ICAS 2024 – How to Prepare

The ICAS 2024 is a competition organised by the University of New South Wales. The ICAS Mathematics 2024 will be held on  August 2024.

About the contest

The ICAS Maths is a 40-question paper with a 45 or 60 minute time limit depending on year level. It assesses competitors’ expertise in 5 fields:

• Algebra and patterns
• Chance and data
• Measures and units
• Numbers and arithmetic
• Space and geometry

Certificates of achievement are awarded to competitors based on their percentile and the top scorer will be awarded a medal.

Preparation

The ICAS is a competition. It is very hard. The problems are designed to test competitors to their limits. It is a whole different ball game from the school exams that your child is prepared for. The skills tested are above and beyond what is covered in the school syllabus.

The ICAS is also a ranked competition. To get a medal or a high distinction your child has to get a higher score than most if not all of the other participants across Australia – close to full marks.

So how can you give your child the best chance possible? We have prepared a list of skills that are the prerequisite of ICAS success:

Calculation Skills

The ICAS is a timed contest. Competitors have to solve 40 MCQ questions or 35 MCQ questions and 5 free-response questions (depending on year level) to complete the exam.

These 40 questions have to solved within an hour without the help of a calculator. This leaves your child with barely more than a minute to solve each question.

What does this mean? Your child needs to well trained to perform mathematical calculations swiftly and accurately. He/she has to well versed in the 4 operations, square roots, powers, decimals and fractions as well as dealing with big numbers. Struggling with big numbers will result in losing valuable time and possibly calculation errors. Good calculation skills are a must to be in the game.

Question Interpretation

This might seem like a moot point, but have a close look at the ICAS questions! Many questions involve interpreting various types of graphs and charts including distance-time graphs, pie charts, topographic maps, histograms and more. Expose your child by getting him to interpret flight schedules, electricity bills and other charts and diagrams you can get your hands on.

Mathematics questions, on the other hand require the knowledge of many specific Mathematical terms. I have seen students solve a question beautifully but stumble at the last step because of a term they were not familiar with.

Logical Reasoning

In both the ICAS Maths and Science, logical reasoning skills are extensively examined. The trouble with logical reasoning is that it isn’t a skill that can be taught directly. It is one of the skills that develops through appropriate exposure.

Logical reasoning questions test the ability of students to apply the mathematical concepts they have learnt to real-life application questions.

The approach to develop this skill is two-pronged.

Firstly, students have to be grounded in a solid foundation in mathematical concepts. This includes not only knowing what the concepts are but also thoroughly understanding their mathematical implications.

The second step is a programme of continuous exposure to application questions and higher order thinking questions. This is the most effective way to build up this skill.

Advanced Problem-Solving Techniques

This is the hardest skill to develop. In the ICAS Math, many of the questions involve topics that are not covered in typical mathematics classes. It is through these questions that the ICAS sieves out the best and brightest students for the top spots on the rankings. Your child will encounter these questions in the last 5-10 problems of the ICAS paper.

To excel at these questions, students need to know the vast array of techniques and mathematical properties required to solve them. These include, the properties of prime numbers, modulo (more advanced form of remainders), divisibility rules, permutations and combinations and number theory.

These are very advanced techniques, rarely seen outside of competition mathematics or math degree courses. Few mathematics educators will be familiar with them.

Bear in mind however, that these techniques are not specific to the ICAS. They are also required for other competitions including the scholarship and especially the Mathematical Olympiads.

With parents becoming more wary of the need for preparation, the ICAS is getting harder and harder every year. Chances are the ICAS 2023 will be even more competitive than the last. With only 6 months to go, the race is on!

The author is a former ICAS Maths and Science medallist, having won medals in both subjects. He has also won prizes in multiple national and regional mathematics competitions. You can contact him through the comments discussion below or via email at admin@mathshub.com.au for additional tips and advice to prepare for the ICAS.