UNSW Annual School Mathematics Competition
Image (from left): 1-Mrs Diane Balkizas, Amanda LU, Ziyi Que and Dr Dawe. 2-All participants of the competition.
We are very proud to announce that 44 PLC Sydney students from Years 8–11 elected to enter the three hour UNSW Mathematics competition in 2016. Congratulations to Amanda LU (Year 8) and Ziyi Que (Year 9), who achieved a Credit (placing them in the top 15%) in the Junior Section in this competition. The girls have been invited to a prestigious presentation ceremony at UNSW on Friday 9 September along with the prize winners from other schools, many of them selective schools.
PLC Sydney enters girls in Years 8–10 in the Junior Division and Year 11 in the Senior Division. It extends to schools overseas from Singapore, China and other countries in Asia. The feature of the competition is that it is an open book 3 hour exam. Calculators are allowed and often needed. Extra marks are awarded for innovative and imaginative solutions at the discretion of the examiners. It is not the final answer, but the thinking displayed by candidates which is the focus of attention.
Dr Lloyd Dawe (Mathematician-in-Residence) mentors the girls throughout the year and has provided Mathematics enrichment lessons during lunchtime. Dr Dawe enriches the mathematical program in the classes he visits by presenting mathematical material that is beyond the school curriculum. The girls are learning new approaches to mathematical problem solving and new content required for a solution. Teachers and students gain an insight into various ways of problem solving at a higher level than required by the NSW curriculum.
The enrichment program also supports the curriculum in showing the various approaches to mathematical proof.
Congratulations girls.