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March 29, 2024, 12:22:27 am

Author Topic: Unfortunate ATAR predicament pls help  (Read 3206 times)

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Dani.Dan.Aim

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Unfortunate ATAR predicament pls help
« on: November 03, 2021, 12:39:16 am »
+3
Hey,
So currently, I am in year 10 studying methods, specialist, physics, english, chemistry and also doing a university headstart course. With these subjects, the workload I imagine for year 12 would be insane, and I don't really want to drop any of the subjects except for the headstart course. However, if I was to drop it, I would have to do Biology, which is just suicide 6. So this leaves me with two options:
1. Continue Headstart course and stick with 5 ATAR eligible subjects
2. Do Biology which is equal in workload I assume.
An advantage for option 1 is that my exams finish early which gives me some time to study for the other 5 subjects, however, doing 5 subjects would be very risky I assume and would leave me with no backup if I was to bomb one of my subjects. Moreover, it also costs money to do a uni course...
An advantage of option 2 is probably having a second option if exam pressure gets to me and I bomb an external exam weighing 50%.
So, therefore, I genuinely don't know what to do, if there's a third option please let me know I would love to consider it.
Thank You

JerryMouse2019

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Re: Unfortunate ATAR predicament pls help
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2021, 01:14:13 am »
+1
Hey,
So currently, I am in year 10 studying methods, specialist, physics, english, chemistry and also doing a university headstart course. With these subjects, the workload I imagine for year 12 would be insane, and I don't really want to drop any of the subjects except for the headstart course. However, if I was to drop it, I would have to do Biology, which is just suicide 6. So this leaves me with two options:
1. Continue Headstart course and stick with 5 ATAR eligible subjects
2. Do Biology which is equal in workload I assume.
An advantage for option 1 is that my exams finish early which gives me some time to study for the other 5 subjects, however, doing 5 subjects would be very risky I assume and would leave me with no backup if I was to bomb one of my subjects. Moreover, it also costs money to do a uni course...
An advantage of option 2 is probably having a second option if exam pressure gets to me and I bomb an external exam weighing 50%.
So, therefore, I genuinely don't know what to do, if there's a third option please let me know I would love to consider it.
Thank You

Hi Dani.Dan.Aim,

In my opinion, doing 3 sciences alongside methods and specialist is a very difficult path to follow.

If you're confident in all of the subjects that you're currently doing, then I would recommend sticking with option 1.

While doing Biology would ease some exam pressure, it would also add more exam pressure at the same time.

Then again, doing Biology instead of the Headstart course would be less stressful if you currently find the Headstart course stressful.

If you find the Headstart course stressful right now, then doing it during Year 12 probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Just a reminder, I'm not a STEM student so I can't really resonate with the workload that you're going to face in Year 11 and 12 with the sciences and methods/specialist.

All the best for Year 11 and 12 :),

Kind regards
JerryMouse2019




« Last Edit: November 03, 2021, 01:19:25 am by JerryMouse2019 »
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GreenNinja

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Re: Unfortunate ATAR predicament pls help
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2021, 09:27:05 am »
+1
Hey,
So currently, I am in year 10 studying methods, specialist, physics, english, chemistry and also doing a university headstart course. With these subjects, the workload I imagine for year 12 would be insane, and I don't really want to drop any of the subjects except for the headstart course. However, if I was to drop it, I would have to do Biology, which is just suicide 6. So this leaves me with two options:
1. Continue Headstart course and stick with 5 ATAR eligible subjects
2. Do Biology which is equal in workload I assume.
An advantage for option 1 is that my exams finish early which gives me some time to study for the other 5 subjects, however, doing 5 subjects would be very risky I assume and would leave me with no backup if I was to bomb one of my subjects. Moreover, it also costs money to do a uni course...
An advantage of option 2 is probably having a second option if exam pressure gets to me and I bomb an external exam weighing 50%.
So, therefore, I genuinely don't know what to do, if there's a third option please let me know I would love to consider it.
Thank You

Hi, Dani(?)

I am actually in grade 10 as well and also planning on doing the bio, chem, physics, methods (12), specalist.

If you believe you can efficiently manage your uni course as well as your school subjects and the uni headstart course will benifit you going into university, then it would be a good idea to continue it.

However, if you are finding it stressfull, I highly suggest you go to do biology. This will make it the 'suicide six', however just because people you this term to describe the subjects, dosen't mean its a terrible selection. If you are dedicated and willing to put in the effort, then definetly do biology. Doing Biology is provide a backup option if you screw up on subjects.

 As well, as far as I am aware, the headstart course only benifits you if you are going to the uni, so thats something to keep in mind.

EDIT:

Sorry, I forgot you a mentioned third option. As a third option you could do a humanity, engineering or even a non-atar subject as the fifth. This would provide you with 3 lessons each week where you can chill out (if it is non-atar) or a possibility at doing well without the pressure of a 50% exam.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2021, 10:36:08 am by Tech1234 »

taequay

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Re: Unfortunate ATAR predicament pls help
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2021, 03:56:12 pm »
+1
Hey Dani,

I'm currently a suicide six student in the middle of my externals exams and as you probably have guessed, I am indeed procrastinating.

In my limited experience having taken these subjects and having a couple of friends who are on the same boat, your decision should be primarily based on your goals and aspirations more than anything. For me, it was to maximise my chances at a 99.95 and I genuinely believe that taking these subjects was the best thing I could've done because I'm sitting pretty sweet right now (fingers crossed for these next couple of exams).

While it has been fairly challenging, don't underestimate yourself because it's not as extreme as people like to think. I strongly considered dropping one of the sciences to ease my load but ultimately decided not to and it was the best decision because one of my english assessments flunked pretty badly and so my ATAR would've gone down the drain. Also, if you really are aiming for those high 99's (99.70>) english more often than not won't help you (90+ subject scores in the other 5 subjects will scale higher than even an 100 in english except for maybe biology).

I'm guessing if you're planning to take those subjects you're trying to get a high ATAR so I think doing the 6 is probably the way to go. It also helps if you're naturally good at maths because it really helps when you don't have much time to study for methods since the effort distribution kind of has to be disproportionate.

Hope this helps.