Yacoubb's Mathematical Methods CAS 3/4 Thread

[Yacoubb]

I'd like to get my bound book started. Any tips for it?

[brightsky]

Don't bother. Seriously. You will never use the bound book during the exam.

[b^3]

Don't bother. Seriously. You will never use the bound book during the exam.

It can be beneficial as a learning experience though. For me I made my bound reference throughout the year, and used it more as a summary to make sure I knew everything, and small things that I had to note. By the time you get to the end of the year, you want to be at the stage where you don't need to use the bound reference at all (as you'd probably know brightsky ) Throughout the exam I only looked at it once, and that was to go through the checklist I'd made of all the things I'd normally do wrong from past exams, to make sure that I didn't do them wrong on the real thing (ended up picking up a mistake and fixing it). It was beneficial to have the summarised version of my notes there to go and check back of, every as revision for sacs and such, even though I didn't really need it in the exam.

I guess it just depends on the person, different methods and processes will work better for different people, you've just got to find out what works best for you.

[Yacoubb]

Don't bother. Seriously. You will never use the bound book during the exam.

Yeah that happened with me for Further maths. I was thinking of maybe taking in a book with qs I got incorrect that I'll construct close to exam time.

[sjayne]

Each question is different though and you'll spend too long adapting it -
saying that i did use an example for a q in further :p but lost marks because of time.

[Yacoubb]

Each question is different though and you'll spend too long adapting it -
saying that i did use an example for a q in further :p but lost marks because of time.

Hmm.. I guess it's going to be a matter of what I feel comfortable with close to exam time. Thanks for the input guys. 

[shadows]

Any questions you find difficult, non routine questions, important things to note, areas of weaknesses...are all good things to put in a reference book.

It is great if you start the reference book NOW (ASAP) and keep on referring to it. Treat the reference book as study..... so by the time sacs/ exams come you don't need to refer to it.

Definitely agree with b^3 in terms of no correct way of making bound reference. Just do what you feel is best!

[Yacoubb]

Any questions you find difficult, non routine questions, important things to note, areas of weaknesses...are all good things to put in a reference book.

It is great if you start the reference book NOW (ASAP) and keep on referring to it. Treat the reference book as study..... so by the time sacs/ exams come you don't need to refer to it.

Definitely agree with b^3 in terms of no correct way of making bound reference. Just do what you feel is best!

Yeah I'll be starting that momentarily. I'll keep it as a reference that I can compile things I find I need to review. Thanks .

[Eugenet17]

I've been doing some quick summary notes + reminders about potential silly mistakes as well as a few difficult questions from each topic, come closer to exam time I'll probably add in difficult questions from practice exams as well

[Sergy01]

Build it as you finish topics. Include some good questions that challenge the concept, rather than just something dificult.

[spectroscopy]

What should we do over the holidays to prepare for methods 3/4? first 4 chapters or so?

also - what are some good resources that have helped you guys you would recommend ? eg checkpoints, A+ notes etc.

[shadows]

What should we do over the holidays to prepare for methods 3/4? first 4 chapters or so?

also - what are some good resources that have helped you guys you would recommend ? eg checkpoints, A+ notes etc.

Working too far is not worth it. First 4 chapters sounds reasonable as long as you take time to learn it well.
More importantly, brush up skills built in 1/2. 3/4 is very similar to 1/2, just a lot more application based.

Imo, checkpoints and A+ notes (For the questions, not the notes) are really good.

Spend these holidays making sure there are no flaws in 1/2, and work on your overall algebraic and arithmetic competence.

Also work on accuracy and timing ASAP, they are what will usually screw people up in SACs and exams- not difficulty.

[Yacoubb]

I'll be doing the first 8 chapters in detail over the summer. In doing that, I'll be ahead & still have time to consolidate the theory behind the concepts. It'll also give me a head start, which will allow me to complete the course term 2, and spend the remaining time studying for the exams.

[lArcdeTriomphe]

Working too far is not worth it. First 4 chapters sounds reasonable as long as you take time to learn it well.
More importantly, brush up skills built in 1/2. 3/4 is very similar to 1/2, just a lot more application based.

Spend these holidays making sure there are no flaws in 1/2, and work on your overall algebraic and arithmetic competence.

I agree totally with shadows. I personally wouldn't go beyond 4 or so chapters. Spend the holidays finishing the allocated homework and consolidating what you have learnt in 1/2 Methods (which is about 50% of the course for 3/4). Areas of concern for Methods could be: trig, composite functions, modulus functions, sketching power functions, computation, algebra skills and transformations. I wouldn't be bothered to do anything on calculus or probability, as you will cover it later in the year - and, chances are, you will have forgotten some of the stuff by then.

Of course, if you really want to be prepared, try working on exam techniques and so forth. For example, find a good study area at the start of next year to make sure that you can concentrate. As you will no doubt hear next year, Methods is a test of how well you can do tests, rather than a test of your mathematical ability. Many of the questions aren't that difficult, the concepts aren't too hard either. What differentiates the good from the best is one's ability to read questions carefully, to avoid making careless errors.
Hope this helps!

[mackintosh]

I agree totally with shadows. I personally wouldn't go beyond 4 or so chapters. Spend the holidays finishing the allocated homework and consolidating what you have learnt in 1/2 Methods (which is about 50% of the course for 3/4). Areas of concern for Methods could be: trig, composite functions, modulus functions, sketching power functions, computation, algebra skills and transformations. I wouldn't be bothered to do anything on calculus or probability, as you will cover it later in the year - and, chances are, you will have forgotten some of the stuff by then.

Of course, if you really want to be prepared, try working on exam techniques and so forth. For example, find a good study area at the start of next year to make sure that you can concentrate. As you will no doubt hear next year, Methods is a test of how well you can do tests, rather than a test of your mathematical ability. Many of the questions aren't that difficult, the concepts aren't too hard either. What differentiates the good from the best is one's ability to read questions carefully, to avoid making careless errors.
Hope this helps!

While I agree with this wholeheartedly in that slips of concentration is a main source of lost marks for people in Methods, I think that it is comforting for some students to have eyeballed a majority of the course and had a go at some of the harder concepts, so that they feel secure with the material. Panicking during the year, or in the exam is a certain way to lose marks. Going carefully through a large part of the course is not mutually exclusive with establishing good checking habits. Basically, make sure you are comfortable with predictable, middle-of-the-road types of skills and basic analysis questions before moving on. Worry about the algebraically creative questions later in the year.