Expectations for students Expectations for students is an umbrella term that links learning outcomes with annotated examples of student work in the subject specification. When teachers, students or parents looking at the online specification scroll over the learning outcomes, a link will sometimes be available to examples of work associated with a specific learning outcome or with a group of learning outcomes. The examples of student work will have been selected to illustrate expectations and will have been annotated by teachers and will be made available alongside this specification. The examples will include work that is: exceptional above expectations in line with expectations. The purpose of the examples of student work is to show the extent to which the learning outcomes are being realised in actual cases. Learning outcomes Learning outcomes are statements that describe what knowledge, understanding, skills and values students should be able to demonstrate having studied mathematics in junior cycle. Junior cycle mathematics is offered at Ordinary and Higher level. The majority of the learning outcomes set out in the following tables apply to all students. Additional learning outcomes for those students who take the Higher-level mathematics examination are highlighted in bold. As set out here the learning outcomes represent outcomes for students at the end of their three years of study. The specification stresses that the learning outcomes are for three years and therefore the learning outcomes focused on at a point in time will not have been ‘completed’, but will continue to support students’ learning of mathematics up to the end of junior cycle. The outcomes are numbered within each strand. The numbering is intended to support teacher planning in the first instance and does not imply any hierarchy of importance across the outcomes themselves. The examples of student work linked to learning outcomes will offer commentary and insights that support different standards of student work. Appendix A: Glossary of terms Appendix B: Geometry for Post-Primary Schools Unifying strand Students learn about Students should be able to 1 Building blocks U.1 recall and demonstrate understanding of the fundamental concepts and procedures that underpin each strand U.2 apply the procedures associated with each strand accurately, effectively, and appropriately U.3 recognise that equality is a relationship in which two mathematical expressions have the same value Students learn about Students should be able to 2 Representation U.4 represent a mathematical situation in a variety of different ways, including: numerically, algebraically, graphically, physically, in words; and to interpret, analyse, and compare such representations Students learn about Students should be able to 3 Connections U.5 make connections within and between strands. U.6 make connections between mathematics and the real world. Students learn about Students should be able to 4 Problem solving U.7 make sense of a given problem, and if necessary mathematise a situation U.8 apply their knowledge and skills to solve a problem, including decomposing it into manageable parts and/or simplifying it using appropriate assumptions U.9 interpret their solution to a problem in terms of the original question. U.10 evaluate different possible solutions to a problem, including evaluating the reasonableness of the solutions, and exploring possible improvements and/or limitations of the solutions (if any) Students learn about Students should be able to 5 Generalisation and proof U.11 generate general mathematical statements or conjectures based on specific instances U.12 generate and evaluate mathematical arguments and proofs Students learn about Students should be able to 6 Communication U.13 communicate mathematics effectively: justify their reasoning, interpret their results, explain their conclusions, and use the language and notation of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely Number strand Students learn about Students should be able to 1 representing numbers and arithmetic operations a) represent the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in ℕ, ℤ, and ℚ using models including the number line, decomposition, and accumulating groups of equal size b) perform the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and understand the relationship between these operations and the properties: commutative, associative and distributive in N, Z, and Q (and in R \ Q, including operating on surds) c) explore numbers written as ab (in index form) so that they can: i. flexibly translate between whole numbers and index representation of numbers ii. use and apply generalisations such as ap aq = ap+q ; (ap)/(aq) = ap–q ; (ap)q = apq ; and n1/2 = √n, for a ∈ ℤ, and p, q, p–q, √n ∈ ℕ and for a, b, √n ∈ ℝ, and p, q ∈ ℚ iii. use and apply generalisations such as a0 = 1 ; ap/q = q√ap = (q√a)p ; a–r= 1/(ar); (ab)r = ar br ; and (a/b)r = (ar)/(br), for a, b ∈ ℝ; p, q ∈ ℤ; and r ∈ ℚ iv. generalise numerical relationships involving operations involving numbers written in index form v. correctly use the order of arithmetic and index operations including the use of brackets d) calculate and interpret factors (including the highest common factor), multiples (including the lowest common multiple), and prime numbers e) present numerical answers to the degree of accuracy specified, for example, correct to the nearest hundred, to two decimal places, or to three significant figures f) convert the number p in decimal form to the form a ×10n, where 1 ≤ a < 10, n ∈ ℤ, p ∈ ℚ, and p ≥ 1 (and 0 < p < 1) N.1 investigate the representation of numbers and arithmetic operations so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 2 equivalent representations of rational numbers a) flexibly convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages b) use and understand ratio and proportion c) solve money-related problems including those involving bills, VAT, profit or loss, % profit or loss (on the cost price), cost price, selling price, compound interest for not more than 3 years, income tax (standard rate only), net pay (including other deductions of specified amounts), value for money calculations and judgements, mark up (profit as a % of cost price), margin (profit as a % of selling price), compound interest, income tax and net pay (including other deductions) N.2 investigate equivalent representations of rational numbers so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 3 situations involving proportionality a) use absolute and relative comparison where appropriate b) solve problems involving proportionality including those involving currency conversion and those involving average speed, distance, and time N.3 investigate situations involving proportionality so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 4 analysing numerical patterns N.4 analyse numerical patterns in different ways, including making out tables and graphs, and continue such patterns Students learn about Students should be able to 5 sets a) understand the concept of a set as a well-defined collection of elements, and that set equality is a relationship where two sets have the same elements b) define sets by listing their elements, if finite (including in a 2-set or 3-set Venn diagram), or by generating rules that define them c) use and understand suitable set notation and terminology, including null set, Ø, subset, complement, element, ∈, universal set, cardinal number, #, intersection, ^, union, U, set difference, \ , ℕ, ℤ, ℚ, ℝ, and ℝ\ℚ d) perform the operations of intersection and union on 2 sets and on 3 sets, set difference, and complement, including the use of brackets to define the order of operations e) investigate whether the set operations of intersection, union, and difference are commutative and/or associative N.5 explore the concept of a set so that they can: Geometry and trigonometry strand Students learn about Students should be able to 1 units of measure and time GT.1 calculate, interpret, and apply units of measure and time Students learn about Students should be able to 2 2D shapes and 3D solids a) draw and interpret scaled diagrams b) draw and interpret nets of rectangular solids, prisms (polygonal bases), cylinders c) find the perimeter and area of plane figures made from combinations of discs, triangles, and rectangles, including relevant operations involving pi d) find the volume of rectangular solids, cylinders, triangular-based prisms, spheres, and combinations of these, including relevant operations involving pi e) find the surface area and curved surface area (as appropriate) of rectangular solids, cylinders, triangular-based prisms, spheres, and combinations of these GT.2 investigate 2D shapes and 3D solids so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 3 geometrical proof Access Geometry for Post-Primary Schools here. a) perform constructions 1 to 15 in Geometry for Post-Primary School Mathematics (constructions 3 and 7 at HL only) b) recall and use the concepts, axioms, theorems, corollaries and converses, specified in Geometry for Post-Primary School Mathematics (section 9 for OL and section 10 for HL) i.) axioms 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ii.) theorems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 11, 12, 19, and appropriate converses, including relevant operations involving square roots iii.) corollaries 3, 4 and 1, 2, 5 and appropriate converses c) use and explain the terms: theorem, proof, axiom, corollary, converse, and implies d) create and evaluate proofs of geometrical propositions e) display understanding of the proofs of theorems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 13, 19; and of corollaries 3, 4, and 1, 2, 5 (full formal proofs are not examinable) GT.3 investigate the concept of proof through their engagement with geometry so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 4 trigonometric ratios GT.4 evaluate and use trigonometric ratios (sin, cos, and tan, defined in terms of right-angled triangles) and their inverses, involving angles between 0° and 90° at integer values and in decimal form Students learn about Students should be able to 5 The co-ordinate plane a) find and interpret: distance, midpoint, slope, point of intersection, and slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines b) draw graphs of line segments and interpret such graphs in context, including discussing the rate of change (slope) and the y intercept c) find and interpret the equation of a line in the form y = mx + c; y – y1 = m(x – x1); and ax + by + c = 0 (for a, b, c, m, x1, y1 ∈ ℚ); including finding the slope, the y intercept, and other points on the line GT.5 investigate properties of points, lines and line segments in the co-ordinate plane so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 6 Transformations a) recognise and draw the image of points and objects under translation, central symmetry, axial symmetry, and rotation b) draw the axes of symmetry in shapes GT.6 investigate transformations of simple objects so that they can: Algebra and functions strand Students learn about Students should be able to 1 Patterns and relationships a) represent these patterns and relationships in tables and graphs b) generate a generalised expression for linear (and quadratic) patterns in words and algebraic expressions and fluently convert between each representation c) categorise patterns as linear, non-linear, quadratic, and exponential (doubling and tripling) using their defining characteristics as they appear in the different representations AF.1 investigate patterns and relationships (linear, quadratic, doubling and tripling) in number, spatial patterns and real-world phenomena involving change so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 2 Algebraic expressions a) generate and interpret expressions in which letters stand for numbers b) find the value of expressions given the value of the variables c) use the concept of equality to generate and interpret equations AF.2 investigate situations in which letters stand for quantities that are variable so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 3 Operating on algebraic equations a) add, subtract and simplify i.linear expressions in one or more variables with coefficients in ℚ ii. quadratic expressions in one variable with coefficients in ℤ iii. expressions of the form a / (bx + c), where a, b, c ∈ ℤ b) multiply expressions of the form i. a (bx + cy + d); a (bx2 + cx + d); and ax (bx2 + cx + d), where a, b, c, d ∈ ℤ ii. (ax + b) (cx + d) and (ax + b) (cx2 + dx + e), where a, b, c, d, e ∈ ℤ c) divide quadratic and cubic expressions by linear expressions, where all coefficients are integers and there is no remainder d) flexibly convert between the factorised and expanded forms of algebraic expressions of the form: i.) axy, where a ∈ ℤ ii.) axy + byz, where a, b ∈ ℤ iii.) sx – ty + tx – sy, where s, t ∈ ℤ iv.) dx2 + bx; x2 + bx + c; (and ax2 + bx + c), where b, c, d ∈ ℤ and a ∈ ℕ v.) x2 – a2 (and a2 x2 – b2 y2), where a, b ∈ ℕ AF.3 investigate situations in which letters stand for quantities that are variable so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 4 Solving algebraic equations a) linear equations in one variable with coefficients in ℚ and solutions in ℤ or in ℚ b) quadratic equations in one variable with coefficients and solutions in ℤ or coefficients in ℚ and solutions in ℝ c) simultaneous linear equations in two variables with coefficients and solutions in ℤ or in ℚ d) linear inequalities in one variable of the form g(x) < k , and graph the solution sets on the number line for x ∈ ℕ, ℤ, and ℝ AF.4 select and use suitable strategies (graphic, numeric, algebraic, trial and improvement, working backwards) for finding solutions to: Students learn about Students should be able to 5 Generating quadratic equations AF.5 generate quadratic equations given integer roots Students learn about Students should be able to 6 Changing the subject of a formula AF.6 apply the relationship between operations and an understanding of the order of operations including brackets and exponents to change the subject of a formula Students learn about Students should be able to 7 Functions a) demonstrate understanding of the concept of a function b) represent and interpret functions in different ways—graphically (for x ∈ ℕ, ℤ, and ℝ, [continuous functions only], as appropriate), diagrammatically, in words, and algebraically—using the language and notation of functions (domain, range, co-domain, f(x) = , f :x ↦, and y =) (drawing the graph of a function given its algebraic expression is limited to linear and quadratic functions at OL) c) use graphical methods to find and interpret approximate solutions of equations such as f(x) = g(x) and approximate solution sets of inequalities such as f(x) < g(x) d) make connections between the shape of a graph and the story of a phenomenon, including identifying and interpreting maximum and minimum points AF.7 investigate functions so that they can: Statistics and probability strand Students learn about Students should be able to 1 Chance experiments a) generate a sample space for an experiment in a systematic way, including tree diagrams for successive events and two-way tables for independent events b) use the fundamental principle of counting to solve authentic problems SP.1 investigate the outcomes of experiments so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 2 Random events a) demonstrate understanding that probability is a measure on a scale of 0-1 of how likely an event (including an everyday event) is to occur b) use the principle that, in the case of equally likely outcomes, the probability of an event is given by the number of outcomes of interest divided by the total number of outcomes c) use relative frequency as an estimate of the probability of an event, given experimental data, and recognise that increasing the number of times an experiment is repeated generally leads to progressively better estimates of its theoretical probability SP.2 investigate random events so that they can: Students learn about Students should be able to 3 Statistical investigations a) generate a statistical question b) plan and implement a method to generate and/or source unbiased, representative data, and present this data in a frequency table c) classify data (categorical, numerical) d) select, draw and interpret appropriate graphical displays of univariate data, including pie charts, bar charts, line plots, histograms (equal intervals), ordered stem and leaf plots, and ordered back-to-back stem and leaf plots e) select, calculate and interpret appropriate summary statistics to describe aspects of univariate data. Central tendency: mean (including of a grouped frequency distribution), median, mode. Variability: range f) evaluate the effectiveness of different graphical displays in representing data g) discuss misconceptions and misuses of statistics h) discuss the assumptions and limitations of conclusions drawn from sample data or graphical/numerical summaries of data SP.3 carry out a statistical investigation which includes the ability to:
