
5n - 2
(b) 5n + 2
(c)
5n + 7n
(d) 5n - 1 (a) 1/8
(b) 1/2
(c) 9/32
(d)1/4 4.
23.. 96 x 0.25 is approximately: (a)
0.6
(b) 2
(c) 20
(d) 0.06 Once
again, I wish you all the best as we embark upon this important journey together.
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