New study design-Examination Specifications

[waldo777]

Hey everyone,

Not sure if people have realised that the examination specifications have been released for the new legal studies study design.

Main points:

-Total marks allocated for the examination will be 70.
-There will be one extended response question worth 10 marks at the end of the examination. There will be no
choice of topics for students. This question will be drawn from Unit 3 or 4, or both.
-The examination paper may include questions which refer to stimulus materials such as newspaper articles,
extracts from reports or case study material.

What do you all think? Personally, I am slightly annoyed. I hate being rushed for time and 70 marks in 120 minutes seems pretty tough (especially seeing as the sample questions don't look any easier/quicker to answer than in previous exams).

The full document is available here: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vcaa/vce/studies/legalstudies/publications/legalstud-samp-w.pdf

[werdna]

I'm annoyed about the 'no choice for topics' part. WTF?! They're turning the Legal exam into an English exam clone.

[burbs]

Nah they're just turning it into a much much much harder BM.

[waldo777]

Nah they're just turning it into a much much much harder BM.

Couldn't agree more!

I really don't see why they had to change to 70 marks. It means that the top students are often forced to guess what is required for full marks on each question because there usually isn't time to answer everything to the standard they are actually capable of.

[iNerd]

I'm annoyed about the 'no choice for topics' part. WTF?! They're turning the Legal exam into an English exam clone.

Same for Psych Section C 10mark-essay. No choice of topic -.-

[andy456]

I don't think the 70 marks in 120 minutes will be that big of a deal really. Initialy I thought it would but after looking at the sample paper there seems to be more short answer questions (1-4 marks) then before so you shouldn't be severely disadvantaged compared to previous years.

[eeps]

It's not that bad in my opinion; I'm inclined to agree with andy456.

[Hellhole]

VCAA generally tries to make the exam possible to do for all students who have adequate knowledge of the subject, and they generally like to cram all the marks in they can to test you on everything as well as trying to flush out the good from the bad students. That said, VCAA sucks.

Either way, I don't think the increase will be that difficult. Means you can cut down 2-3 minutes on trying to choose a topic for the 10-marker and juggling the ease of it.

[MrIraq]

great ... im stuffed since i havent done 1/2 :/

[werdna]

great ... im stuffed since i havent done 1/2 :/

No need to worry. All the stuff you'll need to know from 1&2 will be in the introductory chapter (before the real chapter 1) in the Justice&Outcomes book.

[burbs]

On that note, before the study design changed, was 3/4 always such a direct expansion of 1/2?

[MrIraq]

great ... im stuffed since i havent done 1/2 :/

No need to worry. All the stuff you'll need to know from 1&2 will be in the introductory chapter (before the real chapter 1) in the Justice&Outcomes book.

ohh we use the book making and breakin the law .. its a new 2011 one

idk today the teacher was going on about, the way parlament works n stuff and i was just confused...

[burbs]

You can get the book for free from here, J&O that is.

[MrIraq]

You can get the book for free from here, J&O that is.

lol why are u being soo nice burberry? .. btw i figured what burberry is.. its like this perfume shop or something at DFO...

[iNerd]

You can get the book for free from here, J&O that is.

lol why are u being soo nice burberry? .. btw i figured what burberry is.. its like this perfume shop or something at DFO...

Alternatively, why aren't you so nice?