Summary report for candidates on the 2014 WACE examination in

Mathematics 2C/2D
Year
2014
2013
2012

Number who sat

2408
3962
4079

Number of absentees
98
131
134

Examination score distribution

Summary
The examination had a mean of 54.08%. Candidate scores for the examination ranged from a
minimum of 0% to a maximum of 89.67%. The standard deviation was 14.57%. The section
means were: Section One: Calculator-free 60.5% and Section Two: Calculator-assumed
50.93%. Reliability was good with a correlation of 0.89 for the Calculator-free and 0.97 for the
Calculator-assumed sections.

General comments
This year saw an improved performance on the Calculator-free section that was very pleasing,
but the result for the Calculator-assumed part was very disappointing. The last question on the
paper, Question 20, was the least attempted, followed by Question 16. Candidates found
Question 20, with a mean of 28.3%, the most challenging question in the examination. As
expected, candidates performed well on the more routine questions such as Questions 3, 4, 8
and 9, and struggled on the more challenging non-standard questions such as Questions15,
16,17,18 and 20, that involved problem solving, mathematical reasoning, written explanations,
and algebraic or trigonometric concepts. The level of basic arithmetic, algebraic and
trigonometric skills needs to be improved. Candidates must also be prepared to give more detail
in their solutions. The reward for this is the likely allocation of part marks for demonstrating
relevant skills, as an incorrect answer without working does not receive any marks. In the
trigonometry, surprisingly, most candidates did not use the capacity and capability of their CAS
calculators.
Advice for candidates
Read questions very carefully and make sure you answer what is being asked.
Read your solutions carefully and check that they make sense. Often stated numerical
solutions are way outside the range expected by simple common sense.
Use the capabilities of your calculators to check numerical solutions. Your calculators can
also be used to compensate for poor arithmetical and algebraic skills.
Present readable solutions with sufficient detail to allow the examiner to assess what you are
doing. It is recommended that you do not use pencil except in diagrams.
Remember that questions worth more than 2 marks require detailed solutions. The detail of
your response needs to be proportionate to the marks carried by the question. Write concise
and precise sentences when asked to explain or justify your solution.
Improve you knowledge of mathematical notation and terminology. There is poor use and
understanding of basic mathematical notation and terminology. Be clear on trig and inverse
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WACE Examination Report: Mathematics 2C/2D

trig functions. The use of function notation is poor. Understand when a solution requires an
x-value and when it requires a coordinate.
Improve your algebraic manipulation skills.
Understand the meaning of terms like: product/multiplication, sum/addition, consecutive
terms, probability (0 to 1) and a number (in the case of a counting question).
When testing a conjecture with cases, each case has a conclusion (true or false) that needs
to be stated clearly and unambiguously.
Take more care in drawing graphs and diagrams.
Be aware that often questions build on earlier parts. This should suggest how you approach
questions. In the network Questions 12 and 13 the (b) parts should have used the solutions
from the (a) parts.
It is always wise to convert units before substitution rather than after.
Always round to the required number of decimal places at the end of your calculations, never
in the middle of your calculations.
Remember that a recursive formula/rule always has a first term. Stating this correctly must
be the easiest mark on the paper.

WACE Examination Report: Mathematics 2C/2D