Inspiring Hearts and Minds

Mathematics Pathways

Building Conceptual Understanding in Math

In order to ensure that all Alberta students have the opportunity to graduate with the mathematical skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the future, Alberta Education has revised the high school mathematics program of studies.  The revised program has a number of benefits for students:

  • Greater opportunity for conceptual understanding because there is less content – students can study topics in greater depth
  • Course sequences are designed to prepare students for their future goals
  • Students can transfer between the -1 and -2 course sequences at the Grade 11 and Grade 12 level if their career goals change

Students have a choice of three mathematics courses when entering Grade 10:  10-C, 10-3 and 15/10-C

  • Students choosing 10-C have two sequence options out of Grade 10: 20-1 and 20-2.  These sequences are ideal for students considering post-secondary studies in most colleges and universities.
  • Students choosing Math 15/10-C typically have earned between 50 per cent and 65 per cent in Math 9. This sequence is ideal for students who would like to follow the Math '-2' route in grade 11 and 12.  Students cannot enter Math 20-1 after this course.  Math 15/10-C is ideal for students seeking to improve their math skills and considering postsecondary studies outside of STEM/STEAM.
  • Students choosing 10-3 follow the 20-3 and 30-3 course sequence through Grade 11 and 12. This course sequence is ideal for students entering trades or the workforce immediately after high school.

Students who enroll in 10-C don’t need to choose their course sequence until Grade 11.  This gives students an extra year to decide which sequence best suits their interests and their future needs.

Students can transfer between the -1 and -2 course sequences in Grades 11 and 12, which allows them to change their mathematics program if their future goals change.\

 

Mathematics 10 Common

5 credits

Prerequisite:  Pass in Grade 9 Mathematics (65 per cent recommended)

Math 10-C Course consists of the following topics:

  • Measurement (SI and Imperial)
  • Trigonometry
  • Polynomial factoring and operations
  • Systems of equations
  • Linear relations and functions

A graphing calculator is required.

 

Mathematics 15/10-C

5 credits

Prerequisite:  Pass in Grade 9 Mathematics (65 per cent recommended). Suggested 50 per cent-65 per cent in Math 9

This sequence is ideal for students who would like to follow the Math '-2' route in grade 11 and 12.  Students can NOT enter Math 20-1 after this course.  Math 15/10-C is ideal for students seeking to improve their math skills and considering post secondary studies outside of STEM/STEAM.  This could be a choice for students only interested in Humanities routes in post secondary education.  Please confirm that Math 20-2/30-2 are accepted in your program of choice.

Students first take Math 15 (5 credits) which is designed to close knowledge and skills gaps students may have.  Then students cover essential outcomes in the Math 10-C curriculum with a focus on the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in Math 20-2.

Math 10-C Course consists of the following topics:

  • Measurement (SI and Imperial)
  • Trigonometry
  • Polynomial factoring and operations
  • Systems of equations
  • Linear relations and functions

A graphing calculator is required.

 

Mathematics 10-3

5 credits

Prerequisite:  none

The Mathematics 10-3 course includes the following strands: 

  • Measurement (SI and Imperial), tolerance of instruments
  • Trigonometry
  • Geometry, transformation on 2-D shapes and 3-D objects
  • Finance, credit options, buying and leasing small business options
  • Logical and proportional reasoning

A combined course (Mathematics 10-C) is the starting point for the -1 course sequence and the -2 course sequence. The goals of all three course sequences are to provide prerequisite attitudes, knowledge, skills and understandings for specific post-secondary programs or direct entry into the workforce. All three course sequences provide students with mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills. When choosing a course sequence, students should consider their interests, both current and future. Students, parents and educators are encouraged to research the admission requirements for post-secondary programs of study as they vary by institution and by year.

 

Mathematics 20-1

5 credits

Recommended:  70 per cent in Math 10-C

This course sequence is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for entry into postsecondary programs that require the study of calculus. Topics include algebra and number; measurement; relations and functions; trigonometry; and permutations, combinations and binomial theorem.

 

Mathematics 20-2

5 credits

Prerequisite:  50 per cent in Math 10-C 

This course sequence is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for post-secondary studies in programs that do not require the study of calculus. Topics include geometry, measurement, number and logic, logical reasoning, relations and functions, statistics, and probability.

 

Mathematics 20-3

5 credits

Prerequisite: 40 per cent or more in Math 10-C or 50 per cent in Math 10-3

This course sequence is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for entry into the majority of trades and for direct entry into the workforce. Topics include algebra, geometry, measurement, number, statistics and probability.

 

Mathematics 20-4

5 credits

Prerequisite: 40 per cent or more in Math 10-3 or 50 per cent in Math 10-4

This course sequence is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical-thinking skills identified for entry into the majority of trades and for direct entry into the workforce. Topics include algebra, geometry, measurement, number, statistics and probability.

 

Mathematics 31

5 credits

Prerequisite:  At least 50 per cent in Math, 70 per cent is recommended

Math 31 may be studied concurrently with Math 30. This course is designed specifically for those students who have an aptitude for Math and/or wish to pursue a faculty at university that is Mathematics intensive.  The Mathematics 31 course consists of two major components, calculus and vectors. The calculus component includes an introduction to derivatives, integration, and their applications. In the vectors component, the concepts of geometric and algebraic vectors, and their applications are discussed.