This whole COVID situation is so stressful (for me anyway, but I find everything stressful so what's new?
)...
They are getting rid of one of the IAs, which I dont know how they can calculate our ATARs fairly if each school is getting rid of a different IA (some schools removing IA2, some removing IA3). My school will be removing IA3 - which is super sucky because I love research investigations!!!!
For science, in particular, I don't understand how QCAA can say that a student experiment is of the same difficulty as a research investigation? Sure, they have the same assessment objectives, but there is so much more room to stuff up the SE - if you collect bad data it's hard to get a good mark. Additionally, IA2 is for unit 3 content, IA3 is unit 4 content - it's completely different. I know all of my peers found the research investigation much easier and way less stressful, but it looks like we wont be doing another one.
As for subjects like English, IA2 is an assignment; whereas, IA3 is an exam (which you can get no feedback when preparing for it). I'm glad that I dont have to do IA3 for english, creative writing aint my thing. I just have to pray that I did well on the feature article.
I understand that they did this to try and relieve pressure and ease our anxiety, but for students (like myself) who have already completed IA2, it is so much more stressful only having 2 IAs. My school completed IA2 when the COVID-19 situation was getting more and more serious. We were already stressed out enough about that, and then they chuck assignments on top. None of us were able to process anything that was going on in our lives. QLD decided that last week would be a student free week so that schools can prepare for online learning, yet my grade still had to come in for exams.
It just makes it stressful for us because we werent warned that we could potentially lose an IA, so now we just have to hope that we did well on that last one. We dont have the chance to pick our grade up, even though we originally thought we did.
My school wasnt going to complete IA3 until term 3. I think by then the lockdown should hopefully be over, or restrictions should at least be lessened in regard to schooling. I think students who only have to do IA3 now are lucky because they get time to process everything and arent having to complete assessment while circumstances are really uncertain and anxiety levels are heightened.
Am I complaining? No. These are just some observations I have made and my own opinions. Am I stressed out of my mind? Yes - though, I think I will be ok. The only subject I am worried about its methods. I highly doubt it will be in my top 5, which is what I was originally hoping.
I wish everyone the best of luck during this stressful and uncertain period!