[thetonynator]

Project maths is bloody great, it's so much easier than having to learn off methods of doing stuff, you actually understand all the probability stuff. The problem here is that everyone resists any sort of change.

[Canard]

I agree a bit tbh. Statistics is so easy but then Normal Distribution which is basically abstract statistics makes no sense to anyone in the class.

[mathsgrinds]

All the past papers and marking schemes are available in one spot here:

http://www.themathstutor.com/Past_Exam_Papers.html

and here

http://www.themathstutor.com/Marking_schemes.html

Hope it helps.

[mathsgrinds]

Correction:

All the past papers and marking schemes are available in one spot here:

http://www.themathstutor.ie/past-exam-papers.html

and here

http://www.themathstutor.ie/official...g-schemes.html

Hope it helps.

[Togepi]

My biggest problem is that anyone who does project Maths now, and wants to do Maths in college hasn't a hope. Any other problem is fairly irrelevant in comparison.

What I do like is the whole idea of understanding, and the fact that, because it's so much easier than before (from what I can see so far), I actually have a chance of getting a C or D in Maths now.

Each and every one of the twenty-five extra points are also quite beautiful.

In terms of getting points it's fantastic, but if you want to be able to do Maths after school it's absolutely hopeless, but I think the old course was the same because students were rarely thought to understand the topics.

[chomps_x]

I HATE the little grid you have to write in I structure an answer a certain way and there just isn't enough space! Grrrrr

[magicianz]

Project Maths:

Helps slackers and people who are very mathematically challenged get more points.

Punishes people with actual maths ability by not preparing them properly for college.

Ive done only 1 basic calculus module in college so far, got 50% in the exam.

Leaving Cert - A1.

My prayers to the maths gods are with next years college entrants, drop out rates will unfortunately climb higher =/

[AdamD]

Pretty sure project maths has the exact same calculus in it as the old maths course..

[Togepi]

Originally Posted by AdamD

Pretty sure project maths has the exact same calculus in it as the old maths course..

Then the course has been taught wrong for the past few years. It's just worse now because project Maths seems to be easier. Either way Maths lecturers haven't too much praise for the Leaving Cert, to say the least.

[Ericaa]

I think Project Maths is awesome

[shlong]

How has nobody stated what the main issue for most of my classmates is- Those who thrive at maths tend to be (note the word tend) not too amazing in languages. People who thought they were guaranteed an A are now doubting themselves just because they might struggle to either a: understand what's actually being asked or b: know what examiners are looking for in an 'opinion' answer.
Another thing... My sister's studying maths and has said to me on many occasions that ,since college lecturers are very anti project maths, very few are going to be willing to give us 'catch up' time for basic requirements in their courses. Be warned.... We will be lacking.

[doc_17]

Originally Posted by AdamD

Pretty sure project maths has the exact same calculus in it as the old maths course..

It does for this year. The Projects Maths Syllabus is being phased in over 4-5 years. This year paper changers partially. 2013 sees an entire new Paper 2.

Calculus will escape the change for current 4/5/6 year students but will in time change.

[Tradceol]

Not a fan of project maths at all. I'm liking the idea of 25 extra points but starting in fifth year is just a joke! Imo its not proper maths now with all the explaining and stuff. I personally don't think this was properly thought through, the book we are using wasn't even out until the middle of October! My teacher hardly understands it and is convinced that we will be moving back to the old course very soon. Anyone else confused by the little boxes we have to write in?

[professore]

Originally Posted by Patchy~

I agree a bit tbh. Statistics is so easy but then Normal Distribution which is basically abstract statistics makes no sense to anyone in the class.

Well finished secondary myself, but the normal distribution should be very easy to understand. Have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqw9cLRMPL0

You kids have great resources at your fingertips, we had nothing like youtube or google back in the 80s, you were stuck with the teacher and the textbook and that was it.

[professore]

Originally Posted by shlong

How has nobody stated what the main issue for most of my classmates is- Those who thrive at maths tend to be (note the word tend) not too amazing in languages. People who thought they were guaranteed an A are now doubting themselves just because they might struggle to either a: understand what's actually being asked or b: know what examiners are looking for in an 'opinion' answer.
Another thing... My sister's studying maths and has said to me on many occasions that ,since college lecturers are very anti project maths, very few are going to be willing to give us 'catch up' time for basic requirements in their courses. Be warned.... We will be lacking.

I have always found that the best engineers, programmers and scientists are generally not the ones who got A1's in exams but the ones who can interface between the non-techies, understand what they want, and implement it.

In the real world, you will need to be able to talk to people who waffle on forever about what they want but can't describe it in any meaningful technical sense. So Project Maths sounds to me more like the real world than the fantasy academic world.

I did a Maths degree with pass Maths for the LC, as did a few of my college buddies - and outperformed a lot of my honours Maths classmates. So there must be something wrong with the old LC.

Edit: On second thoughts the major problem with LC Maths - at least in my day - were:

1. Bad teachers
2. Bad textbooks with examples for the easiest 1 or 2 problems and then 40 much harder problems with new concepts thrown in and not explained.

Judging by my daughter's 2nd year maths book nothing has changed.