Comparison Table for the New and Old Teaching Syllabuses

New Century
Mathematics 4A

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

Chapter 1
Number Systems

understand the hierarchy of real-number system

1.8 appreciate the development of the number
systems including the system of complex
and be aware of the characteristics of rational
numbers
numbers when expressed in decimals
1.9 perform addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division of complex numbers

The system of
complex numbers and
the addition,
subtraction,
multiplication and
division of complex
numbers are added to
the new syllabus.

Chapter 2
Equations of
Straight Lines

12.1 understand the equation of a straight line

12.2 understand the possible intersection of two
straight lines

The possible

recognize the characteristics of equation form that

represents a straight line
understand and apply the point-slope form to find
the equations of straight lines from various given
conditions
describe the properties of the line from a given
linear equation

intersection of two
straight lines is added
to the new syllabus.

New Century
Mathematics 4A

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

Chapter 3
Quadratic
Equations in One
Unknown

1.1 solve quadratic equations by the factor

method
1.2 form quadratic equations from given roots
1.3 solve the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 by
plotting the graph of the parabola y = ax2 +
bx + c and reading the x-intercepts
1.4 solve quadratic equations by the quadratic
formula
1.5 understand the relations between the
discriminant of a quadratic equation and the
nature of its roots
1.6 solve problems involving quadratic
equations
1.7 understand the relations between the roots
and coefficients and form quadratic
equations using these relations
Note:
The following are not required for

formulate and solve quadratic equations by factor

method and formula
solve the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 by plotting the
graph y = ax2 + bx + c and reading the xintercepts
be aware of the approximate nature of the
graphical method
choose the most appropriate strategy to solve
quadratic equations
recognize the conditions for the nature of roots

The relations between

the roots and
coefficients are added
to the new syllabus
(belongs to syllabus
1985).
When < 0, students
have to point out that
the equation has no
real roots or the
equation has two nonreal roots as they are
expected to recognize
the existence of
complex numbers in
Chapter 1.

students taking only the Foundation

Topics: expressing non-real roots in
the form a bi, and simplifying
expressions involving
surds such as 2 48 .

New Century
Mathematics 4A

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Chapter 4
Basic Knowledge
of Functions

2.1 recognize the intuitive concepts of

functions, domains and co-domains,
independent and dependent variables
2.2 recognize the notation of functions and use
tabular, algebraic and graphical methods to
represent functions
2.3 understand the features of the graphs of
quadratic functions
2.4 find the maximum and minimum values of
quadratic functions by the algebraic method

relate the idea of input-processing-output to the

The concepts of
meaning of dependent and independent variables
domains and co understand the basic idea of a function from the
domains are added to
tabular, symbolic and graphical representations of
the new syllabus.
a function and the dummy nature of x
Finding the domain of
use the notation for a function
a function is required
explore various properties of quadratic functions
but need not be
such as vertex, axis of symmetry, the optimum
stressed.
Students are expected
value(s) from their graphs
appreciate the contribution of Arabians on the
to find the maximum
method of completing the square and use it to find
and minimum values
the properties of quadratic functions
of quadratic functions
appreciate the power of the method in generating
by the graphical
a perfect square expression
method.

4.1 perform division of polynomials

4.2 understand the remainder theorem
4.3 understand the factor theorem

manipulate polynomials further including long

division up to simple quadratic divisor
recognize the concept of division algorithm
understand and use remainder and factor
theorems to factorize polynomials up to degree 3
appreciate the power of factor theorem and also
be aware of the limitation of the theorem

Chapter 5
Quadratic
Functions

Chapter 6
More about
Polynomials

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remark: The learning objectives underlined are the Non-foundation Topics.

Remarks

The remainder
theorem and the factor
theorem are changed
from non-foundation
topics to foundation
topics in the new
syllabus.

New Century
Mathematics 4B
Chapter 8
Exponential
Functions
Chapter 9
Logarithmic
Functions

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

3.1 understand the definitions of rational indices

3.2 understand the laws of rational indices
3.3 understand the definition and properties of
logarithms (including the change of base)
3.4 understand the properties of exponential
functions and logarithmic functions and
recognize the features of their graphs
3.5 solve exponential equations and logarithmic
equations
3.6 appreciate the applications of logarithms in
real-life situations
3.7 appreciate the development of the concepts
of logarithms

understand and use the laws of rational indices

understand the definition of logarithmic functions
and recognize the common logarithm is not the
only type of the function
examine the properties of the graphs of
exponential and logarithmic functions
explore and study the relations between the
properties of logarithmic function and that of
exponential function
appreciate the application of logarithm in various
real-life problems

The change of base

and appreciation of the
development of the
concepts of logarithms
are added to the new
syllabus.

New Century
Mathematics 4B
Chapter 10
Rational Functions

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

4.4 understand the concepts of the greatest

no such topic
common divisor and the least common
multiple of polynomials
4.5 perform addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division of rational functions

Remarks
The whole chapter is
the newly added
learning objective, and
belongs to syllabus
1985 (Note that
rational functions in
syllabus 1985 was
called algebraic
fractions).
Computation of
rational functions with
more than two
variables is not
required.

New Century
Mathematics 4B
Chapter 11
Basic Properties of
Circles
Chapter 12
More about Basic
Properties of
Circles

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

10.1 understand the properties of chords and

arcs of a circle
10.2 understand the angle properties of a circle
10.3 understand the properties of a cyclic
quadrilateral
10.4 understand the tests for concyclic points
and cyclic quadrilaterals
10.5 understand the properties of tangents to a
circle and angles in the alternate segments
10.6 use the basic properties of circles to
perform simple geometric proofs

understand and use the basic properties of chords

and arcs of a circle
understand and use the angle properties of a circle
understand and use the basic properties of cyclic
quadrilateral and tangent to a circle
appreciate the intuitive and inductive ways of
recognizing the properties of circles and see the
importance of deductive approach
perform geometric proofs related with circles
appreciate the structure of Euclidean Geometry
such as definitions, axioms and postulates, etc.
and its deductive approach in handling geometric
problems

The properties of
chords and arcs of a
circle, the angle
properties of a circle
and the properties of a
cyclic quadrilateral are
changed from nonfoundation topics to
foundation topics in
the new syllabus.

New Century
Mathematics 4B
Chapter 13
Basic
Trigonometry

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

13.1 understand the functions sine, cosine and

tangent, and their graphs and properties,
including maximum and minimum values
and periodicity
13.2 solve the trigonometric equations a sin =
b, a cos = b, a tan = b (solutions in the
interval from 0 to 360) and other
trigonometric equations (solutions in the
interval from 0 to 360)

understand the sine, cosine and tangent functions

and their graphs
use graphs to explore properties of trigonometric
functions including periodicity etc.
use graphs of the functions to find roots of an
equation such as sin = constant, where 0
360

The functions sine,

cosine and tangent,
and their graphs and
properties, and solving
the trigonometric
equations a sin = b,
a cos = b, a tan = b
(solutions in the
interval from 0 to
360) are changed
from non-foundation
topics to foundation
topics in the new
syllabus.

Remark: The learning objectives underlined are the Non-foundation Topics.

New Century
Mathematics 5A

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

Chapter 1
More about
Equations

5.1 use the graphical method to solve

simultaneous equations in two unknowns,
one linear and one quadratic in the form y =
ax2 + bx + c
5.2 use the algebraic method to solve
simultaneous equations in two unknowns,
one linear and one quadratic
5.3 solve equations (including fractional
equations, exponential equations,
logarithmic equations and trigonometric
equations) which can be transformed into
quadratic equations
5.4 solve problems involving equations which
can be transformed into quadratic equations

formulate and solve equations which can be

transformed into quadratic equations
formulate and solve one linear and one quadratic
simultaneous equations by algebraic method
solve equations by reading intersecting points of
given graphs
appreciate the power and understand the
limitation of graphical method in solving
equations
choose the most appropriate strategy to solve
equations

Using the graphical

method to solve
equations is changed
from foundation topic
to non-foundation
topic in the new
syllabus.

Chapter 2
Inequalities in One
Unknown

8.1 solve compound linear inequalities in one

unknown
8.2 solve quadratic inequalities in one unknown
by the graphical method
8.3 solve quadratic inequalities in one unknown
by the algebraic method

discuss the solution of compound linear

inequalities connected by and

The whole chapter is

the newly added
learning objective, and
belongs to syllabus
1985.
Compound inequalities
involving logical
connectives and or
or are required.

New Century
Mathematics 5A

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Chapter 3
9.1 sketch and compare graphs of various types
More about Graphs
of functions including constant, linear,
of Functions
quadratic, trigonometric, exponential and
logarithmic functions
9.2 solve the equation f (x) = k using the graph
of y = f (x)
9.3 solve the inequalities f (x) > k, f (x) < k, f
(x) k and f (x) k using the graph of
y = f (x)
9.4 understand the transformations of the
function f (x) including f (x) + k, f (x + k),
k f (x) and f (kx) from tabular, symbolic and
graphical perspectives

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

sketch and compare graphs of various types of

functions
solve f(x) > k, f(x) < k, f(x) k, f(x) k by reading
graphs of f(x)
explore the effects of transformation on the
functions from tabular, symbolic and graphical
perspectives
visualize the effect of transformation on the
graphs of functions when giving symbolic
relations

Comparison includes
domains, existence of
maximum or minimum
values, symmetry and
periodicity.

New Century
Mathematics 5A
Chapter 4
Permutation and
Combination

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

14.1 understand the addition rule and
multiplication rule in the counting
principle
14.2 understand the concept and notation of
permutation
14.3 solve problems on the permutation of
distinct objects without repetition
14.4 understand the concept and notation of
combination
14.5 solve problems on the combination of
distinct objects without repetition

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

no such topic

Remarks
The whole chapter is
the newly added
learning objective.
Circular permutation is
not required.

New Century
Mathematics 5A
Chapter 5
More about
Probability

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

15.1 recognize the notation of set language

including union, intersection and
complement
15.2 understand the addition law of probability
and the concepts of mutually exclusive
events and complementary events
15.3 understand the multiplication law of
probability and the concept of independent
events
15.4 recognize the concept and notation of
conditional probability
15.5 use permutation and combination to solve
problems relating to probability

recognize the basic laws in probability

apply the addition or multiplication laws in a
wide variety of activities including real-life
problems
recognize the notion of conditional probability
and the notation of P(A | B)
Note: The Bayes Theorem need not be introduced.

Notation of set
language and use of
permutation and
combination in solving
problems relating to
probability are added
to the new syllabus.
The concept of Venn
Diagram is required.
Bayes Theorem is not
required.

Remark: The learning objectives underlined are the Non-foundation Topics.

New Century
Mathematics 5B
Chapter 7
Variations

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

6.1 understand direct variations (direct
proportions) and inverse variations (inverse
proportions), and their applications to
solving real-life problems
6.2 understand the graphs of direct and inverse
variations
6.3 understand joint and partial variations, and
their applications to solving real-life
problems

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

discuss the relations between 2 changing

The new and odd
quantities
syllabuses are similar.
sketch the graphs of direct and inverse variations
and recognize the algebraic representations
between the quantities
recognize and appreciate the algebraic
representations of various variations such as those
in the forms of V = r2h or y = k1 + k2x, etc.
apply the relations to solve real-life problems

New Century
Mathematics 5B
Chapter 8
Equations of
Circles

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

12.3 understand the equation of a circle

12.4 find the coordinates of the intersections of
a straight line and a circle and understand
the possible intersection of a straight line
and a circle

find the equation of circles from given conditions

Understanding the
equation of a circle is
changed from nonfoundation topic to
foundation topic in the
new syllabus.
Finding the
coordinates of the
intersections of a
straight line and a
circle and
understanding the
possible intersection of
a straight line and a
circle is added to the
new syllabus (belong
to syllabus 1985).
Finding the equations
of tangents to a circle
is required.

New Century
Mathematics 5B
Chapter 9
Locus

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

11.1 understand the concept of loci
11.2 describe and sketch the locus of points
satisfying given conditions
11.3 describe the locus of points with algebraic
equations

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

describe verbally or sketch the locus of points
moving under a condition or conditions
appreciate different conditions which can give
rise to the same type of locus
explore and visualize straight line as loci of
moving points and describe the loci with
equations
explore and visualize circles as loci of moving
points

Remarks
The equations of
circles as loci are
changed from nonfoundation topic to
foundation topic in the
new syllabus.
Students are expected
to find the equations of
simple loci, which
include equations of
parabolas (in the form
of y = ax2 + bx + c).

New Century
Mathematics 5B

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Chapter 10
Solving Triangles

13.3 understand the formula

Chapter 11
Applications in
Trigonometry

areas of triangles
13.4 understand the sine and cosine formulae
13.5 understand Herons formula
13.6 use the above formulae to solve 2dimentional and 3-dimensional problems

1
absin C for
2

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

recognize the limitation of Pythagoras Theorem
in solving triangles
understand and use sine and cosine formulae to
solve triangles
understand and use the formula

1
absin C and
2

Herons formula for areas of triangles

investigate and find the angle between 2
intersecting lines, between a line and a plane,
between 2 intersecting planes
apply trigonometric knowledge in solving 2dimensional and 3-dimensional problems

Remarks
The new and odd
syllabuses are similar.

New Century
Mathematics 5B
Chapter 12
Measures of
Dispersion
Chapter 13
More about
Dispersion

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

16.1 understand the concept of dispersion
16.2 understand the concepts of range and interquartile range
16.3 construct and interpret the box-andwhisker diagram and use it to compare the
distributions of different sets of data
16.4 understand the concept of standard
deviation for both grouped and ungrouped
data sets
16.5 compare the dispersions of different sets of
data using appropriate measures
16.6 understand the applications of standard
deviation to real-life problems involving
standard scores and the normal distribution
16.7 explore the effect of the following
operations on the dispersion of the data:
(i) adding an item to the set of data
(ii) removing an item from the set of data
(iii) adding a common constant to each
item of the set of data
(iv) multiplying each item of the set of
data by a common constant

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

recognize range, inter-quartile range and standard Real-life problems

deviation as measures of dispersion for a set of
involving standard
data
scores and the normal
find range from a given set of data
distribution are added
find inter-quartile range from the cumulative
to the new syllabus
frequency polygon
(belongs to syllabus
construct box-and-whisker diagrams and use them
1985).
The term variance
to compare the distributions of different sets of
data
should be introduced.
interpret the basic formula of standard deviation
A box-and-whisker
and be able to find the standard deviation for both
diagram can also be
grouped and ungrouped data set
called a boxplot.
compare the dispersions of different sets of data
using appropriate measures
explore and make conjecture on the effect of the
dispersion of the data such as
(i) removal of a certain item from the data;
(ii) adding a common constant to the whole set of
data;
(iii) multiplying the whole set of data by a
constant;
(iv) insertion of zero in the data set

Remark: The learning objectives underlined are the Non-foundation Topics.

New Century
Mathematics 6
Chapter 1
Arithmetic
Sequences
Chapter 2
Geometric
Sequences

Chapter 3
Linear Inequalities
in Two Unknowns
and Linear
Programming

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

7.1 understand the concept and the properties of

arithmetic sequences
7.2 understand the general term of an arithmetic
sequence
7.3 understand the concept and the properties of
geometric sequences
7.4 understand the general term of a geometric
sequence
7.5 understand the general formulae of the sum
to a finite number of terms of an arithmetic
sequence and a geometric sequence and use
the formulae to solve related problems
7.6 explore the general formulae of the sum to
infinity for certain geometric sequences and
use the formulae to solve related problems
7.7 solve related real-life problems

explore further the properties of arithmetic and

geometric sequences
develop and use the general terms of the
sequences
investigate and use the general formulae of the
sum to n terms of arithmetic and geometric
sequences
develop an intuitive idea on limit and deduce the
formula for sum to infinity for certain geometric
series
solve real-life problems such as interest, growth
and depreciation, geometric problems etc.

The new and old

syllabuses are similar.

8.4 represent the graphs of linear inequalities in

two unknowns on a plane
8.5 solve systems of linear inequalities in two
unknowns
8.6 solve linear programming problems

represent the linear inequalities in two unknowns

on a plane
solve systems of linear inequalities in two
unknowns
solve linear programming problems

The new and old

syllabuses are similar.

New Century
Mathematics 6
Chapter 4
Uses and Abuses
of Statistics

Leaning Objective of NSS Syllabus

Learning Objective of Syllabus 1999

Remarks

17.1 recognize different techniques in survey

sampling and the basic principles of
questionnaire design
17.2 discuss and recognize the uses and abuses
of statistical methods in various daily-life
activities or investigations
17.3 assess statistical investigations presented
in different sources such as news media,
research reports, etc.

recognize different techniques in choosing

samples and the criteria in choosing data
collection method
investigate methods in which statistical surveys
are used and misused in various daily-life
activities
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of statistical
investigations presented in different sources such
as news media, advertisements, etc. including
methods of collecting, presenting and analyzing
data etc.
recognize the complexity in conducting surveys

All the non-foundation

topics of this chapter
in the old syllabus are
changed to foundation
topics in the new
syllabus.

Remark: The learning objectives underlined are the Non-foundation Topics.