Download Mathematics Skills Test Instruction Booklet

Brock University
Department of Mathematics
Mathematics Skills Test Instruction Pages
Note: Read all instructions and then proceed with activating your account, taking the practice
test and registering for a test time
Content of the Mathematics Skills Test
There are three major areas of high school mathematics content that the Mathematics Skills test covers:



Algebra (equations of lines, factoring, simplifying expressions, solving equations and
inequalities, absolute value and long division of polynomials)
Functions and Modeling (domains, compositions, transformations, symmetry, inverses, roots,
parabolas, and modeling)
Transcendental Functions (exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions)
Preparing for the Mathematics Skills Test
The first step to prepare yourself for the test is to activate your Maple T.A. account. Please click on the
link that corresponds to the class you are registered in:
Math 1P01 (Fall 2016 Term): https://lms.brocku.ca/x/pdgTXW
Math 1P05 (Fall 2016 Term): https://lms.brocku.ca/x/sQ68zX
Math 1P05 (Winter 2017 Term): https://lms.brocku.ca/x/Cxo5i7
You use your Brock account login and password for Maple T.A. You MUST activate your account prior to
taking the Skills Test.
You can also log into Sakai using your Brock username and password, go to the class you are registered
in and click the Maple T.A. Skills Test button on the left as shown below.
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A Maple TA Practice Test will be available to you after you register in the course to help prepare you to:


enter answers using Maple TA and its corresponding notation
give some insight into the types of questions you may be asked during the in-person test.
The Practice Test will have the same two hour time limit as the actual test and cover the same
mathematical topics. Each time you attempt the practice test, a new test is randomly generated, so you
are encouraged to make as many attempts as you feel are necessary. Please note that the practice test
is not exhaustive, so there may be questions asked at the in-person MST that were not on the practice
test.
You must first familiarize yourself with the Maple TA software by taking the Readiness Test, which is a
basic orientation of Maple T.A. and Maple T.A. syntax (A summary of Maple T.A. notation is included on
page 7).
Taking the Mathematics Skills Test
You are required to book a test time between August 15th and August 19th by emailing
[email protected] with three preferred times. Testing bookings will be accepting starting at
9:00 a.m. on August 2nd, 2016. You must submit this email by Friday August 12th at 1:00 PM eastern
time. Booking requests are filled on a first-come first-served basis and will be confirmed via email within
two business days.
The test is mandatory to obtain credit in Math 1P01 or Math 1P05. You must arrange to come to our St
Catharines campus for one of the following test times:
Monday August 15
Tuesday August 16
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 PM to
4:00 PM
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 PM to
4:00 PM
Wednesday
August 17
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 PM to
4:00 PM
Thursday August
18
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 PM to
4:00 PM
Friday August 19
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 pm to
4:00 pm
Testing will take place in Mackenzie Chown J-block room 430 (located on the fourth floor of the building
in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics) at Brock University using the software Maple TA. No
calculators or other aids will be permitted during the test. Scrap paper will be available for students to
do rough work. Please bring your student ID card or other government photo identification. Please
arrive in J430 fifteen minutes before the test start time.
Completing the Mathematics Skills Test
If you fail to obtain 70% on the Skills Test, you will have one opportunity to rewrite the test the week of
August 29-September 2, 2016. In order to do this, send an email to [email protected] by Friday
August 26th at 1:00 PM eastern with two possible times to write. During the week of August 22-26,
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workshops will be offered at Brock to assist with test material. It is strongly recommended that you
attend one or more workshops prior to your second attempt at the Skills Test as a third attempt will not
be offered under any circumstances.
Wednesday
August 31
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 PM to
4:00 PM
Thursday
September 1st
10:00 AM to
12:00 PM
2:00 PM to
4:00 PM
How to enter answers during the Practice Test or Skills Test
Final answers should be entered in the solution space provided in each question. Make sure you are
entering the appropriate answer in the corresponding solution space. Marks will not be returned for
answers that have been entered in the wrong space. Read the instructions to each question carefully, to
ensure answers are being entered in the proper format.
Exact Values: Unless otherwise instructed, all answers must be entered as an exact value. An exact value
is a mathematical expression (or number) that has not been approximated; approximations occur by
calculating and/or rounding a decimal number. Exact solutions may involve terms left as a fraction, a
square root, an exponential or logarithmic expression. Please note that decimal answers will be marked
as incorrect. The following table illustrates examples of exact versus approximate values.
Exact Value
1
3
0.3333333333333333
√2
1.41421
ln(5)
1.60943
1
𝑒2
Approximate Value
1.64872
Functions, Fractions, and Other Notation: The Mathematics Skills Test Notation Guide provides
instructions on the notation required for entering mathematical expressions, functions, and other
notation in Maple T.A. In addition, you will be able to practice syntax on the Readiness Test available in
Maple T.A., which you must complete before you can access the Practice Test.
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How to preview your answers
It is strongly recommended that you preview your responses to questions requiring a mathematical
expression. This option will allow you to determine if what you have entered is consistent with what you
intended. To preview the formula or expression you have entered, click on the Preview link or the
button. Once you have
previewed your answers, you can make any necessary corrections.
Failure to preview
your answers before submission could result in lost marks. Please note
for questions involving interval notation, the preview will give an “Invalid Maple Syntax” error. In this
specific type of question, it is safe to ignore this error.
How to complete and grade a test
After completing your test, you can submit it for grading by clicking the SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT link in the
bottom menu. Pressing SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT again will submit your test, which will be graded
immediately and a final mark will be returned to you.
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Strategies to Succeed in the Mathematics Skills Test
You can attempt the Practice Test as many times as you like. You can review each attempt and see
where you have made a mistake. Learn how to enter your solutions into Maple TA. You will be able to
see the correct answer to each question. You are strongly urged to take the practice test exactly as you
would the in-person test, that is, in one sitting without aids (including no calculators).
1) Log into Maple TA, and click on "Mathematics Skills Test".
2) On that screen, hover over "Gradebook" on the left side of the screen near the top, and click on
"View Past Results" in the drop-down menu.
3)
On that screen, in the box titled "Assignments", select the test you want to see. In the box
“Results” just below, select any one of the three options starting with "All". Then click on
"Search".
4) Now, at the very bottom, a summary of all of your attempts at that test will appear at the bottom
(you may need to scroll down).
5) Click on "Details" in the row for the attempt that you want to see. The next screen will show your
graded test.
Note what you have done wrong and if necessary review material in areas that you have difficulty. Use
your mistakes to help you figure out weaknesses and strengths before you write the in-person test.
Read each question carefully before answering. You are strongly encouraged to take the Practice Test
several times before writing the in-person test so that you are well prepared.
If you do fail the first in-person test, there will be workshops available the week of August 22-26 to help
you improve before your second attempt on either Wednesday August 31st or Thursday September 1st.
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MATHEMATICS SKILLS TEST
QUICK START GUIDE
1) Click the link of the class you are registered in:
a. Math 1P01: https://lms.brocku.ca/x/pdgTXW
b. Math 1P05 (Fall 2016): https://lms.brocku.ca/x/sQ68zX
c. Math 1P05 (Winter 2017): https://lms.brocku.ca/x/Cxo5i7
2) Log in using your Brock account.
3) Click the Mathematics Skills Test class link.
4) Complete the Student Readiness Test.
5) When you are ready, start the Practice Test
6) Answer all the questions on the test within 120 minutes. You should practice without any aids
other than pencil and scrap paper.
7) Click on Submit Assignment.
8) Make any corrections that may be flagged when clicking Submit.
9) If no corrections need to be made, click on Submit Assignment again.
10) Review your test by clicking on the Gradebook link at the top left of the Maple TA window.
Maple TA will let you see the correct answers for your Practice Tests. Study where you have
made mistakes and if necessary review topics which you have difficulty with.
11) Repeat steps (5) to (11) as many times as necessary to master the material.
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Mathematics Skills Test Notation Guide
Function/Expression
𝑎
𝑏
𝑥
𝑥2
𝑥+𝑎
𝑥+𝑏
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑏)2 + 𝑐
√𝑥
√𝑥 + 𝑎
√𝑥 + 𝑎
√𝑥
𝑏
|𝑥|
(−∞, ∞)
or
𝑥∈ ℝ
(−∞, 𝑎) ∪ (𝑏, ∞)
or
𝑥 < 𝑎 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 𝑏
[a, b]
or
𝑎≤𝑥≤𝑏
log 𝑏 𝑎
ln 𝑎
ln 𝑎
ln 𝑏
𝑒𝑥
𝜋
𝑎𝜋
𝑏
𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶)
sin2 𝑥
Maple T.A. Syntax
a/b
X
x^2
(x + a)/(x + b)
a*x^2 +b*x + c
a*(x + b)^2+ c
sqrt(x)
sqrt(x+a)
sqrt(x) + a
sqrt(x)/b
abs(x)
(-infinity, infinity)
(-infinity, a) U (b, infinity)
[a, b]
log[b] (a)
ln (a)
ln(a)/ln(b)
exp(x)
Pi
a*Pi/b
A*sin(B*x + C)
(sin(x))^2
Additional Notes on Maple T.A.:
Some equations in Maple T.A. may be displayed with additional brackets. In these cases, note
that an expression such as (2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥) + 5 is the same as 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 5. Please note that
Maple T.A. is case sensitive. This means that A*x^2 + B is not the same as a*x^2 + b. This also
means that you must make sure sin (x) and ln (x) are all lower case and not Sin (x) or LN(X).
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Trigonometric Identities
Quotient Identities
tan 𝜃 =
sin 𝜃
cos 𝜃
cos 𝜃
cot 𝜃 =
sin 𝜃
Reciprocal Identities
sin 𝜃 =
1
csc 𝜃
Double Angle Formulas
sin 2𝜃 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
cos 2𝜃 = cos 2 𝜃 − sin2 𝜃 = 2 cos 2 𝜃 − 1
= 1 − 2 sin2 𝜃
tan 2𝜃 =
2 tan 𝜃
1 − tan2 𝜃
Half Angle Formulas
1
cos 𝜃 =
sec 𝜃
cos2 𝜃 =
1 + cos 2𝜃
2
1
tan 𝜃 =
cot 𝜃
sin2 𝜃 =
1 − cos 2𝜃
2
csc 𝜃 =
1
sin 𝜃
sec 𝜃 =
1
cos 𝜃
cot 𝜃 =
1
tan 𝜃
Pythagorean Identities
sin2 𝜃 + cos 2 𝜃 = 1
tan2 𝜃 + 1 = sec 2 𝜃
1 + cot 2 𝜃 = csc 2 𝜃
Addition formulas
sin(𝜃1 ± 𝜃2 ) = sin 𝜃1 cos 𝜃2 ± sin 𝜃2 cos 𝜃1
cos(𝜃1 ± 𝜃2 ) = cos 𝜃1 cos 𝜃2 ∓ sin 𝜃1 sin 𝜃2
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Map of Brock University’s St. Catharines Campus
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