JMSS 2017 Entry Discussion

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also I am having trouble with this question
I'm fairly certain it's a typo in the book though

it says to balance the equation but it's already fully balanced

C5H12 + 5O2 = 5CO2 + 6H2

it is the reaction of a hydrocarbon and oxygen burning to produce carbon dioxide and water

but the extra oxygen atom isn't shown

is this a typo or can you actually do this for water?

[IndefatigableLover]

That's actually a tough topic-very unpredictable. I heard, in the first years of the test the writing topics where fairly simple and predictable like atomic structure and/or what is friction, reaction times ect. I guess they are making it harder by the years. Do you recon reading science blogs and stuff could help with the writing topics? Cause for me- why polar bears are white is not in my science text book. What text book is good to study science? I'm planing to study off pearsons science text book 3 and 4. If I got the topic why polar bears are white I'd be clueless.... So Idk how to prepare for this year

TBH, the actual writing topics for the first few years were a bit simpler because the school was just starting out but has ramped up over time (plus friction/reaction rates was a pretty insane topic imo LOL). Personally I actually feel the topics for the past 2-3 years have been somewhat a lot easier since they've sort of resorted to practical reports (if I recall) which is essentially logic and reason (provided you have some logic behind your explanations, you should be fine even if it's wrong).

Also, I personally feel JMSS will slowly put more emphasis on the actual writing tasks in the exam from an English point of view (subtly but more profound over time) since most students at JMSS are very capable STEM students but many STEM students find English challenging so that'd be something I'd work on (so just getting the basics of English right)!

There's no telling how many people will sit the exam for this year, but perhaps the other current/past students of JMSS who applied for Year 10 Entry could give you a guess of how many sat the exam when they applied? I applied for Year 11 Entry last year and only 27 (confirmed number) of us were accepted from a pool of maybe 300-400 students (this is why I thought I had no chance of getting in at all )

Around 220 get accepted for Year 10 Entry on average, but this number varies every year. It's always over 200 students that are accepted though.

In the year I took the exam (2012), we had our exams split across Engineering Hall and JMSS so I'd give a ballpark figure of around 900-1000. It generally has about 900+ students applying each year though (now that they've got adequate space at Caulfield Racecourse).

Acceptance of 27 from your year seems about the right number (my year had 28) but there must have been a massive spike in your year to have 300-400 applicants (my year had 116 people apply [give or take a few people]) which I'd say is a good thing from the school's point of view.

Also for Year 10 entry, school generally accepts 205-208 students (a few students drop out for MHS/Mac.Rob or use that as bargaining power for scholarships at private schools which eventually rounds down to 200). School will generally accept 20+ students for Year 11 entry with the figure to be determined by how many leave the school (for various reasons which will not be delved into here).

[magicmania121]

Hi,
So can someone please explain science reasoning to me, what is it like? is it easy?

[Sil]

Hi,
So can someone please explain science reasoning to me, what is it like? is it easy?

Science Reasoning to me is just an exam that tests how you can apply logic and understanding of scientific concepts to questions that may require a bit of thinking. Honestly, I didn't feel like there was much of a difference between the Science and Scientific Reasoning exam...

When I applied, we were given 30 minutes to answer 30 questions in both the Science exams.

It was easy for me, but depends on who it is If you can read through information quickly and draw upon everything that you've learnt to come up with an appropriate answer, then you should be set for it In my exam, there were quite a few questions that were suited more for a Reading Comprehension test...there was just that much reading, and initially, the questions seemed not to suit for what we had to read

also I am having trouble with this question
I'm fairly certain it's a typo in the book though

it says to balance the equation but it's already fully balanced

C5H12 + 5O2 = 5CO2 + 6H2

it is the reaction of a hydrocarbon and oxygen burning to produce carbon dioxide and water

but the extra oxygen atom isn't shown

is this a typo or can you actually do this for water?

I think it's a typo. The balanced equation, if water were to be a product, should look like:

C₅H₁₂ + 8O₂ --> 5CO₂ + 6H2O

In the year I took the exam (2012), we had our exams split across Engineering Hall and JMSS so I'd give a ballpark figure of around 900-1000. It generally has about 900+ students applying each year though (now that they've got adequate space at Caulfield Racecourse).

Wow, I didn't know that over 900 students on average apply for Year 10 Entry each year... I heard that it was only 500 ahahaha Still a better chance of getting into JMSS via Year 10 Entry than Year 11 Entry

[magicmania121]

Wait is the year 9 entry exam for year 10 have a science exam? Also does anyone have any practice exams
p.s willing to buy

[ankita]

I really need to be corrected:
The exams we will do for JMMS are science reasoning, Numeric reasoning, maths and 2 science essays. Am I correct?

Wait, is the Science Reasoning like the MHS/Macrob Verbal Reasoning test? As in a lot of it was comprehension?

From what I've experienced and heard, science reasoning is a mixture of analysing data, science based comprehension and reading plus general scientific knowledge. They basically want to see if you can take information from texts and apply it to the questions as well as your prior basic knowledge of scientific concepts.

[Sil]

Wait is the year 9 entry exam for year 10 have a science exam? Also does anyone have any practice exams
p.s willing to buy

Yep, there's a science exam. It basically tests all your prior knowledge and is to see how much you know.

You can try the guy who posted this thread for practice exams:
FOR SALE JMSS Practise Exams 

I never did any practice tests but if you feel like you need to buy them for preparation then go for it.

Wait, is the Science Reasoning like the MHS/Macrob Verbal Reasoning test? As in a lot of it was comprehension?

No not really. There's a bit of 'comprehension' (not really comprehension but you have to think a bit for what you're given) but I wouldn't compare it with the Verbal Reasoning exam for MHS/Macrob.

I really need to be corrected:
The exams we will do for JMMS are science reasoning, Numeric reasoning, maths and 2 science essays. Am I correct?

From what I've experienced and heard, science reasoning is a mixture of analysing data, science based comprehension and reading plus general scientific knowledge. They basically want to see if you can take information from texts and apply it to the questions as well as your prior basic knowledge of scientific concepts.

No, the exams are:

• Numerical Reasoning - 30 minutes, 40-50 questions I think?.
• Mathematics - 30 minutes, 50-60 questions.
• Scientific Reasoning - 30 minutes, 30 questions.
• Science - 30 minutes, 30 questions.
• Scientific Essay - 30 minutes.

Yeah, that's pretty much what scientific reasoning is For anyone reading this and still not sure of what it is exactly, don't stress about it too much! It's more straight-forward than what you all may think If you prepare well then you'll definitely be fine

[ankita]

.

No, the exams are:

• Numerical Reasoning - 30 minutes, 40-50 questions I think?.
• Mathematics - 30 minutes, 50-60 questions.
• Scientific Reasoning - 30 minutes, 30 questions.
• Science - 30 minutes, 30 questions.
• Scientific Essay - 30 minutes.

Yeah, that's pretty much what scientific reasoning is For anyone reading this and still not sure of what it is exactly, don't stress about it too much! It's more straight-forward than what you all may think If you prepare well then you'll definitely be fine

Oh okay.... What's the difference in science and science reasoning? Cause I thought that we had 2 essays and 1 science exam.

[magicmania121]

No, i thought the exams for year 10 entry are maths, numerical, science reasoning, and 2 essays

[IndefatigableLover]

Oh okay.... What's the difference in science and science reasoning? Cause I thought that we had 2 essays and 1 science exam.

No, i thought the exams for year 10 entry are maths, numerical, science reasoning, and 2 essays

Provided something hasn't changed in the last 12 months, Sil should be referring to the Year 11 entry exam which follows that format (which is a much fairer exam I feel based on feedback from peers who've taken it in previous years) but yes Year 10 entry exam will consist of those five exams (provided nothing changes).

[ankita]

i thought there were 2 essays?

That's what I though.
That's so confusing
Can someone please clear us up.
Are there 2 writing tests?

[MayankAnand]

So from what I understand, the year 11 entry test shouldn't be too hard if I know my Year 10 and some of my Year 11 stuff right?

[magicmania121]

Hey what is the proper way to write a science essay

[KoandaBear]

If you think logically, will you do pretty well in the entrance exam, even if there's a question that stumps you?

[Shinkaze]

If you think logically, will you do pretty well in the entrance exam, even if there's a question that stumps you?

Yes, I didn't know what a cell was and it was one of the topic and I still got above average so as long as you think logically you will be okay