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Choosing the correct proficiency level Clement Radcliffe, Contributor
St. Elizabeth Technical High School's Schools' Challenge Quiz Team. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
LESSON TWO
I presented last week, a list of materials which you should procure to ensure your success in the CXC examinations. The materials include:
(a) Syllabus - including amendments (b) Hard-cover notebook (c) Suitable textbook(s) and past papers
It is critical that each student has these available and indeed uses them appropriately as we approach this series of lessons.
A review of the syllabus will indicate that students can enter at either the basic or the general proficiency level. The general proficiency level was NEVER intended for all students. It was designed for those who will pursue further education, especially in mathematics or related fields. It is also required to gain entry to some courses in tertiary institutions, for example, engineering at the University of the West Indies or at the University of Technology. The basic proficiency, on the other hand, is designed for those who wish to use mathematics in certain jobs, for example, working as a cashier. This is due to the emphasis which is placed on the practical areas in the basic examination. I should warn, however, that a pass at the general proficiency level is given wider recognition. It is widely felt that many students would fare better had they been prepared for the basic proficiency. It follows clearly then that you should consider objectively the proficiency level for which you should register in November.
Students pursuing the basic or the general proficiency level are required to do two papers as follows:
(a) Paper 1 - Multiple Choice (b) Paper 2 - Essay-type questions
Each of these papers requires different approaches.
Last week, I presented four multiple choice items as practice lessons. I hope you had no difficulty in completing them. If you have not yet done them, please do so now.
You are asked to note the following with respect to multiple choice items:
(a) It is in the best interest of students to try to gain as many marks as possible on this paper.
(b) Among the four responses given for each question, there are three detractors (wrong answers) and a key (correct answer). The three detractors given are usually based on a popular error made on the topic being tested. Random guessing is therefore not a recommended strategy.
(c) The correct answer may be determined by any of the following strategies:
(1) Working the problem to determine the answer.
(2) Eliminating the detractors by testing each answer until the correct one is found.
(3) A combination of (1) and (2).
We will apply these strategies in the following examples:
STRATEGY 1
EXAMPLE: If a * b * 3a + b, then 1 * 3 =
(a) 10 (b) 9 (c) 4 (d) 6
SOLUTION
Since a * b * 3a + b then 1 * 3 = 3 x 1 + 3 = 6
ANSWER is (d).
STRATEGY 2
EXAMPLE: If 45 - 2x = 2x - 3, then x =
(a) 7 (b) 24 (c) 12 (d) 0
SOLUTION
You can substitute the various values of x until the equation is satisfied.
If x = 0, then 45 = -3. The equation is not satisfied, therefore (d) is incorrect.
If x = 7, then 45 - 14. = 14 - 3. The equation is not satisfied, therefore (a) is also incorrect.
Trying x = 12, then 45 - 24 = 24 - 3 = 21.
ANSWER is (c).
Please remember that a very good performance in the less complex multiple choice items can make a difference between passing and failing.
Using the above, let us review the solutions to the multiple choice questions given last week:
1. 2² + 3³ =
(a) 10 (b) 13 (c) 31 (d) 32
SOLUTION
Using Strategy 1, 2² + 3³ = 4 + 27 = 31.
ie. The answer is (c).
2. If 3n is an odd number, which of the following is an even number?
(a) 3n - 2 (b) 3n + 2 (c) 3n + 4 (d) 3n - 1
SOLUTION
Using Strategy 2, if 3n is odd, then 3n - 2 is odd, but 3n - 1 is even. ... The answer is (d).
3.
2 3/4 =
11
(a) 1/2 (b) 25/4 (c) 1/4 (d) 121/4
Using Strategy 1, 23/4 = 11/4.
ie. 11/4 y 11 = 1/4 .. ie. The answer is (c).
4. 3. 96 x 0.5 is approximately:
(a) 0.2 (b) 2 (c) 20.0 (d) 200
SOLUTION
3. 96 is approximately 40 and .05 is 1/2
ie. 4 x 1/2 = 2. ie The answer is (b).
Let us now review Paper 2.
This paper contains essay-type questions and requires that students display competence at three cognitive levels. These are: recall, method and reasoning.
RECALL
This requires the presentation of basic facts and formula and the working out of simple calculations. Marks can be earned at the Recall level for the presentation of formulae and/or for calculating the correct answer.
METHOD
Students are credited for correct use of appropriate methods in solving a given problem, for example, the student who correctly applies Pythagoras' Theorem will earn 'method' marks.
REASONING:
This involves the correct selection of an appropriate method for complex problems, or the correct interpretation of given information.
The above underscores the fact that in order to prepare effectively for examinations in mathematics, a student has to place emphasis on studying information, using appropriate methods and practicing problems.
For your homework, please attempt some additional multiple choice items.
1. 4² - 2² =
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 12 (d) 14
2. The least number of sweets which can be shared equally among 5, 10 or 15 children is:
