UniGeniusVCE General Maths

VCE General Maths

What is in VCE General Maths Units 3 and 4

Unit 3 is Data analysis and Recursion and financial modelling; Unit 4 is Matrices and Networks and decision mathematics. Both examinations test all four.

Weeks before your first paper
Hours a week for General Maths
Topic 1: Data distributions
Topic 2: Associations and linear regression
Topic 3: Data transformation and time series
Topic 4: Recurrence, depreciation and compound interest
Topic 5: Loans, annuities and investments
Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices
Topic 7: Graphs, paths and connections
Topic 8: Flow, matching and scheduling

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Topic 6

Matrices and transition matrices: 19.2 of your hours. It is 8 of the 20 questions on each timed paper, 20%.

Hours per topic
TopicYour hoursShare of the checks
Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices19.220%
Topic 1: Data distributions14.415%
Topic 2: Associations and linear regression1213%
Topic 3: Data transformation and time series1213%
Topic 4: Recurrence, depreciation and compound interest9.610%
Topic 5: Loans, annuities and investments9.610%
Topic 7: Graphs, paths and connections9.610%
Topic 8: Flow, matching and scheduling9.610%

Week by week

  1. Week 1Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices
  2. Week 2Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices
  3. Week 3Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices
  4. Week 4Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices
  5. Week 5Topic 6: Matrices and transition matrices, Topic 1: Data distributions
  6. Week 6Topic 1: Data distributions
  7. Week 7Topic 1: Data distributions
  8. Week 8Topic 1: Data distributions
  9. Week 9Topic 1: Data distributions, Topic 2: Associations and linear regression
  10. Week 10Topic 2: Associations and linear regression
  11. Week 11Topic 2: Associations and linear regression
  12. Week 12Topic 2: Associations and linear regression, Topic 3: Data transformation and time series
  13. Week 13Topic 3: Data transformation and time series
  14. Week 14Topic 3: Data transformation and time series
  15. Week 15Topic 3: Data transformation and time series, Topic 4: Recurrence, depreciation and compound interest
  16. Week 16Topic 4: Recurrence, depreciation and compound interest
  17. Week 17Topic 4: Recurrence, depreciation and compound interest, Topic 5: Loans, annuities and investments
  18. Week 18Topic 5: Loans, annuities and investments
  19. Week 19Topic 5: Loans, annuities and investments
  20. Week 20Topic 5: Loans, annuities and investments, Topic 7: Graphs, paths and connections
  21. Week 21Topic 7: Graphs, paths and connections
  22. Week 22Topic 7: Graphs, paths and connections, Topic 8: Flow, matching and scheduling
  23. Week 23Topic 8: Flow, matching and scheduling
  24. Week 24Topic 8: Flow, matching and scheduling
  25. Week 25A timed paper and two Examination 2 style questions, then review every lost mark
  26. Week 26A timed paper and two Examination 2 style questions, then review every lost mark

Check your topics with the free test

Examination 140 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes
Examination 260 marks of short and extended answers, 90 minutes
Study scoreEach examination 30%; coursework 40%
TechnologyCAS and a scientific calculator, one bound reference

The four areas

  • Data analysis: distributions, boxplots and the normal model, associations, the least squares line, residuals, data transformations, time series and seasonal indices.
  • Recursion and financial modelling: first-order recurrence relations, depreciation, compound interest and effective rates, reducing balance loans, annuities, perpetuities and annuity investments.
  • Matrices: matrix arithmetic, inverses and determinants, binary, permutation, communication and dominance matrices, and transition matrices, including Leslie matrices and culling and restocking.

School-assessed coursework

Coursework in Units 3 and 4 makes up 40% of the study score (24% in Unit 3 and 16% in Unit 4). It is set and marked by your school, and this course does not cover it.

How this course maps the study design

The course groups the four areas into eight topics, each with two lessons, Examination 1 style multiple choice and Examination 2 style questions. Set the planner above with the weeks you have and how sure you are of each topic, and it splits your hours.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Examination 1 style
A footy club kicked these numbers of goals in its 13 matches this season: 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 22. What is the interquartile range (IQR) of the number of goals?
Question 2Examination 1 style
Matrix AA has order 3×23 \times 2 and matrix BB has order 2×42 \times 4. What is the order of the matrix product ABAB?

Next step

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Questions people ask

What do the examinations count for?

Examination 1 and Examination 2 are each 30% of the study score. School-assessed coursework is the other 40%.

Which study design does the course follow?

The VCE Mathematics Study Design accredited from 2023, Units 3 and 4: General Mathematics, for the 2027 examinations.

Does this course cover Mathematical Methods?

No. It is built for General Mathematics only. VCE Maths Methods Prep is a separate course.