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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Biology => Topic started by: VCEstress on June 08, 2012, 11:26:57 am

Title: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: VCEstress on June 08, 2012, 11:26:57 am
I need help!
I've studdied Unit 3 and I know my stuff fairly well (not perfect though) but everytime I try to do the exams I can never answer the questions.
What should I do? Do I go back and revise the chapter or should I just keep trying with practice exams?
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: paulsterio on June 08, 2012, 12:36:43 pm
I need help!
I've studdied Unit 3 and I know my stuff fairly well (not perfect though) but everytime I try to do the exams I can never answer the questions.
What should I do? Do I go back and revise the chapter or should I just keep trying with practice exams?

Study the solutions so that the next time you see a question like that, you know how to answer it, it's not about the theory, it's about applying the theory you know to situations and that can only be learnt through thinking and application, not just through reading a textbook (although that's important too) :P
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: SeanLee95 on June 08, 2012, 01:08:49 pm
I need help!
I've studdied Unit 3 and I know my stuff fairly well (not perfect though) but everytime I try to do the exams I can never answer the questions.
What should I do? Do I go back and revise the chapter or should I just keep trying with practice exams?

>< im having same problem as well, i know the stuff... but cant seem to put it in words to answer the Q's
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: APPLEhead on June 08, 2012, 01:33:02 pm
Don't worry! You're not the only one. I had the same problem last night when I did the Insight paper and broke down to tears cause I thought I was going to get a C+ or something on the exam.
After calming down, I realised that it's best to do practice exams during the day because at night (from 8pm onwards) you are just too tired and half ass reading the questions. Well, at least it was like that for me. I think you should do test papers during the day, and at night, read through your notes in bed with a cup of hot chocolate and a highlighter!!!
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: APPLEhead on June 08, 2012, 01:33:32 pm
Oh, and reading out loud helps though it makes you thirsty.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: paulsterio on June 08, 2012, 02:26:13 pm
But reading out loud will just make everyone in your house think you're retarded :P Just saying! :P

But yeah, if you can't read out loud, like me, without my siblings and parents going "WTF", then just use your pen and follow along as you read, making sure you read every word, also helps to highlight as you read, so you know what the important bits of information are in the question.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: duhherro on June 08, 2012, 03:37:07 pm
First of all, how many exams have you guys done?

As you start, it is hard to answer at first, but the more you do, the more customised you are to do these  questions. Trust me, this happened  to me.

Anyway just tell me how many exams you have done so far, and I'll try to input my knowledge on how you guys will build up on the confidence xD haha


Usually, by around 6-7 you know  how to answer most of the short answers.

Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: VCEstress on June 08, 2012, 09:53:05 pm
Thanks so much for the advice.
I've attempted 2 but I just stopped because my answers are always wrong, but I guess I'll give it another go.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: duhherro on June 08, 2012, 10:15:15 pm
Thanks so much for the advice.
I've attempted 2 but I just stopped because my answers are always wrong, but I guess I'll give it another go.

Ahhh, I see your problem. You just need to do more exams dude, once you hit about 5-7 , you will see a big improvement in your marks out of 75!
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 01:11:57 am
Did my first past exam today (VCAA 2011)

Got 73%. Is this normal? Good? Bad?

And yes, I found some of the questions very hard to answer. What I mean is, I couldn't establish what the question was even asking me for some of them.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: pi on June 09, 2012, 01:18:33 am
Good and bad are relative terms and means things to different people depending on aims and expectations.

Were you disappointed?

If you're aiming for 40+, and I'm being brutally honest here, you need to life that score to ~65/74 (~87%) at least to ensure you get that A+. As it's your first exam, a low score is okay, but now you need to work really hard over the next few days to lift that percentage :)

Focus on VCAA, STAV and NEAP imo :)
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 01:31:57 am

If you're aiming for 40+, and I'm being brutally honest here, you need to life that score to ~65/74 (~87%) at least to ensure you get that A+. As it's your first exam, a low score is okay, but now you need to work really hard over the next few days to lift that percentage :)


Cheers dude, I'm pretty happy. My goal is a 37-39 study score. I know I need to work abit more (I have not even finished my revision work yet) so a 73% is pretty juicy. I actually skipped 2 pages because those pages were topics I hadn't revised yet (nervous system and photosynthesis) so yeah, knowing that what I DID revise I could apply to the exam was great. Thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: thushan on June 09, 2012, 08:46:04 am
Vegemite - about 62-63 will suffice for a low-mid A+ actually. A+ cut is usually around 60. (out of 75)

If you can hit about 67-68 you're in the 50 range.

Generally the rule is about 8 marks over the A+ cut.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 10:10:27 am
Vegemite - about 62-63 will suffice for a low-mid A+ actually. A+ cut is usually around 60. (out of 75)

If you can hit about 67-68 you're in the 50 range.

Generally the rule is about 8 marks over the A+ cut.

That's a lot nicer to hear! :)

Edit: Out of 75, what is a B+ usually?

Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: VCEstress on June 09, 2012, 04:21:19 pm
If I get a C on the exam, what study score am I looking at?
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: duhherro on June 09, 2012, 04:44:45 pm
If I get a C on the exam, what study score am I looking at?


30 - 35 ? :S
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 04:49:49 pm
If I get a C on the exam, what study score am I looking at?


30 - 35 ? :S

More like 28-33 Im pretty sure
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: VCEstress on June 09, 2012, 04:52:28 pm
Ohh, not so impressive :(
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: pi on June 09, 2012, 05:07:09 pm
And it won't scale up either :(
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: pluot on June 09, 2012, 05:15:26 pm
I just got 63/75 for the vcaa 06 exam. I heard this is one of the harder exams, so am I tracking along ok?
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 05:19:32 pm
I just got 63/75 for the vcaa 06 exam. I heard this is one of the harder exams, so am I tracking along ok?

Very good.
It is one of the hardest, if not the hardest past exam to do.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: thushan on June 09, 2012, 07:40:41 pm
I just got 63/75 for the vcaa 06 exam. I heard this is one of the harder exams, so am I tracking along ok?

If a study score of 50 is simply 'tracking along ok' then yeah :P (The VCAA 2006 bio paper was insanely hard)
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Russ on June 09, 2012, 07:43:10 pm
I am curious, linky link please :)
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 07:44:23 pm
2006 VCAA exam - http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/biology/pastexams/2006/2006biol1w.pdf

2006 VCAA answer sheet thingo - http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/biology/asessreports/2006/biologyassessrpt06.pdf
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: duhherro on June 09, 2012, 07:45:42 pm
I just got 63/75 for the vcaa 06 exam. I heard this is one of the harder exams, so am I tracking along ok?

If a study score of 50 is simply 'tracking along ok' then yeah :P (The VCAA 2006 bio paper was insanely hard)

Haha thushan, is it possible that the 12 paper could be as hard as 06?
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Daenerys Targaryen on June 09, 2012, 07:47:38 pm
i got 25/25 on the multiple choice, and 44/50 on short answer. so 69/75 total, there were some questions i didnt know about which i got stumped on.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 07:48:58 pm
i got 25/25 on the multiple choice, and 44/50 on short answer. so 69/75 total, there were some questions i didnt know about which i got stumped on.

If this was for the 2006 VCAA exam then all I have to say is wow, good job.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: pi on June 09, 2012, 07:49:42 pm
I just got 63/75 for the vcaa 06 exam. I heard this is one of the harder exams, so am I tracking along ok?

If a study score of 50 is simply 'tracking along ok' then yeah :P (The VCAA 2006 bio paper was insanely hard)

Haha thushan, is it possible that the 12 paper could be as hard as 06?

Possible.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Daenerys Targaryen on June 09, 2012, 07:50:58 pm
i got 25/25 on the multiple choice, and 44/50 on short answer. so 69/75 total, there were some questions i didnt know about which i got stumped on.

If this was for the 2006 VCAA exam then all I have to say is wow, good job.

haha gracias amigo
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: pluot on June 09, 2012, 07:52:03 pm
Ha I was hoping for a 40!Possibly. 
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Russ on June 09, 2012, 07:53:27 pm
Q5 is just...lol
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 07:55:17 pm
Q5 is just...lol

SA or MC?
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Russ on June 09, 2012, 07:57:04 pm
SA, the MCQ one is actually a good question

Also, bad vcaa for saying "rupture" :(

Quote
the idea that allergens react with specific IgE antibodies which are attached to mast cells and cause the rupture of the mast cells.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Daenerys Targaryen on June 09, 2012, 07:58:14 pm
i flopped the SA 5. b) lol i was da fuq
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: pluot on June 09, 2012, 08:02:04 pm
Question five also got me...along with the fish/diving question.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Markkiieee on June 09, 2012, 08:03:42 pm
Question 5a. 
Marks    0    1   
%         90   10 

I can say I would've been apart of the 90% for q5A. Infact, that was the hardest question on the exam.
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Daenerys Targaryen on June 09, 2012, 08:05:22 pm
haha, i got that one by chance, wasnt too sure about it but it was in the table provided so yeah
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Russ on June 09, 2012, 08:06:09 pm
It's a terrible question for a VCE exam full stop. There's no way you can reasonably expect students to be able to understand that loop with a paragraph of text as a question stem
Title: Re: Advice PLEASE!!!
Post by: Daenerys Targaryen on June 09, 2012, 08:09:33 pm
yeah, not gonna lie, terrible question