TVO ILC Submission Guidelines for Science and Math Courses
You can ensure that your work is received and understood in the format you intended by following these guidelines for communicating your mathematical and scientific work. Using technology will also help prepare you for post-secondary pursuits in science and mathematics.
Students writing final tests with ProctorU will also need to use specific digital tools for submitting their answers. Details will follow in your course.
General Submission Guidelines
If your submission does not follow these guidelines, it may be marked as incomplete or not be graded.
Type out all your work, including any formulas, calculation steps and tables.
Obtain full marks by demonstrating how well you understand your solution through an adequate amount of work and steps.
Submit your answers for evaluation in a separate Microsoft Word or PDF document.
You do not need to retype the questions. Simply label the expectation/section and question numbers and type your answers.
If your submission does not follow these guidelines, it may be marked as incomplete or not be graded.
Show all your work
For best practices, follow a consistent problem-solving structure like GRASS or GRASP that shows all your work and explains your thinking as you solve a problem.
For example, these structures ask you to format your solution in the following sections:
G: Givens, state all given values from the problem.
R: Required, indicate the pieces of information you must find.
A: Analysis, lay out the formulas or equations, and interpret them in the context of the problem.
S: Solution, do the arithmetic and algebra required to get an answer for your required value.
S/P: Statement or Paraphrase, write a concluding sentence that answers the initial question.
Type out all your work, including any formulas, calculation steps and tables.
Obtain full marks by demonstrating how well you understand your solution through an adequate amount of work and steps.
Submit your answers for evaluation in one Microsoft Word (.docx), or PDF document, unless otherwise stated.
You do not need to retype the questions. Simply label the expectation/section and question numbers and type your full solutions.
Scanned work is only acceptable if it is a graph or a diagram.
Refer to the Diagrams and Scanned Work section on this page for more information.
Your course may include more detailed instructions.
This page contains general guidelines for ILC courses. At times, you may be expected to follow slightly different instructions. Refer to your course material for details.
If your submission does not follow these guidelines, it may be returned to you, ungraded, for an opportunity to upload a more fulsome submission.
Math Equations
Proper Format | Improper Format |
|---|---|
3
5
/
8
| 3 5/8 |
(x2)+3(x - 5)
/
(y+3)3
| (x^2+3)(x 5)/(y+3)^3 |
4x = 8
x =
8
/
4
x = 2 | 4x = 8, x = 8/4, x = 2 |
We strongly suggest using an equation editor to type equations for all courses. This is mandatory for Grade 11 and 12 M- and U-level courses. A word processing program with an equation editor feature will allow you use proper symbols and notation in your equations.
Resources:
• Visit this Microsoft Support Page for instructions on how to use the equation editor in Microsoft Word.
• Visit this Google Support Page for instructions on how to use the equation editor in Google Docs. Your document will need to be converted into a Microsoft Word or PDF file for submission.
We strongly suggest using an equation editor to type equations for all courses. Use of an equation editor is mandatory for Grade 11 and 12 M- and U-level courses (those course codes ending in 3M, 3U, 4M, or 4U). A word processing program with an equation editor feature will allow you to use proper symbols and notation in your equations. Google Docs and Microsoft Word include equation editors, as do free alternatives like LibreOffice and OpenOffice.
Begin your work in a separate brand new word processing document and number your solutions.
Proper Format | Improper Format |
|---|---|
3
5
/
8
| 3 5/8 |
(x2)+3(x - 5)
/
(y+3)3
| (x^2+3)(x-5)/(y+3)^3 |
4x = 8
x =
8
/
4
x = 2 | 4x = 8, x = 8/4, x = 2 |
Proper Format | Improper Format |
|---|---|
3
5
/
8
| 3 5/8 |
(x2)+3(x - 5)
/
(y+3)3
| (x^2+3)(x 5)/(y+3)^3 |
4x = 8
x =
8
/
4
x = 2 | 4x = 8, x = 8/4, x = 2 |
External Resources:
Microsoft Word:
• Watch the following ILC video walkthrough
• Visit this Microsoft Support Page for instructions on how to use the equation editor in Microsoft Word.
Google Docs:
• Watch the following ILC video walkthrough
• Visit this Google Support Page for instructions on how to use the equation editor in Google Docs. Your document will need to be converted into a PDF file for submission.
Chemical Equations and Chemical Formulas
Proper Format | Improper Format |
|---|---|
Ba3(PO4)2 | Ba3(PO4)2 |
PO43- | PO43- |
N2(g) + 3H2(g)) ⇌ 2NH3(g)) | N2 + H2= NH3 |
For Grade 11 and 12 M- or U-level courses, chemical equations and formulas must be typed in a word processing document using subscripts, superscripts and reaction arrows. A word processing program with an equation editor feature will allow you to type out your chemical equations using proper symbols and notation.
Resources:
• Visit this Microsoft Support Page for instructions on how to insert special chemistry symbols in Microsoft Word.
For Grade 11 and 12 M- or U-level courses, chemical equations and formulas must be typed in a word processing document using subscripts, superscripts and reaction arrows. A word processing program with an equation editor feature will allow you to type out your chemical equations using proper symbols and notation.
External Resources:
Proper Format | Improper Format |
|---|---|
Ba3(PO4)2 | Ba3(PO4)2 |
PO43- | PO43- |
N2(g) + 3H2(g)) ⇌ 2NH3(g)) | N2 + H2= NH3 |
• Visit this Microsoft Support Page for instructions on how to insert special chemistry symbols in Microsoft Word.
Proper Format | Improper Format |
|---|---|
Ba3(PO4)2 | Ba3(PO4)2 |
PO43- | PO43- |
N2(g) + 3H2(g)) ⇌ 2NH3(g)) | N2 + H2= NH3 |
Scientific Notation
Download the TVO ILC Scientific Notation word document (.pdf) for more information.
Significant Digits
Students in physics and chemistry courses must round their final answers to the correct number of significant figures. Significant digits and significant figures are both terms that refer to the same concept, and can be used interchangeably. A margin of error exists in any measurement, and we communicate this by clearly indicating the number of significant figures (i.e., how many decimal places are important to the question).
Keep the following guidelines in mind as you round your answers:
• Only apply significant figures to your final answer. If the question has multiple parts, round the final answer of each section to the correct number of significant figures.
• Generally, if there are a lot of calculations occurring in a question, round your final answer to the least number of significant figures found in the question.
Resources:
• Download the TVO ILC Significant Figures (.pdf) for more information and examples.
Graphs
There are two ways to create and submit graphs:
We strongly recommend students in Grade 11 or 12 M- or U-level courses use software to create graphs.
1. Using software: Use graphing software like GeoGebra, or Desmos. Graphs must be cropped to include all important features and inserted into your document.
2. By hand: Draw on grid paper using a ruler and dark pencil or pen. You can download and print grid paper or purchase some.
Requirements:
An example of a properly labelled graph.
1. Title your graphs and label both axes, including units (e.g., distance (m) vs. time (s)).
2. Graphs should fill the grid and include all relevant data points. Your grids should be consistently spaced and numbered for scale. For example: Each box on the grid may go up by two, but make sure you maintain this scale throughout the entire axis.
3. The x and y axes must use appropriate increments that are evenly spaced with a clear progression.
4. The x- and y-intercepts, asymptotes and key points should be clearly labelled, if applicable.
5. If the relationship is linear, use a ruler to draw a line of best fit. If the relationship is non-linear, draw a smooth curve of best fit.
Resources:
• Visit this Support Page for tutorials on how to use the Desmos graphing calculator.
• Visit this Resource Page for tutorials on how to use the GeoGebra graphing calculator.
Requirements:
An example of a properly labelled graph.
1. Title your graphs and label both axes, including units (e.g., distance (m) vs. time (s)).
2. Graphs should fill the grid and include all relevant data points. Your grids should be consistently spaced and numbered for scale. For example: Each box on the grid may go up by two, but make sure you maintain this scale throughout the entire axis.
3. The x and y axes must use appropriate increments that are evenly spaced with a clear progression.
4. The x- and y-intercepts, asymptotes and key points should be clearly labelled, if applicable.
5. If the relationship is linear, use a ruler to draw a line of best fit. If the relationship is non-linear, draw a smooth curve of best fit.
External Resources:
• Visit this Support Page for tutorials on how to use the Desmos graphing calculator.
• Visit this Resource Page for tutorials on how to use the GeoGebra graphing calculator.
An example of a properly labelled graph.
Diagrams and Scanned Work
There are two ways to create and submit diagrams:
1. Using software: Explore programs such as Microsoft Paint or others.
2. By hand: Draw the diagram and either take a photo of it or scan it to create a digital version. This file must be inserted into your overall assignment document and cannot be included as separate attachment or external link.
Requirements:
Aim to make your scanned diagrams as clear and detailed as possible using sketching software or a sharp pencil, ruler, protractor, compass or circle template.
Images must be crisp, clear and bright (minimize shadows and bleed-through).
• If you are taking a photo with a camera, ensure the image is bright and your diagram is in focus.
• If your diagram is not legible, you may not be awarded full marks.
Your handwriting must be legible.
Crop your scanned images to include only the relevant information to the question you’re answering. Be sure to include any scans beside the question number in your document.
If a question has a diagram and a written component, the written component also must be typed.
Requirements:
Aim to make your scanned diagrams as clear and detailed as possible using sketching software or a sharp pencil, ruler, protractor, compass or circle template.
Images must be crisp, clear and bright (minimize shadows and bleed-through).
• If you are taking a photo with a camera, ensure the image is bright and your diagram is in focus.
• If your diagram is not legible, you may not be awarded full marks.
Any writing in the diagram must be legible.
Crop your scanned images to include only the relevant information to the question you’re answering. Be sure to include any scans beside the question number in your document.
If a question has a diagram and a written component, the written component also must be typed.
Aim to make your scanned diagrams as clear and detailed as possible using sketching software or a sharp pencil, ruler, protractor, compass or circle template.
If you have any questions or concerns related to these guidelines, please email [email protected]
Good luck on your assignments!