Level of Maths Questions for Year 9 MHS Entry

[Aearator]

Hi all, I just wanted to ask which year levels of mathematics will be on the maths exam, as I am going to be trying out for year 9 entry into MHS this year. I'm currently going through a year 9 maths textbook, but will there be any year 10 maths on the exam, and if so which year 10 maths topics will be covered?

I also wanted to ask if it would be worth going through a year 8 Maths textbook, as I was in an accelerated maths class in year 7 doing year 8 maths for one semester. Which year 8 maths topics should I know for the exam? If anybody could provide help, it would be greatly appreciated 

[FelixZF]

I dont remember my entrance exam that well since it was so many years ago. But I'm quite sure the maths was very abstract, not like the stuff on textbooks, as well as being heavily focused on time management. It definitely won't go beyond year 9 content, but you do need to know algebra topics such as factorising very well.
I would recommend doing some practice tests under test conditions, as the main thing is to do questions quickly and accurately.

[Aearator]

Thanks! I'll go through my year 9 textbook and be sure to follow your advice 

[randomnobody69420]

From what I remember lots of algebra, simplifying, surds, percentages, trig, linear graphs. I don’t remember there being a question about parabolas when I did it but my sister said there was a few on this year’s exam.

I don’t think it’s worth it to go through a year 8 textbook because I think year 8 maths is just year 9 except less in depth/hard. The best way to revise is to do as many practice exams under timed conditions as you can, but don’t stress about it too much. I know lots of people who didn’t study at all and got in MHS with 2 superiors.

[Aearator]

Thanks for the help randomnobody69420, I’ll definitely look into buying some form of practice maths exam book and I will try to complete it under timed conditions. Though I will probs use my maths textbook to learn some key concepts related to maths. Just another question, do you reckon there will be any circle geometry on the maths exam? Thanks for the help again 

[KidwaiMaaz001]

There was circle geometry on the 2017 test.

[Aearator]

Thanks 

[KidwaiMaaz001]

Some other advice:

I wouldn't use the official practice tests on the DET website as a way to gauge how difficult the tests are. They vary annually in difficulty, and I can attest that the test I gave this year made the DET practice test look like a cake walk. The same can be said about some other practice tests, such as the ones from Spectrum Tuition. It's difficult to gauge for the 4 other tests, but the Numerical and Mathematical Tests that I bought from Spectrum were magnitudes easier than the actual test on the day. A friend told me that James Ann provided practice tests actually more difficult than the real test, so that was good. The same goes for a simulation test I took when I went to Century Tuition; as hard if not harder than the actual test, which is what you want. I won't give advice on what specific papers you should use, but I would say that you should look around carefully for who supplies the tests. 

[Aearator]

That’s exactly why I’m doing James An right now because the people on this forum have said that the practice tests were harder than or at the same level of the actual exam. The tests are actually challenging and pretty difficult and I usually end up getting above average (very rarely top 11%) without much study outside of the homework we do, but hopefully the work I’m putting in right now can help improve my scores

[Phoenix11]

Hello Aearator!
So basically when I was studying for the test, I went through the year 9 textbook.It will be extremely beneficial if you really understand the content in the textbook and really be able to do all the different levels of questions. You know how there are extension parts of the textbook, do them especially as you'll get to practise key skills that may help in the exam! In Essential Math for example, some of the extension parts they have at the end of each exercise are actually a grade higher.
I hope this helped and please feel free to ask me any questions!
 

[Aearator]

Hello Aearator!
So basically when I was studying for the test, I went through the year 9 textbook.It will be extremely beneficial if you really understand the content in the textbook and really be able to do all the different levels of questions. You know how there are extension parts of the textbook, do them especially as you'll get to practise key skills that may help in the exam! In Essential Math for example, some of the extension parts they have at the end of each exercise are actually a grade higher.
I hope this helped and please feel free to ask me any questions!
 

Thanks for the advice Phoenix11, haha yeah, whenever I use the essential maths books for school, I always just do the beginning parts of the exercise and skip the extension because it takes up way too much time. I will definitely follow your advice now and start to do the extension part.
 
Just wondering, when you used the essential maths textbook, did you time yourself for each maths exercise? If so then what were the time restrictions you utilised? Do you reckon I should just do all the topics in the year 9 essential maths textbook or only a select few?

Thanks for the help again 

[Phoenix11]

Hello Aearator!
So when I did the essential math textbook, I didn't use time restrictions even though I tried to no avail. It is definitely a great idea to use time restrictions as that way you can practise for the exam but don't focus too much on time. You need to make sure that you really understand how you're doing all the questions so you can follow the different mathematical methods for example. So I suggest you work on accuracy first and when you're nearing the exam, you work on time, especially when you are in the revising stage for example(that's what I did).
To be honest with you, I tried going through the whole textbook but there wasn't enough time so I went through the highlighted topics that were going to be on the test and then I skipped the easy questions to focus on the harder ones. My tip is to go through the important topics you aren't that familiar with and build on those first. Then if you have time, you can do the easy exercises for revision.
I hope this helped and feel free to ask any questions!
 

[jz27]

That’s exactly why I’m doing James An right now because the people on this forum have said that the practice tests were harder than or at the same level of the actual exam. The tests are actually challenging and pretty difficult and I usually end up getting above average (very rarely top 11%) without much study outside of the homework we do, but hopefully the work I’m putting in right now can help improve my scores

Haha nah, dunt believe that shit. I went to James An and got top 11% every time. But I can surely tell u that mhs is much much harder. I have some tips for you. PM meh.