University of Tasmania, Australia

Mathematics Business Pathway

A preparation programme for university business studies

What is the Business Pathway?

The Business Pathway is available for all students who are enrolled in, or are thinking about enrolling in a business degree at university.  Though it is specifically designed to bridge the skills gap between VET studies and the standard first-year quantitative unit at university, this Pathway will help all students develop the skills and confidence they need to achieve better results in business studies in general, and the quantitative unit common to most business degrees in particular.

Each module ends with a final post-test.  Upon completion of each module post-test, you will receive an email with the score you received on your post-test.  Please save these emails as you may need to include them with your application to University.  The pass rate of all pre- and post-test for the Business Pathway is 80%.  If you do not receive this score, you are able to re-take the post-test once you have reviewed the material.

When you complete the final post-test, you will receive an email with your results for that module.   Please make sure to provide your email address when prompted during the pre- and post-tests so your results are forwarded to you for your records.  These emails may be used in your application to a university business programme, and can be particularly useful for students who have not studied year 12 maths in high school.  Not only do the emails demonstrate that you have achieved mastery in the topics you completed, they also demonstrate a level of motivation and self-initiative that can work in your favour.

Ideally this Pathway, in particular the first five modules,  should be  completed before you commence university studies.  However, students who are already studying the first year quantitative unit required in most business courses will benefit from doing the Pathway as a supportive learning activity to help in the unit. Those students studying quantitative methods will particularly benefit from modules 6 and 7 which have been designed to supplement studies in this area.

What are the online modules?

The Pathway starts with basic maths and builds towards more complex topics.  You work through each module at your own pace, taking as much time as you like.  Some modules will be easy for you to work through quickly, others may be a little more challenging and require more time.  Every module you complete will ensure you have a level of competency that will make the next module, the more complicated topic, easier to manage.

Each module provides explanations, examples and practice problems to increase your knowledge and skills in the topics.  The topics are related where possible to real-life business problems, which will ensure you understand why these maths skills are important to your immediate studies and future career.

Instructions for the website:

1.  Start with the pre-test for each module.  If you score 80% or above, you have shown that you have good knowledge of the topic and move to the next module. Alternatively, work through the module as a review of the topic.  

2.  Move through the tabs sequentially within each module. Ensure that you complete all the exercises prior to attempting the post-quiz at the end.

3.  PLEASE NOTE: the post-test for each module is automatically assessed and required as evidence that you satisfactorily completed the module requirements.  

4.  You will have the option to have a copy of your results emailed to you. Ensure that you save this copy as evidence that you have completed the module.  You can include these results in your application to study at University.