VCE Specialist Maths study plan
VCE Specialist Maths · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Units 1-4 areas of study, outcomes and assessment
Map each Units 1-4 area of study to its key knowledge and key skills from the study design
Sequence the four units and justify the mathematical dependencies between them
Annotate the three outcomes with the assessment evidence each requires
Identify the assumed knowledge and the technology expectations stated for each unit
Your checkpoint
A one-page dependency map of the Units 1-4 areas of study with outcomes and evidence annotated
Units 1-4 areas of study, outcomes and assessment
Summarise the assessment principles that govern satisfactory completion of a unit
Distinguish the roles of school-assessed coursework and the external examination within the study
Describe the authentication and record-keeping obligations for student work
Explain how the outcomes and the performance descriptors connect
Your checkpoint
A 400-word summary table linking outcomes, assessment tasks and evidence of satisfactory completion
Planning and developing a program
Draft a term-length teaching sequence that allocates time by area of study and difficulty
Order topics so that prerequisite skills are taught before dependent content
Build a weekly timeline that reserves time for assessment and feedback
Select resources and technology tools that support the planned sequence
Your checkpoint
An 8-week teaching program outline with week-by-week topics, prerequisites and assessment windows
Planning and developing a program & Assessment (school-assessed coursework, performance descriptors, examination specifications)
Differentiate planned activities for students who need support and for those who need extension
Align each planned assessment task with the outcome it evidences
Check that the program covers every area of study at the required depth
Write measurable learning intentions for two consecutive weeks of the program
Your checkpoint
A revised program with differentiated activities and a task-to-outcome alignment matrix
Teaching and learning (sample learning activities, pseudocode)
Design a sample learning activity that moves students from concrete to abstract reasoning
Adapt the activity so that it uses pseudocode to express an algorithm or proof strategy
Write the pseudocode for one problem-solving procedure with clear input, process and output
Plan how to draw out student discussion and justification during the activity
Your checkpoint
A complete lesson plan for one sample learning activity, including pseudocode and expected student responses
Teaching and learning (sample learning activities, pseudocode) & Assessment (school-assessed coursework, performance descriptors, examination specifications)
Evaluate how the activity develops the key skills named in the study design
Draft a performance descriptor scale that separates levels of student performance
Apply the descriptor to two sample student responses and justify the judgments
Identify the evidence in the activity that would support an assessment judgment
Your checkpoint
A four-level performance descriptor with two annotated sample responses graded against it
Assessment (school-assessed coursework, performance descriptors, examination specifications)
Interpret the examination specifications, including structure, duration and technology rules
Compare the demands of coursework tasks with the demands of examination questions
Construct a set of practice questions matched to the examination format
Analyse the command words used in examination questions and what each requires
Your checkpoint
A 12-question practice set in examination format with a marking guide and command-word notes
Units 1-4 areas of study, outcomes and assessment & Assessment (school-assessed coursework, performance descriptors, examination specifications)
Audit the whole plan against all four domains and close any gaps
Rehearse explaining the relationship between coursework and final assessment
Summarise the changes you would make to your program after the audit
Confirm that each domain has at least one piece of retained evidence
Your checkpoint
A final audit checklist with evidence for each domain and a short list of planned revisions
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain, without notes, how outcomes, assessment tasks and performance descriptors connect for all four units
Week 4: Program outline covers every area of study and every assessment task maps to a named outcome
Week 6: Performance descriptor has been applied to real or sample student work and the judgments defended
Week 8: Audit checklist shows retained evidence for all four domains with no uncovered area of study