Subject Selection for VCE - Which Maths Should I Choose?

If you’re preparing for VCE, it’s essential to know which maths subject to select. In fact, the subjects you’ll be choosing may influence your options beyond high school. You’ll need to set your goal, and what knowledge and key skills a particular subject can provide, especially if it’s required in the career you are pursuing.

You must also know if the maths subject you’re taking will be relevant to the areas or fields within your career path.

Here are some of the things you’ll need to know when choosing maths subjects within the VCE curriculum:

• Foundation Mathematics

Foundation maths is for students who want to develop their mathematical skills and use it in practical contexts, which is required in everyday life in the community, at study, and at work. Also, if you do not intend to undertake Unit 3 and 4 studies in VCE mathematics, then this is the viable path for you.
Another thing to remember about Foundation Maths is its strong emphasis on areas that include shape, space, design, patterns and numbers, measurement, and data. Students will tackle various techniques, processes, and routines involving real and rational arithmetic, lists and tables, diagrams, geometric constructions, equations and graphs.

Therefore, by undertaking these units, students are expected to use by-hand and mental approaches to computation and estimation. They should also have developed graphical, numerical, symbolic, and statistical functionality of technology for learning and teaching mathematics.

• General Mathematics

General Mathematics is designed to prepare students to undertake unit 3 and 4 Further Mathematics. The areas of study covered within this subject will include arithmetic and number, algebra and structure, discrete mathematics, trigonometry and measurement, geometry, statistics, arithmetic and number, graphs of non-linear and linear relations.

In addition, content covered in this subject is a clear progression of knowledge and skills from Unit 1 and Unit 2. So, students are expected to be able to use estimation, computation, by-hand, and mental approaches to solving problems.
 

• Mathematical Methods Unit

Mathematical methods units 1 and 2 provide an introductory study of several areas, which includes probability, statistics, algebra, calculus, function of a single real variable, and their applications in various theoretical and practical contexts. These are also designed to prepare students for Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4, which contain assumed knowledge from these units.

In units 2, the focus is more on simple transcendental functions and calculus of simple algebraic functions. At the end of units 2, students are expected to have learned the content outlined in these units, and they must be able to apply the techniques, routines as well as processes they have covered in this subject.

• Specialist Mathematics Units 1 and 2

Specialist Maths is for students who wish to acquire an in-depth knowledge of mathematics. This subject will provide a course of study with emphasis on concepts and skills as well as processes that are related to modelling, mathematical structure, problem-solving, and reasoning.

So, if you have an interest in the discipline of mathematics and to have a sound background for further studies in maths and its related fields, then you should take this subject.

Overall, be sure to choose the subject(s) that interest and challenge you, but are not so difficult that they consume all of your study time, causing anxiety over poor grades or failure. 

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