S Module Tips
Below are some suggestions for students who are sitting papers for modules S1 and S2 in GCE Mathematics:
General Points
- Ensure you are familiar with the modelling assumptions for probability models. When giving assumptions, the responses should relate to real-life situation and not an abstract definition.
- Don’t truncate values part way through questions. This is especially true for variance calculations where the mean has been rounded earlier.
- For probability questions, draw diagrams (Venn- or tree-) to help organise your answers.
Presentation in Normal Distribution Questions
- Clearly structure your answers to Normal distribution questions. When solutions are very muddled and 'grammatically' inaccurate, examiners find it difficult to award partial credit.
- Distinguish clearly between x-values, z-values and area under the Normal curve.
- Be careful when presenting destandardising work. If this is a weaker area for you, draw a diagram.
Mean and Standard Deviation from Data
- You may need to do some written manipulation to get you started, but do the bulk of the work on calculator.
- Avoid drawing up unwieldy tables - let the calculator do the work.
- Record summary statistics as part of solution.
- Read the question carefully to ascertain whether the data is a whole population or a sample, and choose the standard deviation button accordingly.