The classroom-based assessments (CBA) for Junior Cycle mathematics are split into two separate assessments. The first Maths CBA 1 takes place during your second year of secondary school and is designed to test a student’s mathematical investigation abilities through a report assessing real-world applications for math's skills.
There is a lot of room for choice when it comes to the type of report the student decides to use as well as what problem the student chooses to solve and how the student goes about solving the issue. Although, it goes without saying that the student must rely heavily on mathematical concepts and logic.
This poses a problem for many students as choosing your 2nd year CBA for maths is not always an easy job, especially when pursuing higher grades.
So, to help make this decision easier, here are a few 2nd year maths CBA 1 ideas;
1. Analysis of the Irish Housing Market
Using data from the Central Statistics Office, students can analyze the trend of house prices in different regions of Ireland over a certain period of time and calculate various statistical measures such as mean, median, and standard deviation.
2. Designing a Marketing Campaign
Students can use data analysis and statistical techniques to plan and design a marketing campaign for a new product. They can calculate the target audience, budget, and expected return on investment for the campaign.
3. Irish Weather Trends
Students can analyze meteorological data for Ireland over a period of time and identify patterns in temperature, rainfall, and wind patterns. They can also compare the weather patterns between different regions of Ireland.
4. Election Results Analysis
Students can analyze the results of the Irish general elections and calculate the percentage of votes received by different political parties. They can also use data analysis tools to identify trends and patterns in voting behavior.
5. Sales Forecasting
Students can analyze sales data for a company and use statistical techniques to forecast future sales. They can also identify trends and patterns in sales data and evaluate the effectiveness of past marketing campaigns.
6. Transportation Cost Analysis
Students can analyze the cost of transportation in Ireland, taking into account fuel costs, toll fees, and maintenance expenses. They can use data analysis tools to identify the most cost-effective mode of transportation and calculate the cost of traveling between different cities.
7. Tourism Industry Analysis
Using data from the Irish Tourism Board, students can analyze the trend of tourist arrivals in Ireland over a certain period of time and calculate various statistical measures such as mean, median, and standard deviation. They can also identify the factors that impact tourist arrivals and evaluate the effectiveness of different tourism marketing campaigns.
8. Agricultural Production Analysis
Students can analyze data on agricultural production in Ireland and calculate the average yield of crops for different regions of the country. They can also identify trends and patterns in crop production and evaluate the impact of environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature on crop yields.
9. Energy Consumption Analysis
Students can analyze data on energy consumption in Ireland and calculate the average energy consumption per capita. They can also compare the energy consumption patterns between different regions of the country and identify the factors that impact energy consumption.
10. Education Outcome Analysis
Students can analyze data on education outcomes for different schools in Ireland and calculate the average test scores for different subjects. They can also identify trends and patterns in education outcomes and evaluate the impact of various factors such as school funding and teacher quality on student performance.
11. Fixing Your Bicycle
Most students either currently own or previously owned a bike that had broken down in some way or another. For the sake of this example, let’s say both wheels broke on the bicycle. The student could then assess the costs, the repairs, and the time needed to restore the bike to proper working condition. This provides the students with the opportunity to use a wide variety of maths skills.
12. Should Cork City Have an Aquarium?
This CBA1 idea may be challenging for some students but if investigated thoroughly, will allow students to use a large quantity of their maths curriculums, which in turn is beneficial for grading.
The students will need to examine whether an aquarium will be profitable in Cork City and whether it is worth investing in. The students could use stats like the number of tourists in Cork city every year, what rival attractions there are in the city, as well as what age groups enjoy aquariums.
Other steps to examine include; whether there is space in the city for this new attraction, what types of fish can survive in Irish waters, and which species of fish attract the most customers.
13. How Much Will It Cost to Feed My New Puppy
Another idea for animal lovers. Puppies are a common desire for students, however, not many people realise all of the costs involved in raising a puppy to an adult dog. The puppy’s food will need to be calculated, but so too will vet visits, bedding, toys, and damage to shoes and furniture in the home. You may also factor in the costs of training your dog and the time you will need to allocate to caring for it each day.
14. Which School Lunch Deal is the Most Cost-Effective
This CBA topic does not apply to every student as many schools do not offer lunch to students. However, schools that do offer food will typically offer a variety of nutritious affordable meals. This could include everything from a chicken roll to a spaghetti Bolognese.
For the sake of the CBA, you could get the average calorie and nutrient content for each meal and then compare them based on the cost. Then after investigating, the student could determine which meal offers the most for the lowest price.
15. The Irish Stock Market
Students can analyze real-life data from the Irish stock market and calculate the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation of stock prices to understand market trends and volatility.
16. Budget Planning
Have students create a budget plan for a fictional family, taking into account income, expenses, savings, and taxes. This can help students understand basic financial concepts and the importance of budgeting.
17. Irish Sports Analytics
Using statistics and data analysis, students can evaluate the performance of Irish sports teams and players and identify patterns and trends. This can be a great way to engage students who are passionate about sports.
18. Geographical Data Analysis
Using mapping and data analysis tools, students can analyze demographic data for different regions of Ireland and visualize patterns in population distribution and migration.
19. Crime Statistics
Students can analyze crime statistics for Ireland, using data from sources such as the Irish Central Statistics Office, to understand crime trends and identify areas with high crime rates. This can also be an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of data interpretation and visualization in decision-making.
Final Thoughts
Half the challenge of your first CBA in math's for junior cycle is deciding what you want to do. However, by remembering some tips and tricks, this whole process can be made simple. Firstly, choose a topic that you understand and investigate something relevant to the student's life.
Then make sure that the different fields of math's studies can be applied to the topic, to get better marks. Also, check out examples like the ones mentioned above and search for inspiration while consulting your teachers and school. Make sure to tell us your ideas in the comment section below.