Is Higher level maths Hard? Should I Stay in it?
Should I stay in Higher maths or drop to “pass” maths? Not an easy choice, but the key thing is to make an informed decision, not a snap decision as Higher Level Maths is Not a joke! We’re going to guide you through the process.
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Warning: long post ahead, but students and parents really need to read this!
So, let’s look at the pros and cons associated with doing higher level maths, and the questions you need to ask yourself before continuing at “honours” level, or moving to ordinary (“pass”) maths.
Note: if you are at Junior Cycle level, some of this does not apply to you yet! But bear in mind, doing higher level maths at Junior Cycle gives you the option of continuing at higher level for the Leaving Cert.
Pros – the benefits of staying at Higher Level Maths (HL)
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- Your 3rd level course may require HL maths for entry
- Your 3rd level course may have a high maths content (even if HL is not an entry requirement), likewise your future career. Building your maths skills will help you beyond the Leaving Cert
- You get 25 bonus points for a grade H6 and above (40% and above), in maths only. So, for example a H6 gets 71 points, whereas an O1 gets just 56 points. Click the infographic for a full comparison:
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- HL maths is the only subject where you can get more than 100 CAO points (for a H1, H2 or H3 grade).
Even a H7 grade (30 < 40%) is worth 37 CAO points which is equivalent to an O3 grade
- HL maths is the only subject where you can get more than 100 CAO points (for a H1, H2 or H3 grade).
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- You may enjoy the course material and challenge of HL maths
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- For some students, HL maths may benefit your other subjects e.g. if you are doing physics or applied maths
Cons – possible reasons for choosing Ordinary Level (OL)
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- HL maths can be quite time-consuming and might impact on the time you spend on other subjects
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- HL maths might not be required for your 3rd level course or career. An ordinary level grade may be enough for entry, and might be easier for you to attain
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- You might not even use maths as one of your six subjects for CAO points if you get a relatively low grade in maths
How to make your decision?
Ask yourself the following questions:
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- Do I like doing HL maths?
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- Am I currently able to manage the workload for HL maths? Can I keep up with my class, my homework and my revision, and not let it impact negatively on some of my other subjects?
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- Am I on track in my school tests / mock (“pre”) exams to get the grade I need? Am I willing to maintain or increase the effort I give to maths, to attain the grade I need?
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- Do I need HL maths for my preferred 3rd level course(s)? If so, what grade do I need? Would OL maths suffice, and if so, what grade do I need?
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- Am I personally more likely to get higher points in OL or HL? Check our infographic above to see how the different grades compare in OL and HL maths!
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- How many CAO points do I need, and how is that likely to be made up? Do I need to get more than 100 points in a subject i.e. HL maths? Am I likely to count maths as one of my 6 CAO subjects?
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- Is HL maths impacting negatively on some of my other subjects? Is it helping me in some of my other subjects e.g. physics, applied maths?
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- How close are we to the exams? Am I likely to drop to OL late in the school year, or even on the day of the exam? Is this a good strategy in terms of my overall workload, and in terms of my final grades?
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- Am I getting the support and resources that I need to make HL maths more manageable and enjoyable?
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- Have I discussed this with my maths teacher, my parents/guardian and my career guidance teacher?
Yes, it’s a lot of questions, but they will help you to clarify your thinking in this area. When you have answered them, and consulted with your teachers and parents, you will be in a good position to make your decision.
Summary
We love to see students do well at higher maths, but we equally value and support our ordinary level students. This is very much a decision for students to make individually, after giving it careful thought.
Review the pros and cons of staying in Higher Level maths, go through the list of questions to figure out how it applies to you personally, and discuss it with your teachers and parents, as they know you best.
Then make a positive decision on whether to continue at higher level or to change to ordinary level. When the decision is made, commit fully to doing your best at that level. We’re here to help you, whatever you decide!
If you enjoyed our blog , be sure to check out our other blog on : How to Learn and Revise Geometry Constructions?