Gifted maths student Tracie Duong, 16, was among 102 students and 24 teachers from Sydney Catholic schools to give up a day of their school holidays to build their problem solving and analytical skills in the lead-up to the new Mathematics HSC.

“I want to be an engineer, probably mechanical. I love maths and science,” forum attendee Janice Nyoto, a Year 12 student at St Clare’s College Waverley, said. Photo: Kitty Beale

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) organised the all-day Mathematics Extension 2 (MX2) Student Forum at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Sydney both to help get students exam-ready for the new Advanced Mathematics HSC, as well as to help increase overall student participation in higher-level maths courses.

For Tracie, it was a no-brainer to take up the opportunity. She is already used to putting in some hard yards to achieve her dream of being a civil engineer.

“In the middle of Term 4 last year, my teacher said to me ‘Tracie, you can do Mathematics Extension 2 if, during sport, you go to St Pat’s.’ So I did it,” said Tracie who is currently in Year 11 at all-girls secondary school Mary Mackillop Catholic College Wakeley.

Tracie’s school does not offer the maths course but nearby all-boys secondary school Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield, more commonly referred to as St Pat’s, does offer it.

Mathematics Extension 2 is the highest level mathematics course for students with a special interest and ability in mathematics and students will sit their HSC exam on 26 October.

MX2 Student Forum

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