Month: November 2025

David and Gareth’s Extension Book Is Out

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November 26, 2025

11:08 pm

115 Comments on David and Gareth’s Extension Book Is Out

textbooks

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Cambridge has just published Enrichment Mathematics for Secondary Students (22/01/26 – link fixed). Cambridge describes the set as “an inspiring and challenging new series for ambitious 7-10 maths students and teachers”, and I strongly agree (except for their use of the term “maths”). I don’t know of any other text, anywhere, that is as good at covering secondary pre-calculus curriculum material, and should-be-curriculum material, at such a deep level. Continue reading “David and Gareth’s Extension Book Is Out” →

What Were the “Errors” on the 2025 VCE Mathematics Exams?

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November 13, 2025

9:28 am

43 Comments on What Were the “Errors” on the 2025 VCE Mathematics Exams?

VCE

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Things have improved, and continue to improve. The exams are still shallow and aimless and boring and bitsy and CAS-poisoned, and they are assessed by nasty pedants who would not appreciate sensible mathematical argument if it bit them. The exams are asymptoting to 3s rather than 10s. But, at least the exams are semi-strictly increasing, asymptoting to something above a 1.

In particular, the number of exam errors has declined, and the “you are nuts” errors have almost (but not entirely) disappeared. It is nothing now like it was in past years, and in past decades. But, there were errors in 2025, as there always will be, and it is our job, yours and mine, to figure out what happened and to sum up. Continue reading “What Were the “Errors” on the 2025 VCE Mathematics Exams?” →

PoSWW 51: Graphic Violence

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November 11, 2025

9:50 am

20 Comments on PoSWW 51: Graphic Violence

PoSWW

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Similar to some 2024 VCAA grading idiocy we have already noted, a colleague has just pointed out to us some idiocy from the grading of last year’s (CAS-poisoned) Specialist Mathematics Exam 2.

This “half a square” is not mathematics. It is anal retentive madness, courtesy of mathematical midgets who demonstrably lack any sense of proper mathematical thought or how to assess it.

Presumably, we’ll get the same grading idiocy from the same midgets this year. And, whether or not the same grading idiocy will appear, students will be stressing over whether the same grading idiocy will appear rather than concentrating upon anything of genuine mathematical depth.

CAS exams are insane. VCAA is insane.

Witch 150: When Worlds Collide

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November 8, 2025

11:35 am

28 Comments on Witch 150: When Worlds Collide

WitCH

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This is Q5 on yesterday’s VCE Specialist Mathematics Exam 1, and I haven’t had time to go through this (or any) question, or even properly read the comments. Possibly (and possibly not) the “C” is too harsh, and maybe the “C” might better stand for “clunkiness”. I try very hard to not post unless I already have a very clear idea what is going on, which I am doing now, but there clearly seems to be enough consternation that the question warrants its own post, and I’ll try to look properly soon. For the previous discussion, readers can begin about here, and readers may also wish to consult an old PoSWW (and a very old WitCH is also somewhat relevant). Continue reading “Witch 150: When Worlds Collide” →