Mathematics
From ZuluNotes - Free Leaving Cert Notes
Contents |
Paper
Higher
Both papers are 2 1/2 hours (150 mins) and are worth 400 marks each.
- Paper 1: do 6 of 8 questions.
- Paper 2: In Section A, do 5 of 7 questions. In section B, do 1 of 4 questions.
Pacing:
- Reading, choosing questions - 5 mins
- 20 minutes per question
- 25 mins to check over answers
If doing 7 questions...
- Reading, choosing questions - 4 mins
- 18 minutes per question
- 20 mins to check over answers
If doing 8 questions...
- No need to read - no choice to make! (unless you have prepared more than one option for Paper II, Section B)
- 16 minutes per question
- 22 mins to check over answers
Ordinary
Foundation
Higher Level
Topics
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Sequences and Series
- Functions and Calculus
- Discrete Maths and Statistics
- Further Calculus and Series (Option 1)
- Further Probability and Statistics (Option 2)
- Group Theory (Option 3)
- Further Geometry (Option 4)
The Exam
Two Papers total 300 marks available on each Paper Time allowed for each paper 2 hours 30minutes.
1. Paper 1. There are 8 questions on this paper each question is worth 50 marks. The examiner will correct all questions, which are attempted but will only include the marks of your best 6 answers.
2. Paper 2. This consists of two sections:
Section A contains 7 questions, of which you must attempt 5. If you attempt more than 5 they will credit you with the marks of your best 5 questions.
Section B (two options) contains 4 questions, of which you must attempt one. These are the advanced topics, of which Further Calculus and Series is by far the most popular choice.
Past Exam Papers
Solutions
Solutions should be named Solutions:Subject Level Year Paper eg. Solutions:Maths HL 2007 Paper 1
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
Ordinary Level
Topics
Paper One: (300 Marks)
(Do 6 Questions)
- Q1 Arithmetic
- Q2 Algebra
- Q3 Algebra
- Q4 Complex Numbers
- Q5 Sequences & Series
- Q6 Functions & Graphs
- Q7 Differential Calculus
- Q8 Differential Calculus
Paper Two: (300 Marks)
Section A: (Do 5 Questions)
- Q1 Area & Volume
- Q2 Coordinate Geometry: The Line
- Q3 Coordinate Geometry: The Circle
- Q4 Geometry
- Q5 Trigonometry
- Q6 Probability
- Q7 Statistics
Section B: (Do 1 Question)
- Q8 Further Geometry
- Q9 Vectors
- Q10 Further Series
- Q11 Linear Programming
Marking Scheme
Each question is divided into three sections (a), (b), (c)
Section (a) is usually very easy, can be done in three lines, and is worth 10 marks.
Section (b) (20 marks) this is often divided into two parts (i), (ii), each part worth 10 marks. It is in section (b) that you are most likely to be asked a question on a procedure; proofs usually come up in section (b).
Section (c) (20 marks) Again this will be divided into two parts the first part being the easier of the two, the second part is usually used to sort out the A students from the rest this is particularly true in the most popular questions on Paper 1.
The exam is marked as follows:
-3 for blunders (Mathematical errors).
-1 for slips (“silly mistakes” usually numerical errors).
-1 for misreadings (assuming the misreading doesn't make the question much easier).
No marks are lost for a repeated error in the same section of a question, in other words the same mistake in the same section is never punished twice. Attempt marks are awarded for any step in the right direction. The attempt mark is generally 3 out of 10 or 2 out of 5; you cannot get less than the attempt mark for a section if you have taken one step in the right direction of the answer!

