Asher Campbell and Luke Beaven still have three years left of high school, yet they are well on their way to completing Year 13 Calculus with excellence.
The St John’s College Year 10 students, both 15-years-old, say they enjoy the challenge the subject gives them.
“It’s been really fun,” Luke says. “It’s challenging but not hard and that’s what makes it enjoyable.”
Asher says he enjoys the problem-solving aspect.
Last year, while in his first year of high school, Asher achieved an excellence endorsement in Year 12 Mathematics – meaning he achieved at the highest level in all internal assessments and the final exam in the subject.
Luke also got an excellent endorsement. While homeschooled in Year 8, before starting at St. John’s College, he also studied Year 11 Mathematics with his older sister.
They both credit their teacher and Head of Mathematics, Grant McFarland for their success.
Mr McFarland says: “Several boys take on extra Mathematics at St John’s and Ms Jeannie Mosgrove, Mr Michael Oliver and myself help extend these lads in their own time”.
“However, Luke and Asher are extremely good for their age.”
Next, year when they officially begin their first year of NCEA, they will take University of Canterbury maths and engineering papers. They are also doing a Year 12 Chemistry internal later this year.
They say they have been accepted by the older boys – either Year 12 or Year 13 – and have been able to help them when unsure.