Unit Synopsis
Fundamental Mathematics for University introduces foundational concepts, rules and methods of elementary mathematics. You will complete regular module reviews and use the feedback to develop a unified body of knowledge in the fundamentals of mathematics. Topics include operations, percentages, introductory algebra, simple equation solving, exponents, linear equations, introductory statistics, and units and conversions. This provides a foundation for further study in mathematics and a broad range of other academic disciplines.
Details
| Level | Non-award |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | Not Applicable |
| Credit Points | 6 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 1 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.125 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
There are no pre-requisites for the unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2026
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
Term 3 - 2026 Profile
Term 1 - 2027 Profile
Term 2 - 2027 Profile
Term 3 - 2027 Profile
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Portfolio | 50% |
| 2. Take Home Exam | 50% |
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Source: Staff comments
Some students use techniques and methods not taught in the unit, which can indicate a breach of academic integrity.
Specify in the unit materials and in staff communications that students must present their answers using the methods/communication outlined in the MATH40237 Moodle site or risk being awarded a mark of zero.
Marking scheme has been modified so that students need to engage with the materials to get grades. We use specific methods as these methods are built on in following units and undergraduate studies.
Source: Unit evaluations
Some students commented positively on content that is relevant to their future studies.
Review unit content to identify if more examples from a range of disciplines can be included.
Some examples are used informally in teaching. As this is a general mathematics unit to prepare students across a variety of degrees, we can’t make it too discipline specific.
Source: Unit evaluations
Some students had trouble understanding feedback on assessments.
Trial video feedback on module reviews and assessment tests.
Video feedback explaining the steps for assessment questions was trialled. Very few students viewed these. We will review how the links to these are given to students to ensure all students notice them as a resource. Staff noted that individualised video feedback would be better, but not practical at scale with workload restrictions. The need for this video feedback is reduced as students can get feedback in the portfolio interviews.
Source: Student comments
Students liked the ability to attempt the module review quizzes multiple times.
Continue to enhance the bank of quiz questions to allow multiple attempts.
Quizzes continue to be used. 1 attempt for summative quizzes. Feedback from teaching staff, are that students could benefit from doing STAT module as written submission rather than a quiz, due to the nature of diagrams being needed.
Source: Unit evaluations
Positive student comments on the overall structure of the unit, including the content and structure of the Moodie site.
Continue with the current structure of the unit and the Moodie site.
Continue with the current structure of the unit and the Moodie site.
Source: Unit Evaluations
Some students were struggling with the starting level of mathematics in the unit and subsequently the volume of work.
Implement a diagnostic quiz for "Week 0", so if needed students can go into the "Pathways for STEPS" program before term starts.
In Progress
Source: Unit Evaluations
Positive student comments on the overall structure of the unit, including the content and structure of the Moodle site.
Continue with the current structure of the unit and the Moodle site.
In Progress
Source: Staff Feedback
Quiz for STAT module does not provide comprehensive feedback for students, particularly on diagrams.
Review the STAT module and revise to a written submission rather than a quiz.
In Progress
Source: Unit Evaluations
Many students commented on how beneficial internal classes were, as well as some online students said they would have preferred on campus.
Continue with on campus delivery in current workshop mode for on campus students.
In Progress
Source: Unit Evaluations
Some students commented on the cost of printing.
Advise students that they can print the required materials at the beginning of term via a commercial printer such as Officeworks for approximately $20, or alternatively, avoid printing altogether and write electronically on the PDF documents with the necessary equipment.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Recall fundamental mathematical concepts and techniques such as operations, percentages, introductory algebra, simple equation solving, exponents, linear equations, introductory statistics and units and conversions.
- Apply appropriate mathematical techniques
- Develop solutions to applied mathematical problems
- Reflect on assessment to improve mathematical comprehension
- Analyse information using mathematical techniques
- Communicate mathematical solutions.
NA
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Portfolio | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 2 - Take Home Exam | • | • | • | • | • | |
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Self Management | • | |||||
| 2 - Communication | • | |||||
| 3 - Information Literacy | • | |||||
| 5 - Problem Solving | • | • | • | • | • | |
| 6 - Critical Thinking | • | • | • | • | ||
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | |