I've now had time to work through both the 2 unit paper and the General paper.
I have to say that the General paper is a harder exam.
Based on the work studied in either course, the 2 unit paper was relatively straightforward. The only slight twist that I found was the probability question in 9.
On the other hand the General paper had quite a few complicated questions (some didn't need to be so complicated).
A good comparison were the questions on annuities in either paper.
In the General paper, where students learn an annuity as an amount invested at the end of every period, they were presented with a situation where the first payment was made at the start of a period - contrary to the syllabus - it required a combination of compound interest and an annuity. Moreover this question was a straight out 4 mark question.
On the other hand, the 2 unit annuity question was structured in three parts. Part (i) was a straightforward textbook exercise, but the hardest part of the question. Part (ii) was a simple exercise in increasing by a percentage. It also set the student up with assistance to complete part (iii) which was just an extension of part (ii).
I have to say that the General paper is a harder exam.
Based on the work studied in either course, the 2 unit paper was relatively straightforward. The only slight twist that I found was the probability question in 9.
On the other hand the General paper had quite a few complicated questions (some didn't need to be so complicated).
A good comparison were the questions on annuities in either paper.
In the General paper, where students learn an annuity as an amount invested at the end of every period, they were presented with a situation where the first payment was made at the start of a period - contrary to the syllabus - it required a combination of compound interest and an annuity. Moreover this question was a straight out 4 mark question.
On the other hand, the 2 unit annuity question was structured in three parts. Part (i) was a straightforward textbook exercise, but the hardest part of the question. Part (ii) was a simple exercise in increasing by a percentage. It also set the student up with assistance to complete part (iii) which was just an extension of part (ii).