Mathematics Whatsapp Classes

Mathematics Whatsapp Classes are starting on the beginning of March.  We are trying to improve convenience of online learning through a mobile messenger.

The class is easy to join at anytime. What the student only need to do is to join a whatsapp broadcast List of the tutor. 

Messages,  video tutorials,  illustrations and exercises are received by the subscribed students only.

The major topics for March include the following :

1. Scale
2. Similarity
3. Symmetry
4. Time, Speed and Distance
5. inequalities
6. Volume and Density
7. Estimations and Approximations
8. simple Interest

If you are interested in joining the class follow link  https://m.facebook.com/groups/718907334864332?view=permalink&id=975189422569454&refid=18&_ft_=qid.6253572079134038974%3Amf_story_key.975189422569454%3Atl_objid.975189422569454#footer_action_list

Focus on Locus 1: First Things

Focus on Locus 1: The First Things

Locus is one of the most crucial questions of Math Exam and contributes more than 6% (12 marks) to the final exam score. Candidates ought to take the topic seriously and carefully attempt the question.

There are few major concepts that must be mastered on the topic

1. Learn to construct a 60, 90, and 120 degree angles

These are most common requirements of exam questions. They form the basics of loci and other angles are build upon these angles.
Candidates should be able to construct these angles using compasses and rulers only. Accuracy and visibility of arcs, labels and lines guarantee a higher score.

2. Learn to bisect a line and an angle.
Bisecting an angle means to divide the angle into two equal angles. Bisection gives two or more small, equal angles. It's an important concepts in finding equi-distance between two lines, for instance,finding an equidistance between AB and BC.
Line bisection is finding the midpoint of a line and it's the basic concept of constructing perpendicular lines (90 degrees). This is the equidistance between two points for instance, an equidistance between A and B.

Bisection of an angle helps much in constructing odd angles like 135, 150, 105 and 150.
A 135 angle can be constructed using 90 angle concept and then another bisected 90 angle (45 degree angle). An angle can bisected further into 4, 6 or more equal parts.

Changes to Zimsec Mathematics Paper 2

Mathematics second paper will no longer be answered on separate answer sheets. The paper comes with provided spaces for workings and answers like the first paper. The structure of the paper and the questions have not been changed, the first section remains compulsory and Section B with three options.

We will only comment on the effects of this change to the paper after the exam but the likely effects can be: complexity/simplicity of the questions against the spaces provided, questions either graphs among other items.

Tips for Non Calculator Math Candidates

Although many schools have since adopted a calculator version MATHS syllabus, a significant number of candidates are still registering for a non-calculator version. Many teachers have decided to skip teaching topics that are essential for a non-calculator syllabus.

Many candidates are getting into the exam room without perfect knowledge on how to attempt a non-calculator syllabus. Finishing the second paper is still a challenge for the candidates and they lack skills to calculate complex expressions that are easy on a calculator.

Non-calculator Math Candidate? This blog posts will help you with tips and tricks around the exam.

1. Know how to use logarithms and antilogs.

Don't ignore this topic! Antilogs and logs are used to calculate complex expressions including multiplying sines, cosines and tangents of angle and other decimal fractions. Use of antilogs makes the whole life easy for you in the exam.

2. Use a ruler to look up for a value in the table.

Many candidates make mistakes when looking up a value in the tables and eventually picks a wrong value from the table lists. Make sure you use a ruler to avoid mistakes that might costs you marks.

3. Always use tables to find squares and square roots 

If you try to find squares and square roots using other means, you will obviously not finish the exam. Learn to use tables to find square roots of numbers that are not perfect squares. 

4. Use tables when multiplying decimal fractions

Decimal fractions can eat up half of your exam time if you try to multiply or divide them the traditional way. Learn how to find a solution the shorter way through the use of tables.

5. Identify a reciprocal and use tables

A reciprocal is a decimal value of a fraction whose numerator is 1. Don't stress yourself by trying to find the decimal fraction through division process, it's right there in your reciprocal tables.

These are some of the few tips for a non calculator version. If a non calculator Math candidate understand the use of tables, they are at par with someone who registered a calculator version. 

Algebraic Fractions: What to expect in the Exam!

Algebra Fractions: What to expect in the Exam!

In the previous post I highlighted that Algebra is one of the three major contributors to the Exam. Last year it weighed more than 21% of the total exam. This means it is a critical section of the syllabus and candidates need to master the tested concepts from this section.

In today's post, I will try to explain what is likely to be tested this year in November, referring to previous Exams. 

Let's begin...

1. Algebraic Fractions

Candidates are expected to apply the laws of fractions to algebraic terms. The same concepts of HCF (common denominator) and lowest term (factorisation and division) applies. The concept usually comes in two different forms and can be determined by the structure and length  of the paper.

There two forms are 

 i) Express as a single fraction 

Under this concept, two algebraic fractions must be added or subtracted. They usual have a common denominator and can be factorized to identify similar expression. Lowest term is when similar , factorized terms are canceled out to leave the fraction in its simplest/lowest algebraic terms. This is normally a Paper 2 type question usually found on the second question.

 ii) Simplify the fraction:

Simplification of an algebraic fraction can be a tedious task. Candidates are required to simplify or reduce the given algebraic fraction to its lowest terms. There are obviously identical factors both in the denominator and the numerator which must cancelled out yo leave the fraction in its lowest terms . 

This is normally a paper 1 question as observed in other November Past Papers.

 iii) Solve the Equation

The algebraic fractions are also tested as equations that end up in quadratic equations. This can be easiest to some candidates as removing the denominator can be completed by cross multiplication. They usually carry 2 or more marks depending on the complexity of the question. 

NB: These question types can be found in both papers.

In the next series of posts, I will focus on other concepts of Algebra that are likely to be tested in the Exam.

New Tutorials on YouTube

I have uploaded new videos on YouTube on Basic Algebra and Substitution , Number bases, Decimals and percentages, Rate and ratio, Simple interest

You can now watch them on the following link

http://youtu.be/CXrqmGWcBzc
http://youtu.be/LiJ50uA51PY
http://youtu.be/idK50RsjweU
http://youtu.be/J0PCdMFAxFY

Please subscribe to the channel for new uploads updates
thank you

Maths Examination Structure Analysis

Understanding  an Exam structure for any subject is essential in studies and designing an Exam strategy. Candidates ought to be aware of what is expected by the Exam, it's weaknesses and strengths, and how best anyone can score higher marks in every paper.

Exam reports, past papers with answers and textbooks help much in preparing candidates for the Exam. However  it doesn't reveal the major challenge and bias of the exam structure. 

In this blog, I will analyse the Exam Structure of Mathematics, Zimsec syllabus. This analysis will complement Exam reports, Past Paper Revisions and Tutorials. It's premised upon the major strengths of the Exam, topic value, study tips and analysis of the best strategy that should have been adopted by the candidates to score high in the Exam.

The syllabus

Available in booklets and downloadable as PDF, the zimsec syllabus specifies the topics, concepts, and skills that are tested in the final Exam. It's divided into 11 major sections which are 

1. Numbers

2. Sets

3. Consumer Arithmetic 

4. Measures and Mensuration 

5. Graphs and Variation

6. Algebraic Concepts and Techniques

7. Geometric Concepts and Techniques

8. Trigonometry

9. Vectors and Matrices

10. Transformations 

11. Statistics and Probability 

An Ordinary level course should be completed in five school terms, which is less than 2 years. On average, 2 sections and 20% of another section of the syllabus is expected to be full covered. It's advisable to study Mathematics along a syllabus for guidance. 

The Exam Structure 

The piechart above shows the weight of each paper/section as specified in the Syllabus. 

The first paper contributes 50 percent of the total exam Mark. It carries upto 30 questions worth 100 marks and tests almost the whole syllabus. There are no options for the paper and every candidate is expected to attempt all the questions without the use of calculators or tables. 

The second paper is divided into two sections, Section A which is 64% of the paper and has 6 compulsory questions. Section B has 6 questions which carries equal marks and candidates are expected to opt for 3 questions only. This section carries 36% of the paper. 

In total, the second paper contributes 50% to the final Exam Mark, which means Section A contributes 32%, and Section B 18% to the Exam Mark.

Case study: November 2014 paper 1 & 2 

We are going to analyse the structure of November Session 2014 (Not the replacement) Exam. We have chosen the original paper since it was the Zimsec's first choice and reflects the best standards for the Exam. 

The two papers will reveal to us the distribution of topics from the syllabus in 2014 examination, Mark allocation for each topic and the major strengths of the Exam. 

The following sections were tested and Mark allocation for each topic are shown in the table

Table 1: TOTAL QUESTIONS FOR EACH SYLLABUS SECTION

 

The above table shows the total questions for each syllabus sections. The section with highest number of questions for the November 2014 Mathematics Exam was Numbers/Consumer arithmetic, followed by Algebraic Concepts and Techniques and then Geometrical Concepts and Techniques. Many questions were in Paper 1 and the Section which appeared in many questions in Paper 2 was Measurement and Mensuration.

This shows that there are Sections which are the backbone of Paper 1 and others are reserved for Paper 2. Algebra and General Arithmetic appear to be the major topics for the Maths Exam. They contribute significantly to the Exam.

Table 2: TOTAL MARKS FOR EACH SYLLABUS SECTION

The table shows the total marks allocated for each section of the syllabus in the November 2014 Exam. We see that the sections which had many questions also carried more marks for the total exam score. 

Algebra and General Arithmetic weighed more than 40% (combined) of the total exam Mark. Other valuable topics for this Exam were Geometric Concepts and Techniques, Measures and Mensuration and Statistics and Probability.

You can also see that Geometric concept Mark allocation were balanced in both papers and Measurement and Mensuration weighed more in Paper 2.

The graph above reveals that Sets were the least topic in the Exam and those who put much effort in algebra, Numbers and Geometrical concepts were guaranteed of a pass in this Exam...

Recommendations 

We can draw many lessons from the structure of the Exam and mark allocation for each syllabus section.

1. Algebra, Numbers and Geometrical concepts were the major part of the Exam

2. Measures and Mensuration, Transformations and Statistics and Probability are mainly paper 2 questions

3. Paper 1 is the most important since it contributes more to the Exam

4. Section A contributes significantly more than Section B to the total Exam Score

5. Time management for Both papers is essential.

For an in-depth analysis of the Exam, study tips and more recommendations please download a PDF document in the downloads section on this blog.