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VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: Biology24123 on January 09, 2016, 11:22:04 pm

Title: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: Biology24123 on January 09, 2016, 11:22:04 pm
Should I get any extra books because it seems like cambridge has a lot of questions of different type. What do you guys think
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: Swagadaktal on January 09, 2016, 11:30:59 pm
extra books as in extra practice exams? Yes
Extra books as in not extra practice exams? No
Extra practice exams? Yes
Practice exam questions? Yes
Non extra practice exam questions? No
Did i also mention you should try to do morep ractice exam questions than book questions?
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: MightyBeh on January 09, 2016, 11:47:48 pm
I am a huge fan of the new Cambridge books. This time around their interactive online content is actually interactive, and it's super great. For learning I recommend it 100%, they've nearly always had good good examples but now they have videos too. For revision they're also great - the revision chapters are a pretty standard feature in maths textbooks but they also have tests and printable worksheets which provide near-instant feedback.

Pretty much what Swag said though - in my mind you shouldn't need more than the Cambridge book (well actually, more than one textbook in general) to learn the content, so if you're going to spend money spend it on practice exams or more and harder questions in general.
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: Biology24123 on January 10, 2016, 12:14:41 am
I am a huge fan of the new Cambridge books. This time around their interactive online content is actually interactive, and it's super great. For learning I recommend it 100%, they've nearly always had good good examples but now they have videos too. For revision they're also great - the revision chapters are a pretty standard feature in maths textbooks but they also have tests and printable worksheets which provide near-instant feedback.

Pretty much what Swag said though - in my mind you shouldn't need more than the Cambridge book (well actually, more than one textbook in general) to learn the content, so if you're going to spend money spend it on practice exams or more and harder questions in general.

What would you suggest for exam type questions (not the ones with full exams). Thanks
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: YellowTongue on January 10, 2016, 06:43:56 am
I know some people will disagree, but I'm a fan of Checkpoints. There are quite a number of questions in them to keep you preoccupied.
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: clarke54321 on January 10, 2016, 06:59:08 am
Does anyone know if Cambridge has worked examples for methods 1/2?
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: keltingmeith on January 10, 2016, 09:42:47 am
Does anyone know if Cambridge has worked examples for methods 1/2?
It used to, should still.

The 3/4 and 1/2 books are basically identical, the only differences is what each is actually teaching. Things like layout, interface, etc. are identical between the two.
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: qazser on January 10, 2016, 10:56:40 am
worked examples online come start of school term :)
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: clarke54321 on January 10, 2016, 11:16:53 am
Great, thanks guys!
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: MightyBeh on January 10, 2016, 01:05:47 pm
What would you suggest for exam type questions (not the ones with full exams). Thanks
Can't help you there, I've never felt like I've needed anything other than the practice exams provided by my school and my textbook. Sorry  ;)
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: upandgo on January 16, 2016, 02:10:40 am
do you guys know if NEAP methods exam 1&2 question books are worth it? i heard from someone they're good but i thought i'd ask here first  8)
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: Biology24123 on January 16, 2016, 02:32:23 am
do you guys know if NEAP methods exam 1&2 question books are worth it? i heard from someone they're good but i thought i'd ask here first  8)

Haven't used it but don't see why it's worth the money when you could just print an exam online instead of using a book that contains exams? Or am I missing something.
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: upandgo on January 16, 2016, 05:49:41 am
Haven't used it but don't see why it's worth the money when you could just print an exam online instead of using a book that contains exams? Or am I missing something.

true! but my school doesnt give out many exams, plus i think NEAP exam questions are harder than the VCAA (they were for my subjects last year)  :)
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: Maz on January 16, 2016, 11:30:14 am
this is kinda related...but i was wandering how are the maths quest ones?
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: qazser on January 16, 2016, 11:34:45 am
this is kinda related...but i was wandering how are the maths quest ones?

Check textbooks summaries thread. Essentials is the best imo.

Generalised Textbook Summaries
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: qazser on January 16, 2016, 09:18:28 pm
Putting this out there, didn't want to create my own thread. Does anyone have other Methods Textbooks for 3/4? What are your thoughts b/c change in study design might mean better textbooks.
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: zsteve on January 17, 2016, 08:07:57 pm
Cambridge is the best Methods textbook imo, and it's definitely enough for the time being until practice exams (except for maybe Checkpoints, but they aren't really good as they're just VCAA questions).
On top of that, maybe a study guide if you want exam techniques or info on what can turn up on the exam and what can't, (?) but Cambridge Essentials is fully comprehensive for course content.
Title: Re: Is the Cambridge text book enough for Methods
Post by: qazser on January 18, 2016, 09:51:54 am
Cambridge is the best Methods textbook imo, and it's definitely enough for the time being until practice exams (except for maybe Checkpoints, but they aren't really good as they're just VCAA questions).
On top of that, maybe a study guide if you want exam techniques or info on what can turn up on the exam and what can't, (?) but Cambridge Essentials is fully comprehensive for course content.

Just to mention, the chief author of Essentials (M.Evans) is head chair of the VCAA Maths committee. That means he writes or has input into all the VCAA maths exams, if that will swoon anyone over to Essentials.