Competition 1 (C1) Course

Lessons: 40
Fee: $30
Duration: 1.5
Current Time(s): Thu 07:15–08:45
Workload: 2–3 hours

There will be 1.5 hours of teaching per week every over 40 weeks, and I expect students to spend about 2–3 hours per week reviewing the material and doing homework. The total time spent in this course should be about 160 hours over the year. The content focuses on multichoice or short-answer questions which feature on competitions like the AMC Junior/Intermediate, AMC 8/10, Mathex, ICAS, Otago Problem Challenge and Junior Maths Competition, and so on.

Classes

Click on the class to see the week-by-week schedule.

Name	Time	Students	Duration (h)	Status
2026-C1	Thu 07:15–08:45	2	1.5	Active

Syllabus

Algebra (9 weeks): algebraic manipulation, linear and quadratic equations, systems of equations, rates and proportions, exponents and radicals, sequences and series, substitutions, statistical measures.
Counting (6 weeks): counting and advanced counting, Venn diagrams, casework, permutations and combinations, stars and bars, Pascal’s triangle.
Probability (3 weeks): intro to probability, events, combinatorics, casework, complements, expected value
Number Theory (6 weeks): primes and divisibility, factors, number bases, units digit, fractions and decimals, modular arithmetic
Geometry (6 weeks): intro to geometry, circles, Pythagoras’ theorem, area, 3D geometry, similarity.
Reviews, Problem Sets, and Tests (10 weeks): interspersed throughout the year.

Learning Outcomes

Use algebra confidently to interpret and solve problems with multiple unknowns.
Develop an intuitive understanding of linear and quadratic functions and their graphs.
Employ algebra to solve finite or infinite arithmetic problems, including arithmetic and geometric series.
Apply the principles of using addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division in counting problems.
Use permutations and combinations, including stars and bars, to solve more complex counting problems.
Have a basic understanding of Pascal’s triangle and its relationship to combinations.
Use a variety of probabilistic and combinatorial arguments to solve probability questions.
Employ additive and multiplicative structure of integers in number theory problems.
Solve problems involving other number bases.
Employ parity arguments and modular arithmetic in number theory problems.
Understand various geometric terms and their definitions.
Use angles, lengths, triangles, and areas to solve planar geometry problems.
Solve basic 3D geometry problems.

Prerequisites

Before starting this course, students should have completed Year 6 in the NZ mathematics curriculum, or Year 5 in the Australian mathematics curriculum. In particular, students should:

Have strong computational skills with integers, decimals, fractions, and percentages.
Understand order of mathematical operations, common mathematical symbols, and mathematical notation.
Be able to solve linear equations in one variable.
Have a basic understanding of the coordinate plane.