15 guides · Units 3 and 4
General Mathematics topic guides
One guide for every sub-topic the QCAA General Mathematics external exam can ask about, in syllabus order. The exam covers Units 3 and 4, and every guide is written to the 2025 syllabus and formula book.
Every guide has the same shape. It starts with what the exam asks, then teaches one idea at a time with the real QCAA questions from 2020 to 2025, both papers, placed where they belong and solved mark by mark. Each one finishes with a game plan and four practice questions with worked solutions.
Paper 1, 2020 to 2025
Every simple familiar question, explained
Interactive pages for all 151 Paper 1 questions. The guides link to them question by question.
For the weeks before the external
General Mathematics: External game plan
How to read any exam question and know which routine to reach for, and in what order.
Your progress
Tick skills off inside each guide. Your ticks are saved in this browser only.
Unit 3 · Bivariate data, sequences and Earth geometry
8 two-way table questions in the 2020 to 2025 externals
2 Bivariate data analysis 1 Scatterplots and numerical association6 of 6 papers from 2020 to 2025 that asked you to draw a scatterplot
3 Bivariate data analysis 2 Linear models, R² and causation27 past questions that test this topic, 2020 to 2025, both papers
4 Time series analysis Time series analysis20 time series questions in the 2020 to 2025 externals, both papers
5 Growth and decay in sequences Arithmetic sequences35 marks on questions set mainly on arithmetic sequences, 2020 to 2025
6 Growth and decay in sequences Geometric sequences13 past QCAA questions with a geometric sequence in them, 2020 to 2025
7 Earth geometry and time zones Earth geometry and time zones24 questions on Earth geometry and time zones, 2020 to 2025
Unit 4 · Investing and networking
6 of 6 Paper 1s from 2020 to 2025 with a compound interest or effective rate question
9 Loans, investments and annuities 1 Reducing balance loans and present value annuities33 Paper 1 marks on reducing balance loans, 2020 to 2025
10 Loans, investments and annuities 2 Perpetuities and future value of annuities29 short-response marks on this topic, 2020 to 2025, both papers
11 Graphs and networks Graphs and networks20 QCAA questions on graphs and networks, 2020 to 2025
12 Networks and decision mathematics 1 Trees and minimum spanning trees8 tree questions in the 2020 to 2025 papers, at least one every year
13 Networks and decision mathematics 1 Critical path analysis34 marks on critical path analysis in twelve questions, 2020 to 2025
14 Networks and decision mathematics 2 Flow networks19 marks on flow networks in five questions, 2020 to 2025
15 Networks and decision mathematics 2 Assignment and the Hungarian algorithm27 short-response marks on assignment, 2020 to 2025
Sources: QCAA General Mathematics question and response books, multiple choice books, marking guides and subject reports, 2020 to 2025. General Mathematics 2025 general senior syllabus, Units 3 and 4, and the 2025 formula book. Every numerical answer was checked in Python against the published marking guides.
Wording quoted from past QCAA General Mathematics external assessments is © State of Queensland (QCAA), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Tangent Tuition is not affiliated with the QCAA.
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