Maths

So, I was reading about the IB Maths program at Waterford Kamhlaba in Swaziland, and I was rather surprised at the PDFs they provided. Not in a good way, not in a bad way, just surprised.

First, this is the sheet provided on the school's website as a test of "presumed knowledge." I glanced through it, and figured it was pretty standard stuff, kind of like a really short SAT math section. I didn't see anything that I didn't know how to do.

Then I click on the link for the "Self Diagnostic Test for IB Higher Maths," and that is where I became rather surprised. Right at the top it reads,


"FOR HIGHER LEVEL: be able to do these in your head
FOR STANDARD LEVEL: be able to do these with paper, pen and calculator"

Which I mean, it's all fine and dandy, it's just a very different approach to math than we have in school here. In my math class right now, the actual answer isn't the point, it's the process you took to find that answer. Showing every single step of work on paper is required on tests and homework, and we get points off if we don't show appropriate scratch work.

Strange, but kind of interesting. I went through the test without paper or pencil, and kind of enjoyed the challenge of doing math that I had learned freshman and sophomore year without paper or pencil, especially since I'd never done it like that before. I don't think it really made it any harder, just slower.

I suppose school in Jordan was different than America, and so school in Swaziland would be different as well. I just found it interesting the way in which math, at least, differs.

Well, that kept my brain busy for a while. Now it's back to "interviews? interviews? interviews? interviews?"

Good luck everyone :)