Self teaching maths viable? (1 Viewer)

ÃndyBa

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Finishing up my HSC this year. School does compacted cirric so half my HSC is already completed.

I was convinced against doing 2u maths as I didn't have the "Background knowledge" which I now see to be some BS. I got an B6 in standard 2 maths and B5 in chemistry and std English last year. Top 3 for engineering studies, physics and inv sci this year top ~ top 200 school. Am math minded able to comfortably apply it just the pure sort 2u and 3u stuff I'm trying to learn bc I haven't been exposed yet.

I am looking to do engineering of some sort of an pilot degree at uni. These degrees require prerequisite knowledge of either 2u or 3u maths. Wondering if it is enough just to self teach these subjects. I have already looked through some of the online textbooks completing some of the earlier exercise's comfortably. Can I get the required knowledge for these courses by self teaching, worth getting a tutor or will I just not be able to learn everything to the required level? Will any bridging courses help me or is my ego to big and its just impossible.

And do unis just say no if you haven't completed the subjects at HSC.

Didn't know where else to ask. Am very motivated just abit of a kick in the nuts not doing 2u.
 

idkkdi

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Finishing up my HSC this year. School does compacted cirric so half my HSC is already completed.

I was convinced against doing 2u maths as I didn't have the "Background knowledge" which I now see to be some BS. I got an B6 in standard 2 maths and B5 in chemistry and std English last year. Top 3 for engineering studies, physics and inv sci this year top ~ top 200 school. Am math minded able to comfortably apply it just the pure sort 2u and 3u stuff I'm trying to learn bc I haven't been exposed yet.

I am looking to do engineering of some sort of an pilot degree at uni. These degrees require prerequisite knowledge of either 2u or 3u maths. Wondering if it is enough just to self teach these subjects. I have already looked through some of the online textbooks completing some of the earlier exercise's comfortably. Can I get the required knowledge for these courses by self teaching, worth getting a tutor or will I just not be able to learn everything to the required level? Will any bridging courses help me or is my ego to big and its just impossible.

And do unis just say no if you haven't completed the subjects at HSC.

Didn't know where else to ask. Am very motivated just abit of a kick in the nuts not doing 2u.
just do cambridge lol
 

011235

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which uni. @jimmysmith560 was saying in another thread UNSW has bridging courses and only assumed knowledge which is like not necessarily compulsory and usyd has prerequisites which you have to do and you're stuck there
 

ÃndyBa

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which uni. @jimmysmith560 was saying in another thread UNSW has bridging courses and only assumed knowledge which is like not necessarily compulsory and usyd has prerequisites which you have to do and you're stuck there
Idk yet UTS, usyd, UNSW I'm planning on having a gap year and still considering other courses then engineering. Just wondering if its worth putting in the time to learn it.
 

jimmysmith560

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It is important to distinguish between prerequisites (specified HSC course(s) or equivalent that you need to have completed, or achieved a specified standard in before you are eligible to be offered a place in the tertiary course) and assumed knowledge (the course will be taught on the understanding that students already have a certain level of knowledge in one or more HSC subjects).

If we consider UNSW's Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Aeronautical, the assumed knowledge for this degree is Mathematics Advanced and Physics. As mentioned by @011235, UNSW does have bridging courses for different subjects including Mathematics which, in my opinion, would be an optimal option when compared to self-teaching and even getting a tutor as those courses are specifically designed to consolidate your knowledge of content you would've learned in Mathematics Advanced and prepares you for your first-year studies.


I hope this helps! :D
 

011235

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lol I'm doing y11 math rn and my school uses cambridge. I have a love-hate relationship with it haha.

The explanations are top-notch and everything is explained/proved from existing knowledge which really helps me but some of the questions are absolutely crazy (super tedious/require some hidden trick to figure out). But once you get it you really get it. Cambridge is super worth it IMO the level of understanding is unsurpassed by any other textbook I have looked at
 

Eagle Mum

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You’ve done Maths Standard 2 and are doing physics. I suspect you are capable of learning Adv Maths & Math Ext1 by yourself. There are now so many YouTube tutorials on various maths topics and helpful contributors in this forum. Best wishes.
 

quickoats

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If u go to UNSW just do MATH1011 before enrolling in the normal maths courses to get u up to speed. It won’t pull back ur degree progression but you’d get a more solid footing in maths compared to a bridging course.
 

ÃndyBa

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If u go to UNSW just do MATH1011 before enrolling in the normal maths courses to get u up to speed. It won’t pull back ur degree progression but you’d get a more solid footing in maths compared to a bridging course.
Would this be similar to Math 1B from UNSW? Reading in some of the handbooks that 1B is recommended for people w/o the assumed knowledge.
 

ÃndyBa

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You’ve done Maths Standard 2 and are doing physics. I suspect you are capable of learning Adv Maths & Math Ext1 by yourself. There are now so many YouTube tutorials on various maths topics and helpful contributors in this forum. Best wishes.
I just wonder if its viable because I have heard there is a big jump between std and 2u. Then another to 3u.
 

ÃndyBa

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It is important to distinguish between prerequisites (specified HSC course(s) or equivalent that you need to have completed, or achieved a specified standard in before you are eligible to be offered a place in the tertiary course) and assumed knowledge (the course will be taught on the understanding that students already have a certain level of knowledge in one or more HSC subjects).

If we consider UNSW's Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Aeronautical, the assumed knowledge for this degree is Mathematics Advanced and Physics. As mentioned by @011235, UNSW does have bridging courses for different subjects including Mathematics which, in my opinion, would be an optimal option when compared to self-teaching and even getting a tutor as those courses are specifically designed to consolidate your knowledge of content you would've learned in Mathematics Advanced and prepares you for your first-year studies.



I hope this helps! :D
Yes thank you. Willing to put in the effort just just making sure it was achievable.
 

quickoats

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Would this be similar to Math 1B from UNSW? Reading in some of the handbooks that 1B is recommended for people w/o the assumed knowledge.
Not Math 1B (MATH1231) but Fundamentals of Maths B (MATH1011). Math1b comes later
 

Eagle Mum

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I just wonder if its viable because I have heard there is a big jump between std and 2u. Then another to 3u.
You’ve studied maths std 2 and physics, as well as engineering & chemistry, so you’ve had experience studying several difficult subjects.

If you’re studying the course yourself, you don’t have to waste time doing all the questions in each exercise once you’ve mastered the concept(s). My son found the Maths Online program useful for learning Adv Maths by himself, although a private subscription is more expensive than a student subscription through the school.
 

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