11 Specialist Mathematics

SACE Stage 1: 10 Credits / 1 Semester / Mathematics

SACE Website:  https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/web/mathematics/stage-1

Pre-Requisite: 11 Specialist Mathematics is intended for selection by interested students who have received a ‘C’ grade or better in year 10 Mathematical Methods 2. A grade of ‘B’ or better in year 10 Mathematical Methods 2 these subjects is highly recommended. Participation in year 10 Advanced Mathematics Elective is advantageous but not required.

SUBJECT OVERVIEW

In year 11 Specialist Mathematics, students develop and enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities in the use of abstract mathematical concepts. They build a deeper understanding of how maths works, and how to represent and use abstract concepts. 

Year 11 Specialist Mathematics is intended to provide a pathway to studying year 12 Specialist Mathematics. This subject is designed to provide a high level of rigor, and students are expected to engage with significantly more difficult work than they would otherwise encounter. Students must have completed Mathematics 1 and 2 in semester 1, and will also be completing Mathematics 3 in semester 2 in addition to Specialist Mathematics. This pathway allows for students to complete stage 2 Specialist Mathematics in year 12. These pathways are designed for students intending to pursue a career or university in sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

Extensive use is made of graphics calculators to support and enhance student learning.

Students develop problem solving and analysis skills using a mathematical modelling process and may be required to do some research and gather information from outside of the school as part of this course.

This course places an emphasis on mathematical proof and conjecture development.

Topics may include

  • Further trigonometry
  • Geometry
  • Real and complex numbers
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ASSESSMENT

Assessment tasks include:

  • Folio (investigations / projects)
  • Skills and applications tasks (tests)

The use of a graphics calculator will be required to complete these tasks.

Additional Information

  • Stage 1 Mathematical Methods 1,2 and 3 are prerequisites for Stage 2 Mathematical Methods and Stage 2 Specialist Mathematics
  • Stage 1 Specialist Mathematics is also a prerequisite for Stage 2 Specialist Mathematics
  • Stage 2 Specialist Mathematics is generally a requirement for university entrance into engineering and specialist science related fields
  • to be successful in this subject a significant amount of study is required outside of the classroom
  • Note that participation in this course requires the purchase of a graphics calculator - Heathfield High School uses the Casio fx-CG50 AU calculators.

Last Updated: July 2024

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