Mathematics in 1st Year Science

KKBL

Is it true that the people who take Honours maths in 1st year get more points than those who take pass maths and therefore have their pick of subjects in 2nd year while the pass maths people have to chose from the leftover subjects?

As a student going into first year undenominated science next week I must admit I'm very unsure about what Maths subject to take. I have to pick one of Mathematics (Honours maths), Mathematical Studies (Pass maths) and Applied Maths. Ideally I would love to do the honours subject but because I did OL maths for the LC I'd be worried it would be too difficult.. I've also heard some people say that doing honours maths is a waste of time if you have no intention of continuing with maths in 2nd year because the syllabus is "more wordy" or something like that. Basically I want to do honours maths because I'll feel like I'm missing out if I do pass, but all the same I'm worried that it will be too difficult. Can anybody offer their advice?

RolandIRL

No, it is not true that Honours Maths carries more points. All subjects have the same amount of credits assigned to them in first year (15 credits IIRC).

I honestly wouldn't recommend doing honours Maths unless you're planning on doing your degree in it or at least up to 3rd year. It'd be a lot of work put in when you mightn't necessarily need it. If you're going to go into another area for your degree, go with pass maths. It'll make life so much easier.

Below are a few blurbs I've written before for people who've queried about maths and applied maths. I think some aspects may have changed since I've done some of these courses so you'd be best emailing the lecturers for up to date info.

As I say to most people, feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

RolandIRL wrote:

If you do have the option of doing honours, I wouldn't recommend it if you did Ordinary for the LC. It's very conceptual and unless you *really* like maths, you will find it extremely tough. I have no experience with pass maths in NUIG, but from my friends, as long as you're not lazy about it, you'll do well.

Applied maths is like the LC syllabus if you're familiar with it, but plenty of people took it, having no experience with it and did good. It's mostly differential equations and solving them, eg simple harmonic motion equation with damping or not, 1D/2D motion etc etc. The lecturers are completely sound.

RolandIRL wrote: »

1st year maths is divided into two modules, Algebra and Analysis (basically college level Calculus). The algebra is sound, i found it easy enough. The analysis is a bit more tricky, very theoretical and conceptual, very different to the LC maths calculus (maybe Project Maths does it different since I did the LC). Easily passable with a bit of work.
2nd year maths is again divided into the two modules, algebra is procedural again with a wee bit of theory questions thrown in. Analysis is split into Real (1st semester) and Complex (2nd semester). Complex is more procedural but still a bit tricky and has hard to understand concepts, at least i found. I found Real to be even more complicated and time-consuming.
Lecturers are sound for the most part, one or two I found a bit meh. You will need to devote a fair bit of time to study if you want to continue on with Maths.

1st year applied maths is almost identical to the LC course if you've done it. If not, it's still very doable, most of my class hadn't done it and they were able for it. It's also similar enough to the LC Physics course in some aspects, but you'll be doing more about differential equations and solving them.
2nd year applied maths (Honours) is split into a Methods and a Mechanics course. The Methods is handy enough, learning about how to solve various problems, mostly a procedural modules but with new concepts. Mechanics is a good bit of theory, can be tricky but very doable.
Lecturers are very helpful with everything, if you've no experience in the subject, you can call round to their offices and they'll walk you through it step-by-step.

...

And for all your modules, try and go to most of the tutorials, the tutors know what they're doing (for the most part) and you might be able to wrangle some exam hints outta them.

KKBL

RolandIRL wrote: »

No, it is not true that Honours Maths carries more points. All subjects have the same amount of credits assigned to them in first year (15 credits IIRC).

I honestly wouldn't recommend doing honours Maths unless you're planning on doing your degree in it or at least up to 3rd year. It'd be a lot of work put in when you mightn't necessarily need it. If you're going to go into another area for your degree, go with pass maths. It'll make life so much easier.

Below are a few blurbs I've written before for people who've queried about maths and applied maths. I think some aspects may have changed since I've done some of these courses so you'd be best emailing the lecturers for up to date info.

As I say to most people, feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

Thanks for the feedback. The reason I'm intent on doing Honours maths in 1st year is because when I was in 6th year in secondary school I always found pass maths so boring and simple and I always regretted the fact that I didn't do honours maths. I felt like I was missing out on something that I'd actually enjoy and find interest in. I don't want to end up in that situation again this year where I choose to do pass maths and regret it a couple of months in.
I'm 99% sure that I'll be heading down the biology/chemistry route so its nothing to do with having prerequisites, it's just that I genuinely want to explore maths as a subject and I'm worried that pass maths won't allow me to do that because all of the concepts are watered down. All the same I might end up hating H maths and find it extremely difficult but surely its worth a try?

yer man!

KKBL wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback. The reason I'm intent on doing Honours maths in 1st year is because when I was in 6th year in secondary school I always found pass maths so boring and simple and I always regretted the fact that I didn't do honours maths. I felt like I was missing out on something that I'd actually enjoy and find interest in. I don't want to end up in that situation again this year where I choose to do pass maths and regret it a couple of months in.
I'm 99% sure that I'll be heading down the biology/chemistry route so its nothing to do with having prerequisites, it's just that I genuinely want to explore maths as a subject and I'm worried that pass maths won't allow me to do that because all of the concepts are watered down. All the same I might end up hating H maths and find it extremely difficult but surely its worth a try?

I did pass for the LC too and I found it s bit too easy as well to be honest. When I went into science I tried honours for about a week and didn't really like it. It's extremely wordy, didn't even see an number until about the 4th lecture. It goes into the history of calculus and stuff like that, unless you're going to do a degree in maths I wouldn't recommend it. Most people do pass in first year and it's actually kinda fun, I found it to be a step up from pass LC maths and I did quite well in it too.

ejayy

yer man! wrote: »

I did pass for the LC too and I found it s bit too easy as well to be honest. When I went into science I tried honours for about a week and didn't really like it. It's extremely wordy, didn't even see an number until about the 4th lecture. It goes into the history of calculus and stuff like that, unless you're going to do a degree in maths I wouldn't recommend it. Most people do pass in first year and it's actually kinda fun, I found it to be a step up from pass LC maths and I did quite well in it too.

Hey I know you might not be active but its worth a try! I have selected honors maths but after reading everything about it Im reconsidering to pick applied maths, I was just wondering how you were able to change after a week??

Darth Floodric

Is maths in third level not just a the same level. I thought the notion of pass and honours is left behind at secondary school

wmirl

ejayy wrote: »

Hey I know you might not be active but its worth a try! I have selected honors maths but after reading everything about it Im reconsidering to pick applied maths, I was just wondering how you were able to change after a week??

First port of call is to email the maths lecturer or your course head. Check the NUIG maths page for their emails. They'll guide you on how to change.

Darth Floodric wrote: »

Is maths in third level not just a the same level. I thought the notion of pass and honours is left behind at secondary school

In most courses, yes there's no separate honours/pass module, but in first year undenominated science every subject group involves either maths or applied maths and since many people are painfully bad at maths, a pass maths module allows them to at least learn some maths to get them to the next year.

Darth Floodric

wmirl wrote:

In most courses, yes there's no separate honours/pass module, but in first year undenominated science every subject group involves either maths or applied maths and since many people are painfully bad at maths, a pass maths module allows them to at least learn some maths to get them to the next year.

Is this the case in all universities?

wmirl

Darth Floodric wrote: »

Is this the case in all universities?

No idea, my only experience has been with NUIG. I imagine it varies from college to college though.

Gatame

Darth Floodric wrote: »

Is maths in third level not just a the same level. I thought the notion of pass and honours is left behind at secondary school

We have this option in Computer science as well. If you do the higher you're in lectures with financial maths and other maths-based course students and take the same exam as them. The vast majority of the CS students don't do the higher however.