Students with polytechnic diploma and who have also obtained the Certificate in Engineering Mathematics (offered by Singapore Polytechnic) or the Diploma Plus Program in Advanced Engineering Mathematics (offered by Ngee Ann Polytechnic) are considered to have passed the MA1301 proficiency test and may therefore proceed to read modules carrying A-level mathematics as prerequisite.

Students who do not pass this test will have to read and pass MA1301 as one of their regular modules (upon admission/matriculation), before they are allowed to read other modules carrying A-level mathematics as prerequisite.

Format & Instructions

• The test is a two-hour paper containing 8-10 questions of different lengths and marks.

• Candidates may bring two A4-size helpsheets (written on both sides) containing notes and formulae.

• Candidates may bring non-programmable calculators.

• Candidates MUST bring an identification card (e.g. Identity Card or Student Pass) for verification purpose.

Application

Test schedule for AY2009/10 cohort:

Application will close after 10 July 2009.

Application form:

For students admitted to Schools of Computing

For students admitted to Faculty of Engineering and other non-computing faculties

Syllabus 

• Sets & Venn Diagrams - set notations, union & intersection of sets, complements, subsets, Venn diagrams.

• Functions - domain, range, composite functions, inverse of a function.

• Quadratic & Cubic Equations - nature of roots of quadratic equations, remainder and factor theorem, solving cubic equations by factorisation.

• Inequalities - solving inequalities involving rational functions and absolute-value functions.

• Binomial Theorem - the use of binomial theorem to expand (a + b)^n where n is a rational number.

• Sequences & Series - arithmetic and geometric progressions, the sigma notations.

• Partial Fractions - to express a rational function in partial fractions in cases where the denominator is a product of two or more linear and/or quadratic expressions.

• Mathematical Induction - proving statements involving summation of finite series

• Trigonometry - graphs, identities, equations.

• Complex Numbers - real and imaginary part, conjugate, modulus, argument, operations on complex numbers, Argand diagram, polar form of complex numbers.

• Differentiation - chain, product and quotient rules, derivatives of composition of algebraic, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions, derivatives of functions defined implicitly or parametrically.

• Applications of differentiation -  equations of tangents and normals to curves, curve sketching, problems involving connected rates of change, small increments, maxima and minima.

•  Integration - integrals involving a combination of algebraic, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions, integration involving the use of partial fractions, integration involving trigonometric identities, integration by substitution, integration by parts.

• Applications of integration - area under a curve, volume of solid of revolution.

Sample/Past Papers

• AY 2005/06 test (with answers)

• AY 2006/07 test (without answers)

• AY 2007/08 test (without answers)

• AY 2008/09 test (without answers)

No answers will be provided for past papers above.

Suggested References

These are two standard A-Level mathematics textbooks:

• Pure Mathematics 1 by L Bostock and S Chandler 

• College Mathematics Volume 1 by Ho Soo Thong, Tay Yong Chiang and Koh Khee Meng

• Introductory Mathematics (Revised Edition) by Ng Wee Seng, McGraw-Hill