CSEC MATHEMATICS

SYLLABUS AMENDMENT

EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2016

Compiled and Presented by:
Mr. D. Henry
Teacher
O.R.H.S
PREVIOUS SYLLABUS
 Paper 01
(1 hour 30 minutes) The Paper will consist of 60
multiple-choice items, sampling the Core as
follows:
Sections No. of items
Computation 6
Number Theory 4
Consumer Arithmetic 8
Sets 4
Measurement 8
Statistics 6
Algebra 9
Relations, Functions and Graphs 6

Geometry and Trigonometry 9

Total 60
Paper 02. The Paper consists of two sections.
(2 hours and 40 minutes)

Section I: 90 marks
The section will consist of 8 compulsory structured and
problem-solving type questions based on the Core.
Sections No. of marks
Sets 5

Consumer Arithmetic and 10

Computation
Measurement 10
Statistics 10
Algebra 15

Relations, Functions and 10

Graphs
Geometry and Trigonometry 20

*Combination question/ 10
investigation
Total 90
Section II: 30 marks

This section will consist of 3 structured or problem-solving

questions based mainly on the Optional Objectives of the
syllabus. There will be 1 question from each of the Sections
Algebra and Relations, Functions and Graphs; Measurement
and Geometry and Trigonometry; and Vectors and Matrices.

Candidates will be required to answer any two questions.

Each question will be allocated 15 marks.
🞇 ALGEBRA AND RELATIONS, FUNCTIONS AND
GRAPHS
🞇 MEASUREMENT AND GEOMETRY AND
TRIGONOMETRY
🞇 VECTORS AND MATRICES
WEIGHTING OF PAPER AND PROFILE
DIMENSIONS

PROFILES PAPER 01 PAPER 02 TOTAL

Knowledge 18 36 54
Comprehension 24 48 72
Reasoning 18 36 54
Total 60 120 180
REVISED SYLLABUS
FORMAT OF THE EXAMINATIONS

🞇 The examination will consist of three papers: Paper 01,

an objective type paper, Paper 02, structured or
problem-solving type paper and Paper 031, the School-
Based Assessment or Paper 032, the Alternative to Paper
031.
Paper 01
(1 hour 30 minutes)
The Paper will consist of 60 multiple-choice
items, drawn from all
Sections of the syllabus as outlined below.
Sections No. of items
Number Theory and 6
Computation
Consumer Arithmetic 8
Sets 6
Measurement 8
Statistics 6
Algebra 6
Relations, Functions and 8
Graphs
Geometry and Trigonometry 8
Vectors and Matrices 4
Total 60
Paper 02
(2 hours and 40 minutes)
The Paper consists of ten compulsory structured
questions.

Sections No. of marks

Number Theory, Consumer 9
Arithmetic, and Computation
Measurement 9
Statistics 9
Algebra 10
Relations, Functions and 20
Graphs
*Investigation 10
Geometry and Trigonometry 21
Vectors and Matrices 12

Total 100
Paper 031 (20 per cent of Total Assessment)
Paper 031 comprises a project.

🞇 The project requires candidates to demonstrate the

practical application of Mathematics in everyday life. In
essence it should allow candidates to probe, describe
and explain a mathematical area of interest and
communicate the findings using mathematical symbols,
language and tools. The topic(s) chosen may be from
any section or combination of different sections of the
syllabus.
Paper 032 (Alternative to Paper 031)
(1 hour)

🞇 This paper is an alternative to Paper 031 and is intended

for private candidates. This paper comprises two
compulsory questions. The given topic(s) may be from
any section or combination of different sections of the
syllabus.
 WEIGHTING OF PAPER AND PROFILES

PROFILES PAPER PAPER PAPER 03 TOTAL

01 02
Knowledge (K) 18 30 6 (12) 60 (30%)
Comprehension (C) 24 40 8 (16) 80 (40%)
Reasoning (R) 18 30 6(12) 60 (30%)
TOTAL 60 100 20 (40) 200
Percentage 30% 50% 20% 100%
SBA COMPONENT
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

🞇 The project will be presented in the form of a report and

will have the following parts.
🞇 1. Project Title
🞇 2. Introduction
🞇 3. Method of Data Collection
🞇 4. Presentation of Data
🞇 5. Analysis of Data
🞇 6. Discussion of Findings
🞇 7. Conclusion
Possible topics to be considered
• Why choose a square shaped design for
a goat pen or a design closest to a
square?

• Investigating the decline in sales of

Sunshine Mix Nuts at School ‘X’.

• Choosing the best vacation package in

a resort town.

• Travelling to a tourist attraction. Best

route and mode of transportation.
• Remodelling an auditorium to
accommodate the entire school
population.

• Designing new classrooms to alleviate

crowding.

• Paying Mortgage: NHT, Building Society,

Credit Union.

• Buying an appliance of the same brand

and type via cash or hire purchase:
Courts, Indian, Singer.

• Using the laundry.

• The best tile size suitable for tiling a room.
• Determining the BMI of students in a
school population.
• Calculating the angle of elevation of the
top of a building.
• How does the type of ball used affect the
distance travelled when a cricket ball is
hit?
• What is the safest angle to mount a ladder
against a wall?
• Does running a curve take longer than
running the same distance on a straight?
• What is the optimum angle to throw a
javelin, Shot-put, Discus to achieve the
maximum distance?
• What effect does the run up speed have on
the distance covered in a long jump or
triple jump?
• What is the optimum range for scoring
goals on a netball, football and basket ball
field?
• Does the height of the shooter affect the
percentage of goals scored in a netball
match?
• Is the penalty spot the best place to shoot
a penalty from on the football field?
• What is the cost incurred if a pipe is left
dripping for a year?
• Does drink companies give as much as
they say they are? (measure the volume of
the content and compare with what is
printed).
• Is a BMX faster than a mountain bike over
100m using the same cyclist?
• Is typing faster than writing?
• Which fast food restaurant offers the
better/best meal deal on burgers? (Burger
King/ KFC in terms of size, price, taste).
• What is the effect of the run-up speed on
the bowling of a cricket ball?
• Does the depth of the seed planted
affect the rate of growth?

• An analysis of the mathematics that

underscores the simple practice of
gazing at fishing boats out at sea.

• Designing the plan for a pool house.

• An analysis of the sales strategies of

my family’s clothing store.

• A statistical representation of the

heights of students in my form 4
group 1 class.
• A graphical representation and analysis of a
sprinter’s training program.

• Designing a new hamster wheel cage.

• A statistical representation of my aunt’s

Blood pressure.

• Developing a financial strategy for a young

income earner.

• How does the amount of weight carried by

an athlete affect their speed over a 50m
distance?
• Transportation to school.

• Baking a cake.

• Best shape of a classroom.

• Constructing a chicken coop for the

school’s farm – What is the maximum
number of chickens that can fit on the
given floor space after six weeks?

• Maximising the profits of an electronic

store.
• An analysis of the school’s electricity bill.

• Does the location of a store affect the

prices that are charged?

• An analysis of the dimensions of a log that

was left to soak in a pond.