Search the VCAA website

•  
• Bulletins & Memos|
• Calendar|
• Excellence & Awards|
• School Administration

• Early Years
• Early Learning and Development Framework 0-8 (ELDF 0-8)
• Years Prep to 10
• National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
• Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS)
• Senior Secondary
• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
• Vocational Education and Training (VET)
• Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)

Memorandum to Schools 28/2007

30 March 2007

VCE Mathematics Examinations: Use of bound references

The Mathematics VCE Study Design accredited for the period 2006–2009 allows students to take a bound reference into designated Mathematics examinations. The table below summarises the examinations into which the bound reference may be taken.

The information relating to the examinations into which a bound reference may be taken is unchanged from that delivered in 2006.

Study	Examination 1	Examination 2
Further Mathematics	Bound reference as described	Bound reference as described
Mathematical Methods	None	Bound reference as described
Mathematical Methods (CAS)	None	Bound reference as described
Specialist Mathematics	None	Bound reference as described

In VCAA Bulletins No. 32 November 2005 and No. 35 March 2006 the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) published advice pertaining to this reference material.

In light of feedback from teachers and school personnel there have been some minor amendments to the conditions relating to the use of the bound reference. This document replaces all the previous documentation relating to a bound reference in Mathematics examinations.

Principles

Four principles have been applied in determining the nature and scope of the materials that constitute the bound reference.

• The use of the bound reference should be managed and invigilated without undue difficulty.
• The physical form and size of the bound reference should mean that it can be practicably and conveniently used within existing examination conditions and without hindrance to other students.
• There should be flexibility for students to develop and use the bound reference that effectively supports their own practices in working mathematically.
• In an examination, the potential for a breach of rules due to the unauthorised possession of loose pages or part pages should be minimised.

The actual specifications regarding the construction of the bound reference have changed slightly. The changed specification is noted with an asterisk*.

Specifications for bound reference

• The bound reference must be in book format of A4 size or smaller when closed.
• It must have a single horizontal or vertical spine.
• Pages must be permanently bound and securely attached to the spine.
• The number of pages is not specified.
• The bound reference may be:
  • a textbook
  • a securely bound lecture pad
  • a permanently bound student-constructed set of notes without foldouts
  • an exercise book with cloth, glue or staple binding.

Students are allowed to:

• annotate the material
• design their own written index
• fold pages
• cut page corners
• colour code pages
• insert dividers into their own sets of notes
• firmly attach (e.g. by glue, adhesive tape or staples) additional material to pages in the bound reference.*

The following are prohibited.

• Pages or parts of pages which can be detached from the bound reference during the exam
• Fold-outs, maps or brochure style components
• Removable tabs, post it notes or other items designed to be detached
• Forms of collation/ binding that are designed to be non-permanent. These include:
  • ring-binder folders
  • plastic A4 slips (permanent or removable) into which pages may be inserted or removed
  • manila and similar folders with clip, clamp, slide and metal prong style binding of loose-leaf material
  • glued lecture pads
  • bound books that have perforations designed so as to allow pages to be detached.

If one or more pages can be or are detached from the rest of the bound reference, for whatever reason, or if the bound reference does not comply with the specifications above, the entire bound reference will be removed by the supervisor for the duration of the examination and the incident will be reported as a breach of rules.

Contacts

For further information please contact Kris Allen on (03) 9651 4343.

Back to Top