Mathematics Exam Advice

  • You don’t have to answer questions in order Q. 1, Q. 2, etc. If you know in advance the structure of the exam, you can decide in advance what questions you are doing first, second, etc. This is related to:
  • Read questions carefully. Don’t glance at a question and go off writing: take a moment to understand what you have been asked to do.
  • Don’t use tippex; instead draw a simple line(s) through work that you think is incorrect.

If you do have time at the end of the exam, go through each of your answers and ask yourself:

  1. have I answered the question that was asked?
  2. does my answer make sense? If no, write that on your script, and then try and fix your solution.
  3. check your answer (e.g. if you are looking at something general, look at a special case; substitute your solution into equations; check your answer against a rough estimate; or what a picture is telling you; etc.). If your answer is wrong, write that on your script, and then try and fix your solution.

Academic Learning Centre

Have you heard about Maths Online on Canvas? It’s full of helpful Maths and Stats resources, notes, quizzes and videos to help you throughout the whole year.  

We also use the Maths Online module on Canvas to offer Maths and Stats support to you and answer as many student questions as possible. 

Please log on to Maths online to book a maths appointment, book a place in a supported maths study session or request a workshop. 

Supported Maths Study is on every Monday from 3.30pm – 5.30pm in B231.

Supported Statistics Study is on every Wednesday from 3pm – 4pm in B231.

 If you have any other question about our Maths and Stats supports email us on Academic.Learning@mtu.ie 

MTU Mathematics Exam Papers

These are not always found in your programme selection — most of the time you will have to look here.

NUMBAS

This section exists to host links to some NUMBAS exercises. At the moment these exercises are sent to students who took diagnostic tests and failed to answer correctly key questions.

I did not write these questions: if there are any problems with them just drop me a comment below.

I did write the questions in this so please comment if you find any problems:

Math.Stack Exchange

If you find yourself stuck and for some reason feel unable to ask me the question you could do worse than go to the excellent site math.stackexchange.com. If you are nice and polite, and show due deference to these principles you will find that your questions are answered promptly.

Maths Online & Wolfram Alpha

If you are doing a Mathematics or Statistics module in MTU then you should automatically be subscribed to Maths Online on Canvas where you will have free access to the mathematical software package Maple.

You can download Maple by clicking on “Download Mathematical and Statistical SOFTWARE” and following the instructions under the Maple item.

I myself am not a Maple expert but ‘grew up’ with another mathematical software package Mathematica. Mathematica powers the “computational knowledge engine” WolframAlpha. Go on ask it a question!

Additional Notes: E-Books

If you look in the module descriptor, you will see there is some suggested reading. Of course I think my notes are perfect but if you can look here, you will see that the library have an E-Book resource.

Calculators

Please note the following taken from a code of conduct for examination candidates:

“Where a pocket calculator is used it must be silent, self-powered and non-programmable. 

It may not be passed from one candidate to another. Instructions for its use may not be 
brought into the Examination Hall. 
The term ‘programmable’ includes any calculator that is capable of storing a sequence of 
keystrokes that can be retrieved after the calculator is turned off or powers itself off. Note that the 
capacity to recall, edit and replay previously executed calculations does not render a calculator 
programmable, provided that this replay memory is automatically cleared when the calculator is 
powered off. Also, the facility to store numbers in one or more memory locations does not render 
a calculator programmable. 
Calculators with any of the following mathematical features are prohibited: 
• Graph plotting 
• Equation solving 
• Symbolic algebraic manipulation 
• Numerical integration 
• Numerical differentiation 
• Matrix calculations 
Calculators with any of the following features are prohibited 
• Data Banks 
• Dictionaries 
• Language translators 
• Text retrieval 
• Capability of remote communication”

Department of Mathematics Reassessment Policy

Please see here. See here for Individual Extenuating Circumstances.  Here is the form for students to print and fill out:

Student Evaluations

MATH7021 Summer 2015, Summer 2014

MATH7019 Winter 2015 Winter 2014

MATH6038 Summer 2014

MATH6037 Summer 2015

MATH6040 Summer 2014

MATH6015 Winter 2015 Winter 2014

MATH6000 Winter 2015 Winter 2014

Not sure what year but I have MATH6015, MATH7021, MS2001, MS3011 and a Textbook Appraisal from MATH7021 (Textbook in that it is critical — these are the evaluations that actually help).

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