Maths - Higher or Ordinary?

md99 · 08-03-2007 6:49pm #1

For statistics' sake...

adamcp · 08-03-2007 7:03pm

Higher but it's really getting difficult now because our teacher has been away for most of this year, if I do absolutely terrible in the mocks I may reconsider my options.........

Naikon · 08-03-2007 7:08pm

Ordinary.

AdMMM · 08-03-2007 7:11pm

Ol

ZorbaTehZ · 08-03-2007 7:37pm

Well there seems to be an extraordinary amount of NERDZ on these forums so I thing the results will be somewhat biased.
Needless to say, Higher level.

Steve01 · 08-03-2007 7:42pm

If I was doing Higher I'd be looking at a D2 at the max and it'd eat up so much time that could be spent studying other subjects. As such, Maths is the only ordinary level subject I'm doing. The course is far more managable and I'll probably end up with higher grades in my other subjects as a result.
Best decision I ever made

adam_ccfc · 08-03-2007 7:45pm

Higher

Nehpets · 08-03-2007 8:41pm

H

Lia_lia · 08-03-2007 9:28pm

Ordinary.

PurpleFistMixer · 08-03-2007 10:29pm

Higher. Tis great, we have a really small class.

md99 · 08-03-2007 11:11pm

Higher

ZorbaTehZ wrote:

Well there seems to be an extraordinary amount of NERDZ on these forums so I thing the results will be somewhat biased.
Needless to say, Higher level.

That's the biggest load of bollocks... Being a 'nerd' doesn't affect your ability at maths... Plenty of nerds do OL, plenty of normal people do HL...

Mushy · 09-03-2007 4:17pm

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

Higher. Tis great, we have a really small class.

Is it as small as my 4-in-the-class class? That number set to fall come Mock results time:D

I'm doing Higher, just need to work on it more before June, know I'm able for it. Would be quite risky dropping down, as I'm already doing Ord. Physics and Irish

PurpleFistMixer · 09-03-2007 4:44pm

Mushy wrote:

Is it as small as my 4-in-the-class class? That number set to fall come Mock results time:D

Ah, we have 7. Only 3 in the physics class though! : p

Nehpets · 09-03-2007 4:47pm

10 in mine, down from over 20

Grudaire · 09-03-2007 4:47pm

Ironically there is only 17%doing math overall... we must be the smart ones!

im...LOST · 09-03-2007 4:56pm

Ordinary Level.

I slogged it out untill about mid way of last year though

road_high · 09-03-2007 5:03pm

LC Class of 2001 advice; I did higher myself, got a D1 and didn't even need it for points or course entry requirements.
With hindsight (a great thing indeed!) I can safely say doing Higher was a waste of time for the most part, considering I spent almost half my study time on it to end up with my lowest grade of all! It was of some use in 1st year of college but most people had only pass and they all did fine in the end.

To cut a long story short, unless you really need it as a course reqt say for Engineering or something I don't see the point of putting yourself through all that stress for nothing. I know one thing for sure if I was back 6 years I certainly wouldn't have bothered with HL Maths...

Limerick Dude · 09-03-2007 6:22pm

Ordinary level, dropped down at the start of 6th year, I could do honours and probably pass it but it was taking WAY too much time to study it, it was exhausting, i decided to do ordinary level which is fine, ill probably get an A1 and now i can concentrate on other subjects more.

md99 · 09-03-2007 6:45pm

I think a student capable of an OL A1 would beat a C3 with lesser effort in HL? What do you all think? Though I suppose it is a hard call...

I was convinced I was dropping back after the pre, and barely focused on maths at all for it, but now I'm certain I'm staying in... An A1 in pass was tempting but I think I'd get the C2 or C1 in hons with a little effort, and if not I'd at least get the C3

Limerick Dude · 09-03-2007 6:51pm

Hmmm, i'll admit i found it very difficult in honours. exam papers....past a's i could do, b's would be tough and c's i would not have a chance. Im not sure, it would just take WAY too much time to get a C in honours. Id be happy with 60 points from OL.

JC 2K3 · 09-03-2007 7:37pm

Higher. It's the easiest subject I do.

eZe^ · 09-03-2007 7:41pm

Honours, really good math teachers in my school though, so tis all good.

md99 · 09-03-2007 8:11pm

Limerick Dude wrote:

Id be happy with 60 points from OL.

This is the dangerous things about Pass Maths. The 60 points from an OL A1 is great but not as easily achievable as many think... (not picking on you Limerick Dude, lol)

Nearly everyone I seem to meet in Pass Maths acts like an A1 is a breeze... Even if they were to get A2s, that's still quite a drop at 10 points down

Limerick Dude · 09-03-2007 8:20pm

Yes md99 i get what your saying, i know for sure that I didnt get an a1 in my mock, but thsi was mainly due to my lack of study, i winged it pretty much, i had to concentrate cramming for other subjects like physics and economics.
I know if i put in a bit of work i can get an a1 in OL maths.

rediguana · 09-03-2007 8:23pm

I did PASS out of laziness and I got an A1. Ten years later it still haunts me for jobs etc. If you can do Honours, do it.

cheerio · 10-03-2007 1:45am

I'm in higher, and I'm fairly sure I've failed my mocks. Yet my teacher says if I did ordinary I'd get an A1 or A2. I think I can manage to go up to a D1 by the leaving, and I don't want to move to move to ordinary because I'd really need an A1, and I could easily get an A2.

md99 · 10-03-2007 2:35pm

i'm surprised by the 72% statistic..

PurpleFistMixer · 10-03-2007 3:49pm

Maybe it's not a complete load of bollocks after all? : )

1huge1 · 11-03-2007 3:53pm

I dropped down to OL in november

ninty9er · 11-03-2007 3:58pm

cheerio wrote:

I'm in higher, and I'm fairly sure I've failed my mocks. Yet my teacher says if I did ordinary I'd get an A1 or A2. I think I can manage to go up to a D1 by the leaving, and I don't want to move to move to ordinary because I'd really need an A1, and I could easily get an A2.

Everyone in my class failed the pre's and 1 dropped down and all the rest of us passed...the worst pre result was something like 13% and the best was 39%...I got 37% and got a C3 in the real exam...it shows where your weaknesses are so you have time to fix them

Limerick Dude wrote:

Hmmm, i'll admit i found it very difficult in honours. exam papers....past a's i could do, b's would be tough and c's i would not have a chance. Im not sure, it would just take WAY too much time to get a C in honours. Id be happy with 60 points from OL.

Think I know the school...sounds like the ASR mentality???? who was your honours teach if it is??

lilmizzme · 11-03-2007 4:59pm

It depends on the person dosen't it.....if your're able for the higher course go for!Personally, if I was having extreme difficulty (which I was) then I'd drop to pass and focus on your other subjects. It's my only pass subject so I dont plan on counting it. I'm so glad I reasised it wasnt happening for mee at the start of 5th year though. Took off so much pressure and extra work!

Does anyone think there's a bit of a snob factor when doing honours maths? I know plenty who are doing it and are either failing or scraping a pass....I think they just like being able to say they do Honours Maths. Having said all that, there's more doing foundation in school then there are doing Honours

md99 · 11-03-2007 8:36pm

lilmizzme wrote:

Does anyone think there's a bit of a snob factor when doing honours maths? I know plenty who are doing it and are either failing or scraping a pass....I think they just like being able to say they do Honours Maths. Having said all that, there's more doing foundation in school then there are doing Honours

In ways... But then there are so many outrageously academic people who do Pass... I think the problem is TOO many get the idea of drop back, get the A1, get the same points as a C3 in honours...

I know plenty who stay in HL Maths, and risk FAILING it even, knowing well they'd probably get more points from Pass.... I don't know WHY they do it, unless it's needed for their course (speaking of my own class, I don't think it's needed in any..)

If there is a snob factor I think it is somewhat warranted, not that it's right. HL Maths is FAR more difficult to HL, say, English, or Irish, in my opinion... I was of the opinion I'd drop back after the pre, and was content to do so, then when I got my results back, something happened and I started working like mad... A few weeks later now and I'm averaging 30-45/50 in many questions... So ya never know what will happen. Throughout 5th year and most of this year I was never comfortorable with the subject.

There's a well known story in our school of a fella who failed his LC due to failing maths, and getting ridiculously high points in everything else..

KnifeWRENCH · 12-03-2007 10:36pm

Mushy wrote:

Is it as small as my 4-in-the-class class? That number set to fall come Mock results time:D

my HL class has the mighty total of 2 (including me!!!) we had 11 at the start of 5th year,but people evntually kept dropping down... strangely,its double the number who did it last year (one girl from latvia)

:D i wasnt sure about doing HL but i got a C2 in the pre (and dat was with two terrible questions on paper 2 : 13/50 and 14/50) so with a bit of work,im fairly comfortable about it now..

eZe^ · 12-03-2007 11:06pm

md99 wrote:

In ways... But then there are so many outrageously academic people who do Pass... I think the problem is TOO many get the idea of drop back, get the A1, get the same points as a C3 in honours...

I know plenty who stay in HL Maths, and risk FAILING it even, knowing well they'd probably get more points from Pass.... I don't know WHY they do it, unless it's needed for their course (speaking of my own class, I don't think it's needed in any..)

If there is a snob factor I think it is somewhat warranted, not that it's right. HL Maths is FAR more difficult to HL, say, English, or Irish, in my opinion... I was of the opinion I'd drop back after the pre, and was content to do so, then when I got my results back, something happened and I started working like mad... A few weeks later now and I'm averaging 30-45/50 in many questions... So ya never know what will happen. Throughout 5th year and most of this year I was never comfortorable with the subject.

There's a well known story in our school of a fella who failed his LC due to failing maths, and getting ridiculously high points in everything else..

Id disagree, math is way easier to get an A1 in than Irish/ English. Both those subjects require a ridiculous amount of learning off. Math is alot more straight forward, your either right or wrong. Thing is, some people are the exact opposite I suppose, its just where each individuals intelligences lay.

:| · 12-03-2007 11:42pm

Mushy wrote:

Is it as small as my 4-in-the-class class? That number set to fall come Mock results time:D

I'm doing Higher, just need to work on it more before June, know I'm able for it. Would be quite risky dropping down, as I'm already doing Ord. Physics and Irish

Higher maths and ordinary physics?? thats the strangest thing I've ever heard!

JC 2K3 · 12-03-2007 11:44pm

^Agreed!

md99 · 13-03-2007 8:49am

eZe^ wrote:

Id disagree, math is way easier to get an A1 in than Irish/ English. Both those subjects require a ridiculous amount of learning off. Math is alot more straight forward, your either right or wrong. Thing is, some people are the exact opposite I suppose, its just where each individuals intelligences lay.

You're right about that last part.. Many maths whiz's I know are brilliant at the maths/science subjects and a lot weaker at languages...

I don't agree about Eng/Irish having a ridiculous amount of learning.. Do they really? I know many who don't do a stroke during the two years and pull Cs or Bs... English is for the most part a natural ability.... Someone who doesn't have this ability, but knows the course material, may pull the same grade as someone with the 'ability' who has only a half knowledge..

I think Irish and English are only swatting subjects to a minor extent, and natural ability for the rest..

Marshy · 13-03-2007 11:28am

eZe^ wrote:

Id disagree, math is way easier to get an A1 in than Irish/ English. Both those subjects require a ridiculous amount of learning off. Math is alot more straight forward, your either right or wrong.

Its hard to get an A1 in Irish because your standard of Irish has to be very high. Theres not much learning off at all when you compare it to the likes of biology, economics etc. You learn off some poetry, drama, prose and stair. Thats not such a ridiculous amount.
Similarly with english, all there is to learn is poetry( dont mention war), comparative and macbeth.
Maths is only way easier if its your strong suit.

Naikon · 13-03-2007 3:39pm

Mushy wrote:

I'm doing Higher, just need to work on it more before June, know I'm able for it. Would be quite risky dropping down, as I'm already doing Ord. Physics and Irish

Is it Unusual for someone doing Ordinary maths, who also does Higher Physics?
To be Honest the maths isnt too bad except for Circular Motion which I find a little bit confusing, I mean most people hate Electricity but I find that section pretty easy which isnt the Norm in my class LOL!

13-03-2007 3:42pm

Naikon wrote:

Is it Unusual for someone doing Ordinary maths, who also does Higher Physics?
To be Honest the maths isnt too bad except for Circular Motion which I find a little bit confusing, I mean most people hate Electricity but I find that section pretty easy which isnt the Norm in my class LOL!

Nah, my mate got an A2 in OL Maths while getting a B2 in HL Physics. He did honours Irish, and thought he would get a higher results in that then Maths for time spent so went to pass maths.

Naikon · 13-03-2007 3:48pm

Oh, Ok:)
I reckon I am not the only one:p

I reckon you really would need a good score in Honours Maths
For Physics at third level, as from what I have seen Physics is very different at third level.

Its a little strange we dont use even a little Calculus in Physics.
Lets hope I make do with a solid ordinary score for comp.sci in DIT.

ethernet · 13-03-2007 7:16pm

Naikon wrote:

Is it Unusual for someone doing Ordinary maths, who also does Higher Physics?
To be Honest the maths isnt too bad except for Circular Motion which I find a little bit confusing, I mean most people hate Electricity but I find that section pretty easy which isnt the Norm in my class LOL!

I dropped down to pass maths after the JC. I'm doing HL physics. Just a case of learning off some of the minute HL maths stuff required [that log stuff has come up a few places]

md99 · 13-03-2007 11:23pm

ethernet wrote:

[that log stuff has come up a few places]

arghhh... log.. the bane of my f**king leaving cert!

JC 2K3 · 13-03-2007 11:37pm

log is simple when you get your head around it.

If Log to base a of b = c
Then a^c = b

If: x(Log to base a of b) = c
Then: Log to base a of b^x = c
And therefore: a^c = b^x

If: (Log to base a of b) + (Log to base a of x) = c
Then: Log to base a of bx =c
And therefore: a^c = bx

That's all there is to it. Well actually there's a formula for changing the base of a log, but I can't remember it, you rarely have to use it anyway.

Nehpets · 14-03-2007 1:46pm

logs are your friend

eZe^ · 14-03-2007 7:47pm

Naikon wrote:

Oh, Ok:)
I reckon I am not the only one:p

I reckon you really would need a good score in Honours Maths
For Physics at third level, as from what I have seen Physics is very different at third level.

Its a little strange we dont use even a little Calculus in Physics.
Lets hope I make do with a solid ordinary score for comp.sci in DIT.

Too true, physics has the hardest math of any courses at 3rd level bar Math Science itself. My friend was showing me some of the regular formula he uses everyday, theyd make applied math look like addition and subtraction!

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Naikon · 14-03-2007 8:16pm

I know, I Mean take a look at this for example:

http://maths.ucd.ie/~sdolan/notes/handout2.pdf

Nothing like that at second level.

Corruptedmorals · 14-03-2007 8:28pm

Wow, good few nerds here then.

Ordinary, and thank god. I can actually grasp something new very fast, but I forget it equally fast, and I fecking hate part c's. Failed my way through Junior Cert higher and scraped a D in the actual.

Got 63% in my pass maths mock there. Happy with that, c2 with no effort. Automatically not counting it, and not in danger of failing, so I'm pretty much ignoring the subject, often using revision of topics I know really well as undone-homework time..

In our honours maths class, 7 people passed. Cue loads of people dropping to my class..

eZe^ · 14-03-2007 8:45pm

Naikon wrote:

I know, I Mean take a look at this for example:

http://maths.ucd.ie/~sdolan/notes/handout2.pdf

Nothing like that at second level.

Its like the massive gap between the standard of math at J.C level and L.C.

Piste · 14-03-2007 11:01pm

I'm doing HL atm cos I was moved up at the beginning of TY cos of my JC results. I'm finding it grand so far but we're just touching on the course really, I might find it more difficult and have to drop down in 5th year. I'd say my class size will reduce by loads by this time 6th year, it's ridiculous at the moment there's something like 36 of us in the one class!

Blowfish · 15-03-2007 2:43am

Naikon wrote:

I know, I Mean take a look at this for example:

http://maths.ucd.ie/~sdolan/notes/handout2.pdf

Nothing like that at second level.

It is a bit of a shock at first, but you actually get used to maths like that fairly quickly and it really doesn't scare you. I mean imagine if you were doing your junior cert now and had a look at the higher level leaving, it would look just as meaningless.

Maths - Higher or Ordinary?

Maths - Higher or Ordinary? 50 votes

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