Which MATH 100-level paper should I take?
The following 100-level Math papers are offered every year (in increasing order of level of Mathematics):
- MATH151 (Semester 1, Summer School): paper details
- MATH160 (Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer School): paper details
- MATH170 (Semester 1, Semester 2): paper details
By checking the particular requirements of your degree and major subject, you can find out which of these papers you need to take. Note that none of them has any formal requirements.
Our experience taught us that it is strongly advisable that you choose to start with that paper that suits you best regarding your knowledge and confidence in mathematics – even if your degree requires only a more advanced paper. We also think that, if your level is high enough, you should enrol directly into papers on a higher level. However, at the end, the decision is largely up to you.
Here are some of the most common possibilities:
- If your degree and subject require you to do MATH160: You may decide to enrol for MATH160 directly. If you feel that you do not have the sufficient knowledge and confidence in mathematics you may decide to enrol for MATH151 first and then subsequently do MATH160.
- If your degree and subject require you to do MATH170: Most students would enrol for MATH160 first. Again, if you feel that you do not have the sufficient knowledge and confidence in Mathematics you may decide to enrol for MATH151 first and then continue on to do MATH160 and then MATH170.
- If you are very confident and have achieved exceptional grades in secondary school calculus courses, you may consider enrolling directly into MATH170. We strongly advise those who wish to enrol directly into MATH170 to discuss this decision with a Mathematics adviser prior to enrolment.
In order to help you with this decision we have put some recommendations regarding the NCEA Levels in Maths which we think would be desirable for each particular paper on the respective pages. Moreover, we have created two placement tools, which you can use to underpin your decision:
- MATH151 or MATH160? MATH151/MATH160 placement tool
- MATH160 or MATH170? MATH160/MATH170 placement tool (We recommend you use the MATH151/MATH160 tool first.)
Whatever your circumstances are, if you are still unsure, please feel free to talk to one of our Mathematics advisers.
