Plans For VCE 1/2,3/4

[PhoenixxFire]

^Could also see if your school will allow you to do just two subjects, although that could potentially make it harder if you get bored of just learning about two subjects and then lose motivation to study, could also consider doing uni extension subjects, although that's a bit different given they don't run at school.

[PhoenixxFire]

I didn't know you could repeat subjects! Well I guess that potentially changes things. Just to clarify, if I messed up and scored a lower SS the second time round, VCAA would still take my higher score?
I was thinking of doing two subjects that I might not necessarily excel in academically, but is applicable and useful post-VCE, like maybe two LOTE subjects or something like that (I actually did French 1&2 this year).

Yeah they'll take the highest. Might also be worth considering doing 2 English subjects if you're aiming for a high ATAR (I assume you're wanting to get into medicine given UCAT) because at least one English subject has to count in your top 4.

[turtlesforeveryone]

Certain subjects:
English/English Language (if I go to a school that allows it)
Specialist
Methods
Chinese SL (hopefully I have a heavy advantage as I have learnt SLA content for most of my life)
Physics (my favourite science subject)

Possible subjects:
Biology/Chemistry (I am taking Bio 1/2 as an accelerated subject but don't really enjoy it. On the other hand chemistry would be useful if I pursue a S.T.E.M career, but I may not be the best at it)
Algorithmics (Possible 7th subject but I already have too many subjects I like ;-;)
Extended Investigation (Many teachers have recommended this for me, can be accelerated in year 11)
University Mathematics (If I go to a school that allows this)

I want to pursue a career in the sciences but do not want to do 3 VCE science subjects. I also really enjoy mathematics and am relatively good at it for my year level.

[aspiringantelope]

Certain subjects:
English/English Language (if I go to a school that allows it)
Specialist
Methods
Chinese SL (hopefully I have a heavy advantage as I have learnt SLA content for most of my life)
Physics (my favourite science subject)

Possible subjects:
Biology/Chemistry (I am taking Bio 1/2 as an accelerated subject but don't really enjoy it. On the other hand chemistry would be useful if I pursue a S.T.E.M career, but I may not be the best at it)
Algorithmics (Possible 7th subject but I already have too many subjects I like ;-;)
Extended Investigation (Many teachers have recommended this for me, can be accelerated in year 11)
University Mathematics (If I go to a school that allows this)

I want to pursue a career in the sciences but do not want to do 3 VCE science subjects. I also really enjoy mathematics and am relatively good at it for my year level.

Wow Nice! It's great you've already gotten your "certain" choices already. A bit challenging here :[

[Aaron]

Just from my perspective being a Computing teacher - if you really want to do Algorithmics, i'd ease up on the other subject options. Algorithmics is a classified HESS subject (higher education scored study), meaning the difficulty is far beyond the standard VCE subject (I put it as a end-of-1st-year/2nd year computer science equivalent). It has a pre-requisite of Maths Methods 1/2 for a reason. You tick all the boxes in terms of liking/being strong at Maths, but trying to do 7 Year 12 subjects is crazy, especially the load you have chosen. 7 subjects from any discipline is extremely difficult - I would suggest picking 6 at most and focusing all your energy on that to get the best possible study scores. Even four...

I admire your aspirations and pursuit of excellence, but I question whether you have had the opportunity to taste just how intensive a Unit 3/4 subject is, let alone up to seven. There is a significant difference in terms of content/difficulty between subjects in Year 9-10 and VCE Unit 3/4.

I also understand the need to cram as much as possible and be fantastic in as many areas as possible - however VCE is a numbers game (it's wrong because education is about learning not scores, but that's the way the system is) so your efforts would be better spent focusing on a smaller amount of subjects and doing EXTREMELY well in them..

Obviously you are free to choose and complete however many and whatever you want, but my strong recommendation is not to do seven subjects and focus on a select few. You'll drive yourself mad and I'd question the amount of leisure/free time you'd actually get.

[turtlesforeveryone]

Just from my perspective being a Computing teacher - if you really want to do Algorithmics, i'd ease up on the other subject options. Algorithmics is a classified HESS subject (higher education scored study), meaning the difficulty is far beyond the standard VCE subject (I put it as a end-of-1st-year/2nd year computer science equivalent). It has a pre-requisite of Maths Methods 1/2 for a reason. You tick all the boxes in terms of liking/being strong at Maths, but trying to do 7 Year 12 subjects is crazy, especially the load you have chosen. 7 subjects from any discipline is extremely difficult - I would suggest picking 6 at most and focusing all your energy on that to get the best possible study scores. Even four...

I admire your aspirations and pursuit of excellence, but I question whether you have had the opportunity to taste just how intensive a Unit 3/4 subject is, let alone up to seven. There is a significant difference in terms of content/difficulty between subjects in Year 9-10 and VCE Unit 3/4.

I also understand the need to cram as much as possible and be fantastic in as many areas as possible - however VCE is a numbers game (it's wrong because education is about learning not scores, but that's the way the system is) so your efforts would be better spent focusing on a smaller amount of subjects and doing EXTREMELY well in them..

Obviously you are free to choose and complete however many and whatever you want, but my strong recommendation is not to do seven subjects and focus on a select few. You'll drive yourself mad and I'd question the amount of leisure/free time you'd actually get.

I agree with what you've wrote, and a main problem for me is I'm very interested in a broad selection of topics. It can feel like 6 VCE subjects is just not enough for the scope I want to learn about :/

Anyhow, it is hard to gauge how I will come with 3/4 workload until I get to that level. Thanks for your input!

[Aaron]

You can learn about things of interest outside of VCE (e.g. in spare time/holidays, at uni later on etc). You don't have to specifically study them at VCE (which is a small component of your life). I get you are eager but again, VCE is a numbers game and unfortunately you have to play the game to get the results you want. It's not about trying to shove as much as you can into this period of time.. you will end up burning yourself out and during VCE mental health is super important.

I am sure nearly anybody on here will tell you that 7 subjects is way too much especially with the subject selection you have listed (and potential lengthy ones e.g. Algo, EI and Uni Extension). I didn't get to do a lot of subjects I wanted to do due to several factors, but that didn't stop me pursuing them and learning more at university level through electives/exploration options. I would also say to you that only six max are counted towards your ATAR, making one completely redundant and meaningless in terms of contribution.

Good luck with your decisions.

[Bri MT]

I agree with what you've wrote, and a main problem for me is I'm very interested in a broad selection of topics. It can feel like 6 VCE subjects is just not enough for the scope I want to learn about :/

Anyhow, it is hard to gauge how I will come with 3/4 workload until I get to that level. Thanks for your input!

I feel like this is a pretty common dilemma. I certainly would've studied everything if I could.

I 100% agree with Aaron that you can learn things outside of VCE. There's higher education, the internet, libraries etc which could all give you the opportunity to explore topics you didn't get to cover during highschool.

Doing 7 VCE subjects which would add extra unnecessary stress and pressure onto what's already a challenging year.  I didn't find year 7-10 very challenging but year 12 is a different story.

Best of luck with making your decisions

[AngelWings]

Certain subjects:
English/English Language (if I go to a school that allows it)
Specialist
Methods
Chinese SL (hopefully I have a heavy advantage as I have learnt SLA content for most of my life)
Physics (my favourite science subject)

Possible subjects:
Biology/Chemistry (I am taking Bio 1/2 as an accelerated subject but don't really enjoy it. On the other hand chemistry would be useful if I pursue a S.T.E.M career, but I may not be the best at it)
Algorithmics (Possible 7th subject but I already have too many subjects I like ;-;)
Extended Investigation (Many teachers have recommended this for me, can be accelerated in year 11)
University Mathematics (If I go to a school that allows this)

I want to pursue a career in the sciences but do not want to do 3 VCE science subjects. I also really enjoy mathematics and am relatively good at it for my year level.

Those are some pretty heavy subjects. I agree with Aaron and say that you're going to be digging a huge hole for yourself if you decide to overdo it. Trust me - I've made the mistake of overworking myself before and it's not pretty. 

In terms of a science career, you don't need to do all 3 VCE science subjects. I've seen people do one and still do really well later on.

I am sure nearly anybody on here will tell you that 7 subjects is way too much especially with the subject selection you have listed 

I agree with Aaron here. Fun fact: I studied 3 U1/2s in Year 10 (Psych and General Maths at school and Chinese SL at a language school), but chose to reduce this number down to 1 U3/4 in Year 11 (Psych). I'm really glad I did this, because Psych didn't even end up as one of my best subjects, while Further (which I did in Year 12 and follows on from General Maths) did.     

[aspiringantelope]

Those are some pretty heavy subjects. I agree with Aaron and say that you're going to be digging a huge hole for yourself if you decide to overdo it. Trust me - I've made the mistake of overworking myself before and it's not pretty. 

In terms of a science career, you don't need to do all 3 VCE science subjects. I've seen people do one and still do really well later on.I agree with Aaron here. Fun fact: I studied 3 U1/2s in Year 10 (Psych and General Maths at school and Chinese SL at a language school), but chose to reduce this number down to 1 U3/4 in Year 11 (Psych). I'm really glad I did this, because Psych didn't even end up as one of my best subjects, while Further (which I did in Year 12 and follows on from General Maths) did.     

Does that mean you did Chinese in Year 12? o.O

[AngelWings]

Does that mean you did Chinese in Year 12? o.O

Nope. Didn't do Year 12 Chinese SL. Out of the LOTE subjects, I just studied Japanese SL at a Year 12 level.

My VCE subjects looked as follows:

AngelWings' VCE subjects

Year 10 (2012): at school - Psychology U1/2, General Maths U1/2; at language school - Chinese SL U1/2
Year 11 (2013): Psychology U3/4, English Language U1/2, Methods U1/2, Chemistry U1/2, Japanese SL U1/2, Economics U1/2
Year 12 (2014): English Language U3/4, Methods U3/4, Chemistry U3/4, Japanese SL U3/4, Further U3/4

[aspiringantelope]

Nope. Didn't do Year 12 Chinese SL. Out of the LOTE subjects, I just studied Japanese SL at a Year 12 level.

My VCE subjects looked as follows:

AngelWings' VCE subjects

Year 10 (2012): at school - Psychology U1/2, General Maths U1/2; at language school - Chinese SL U1/2
Year 11 (2013): Psychology U3/4, English Language U1/2, Methods U1/2, Chemistry U1/2, Japanese SL U1/2, Economics U1/2
Year 12 (2014): English Language U3/4, Methods U3/4, Chemistry U3/4, Japanese SL U3/4, Further U3/4

Wow, must've been pretty though doing a LOTE in Year 12!!!

[justinely]

This is my plan:

Year 10:
- Bio 1/2
- Chinese SL 1/2

Year 11:
- English 1/2 (or eng lang if i can)
- Chem 1/2
- Methods 1/2
- Spesh 1/2
- Bio 3/4
- Chinese SL 3/4

Year 12:
- English/eng lang 3/4
- Chem 3/4
- Methods 3/4
- Spesh 3/4

Future goals: At the moment, my goal is to become a surgeon! 

[aspiringantelope]

A vague plan from me - most likely there will be changes if a course I would want to go in has a prerequisite
2019 - Math Methods 1/2, LOTE 1/2
2020 - Math Methods 3/4, LOTE 3/4, An English Subject 1/2, Bio/Chem 1/2, Spec 1/2, Economics 1/2
2021 - An English Subject 1/2, Bio/Chem 3/4, Spec 3/4, Economics 3/4

By "An English Subject", I mean one of the three English subjects because currently I am not known to the differences between the three, thus, unable to choose one that I am comfortable with.
For Bio/Chem, the choice would heavily depend on the prerequisite of the course I would want to get a place in (even though I don't think Biology is a prerequisite for much as I've know)
Not confirmed about Specialist and Economics -________-
Currently in a puzzling stage  But I think by the middle of next year, I will have consolidated my choices 

BTW, from the recent posts from the class of 2021 students, it seems that everyone is doing two 3/4s in Year 11 o.O

[Aaron]

You don't have to do two 3/4's in Y11. Don't let others sway your decision making - it is about you and what you believe is best for you individually. This is a very common error students new to VCE make - choosing subjects due to opinions of others. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for others.

Two 3/4's in Year 11 would definitely help ease your workload in Year 12, as you'd only need to do 4 to get the full six that will contribute to your ATAR.. But you can do 1 in Year 11 and 5 in Year 12, or even just stick with 4-5 as the last two only contribute 10% of the score to the aggregate.

From the list you've described above, you only have 5 3/4 subjects in total. Is this intended? While I understand, you still have a sixth option which can still contribute 10% of its study score to your aggregate... and if you get a 40 in the 6th subject, that's still a 4 added which when you get to the upper end, can mean quite a bit.

Edit: realised you meant English 3/4 in the first sub 2021. Just remember that to even get your VCE, you need at least 3 units of an english subject and there has to be a sequence of Units 3 and 4 involved.