UniGeniusQCE General Maths

QCE General Maths

What is in QCE General Maths Units 3 and 4

Unit 3 covers bivariate data, time series, growth and decay in sequences, and Earth geometry and time zones. Unit 4 covers loans, investments and annuities, graphs and networks, and networks and decision mathematics. The external examination tests both units.

Weeks before your first paper
Hours a week for General Maths
Unit 3 Topic 1: Bivariate data analysis 1
Unit 3 Topic 2: Bivariate data analysis 2
Unit 3 Topic 3: Time series analysis
Unit 3 Topic 4: Growth and decay in sequences
Unit 3 Topic 5: Earth geometry and time zones
Unit 4 Topic 1: Loans, investments and annuities 1
Unit 4 Topic 2: Loans, investments and annuities 2
Unit 4 Topic 3: Graphs and networks
Unit 4 Topic 4: Networks and decision mathematics 1
Unit 4 Topic 5: Networks and decision mathematics 2

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Unit 3 Topic 1

Bivariate data analysis 1: 9.6 of your hours. It is 3 of the 30 questions on each timed check, 10%.

Hours per topic
TopicYour hoursShare of the checks
Unit 3 Topic 1: Bivariate data analysis 19.610%
Unit 3 Topic 2: Bivariate data analysis 29.610%
Unit 3 Topic 3: Time series analysis9.610%
Unit 3 Topic 4: Growth and decay in sequences9.610%
Unit 3 Topic 5: Earth geometry and time zones9.610%
Unit 4 Topic 1: Loans, investments and annuities 19.610%
Unit 4 Topic 2: Loans, investments and annuities 29.610%
Unit 4 Topic 3: Graphs and networks9.610%
Unit 4 Topic 4: Networks and decision mathematics 19.610%
Unit 4 Topic 5: Networks and decision mathematics 29.610%

Week by week

  1. Week 1Unit 3 Topic 1: Bivariate data analysis 1
  2. Week 2Unit 3 Topic 1: Bivariate data analysis 1
  3. Week 3Unit 3 Topic 1: Bivariate data analysis 1, Unit 3 Topic 2: Bivariate data analysis 2
  4. Week 4Unit 3 Topic 2: Bivariate data analysis 2
  5. Week 5Unit 3 Topic 2: Bivariate data analysis 2, Unit 3 Topic 3: Time series analysis
  6. Week 6Unit 3 Topic 3: Time series analysis
  7. Week 7Unit 3 Topic 3: Time series analysis
  8. Week 8Unit 3 Topic 3: Time series analysis, Unit 3 Topic 4: Growth and decay in sequences
  9. Week 9Unit 3 Topic 4: Growth and decay in sequences
  10. Week 10Unit 3 Topic 4: Growth and decay in sequences, Unit 3 Topic 5: Earth geometry and time zones
  11. Week 11Unit 3 Topic 5: Earth geometry and time zones
  12. Week 12Unit 3 Topic 5: Earth geometry and time zones
  13. Week 13Unit 4 Topic 1: Loans, investments and annuities 1
  14. Week 14Unit 4 Topic 1: Loans, investments and annuities 1
  15. Week 15Unit 4 Topic 1: Loans, investments and annuities 1, Unit 4 Topic 2: Loans, investments and annuities 2
  16. Week 16Unit 4 Topic 2: Loans, investments and annuities 2
  17. Week 17Unit 4 Topic 2: Loans, investments and annuities 2, Unit 4 Topic 3: Graphs and networks
  18. Week 18Unit 4 Topic 3: Graphs and networks
  19. Week 19Unit 4 Topic 3: Graphs and networks
  20. Week 20Unit 4 Topic 3: Graphs and networks, Unit 4 Topic 4: Networks and decision mathematics 1
  21. Week 21Unit 4 Topic 4: Networks and decision mathematics 1
  22. Week 22Unit 4 Topic 4: Networks and decision mathematics 1, Unit 4 Topic 5: Networks and decision mathematics 2
  23. Week 23Unit 4 Topic 5: Networks and decision mathematics 2
  24. Week 24Unit 4 Topic 5: Networks and decision mathematics 2
  25. Week 25A timed check and two short response questions, then review every lost mark
  26. Week 26A timed check and two short response questions, then review every lost mark

Check your topics with the free test

Paper 1Short response and multiple choice, 30%
Paper 2Short response, 20%
Each paper5 minutes perusal, 90 minutes working
AllowedA scientific calculator and the formula book

Unit 3: Bivariate data and time series analysis, sequences and Earth geometry

  • Bivariate data: two-way frequency tables, scatterplots, Pearson's correlation coefficient and the coefficient of determination.
  • The least-squares line: slope and intercept, residual plots, interpolation and extrapolation, and association against causation.
  • Time series: trend, seasonality and irregular fluctuations, moving averages, seasonal indices and trend lines.

Unit 4: Investing and networking

  • Loans, investments and annuities: compound interest, effective annual rates, present value and future value annuities, and perpetuities.
  • Graphs and networks: terminology, adjacency matrices, planar graphs and Euler's formula, and Eulerian and Hamiltonian routes.
  • Networks and decision mathematics: minimum spanning trees, critical path analysis, flow networks and the Hungarian algorithm.

Internal assessment

Three internal assessments make up the other 50% of the subject result: a problem-solving and modelling task (20%) and two short response examinations (15% each). Your school sets and marks them, and this course does not cover them.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Paper 1 style
A Toowoomba cafe recorded the maximum temperature (°C) and the number of hot drinks sold on 8 winter days: (14, 86), (16, 83), (18, 72), (19, 75), (21, 61), (23, 60), (25, 47) and (27, 46). The scatterplot shows the data. Which description of the association is most appropriate?
Question 2Paper 1 style
An investment is modelled by the recurrence relation  , , where AnA_n is the amount in dollars at the beginning of the nnth month. What interest rate does the investment earn?

Next step

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Questions people ask

What does the external examination count for?

50% of the subject result: Paper 1 is 30% and Paper 2 is 20%. The three internal assessments make up the other 50%.

Which syllabus does the course follow?

The General Mathematics 2025 syllabus (version 1.3, January 2026), Units 3 and 4, for the 2027 external examination.

Does this course cover Mathematical Methods?

No. It is built for General Mathematics only.