Archived Discussion => 2014 => Results Discussion => Victoria => 2013 => Topic started by: Bluegirl on December 18, 2013, 02:21:06 am
Title: How did you do it?
Post by: Bluegirl on December 18, 2013, 02:21:06 am
Firstly, congratulations on everyone's amazing efforts. I hope all your hard work paid off and if not, you'll get to where you want to be in time.
Despite the amount of 'talks' I've had, the suggestions, study tips, and endless 'get your head into gear, it's VCE' it never really absorbs into your head. Maybe because that top ATAR score is so far away and in reality is just a number that feels so unachievable. But here on AN i believe it's a privilege to be surrounded by so many people that work really hard (in comparison to real life) and achieve such high scores.
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?) Did you do a sport or part time job? Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? What did you do? Do you regret anything?
I've never been so close to actually talking to people who did amazing so I have so many questions to ask :P
If you had to repeat year 12 again, what advice would you give yourself? What would you do differently?
This has probably been all asked before but oh well. Thankyou!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: shadows on December 18, 2013, 02:41:45 am
You got a 40!
IS that not a high score?
What individuals do to obtain a "high score" varies from person to person. There isn't some secret that these guys or not letting you in on. (Well I hope for our sake, not)
It takes hard work and a whole lot of dedication and patience (these amazing scores don't just appear out of no where)
Know what works for you and stick with it. Although some few people can study and work on hours and hours on end, for the majority of us that process is unnatural and very draining. IF you feel like you are tired and need a break, then take a break. If you are motivated to do 3 hours today, then do 3 hours. Just do what you got to do so that you work to get the highest score possible on tests and exams.
I'm sorry if this wasn't the answer you were looking for, hopefully some super duper achievers can shed light on how they succeeded...
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: silverpixeli on December 18, 2013, 03:23:14 am
Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?)
Exercise is important whenever you can find the time, so is sunlight because of some important vitamin or something. Seriously though, staying healthy is your number one priority this year, because while an extra hour to study may sound better than an extra hour to sleep, you cant perform your best unless you're at your best. Stay hydrated, rested and healthy. Sleep > homework. I slept this year and I got scores I'm happy with, what more proof do you need? Seriously though, no matter how important you think sleep is right now, it's more important. Social interactions are also important, there will likely be many 18th parties during year 12, they're fun (I went to a few but never drank alcohol, personal choice) and they do break up the stress and offer a release from everything that's going on. Stuff like this is great, be it parties or just spending time with friends and chilling out. Take up opportunities to enjoy yourself, but know when to knuckle down and focus up.
I had a part time job for the first semester, but then I quit to give me more time to study. Personal choice, in my job I'd come home from a morning/day shift and not be able to do anything productive for the rest of the afternoon. I figured I had money saved and it wasnt worth the exhaustion. Sport is generally a way of exercising and exercising is excellent, but I didn't have a sport.
Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying?
Notes are a relatively inefficient way of learning as far as I know, (especially for maths/physics, not so sure about humanities subjects) a big part of successful studying is learning how to use your time effectively. While short and sharp notes can be a good revision tool, they take time to make. For maths, its far more effective to spend time doing maths problems. For english, reading and writing. For content-heavy subjects, applying concepts in the form of answering different questions is great, but if you need to memorise stuff you should attempt to teach someone or something the material (out loud). It could be a sibling, a pet or a lampshade. Come term 4, practice exams are a must. The more you do, the easier they will become, and the better you will feel on the day. The general rule is aim for 10-20 for each real exam: If you want a score that only 8% of people get, you need to be better than 92% of people, and that means doing what they wont do.
I made it about learning. I sat down with my resources and didn't move on until I understood something. Once it made sense, I was able to continue. I left no question unanswered through the help of the internet (feat. ATARNotes) and my teachers and peers. That way, come exam time, there was nothing they could throw at me that I wasn't ready for, because there were no gaps in my understanding. No potholes for me to trip on in an exam.
There are things I regret, but If I had let them worry me, I would have come to regret that decision as well.
OH I regret neglecting my L's, because I could have my license if I had put in as much effort learning to drive as learning maths. But that's not entirely VCE related.
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how?
I learned about physics in physics, rather than learning how to answer textbook questions. I learned about maths in maths class, not about how to answer textbook questions. I learned about networks and security and algorithms and project management in software, I learned about improving my sentences and vocabulary and about ways people use language to convince you of a point and what to call those things they do with their writing that you don't have a name for in english. I spent this year learning. Not stressing or working or memorising, learning. Then the scores sorted themselves out, and that turned out okay.
Other people should feel free to contribute, but my big secret was the learning thing, and now that I built it up and let it out I don't have a lot more to say :P other than that you should already be proud of the score you have achieved, it's a taste of that 'unachievable' greatness that you can spend next year trying to beat.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: krisskross on December 18, 2013, 06:18:06 am
I would say I'm the lowest achiever for my atar range. Scaling definitely boosted my scores and my score was definitely unexpected. So never ever think that you're far from the top range, life is full of surprises!
But that saying, you don't have to study 25 hours a day to get a "good" atar. For myself, I'm a strong believer of studying smart. While people might be churning out exams in term 2 and finishing the textbook in term 1, I was just there, trying my best to keep up with the school's pace. Instead of trying to get ahead, I preferred doing the set textbook work & more of course to ensure that I really understood everything & I am able to apply & not just regurgitate formulas to routine questions.
REMEMBER, never think of the score. It puts so much pressure on you! Sacs, even exams, it's always a shadow looming above you. With people expecting me to get 50 for methods, I was definitely super stressed out & had a few arithmetic errors & read a few questions incorrectly. 49 is still a good score haha, but definitely, save yourself from pressure and just do to the best of your ability.
& never give up, even when others think likewise. 60% sac average for spesh, I was quite disappointed too. I was giving up on spesh and was totally expecting a 25... But I managed to get a 40+ so... Haha Sometimes, having people who don't have faith in you can really push you so much more. & my school did my atar prediction and LOOOL, less than 99 mate. Another person predicted 95+ So if anyone ever puts you down, NEVER ever give up and wallow in self pity but instead, make it your aim to prove them wrong.
Oh and study wise, I'm not a hardworking student, like in term 1 & 2, less than a solid hour at home. Term 3 was about 1-2, term 4 was about 2-3. I can't sit still so studying was quite hard.. & being an avid fan of Korean dramas, that didn't quite help... But nonetheless, I'm pretty much a living example on how you can achieve a relatively good atar without making your boundaries the 4 walls of your room.
I had a part time job too so yeah. & I didn't have tutoring except for a semester for English... So.. Yeah. Sometimes, you learn better by yourself.
All the best for VCE and i hope that what I said was useful!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: BLACKCATT on December 18, 2013, 08:46:40 am
Even though i'm not op... I just want to say thank you for those of you who used your time to reply. The responses really drew me in and inspired me.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Stick on December 18, 2013, 10:30:45 am
Firstly, congratulations on everyone's amazing efforts. I hope all your hard work paid off and if not, you'll get to where you want to be in time.
Despite the amount of 'talks' I've had, the suggestions, study tips, and endless 'get your head into gear, it's VCE' it never really absorbs into your head. Maybe because that top ATAR score is so far away and in reality is just a number that feels so unachievable. But here on AN i believe it's a privilege to be surrounded by so many people that work really hard (in comparison to real life) and achieve such high scores.
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how?
Honestly, I'm still not sure. :P
In reality, I've been asked this sort of question a lot recently and I've been giving everyone the same answer. Basically, you have to want those high scores. Not just the passive "Oh, I want a high ATAR," but a really strong and passionate inner desire to achieve those amazing results. You have to want to slave away at your desk for several hours each night, you have to want to have no life (or not much of a life - it's still important you socialise a bit) for a whole year, you have to want the gruelling journey that is ahead of you, and you have to want these more than anything you've ever wanted before. More than any material gift that you've really yearned for for a long time, for example. More than you want to go out and have a good time every weekend. More than $20 million, a sexy sports car and a luxurious mansion on the coast of Monte Carlo. :P That's how much you have to want it. If you can get your head in that mindset, everything else will follow. The study habits, the time management... it will all come to you. Deep down, you'll figure out exactly what you'll need to do in order to succeed. I've finally realised that VCE is a really personal journey and so me dispensing specific advice about how to go about subjects and studying would be futile. For example, in the two subjects I scored perfect study scores for, I took incredibly different approaches to most other students who got 50s in these subjects. I believe that this is the ultimate key to success. This doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get those scores you've always wanted, but you'll know deep down that you've done your absolute best and that you would change very little (or nothing) if you got the opportunity to do it again.
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Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?)
Of course studying was considered a priority when it came to time management, but I never did more than 4 hours on a regular school night (if you are, I'd say you're doing something wrong and are not studying effectively). You should never have to compromise sleep for VCE, regardless of the circumstances. I left my part time job prior to Year 12, so that was something I didn't have to worry about. If the money isn't absolutely essential for you at the moment, I'd suggest doing the same, or cutting down your hours significantly so that you only have one or two shortish shifts a week (some say that work acted like another break from VCE). Whenever I fatigued or couldn't focus anymore, I'd take a break. I came to see things such as meal times a break as well and appreciated that time where the whole family dropped everything and came together. As I said above, this will all come to you if you can get your head around the inner desire.
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Did you do a sport or part time job?
I chose not to, since I had a goal in mind and I didn't want any distractions. I personally felt that committing to something like that could muck this up occasionally and decreased my flexibility as to when to take breaks. However, these really benefit other individuals, since it simply forces them to stop what they're doing and do something else for a certain period of time.
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Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? What did you do?
This obviously depends on who you are and what subjects you're doing. By Year 12, you should know what things work best for you. Do whatever you feel is necessary in order to succeed.
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Do you regret anything?
There was a social incident that occurred at my school, but this isn't a "I'm sorry I did/didn't do this" type of regret as it is a "I'm sorry it had to be this way" type of regret. I'm not too comfortable posting this on the forum due to privacy concerns, but I'd be happy to outline it to you in a PM if you really must know.
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I've never been so close to actually talking to people who did amazing so I have so many questions to ask :P
If you had to repeat year 12 again, what advice would you give yourself? What would you do differently?
I wouldn't change a thing. This is what you should be aiming for. Of course, you can always say that you could do more (e.g. study through the night rather than just 4 hours) but clearly this isn't something that'd be as beneficial to you. You should be able to say to yourself by the end of Year 12 that you couldn't realistically do any more than what you have done. There may be a minor thing or two you may slightly regret, but nothing major worth worrying about.
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This has probably been all asked before but oh well. Thankyou!
I know my advice is quite non-specific, but I hope you understand why I've gone about it this way. If I outlined specific steps or something, that wouldn't be helpful for anyone. That's what worked for myself but we're all unique individuals. Best of luck for Year 12, Bluegirl. If you have any further queries, feel free to send me a PM. :)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: The Brightest Witch on December 18, 2013, 11:15:22 am
You know, you guys are just amazing, spending all that time and writing out all those paragraph to try and help us. Thank you :')
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Alwin on December 18, 2013, 11:28:13 am
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?) Did you do a sport or part time job? Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? What did you do? Do you regret anything?
I just want to point out one thing, just a bit of a counter point to the other posts.
First up, I got an ATAR of 99.50 and should be pleased etc etc but I'm actually not that stoked about it. Why? I didn't actually study very hard this year, just cruised along and the main reason I did well was because I did work hard last year+some natural ability. It's not that I got complacent, more like I had no motivation to do well - getting all 26 study scores this year would have still gotten me into Aerospace Engineering + Commerce @ Monash. So, I'm probably not a very good person to give advice but I would say that the key thing is to get motivated :))
ps: the amount of homework I did per night this year was probably 3.30 to 6 pm on school days and a bit more on weekends. Last year, however, it was more like 3.30 to 7pm and similar amount on weekends (but I played sports too on weekends last year). Since I only had 2 3/4s last year and 4 3/4s + uni extension you can see how much I slacked off this year :P
tl;dr version: Get motivated as that would be the main thing I would change if I redid year 12
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Bluegirl on December 18, 2013, 12:05:11 pm
Wow guys. Thankyou so so much! It really did give me (and a lot of other people) helpful advice,insight and personal experiences in how you did it. Thanks for taking the time out to reply. It really is appreciated. P. S I'm unbelievably happy of my 40, but next year I want to try beat it :P
It's made me realise that you don't need to spend hours each night studying. I do hours each night already and that was all I envisioned next year to be. But next year I'm going to look after myself and not push my body to exhaustion.
Another question, were/are any of you in relationships? How did you find it? Was it the 'distraction so many parents complain about or did you think it was more helpful?
Thanks guys. You're all awesome.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: teletubbies_95 on December 18, 2013, 12:12:39 pm
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? Year 12 ...was tough year for me . I had a lot of family problems, with some of my family members having abuse problems and psychological problems, throughout the year and through the exam period. Due to things going on at home, I usually had to study in the library or at a friend's place. So yeh it was tough! But having a close group of friends is VERY important and helped me through so much. And also thanks to ATARNOTES family. You guys have been great! :) And I cannot emphasise the importance of the study design for the subjects you do . :) It is vital ! :)
Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?) I had a few leadership opportunities at school and went to all the clubs that I liked at lunchtime . Didn't really work that hard compared some of the other girls at school, who studied at every chance they got. I was pretty chill and enjoyed procrastinating :P Did you do a sport or part time job? I have no eye-hand coordination :P Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? What did you do? Spent about 3-4 hours studying, because of travel times , it took me 1.5 hours to get home ! :) Do you regret anything? Not being to study to the best of my ability
If you had to repeat year 12 again, what advice would you give yourself? What would you do differently? Be more conceptual and start understanding the application of knowledge in real life, not just forcing myself to learn. and procrastinating less. :P
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Kuchiki on December 18, 2013, 02:29:08 pm
My school asked me to write a short article for their prospectus which I think sums up my VCE experience. They edited out around half of it, but you can find the full version on my blog here.
Honestly, I was never really aiming that high during VCE, and never got too obsessed with trying to predict my ATAR or study scores. I guess I was hoping for a 90 at least, but it wasn't something that was on my mind that often. I just took it step by step and focused on the next SAC coming up, trying to do the best I could, and then focusing on the next SAC, and so on.
I guess it probably helped that I didn't have any work/sport/extra-curricular commitments and that I wasn't the type of person who would go out every weekend, but that was just how I chose to live my life (I wasn't really involved in much extra-curriculars before VCE, either).
But yeah, as some have mentioned above, it really varies by each individual. As I wrote in my article, "At the end of the day, there is no secret formula that will work for everyone. Personally, I was most efficient studying alone at home in the middle of the night while watching TV, whereas many of my friends preferred to meet up in groups at the library. You just have to find the approach that suits you best."
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: 90+FTW on December 18, 2013, 04:20:35 pm
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did you slave your arse off and never see daylight?
Pretty much, and I'm being entirely honest. I never went to my formal or deb, I refused to go to parties, I literally spent everyone weekend locked away studying into the early morning (usually 1 or 2am). But looking back, I realize that was silly - sure, it got me an amazing mark, outstanding study scores and a sense of security that I'm on my way to what I've always wanted, but I compromised a lot. Please, don't let it consume you, like it consumed me. I was placed in hospital about 3 times over the anxiety brought on by VCE, and I'll warn you, the pressure can be crippling at times. I still haven't completely recovered, and my advice, while clichéd, is completely honest. Do not lose your grip on what truly matters, do your best, and let that be the end of it.
In reality, you will have to make sacrifices in order to do very well. Yet, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, I realize that even I could have fixed a few things - who knows, if I hadn't gotten all those panic attacks during my exams, maybe I could've gotten that shining 99. Well, time teaches.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: chasej on December 18, 2013, 05:09:46 pm
Pretty much, and I'm being entirely honest. I never went to my formal or deb, I refused to go to parties, I literally spent everyone weekend locked away studying into the early morning (usually 1 or 2am). But looking back, I realize that was silly - sure, it got me an amazing mark, outstanding study scores and a sense of security that I'm on my way to what I've always wanted, but I compromised a lot. Please, don't let it consume you, like it consumed me. I was placed in hospital about 3 times over the anxiety brought on by VCE, and I'll warn you, the pressure can be crippling at times. I still haven't completely recovered, and my advice, while clichéd, is completely honest. Do not lose your grip on what truly matters, do your best, and let that be the end of it.
In reality, you will have to make sacrifices in order to do very well. Yet, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, I realize that even I could have fixed a few things - who knows, if I hadn't gotten all those panic attacks during my exams, maybe I could've gotten that shining 99. Well, time teaches.
Do you think there's a point where more study just lowers your mark? Like I mean do you think there's a sweet spot for study which once you go over just stresses you out so much you no longer preform at your optimum?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: 90+FTW on December 18, 2013, 05:38:41 pm
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Do you think there's a point where more study just lowers your mark? Like I mean do you think there's a sweet spot for study which once you go over just stresses you out so much you no longer preform at your optimum?
YES. I mean, according to my IQ I was capable of getting 99.95 but, the anxiety it's crippling. Literally. I mean I'm not complaining, I only wanted a 90.00 and I got SO MUCH MORE, but it goes to show how much of an impact our mental health has on our life.
But I've learnt now, and I'm still an incredibly high achiever so I should probably shut up now...
SMILE PEOPLE!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: psyxwar on December 18, 2013, 05:45:01 pm
YES. I mean, according to my IQ I was capable of getting 99.95 but, the anxiety it's crippling. Literally. I mean I'm not complaining, I only wanted a 90.00 and I got SO MUCH MORE, but it goes to show how much of an impact our mental health has on our life.
But I've learnt now, and I'm still an incredibly high achiever so I should probably shut up now...
I think a lot of people could probably get 99.95 (or very close) if they worked hard enough (and perhaps did some high scaling subjects, that helps...) :P
Thanks for the advice guys. Yeah, I don't think working til 2 am is really my thing. I love sleep too much.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: 90+FTW on December 18, 2013, 05:47:29 pm
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I think a lot of people could probably get 99.95 (or very close)
lol sorry that's not what I meant, I just have a high IQ so my family was a little surprised by the mark - not in a nasty way. They just expected a little more perhaps? My brother did EXTREMELY well and he has an IQ of 150 so...
Curse you OCD!
Not complaining though in the end (God, I sound like such a bloody selfish prick, gah sorry!) and yes, you're right, don't stay up until 2am!!!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: SocialRhubarb on December 18, 2013, 06:00:45 pm
Okay, so I received an ATAR of 99.90 this year.
I always liked doing maths and science, and so studying became less of a chore and more of an exercise. Doing practice questions and practice exams was like practicing a musical instrument or training for a sport - it was improving my skills in a discipline which I ultimately enjoyed doing. As such, I think it's important to do subjects you like and enjoy, and I guess I'm just lucky that I had a natural interest and proficiency in maths and science.
All of my friends can testify that I didn't work extremely hard this year. I didn't complete that much homework for biology, methods, physics or even specialist mathematics. But what I made sure I could do was complete all the exercises that I could find at a VCE level, and if I found questions I couldn't do, I did similar questions until I was able to. Because in the end, it's not about how much work you do, but how much you remember and the skills you learn. So I think it's important not to focus on how much time you spend, but the skills you develop and information you actually retain. While I was definitely being lazy throughout the year, I made sure I could complete all the questions I could find. And if there were questions I couldn't do, I learnt how.
Finally, just in terms of stress and coping, it helps for me that I'm a Christian. The belief that my God has a plan for me, and that there is a place and a role for me, regardless of my abilities or my ATAR, takes away all the stress and anxiety of not knowing whether you'll get into your course or meet a prerequisite. I feel an assurance that I only need to be diligent in my studies, seek God, and whatever the result, it will be sufficient.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: pterozachtyl on December 18, 2013, 06:29:38 pm
I'm not a crazy high achiever (94.15 and not a single score over 40 this year) and I've felt bad every time I've been asked these questions because honestly... I've never done so little work in my life. Year 11 I worked my ass off, this year, I rarely did more than an hour and a half a night.
My answer is less so advice and more a cautionary tale.
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? Cramming before exams and SACs, really. Totally unprepared for everything. Didn't make a bound reference for either of my Maths subjects. There is nothing worse than walking into an exam and having no idea. Preparation is key, and you'll need to be preparing for exams months in advance, not the week before. Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?) Not at all. Rarely did more than an hour and a half a night. Worked three hours a week. Spent more time on Facebook, playing video games or watching TV each night. Never did any homework on the weekend. And that was my cardinal error. Just because you aren't at school doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing work. Did you do a sport or part time job? Yeah, a job. (see above). Used it as an excuse to not do any homework on Fridays. Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? What did you do? Nope. I was impeccably organised last year. Also very competitive, and very unhappy. This year I promised to not be competitive, and not put any strain on myself to perform. Just pay attention in class and do the bare minimum. Which I did. It's important to find a balance between my Year 11 and my Year 12 attitudes. You need to be a little competitive, and you need to put a little pressure on yourself to perform, or else you'll feel like I did on Monday. Not proud of your achievements, but guilty. Do you regret anything? Not trying harder. I was always aiming for a 94 (from the beginning of Year 11). I was convinced I wasn't going to get it, and when I did I was more confused than anything. I had the capacity to have gone even better, but a poor attitude and an appalling work ethic made me suffer in the long run. At the start of this year I wrote on a tiny flag to finish the year with no regrets, thinking that the only regret I could have would have been not enjoying Year 12. I enjoyed Year 12 thoroughly, but I have a regret, and that's that I let life happen to me, rather than taking control.
But yeah, over the moon with my score.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: datfatcat on December 18, 2013, 06:42:01 pm
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? Made a timetable. Spend more time on subjects that I had problems with but also made sure I still spent enough time on other subjects. Since making a timetable forced me to put a time frame on each subject (say 2 hours on Methods), it kind of pushed me to work my butt off during these 2 hours because I knew if i spent time daydreaming, I wouldn't have enough time for methods and needed to move on to another subject. I also revised what I learnt over and over again (I always forget things :( ) to make sure all the concepts sticked to my head. Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?) I did make some rest periods on my timetable, but i wasted most of my rest periods doing nothing :P Did you do a sport or part time job? I am a lazy person so no, I didn't do a sport nor a part time job (not even during my holiday after my VCE! :( ) Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? I didn't make many notes but I did a fair bit amounts of practice papers. I tried to spend hours each night studying but sometimes I did give myself a break. Do you regret anything? Nothing?
And I graduated in 2012, so I don't know why I posted here...Shit
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: rufisino on December 18, 2013, 07:17:28 pm
In all seriousness i did about 1 hour each night of just homework, i only studied for a couple of nights before a SAC. I was behind in a lot of my subjects throughout the year, and just did moderate study for about 1.5 months before exams started. Year 12 is not hard at all.
That being said, my score wasn't that high at all though.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 18, 2013, 07:33:50 pm
In all seriousness i did about 1 hour each night of just homework, i only studied for a couple of nights before a SAC. I was behind in a lot of my subjects throughout the year, and just did moderate study for about 1.5 months before exams started. Year 12 is not hard at all.
That being said, my score wasn't that high at all though.
You got a 36 for methods, thats awesome! Can you give some advice and are you naturally good at maths?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: shadows on December 18, 2013, 07:41:26 pm
But what I made sure I could do was complete all the exercises that I could find at a VCE level, and if I found questions I couldn't do, I did similar questions until I was able to. Because in the end, it's not about how much work you do, but how much you remember and the skills you learn. So I think it's important not to focus on how much time you spend, but the skills you develop and information you actually retain. While I was definitely being lazy throughout the year, I made sure I could complete all the questions I could find. And if there were questions I couldn't do, I learnt how.
Yeah this is something I have learnt having done a 3/4 this year. For the first few months of school this year, I put in hours and hours when I could have studied a lot less, and still get the same understanding and knowledge out of it.
There is not a set guideline on hours you have to do. What worked well for me... I did not use a timetable because I am never good with sticking to the times. What i do is I have a few realistic goals that I set daily, and once I have completed them to the best of my ability and feel happy with my progress, I stop. Even if you finish early... (finished everything you set out to do), take a night off... do something you love.
Even though you need to make sacrifices in VCE, be reasonable. It's ok to turn on the TV once and a while and just relax.
Oh and one thing. PLEASE DON'T COMPROMISE SLEEP. If you are feeling tired, just go to sleep. Don't stay up. Your health is top priority.
Even though studying longer and harder will benefit you in the short term, Year 12 is a year long.... that is a long time and finding time to unwind and relax will benefit you in the long term.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: silverpixeli on December 18, 2013, 08:34:58 pm
Sleep > homework. I slept this year and I got scores I'm happy with, what more proof do you need? Seriously though, no matter how important you think sleep is right now, it's more important.
Oh and one thing. PLEASE DON'T COMPROMISE SLEEP. If you are feeling tired, just go to sleep. Don't stay up. Your health is top priority.
So many times, my friends think its okay not to sleep, it's really not, but it's easy for them to think that they're better off getting their work done than getting their sleep. Sleeping properly keeps you alert and helps combat stress. (also, being tired all the time sucks). Your health, which remaining rested is a huge part of (as is hydration actually), is of paramount importance in a year that's about showing people what your best is. How can you show them your best if you're not at your best?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 18, 2013, 08:40:11 pm
So many times, my friends think its okay not to sleep, it's really not, but it's easy for them to think that they're better off getting their work done than getting their sleep. Sleeping properly keeps you alert and helps combat stress. (also, being tired all the time sucks). Your health, which remaining rested is a huge part of (as is hydration actually), is of paramount importance in a year that's about showing people what your best is. How can you show them your best if you're not at your best?
Sleep? 'Sleep are for the weak'. I rarely sleep, that fact that I'm working harder than someone who is to busy sleeping and dreaming is a satisfying feeling!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Stick on December 18, 2013, 08:49:24 pm
Sleep? 'Sleep are for the weak'. I rarely sleep, that fact that I'm working harder than someone who is to busy sleeping and dreaming is a satisfying feeling!
I hope this is a troll, for your sake more than anyone else.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Yacoubb on December 18, 2013, 09:36:07 pm
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Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how?
Determination was paramount this year; when I told individuals at my school that I intended to complete two year 12 subjects in year twelve, I was drowned in "No way, you can't do that" and "You wont do too well". Yes, it killed me. But I was determined to achieve high marks, as well as simultaneously prove wrong all those who doubted me. Throughout the year, I found that establishing determination and a sheer desire to do well was imperative. Every time I felt inferior to another in terms of my understanding, I would work hard to ensure that I did everything I could to reach a level where I could score just as high and higher. Secondly, hard work. You cannot expect to do well if you do not invest your energy and effort into studying. I established a passion for the subjects I was studying. That facilitated my learning experience by miles. It not only enhanced my comprehension of the topics encompassed by the subject, but it also allowed me to immerse myself in the subject when it came time to do practice exams and revision for my final exams.
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Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?)
On regular school weekdays, I'd work from 5PM to 11PM with regular 15 minute breaks. A lot of people may disagree, but personally, I found that this wasn't something I forced myself to do, but rather, something I wanted to do. Weekends I'd study from 8AM to 5PM, again, with regular breaks. Afterwards, I'd go out with the family to a relative's home, or perhaps a nice restaurant. I personally didn't and don't intend to do any sports or leisure activites. However, I am a prefect at my school, in the School Representative Council. Bestowed upon me are several duties, including supervision and planning of several fundraisers we plan on carrying out in 2014. I am also involved in planning our dinner, so I guess the extra-curricular activities are not entirely eradicated from my life at this stage, haha.
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Did you do a sport or part time job?
Nup. I wouldn't want to waste time. I know, a lot of people will disagree with me, but I feel like you can substitute the hours working for hours studying. You're going to get tired at work anyway - why not engage in more studying? Again, this is so subjective, and everyone is different. Each to their own.
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Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying?
I attended TSFX lectures, and so for Biology and Further Maths, my notes were already prepared. That being said, I found that summarising my notes, through doing some free-writing, or even using my whiteboard and pretending to teach a class, allowed me to consolidate all the topics. For SACs, I completed a lot of note-writing that I tailored specifically to the specifics of the topics covered in the SACs.
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Do you regret anything?
A lot. I should never have done Further Maths. I should have finished Biology and Math Methods 3/4 in year 11, then gone on to complete English, Chemistry, Physics and Specialist Maths. Further Maths is my biggest regret; honestly. But you cannot afford to dwell on the past; only concentrate on the future and reap what you sow from that.
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If you had to repeat year 12 again, what advice would you give yourself? What would you do differently?
See my regrets answer, hehe.
By the way, congrats on the 40 in Psychology. good job! :)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 18, 2013, 09:37:46 pm
I hope this is a troll, for your sake more than anyone else.
not trolling.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: mackintosh on December 18, 2013, 09:43:20 pm
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? As has been said countless times, it is really just about work. Know the task. Do the work (theory and practice). Get feedback from as many people as you can. And once this has been done, trust yourself, have confidence and remember that it is only one year of your life. If it all goes wrong- at least you’ve had a crack. Also use your holidays well- this takes so much pressure off throughout the year. Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?) Haha well put in that way sounds quite pejorative. Ofc everything is a game of balance. Remember this is your last year at school full stop. Enjoy having the regular contact with friends at school and elsewhere- sign up to as much as you feel comfortable with. Those who are busier often perform better than those who sit blankly staring at their textbook for hours on end. Did you do a sport or part time job? Yes played several sports and did many other co-curricular activities. Couldn’t fit in a part-time job. Use these to relax. Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying? Just make sure that there doesn’t pass a long period of time without touching a subject, understandably SACs for subjects will come up, but that doesn’t mean that a week goes by without picking up a pen to do an English essay or notes or reading for example. Practice exams are generally a sign that you’re close to the end of the road. These should be marked properly and thoroughly, sometimes by teachers, other times by yourself, writing out model answers and filling in gaps of knowledge. Regarding notes. You should make your own set of notes, making them allows you to remember- do this in consultation with all available text books and other people’s notes, to make sure you have covered all possible avenues of questioning. Do you regret anything? You will find that Year 12 is one of the most enjoyable years of school in so many ways. So not at all. Hope this helps
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: psyxwar on December 18, 2013, 09:47:36 pm
On regular school weekdays, I'd work from 5PM to 11PM with regular 15 minute breaks. A lot of people may disagree, but personally, I found that this wasn't something I forced myself to do, but rather, something I wanted to do. Weekends I'd study from 8AM to 5PM, again, with regular breaks. Afterwards, I'd go out with the family to a relative's home, or perhaps a nice restaurant. I personally didn't and don't intend to do any sports or leisure activites. However, I am a prefect at my school, in the School Representative Council. Bestowed upon me are several duties, including supervision and planning of several fundraisers we plan on carrying out in 2014. I am also involved in planning our dinner, so I guess the extra-curricular activities are not entirely eradicated from my life at this stage, haha. Nup. I wouldn't want to waste time. I know, a lot of people will disagree with me, but I feel like you can substitute the hours working for hours studying. You're going to get tired at work anyway - why not engage in more studying? Again, this is so subjective, and everyone is different. Each to their own.
also how the fuck
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Robert243 on December 18, 2013, 10:38:09 pm
Stick , looking at your subjects they seem very "over the top " , with spesh maths and further maths . Im doing all of the subjects your doing except for further maths , i think the question we all want to know is how did manage to keep a robust balance and to achieve a great study score for each subject ?
The other question i think all of us want to know is , do only natural smart people like you receive high atars ?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Yacoubb on December 18, 2013, 10:43:15 pm
Stick , looking at your subjects they seem very "over the top " , with spesh maths and further maths . Im doing all of the subjects your doing except for further maths , i think the question we all want to know is how did manage to keep a robust balance and to achieve a great study score for each subject ?
The other question i think all of us want to know is , do only natural smart people like you receive high atars ?
I'm not too sure why everyone regarded my workload as so intense, because it really wasn't that bad. Although, that could also be due to the fact that I didn't know any better than what I had done. Be disciplined and don't make yourself do extra work unnecessarily. This is something I think the whole forum is a bit guilty of. I prided myself on doing what I was asked, but to the highest possible standard. I didn't have time to do anything more.
Also, having come back from the medical interviews for Chancellor's Scholars students, I don't think I will ever fit into the league that the rest of the guys were in. o_o So, to answer your question, no, a high ATAR is really open to everyone.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 20, 2013, 11:15:49 pm
how many hours did you devote to your 3-4 subjects this year? a week and daily.
Out of 6 hours of studying, 5 hours. I used 1 hour to complete year 11 homework that I needed to finish. But if I had a year 11 SAC the next day, I'd dedicate about 3 hours to my 3/4s. Out of 20 hours of studying over the weekend, 20 hours to 3/4s. Again, 2 hours on Sunday if I had a yr 11 SAC on the Monday dedicated to year 11 revision.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 20, 2013, 11:59:02 pm
Out of 6 hours of studying, 5 hours. I used 1 hour to complete year 11 homework that I needed to finish. But if I had a year 11 SAC the next day, I'd dedicate about 3 hours to my 3/4s. Out of 20 hours of studying over the weekend, 20 hours to 3/4s. Again, 2 hours on Sunday if I had a yr 11 SAC on the Monday dedicated to year 11 revision.
6 hours of studying a night?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: shadows on December 20, 2013, 11:59:14 pm
Out of 6 hours of studying, 5 hours. I used 1 hour to complete year 11 homework that I needed to finish. But if I had a year 11 SAC the next day, I'd dedicate about 3 hours to my 3/4s. Out of 20 hours of studying over the weekend, 20 hours to 3/4s. Again, 2 hours on Sunday if I had a yr 11 SAC on the Monday dedicated to year 11 revision.
Wow, you are the hardest worker I know! 6 hours after school o.o? Let me just ask, is it that you feel the need to study for such long periods of time, is it something you just want to do, something you particular enjoy? I am intrigued :D
Did you get burnt out over the year? Because I can imagine studying so much can really take its toll.....
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Yacoubb on December 21, 2013, 12:02:33 am
Wow, you are the hardest worker I know! 6 hours after school o.o? Let me just ask, is it that you feel the need to study for such long periods of time, is it something you just want to do, something you particular enjoy? I am intrigued :D
Did you get burnt out over the year? Because I can imagine studying so much can really take its toll.....
I never forced myself to study; I've always done as much as I personally wanted. To be honest, I never burnt out until I finished my two year 12 subjects' exams. After that, I burnt out & couldn't study for year 11 exams. But that was just me telling myself that all I needed to do was pass the year 11 exams, and not so much worry about getting really high marks for them. I dunno, everyone is different I guess. :)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: silverpixeli on December 21, 2013, 12:48:08 am
Personally I studied a lot at home, but didnt really work a lot at school. The classroom environment wasnt particularly great for me for learning/working, so I spent the time listening to the teacher and helping classmates and also asking the teacher any questions I had at any point. With 6 hours a day passively working/hanging out with friends at lunch/recess, studying 4-5 hours a night after school didn't burn me out. Also, I enjoyed learning and working through content because I found it interesting (e.g most of physics) or challenging (e.g. most of specialist)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: speakerphones on December 21, 2013, 02:44:37 am
I actually was quite lazy in classes, didn't do much. At home I studied with music and food a lot LOL and i always had my phone and mac open. But I think for me having all of that around allowed me to become really tolerant to distractions and it also gave me constant breaks/motivation to keep studying throughout the entire day, so I never really took extended breaks. This probably won't work for everyone but it helped me to be able to study through the afternoon and well into the night
AND STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING because you won't feel excited to study for a subject you're too far behind in!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: LastOfUs on December 21, 2013, 03:10:16 am
I actually was quite lazy in classes, didn't do much. At home I studied with music and food a lot LOL and i always had my phone and mac open. But I think for me having all of that around allowed me to become really tolerant to distractions and it also gave me constant breaks/motivation to keep studying throughout the entire day, so I never really took extended breaks. This probably won't work for everyone but it helped me to be able to study through the afternoon and well into the night
AND STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING because you won't feel excited to study for a subject you're too far behind in!
I envy you and your 48 in business. I put in so much time in the last two weeks before the business exam, literally all day everyday for two weeks of studying and I came out with a 38 :P Did you enjoy it or did you just find it really easy and practice alot? For every SAC, I crammed on the day of it and scores very well, but at exam time I couldn't remember a thing and had to relearn all the content (which I could probably have done in 2-3 days, full consecutive days of study = delusion you're actually studying but in actual fact sitting there doing nothing) and I completed two practice exams, both in an hour an ten minutes when in the real exam I basically ran out of time.
I thought it was so easy though, fml. In all my SACS I literally didn't drop a realistic mark all year, but had several marks deducted just for the sake of realism and not cheating (teacher who got fired was retarded) and the exam was so EASY! I looked and it and was like 'wow, 100%!' Then I started being a spastic, writing like quadripple what I needed to because I was arrogant with time and wanted to perfect my answers for like 2 markers, so I ran out of time. Then I know that indicators of corporate culture question stuffed me up as well as the 'describe a social and ethical resp for op system,' as I thought they were two different things (why would you have two different definitions) despite consciously knowing how to answer it I thought it was a trick, so started identifying ONLY a social and ethical for each element. On any other day ... uhhh.
Don't know how you studied with music with business, was impossible. I'd have to sit there for ten minutes literally shouting a definition out into the streets after spending hours writing notes on a computer to being able to remember it for a minute, writing it down on a piece of paper like 20 times and then having a 25% chance of remembering it a week later. I had a realistic idea of what all these definitions meant but I didn't want to make them up on the spot as I was afraid of ambiguity. I literally woke up at 10AM, studied until might night straight without eating much food nor leaving my room, trying to study and it was torturous. I'm blaming this on my hate for business as I wasn't learning and it just sucked, but if that is any indication for what I am in for next year with my chosen subjects I'll probably sell my liver to some sketchy black marketarian fella and invest that money into bitcoins as a hapy medium for a means of life.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Special At Specialist on December 21, 2013, 05:18:24 pm
I didn't do particularly well, at least not compared to anyone on AtarNotes, so I'll just tell you what my main mistakes were:
1) Studying very hard during the summer, acting like a hermit and completing the whole specialist maths course before term 1, then becoming complacent and not doing much work until SWOTVAC. 2) Spending almost my whole SWOTVAC doing tech-free methods/specialist exams. Not only did I neglect my other subjects, but I didn't do as well as I hoped for maths because most of the weighting was on the tech-assist exams and I sucked at using my CAS calculator. I falsely assumed that being good at tech-free exams would automatically make me good at tech-assist exams, and it was easier for me to sit down and do a whole stack of 1 hour exams than a few 2 hour exams. 3) Lazy attitude during year 12. I guess I just lost so much motivation. I stopped going to karate and I didn't work a part-time job because I was worried that this would affect my year 12 results, but by not doing these things, I ended up becoming really lazy. If I had developed a routine and a balance between study/work/exercise, I might have been more successful during the year. 4) Studying inconsistently throughout the year: I would do almost no homework for a month, then one weekend I would study for about 12 hours, then go back to doing no homework. 5) Neglecting literature - assuming that I was above average in year 9 English and I never did any work then, so I could just wing this subject and get around a 30 study score. Unfortunately, winging a VCE subject is a lot harder than winging a year 9 subject. 6) Not going to any lectures or getting a tutor. I was adamant that I knew what I was doing and that there would be nothing I could learn from these lectures that I couldn't learn for free off the internet. Perhaps that was true, but going to lectures would have given me the motivation I needed to study for that subject, and having a tutor would've forced me to study consistently.
They were my mistakes in 2012. It's hard to compare this year to last year because my circumstances were so different. I barely even considered myself a VCE student this year: I was working 40+ hours per week doing labour work in a scrap metal factory and that consumed most of my energy. Also, I knew that my ATAR score was basically locked in stone, so the only thing that mattered to me was getting a 25+ in English, which I got (luckily).
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: lzxnl on December 21, 2013, 07:23:37 pm
People seem to think that studying hard is the only way to go about VCE. Well, it's certainly one way of doing it, if you don't mind lots and lots of stress
Personally, I'm probably not too much help because my circumstances were unusual. In my year 8 summer holidays, I felt bored, so I bought a Methods 1/2 book and started working through that. I was quite surprised when I found everything relatively manageable. As a result, I was able to finish 1/2 by the middle of the year and 3/4 by the end of the year. That was Methods out of the way.
Then, as you can guess, I started spesh. However, having already dabbled a bit in maths in primary school, I chose to skip 1/2 and go straight to 3/4. I was able to finish most of spesh in year 10 by myself, but I needed a bit of reminding of what I was doing in the mechanics section by a physics teacher as this was before I had done any physics. Near the end of year ten, I finished spesh as well. That was two VCE subjects already down for me.
You can thus see why year 11 probably wasn't as stressful for me as it should have been. With Methods and Spesh out of the way, I only had four subjects in year 11: Chinese, Physics, Chemistry and English Language. My science classes were very enjoyable; we both covered the year 11 curriculum and also looked at some interesting advanced material taken from first year university courses. Somehow, by doing all of the assignments every week plus reading ahead, I was comfortably able to get my head around physics and chemistry. For English Language, I tried my best for EVERY SINGLE essay I got and kept repeating to myself the importance of doing well in it, while in Chinese, I wrote countless essays throughout the year, used my time on the way to school and from school as well as any spare time at school I got running through my oral exam material in my mind, and did a lot of trial exams. As you can see, I ended up devoting more attention to English Language and Chinese than I did to my remaining four subjects. But hey, it worked in the end; I got subject awards for all of my 1/2s, a 50 in Methods, a 45 in Chinese and dux of year 11. To put this in context, the only award I had ever received at school before was a physics award in year 10.
Thus brings us to year 12, which was this year. What a fun year. I had five subjects: English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Specialist Maths and UMEP physics. My year 10 physics teacher had asked me to learn essentially half the first year university course by myself, and coming off last year, I had a pretty solid 3/4 and UMEP physics foundation. Add to that the fact that I went to the ASI Chemistry Summer School plus my reading in the holidays, and I knew most of the 3/4 chemistry course before the year began. By seeing everything in the course before class, I made it so much easier for myself to learn the material in class. Thus, chemistry, physics and UMEP physics weren't as much of a hassle. Specialist Maths, I had already completed that in year ten, so I devoted almost no extra time to that subject. I thus spent nearly ALL of my time on English Language, writing essays, rewriting essays, doing extra analyses, asking the teacher questions...in SWOTVAC, I sent my teacher 4 essays in one day at one stage, and I would often spend Sundays writing two essays. My teacher must have become quite sick of me. I would do essays, scheduled to be handed in after a week, in two days, and I'd get extra essay topics. In the end, I probably amassed around 70 essays and analyses at least. I also did around ten English Language trial exams and had each one marked. Even on the week before the exam, I handed in more work to my teacher, and by then, it was pleasing to note the regularity of the 14/15 scores that I was receiving. And how did I manage to get myself to do all of this work? I scared myself into doing it. I kept picturing a scene where I got 50s for everything but a 30 in English Language, which would majorly affect my ATAR. That was enough to "motivate" me to keep working even when things became very stressful and the times weren't good. I got a 55/75 for my first English Language trial exam and that almost completely shattered any drive I had to keep working, but once again, fear kicked in. As for the other trial exams, I did a LOT of chemistry exams, did fewer physics exams and did spesh exams whenever I felt bored (not kidding). I only did uni physics exams after VCE exams, but I was probably lucky to get away with that. As my study scores suggest, my way of prioritising English over my other subjects seemed to be quite helpful. However, it must be noted that the success of my study habits came mostly from earlier work I did and my school's year 11 science program. What can be taken from me is the importance of your English subject; that should come first, regardless. Also, to a certain degree, fear of failure can be a powerful motivating device. You should probably regulate it so that it doesn't overstress and kill you, but it is a useful thing to have. Without it, there would be no way I'd possibly get a 50 in English Language. Even now, my scores surprise me.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: soNasty on December 21, 2013, 08:42:24 pm
People seem to think that studying hard is the only way to go about VCE. Well, it's certainly one way of doing it, if you don't mind lots and lots of stress
Personally, I'm probably not too much help because my circumstances were unusual. In my year 8 summer holidays, I felt bored, so I bought a Methods 1/2 book and started working through that. I was quite surprised when I found everything relatively manageable. As a result, I was able to finish 1/2 by the middle of the year and 3/4 by the end of the year. That was Methods out of the way.
Also, to a certain degree, fear of failure can be a powerful motivating device. You should probably regulate it so that it doesn't overstress and kill you, but it is a useful thing to have. Without it, there would be no way I'd possibly get a 50 in English Language. Even now, my scores surprise me.
Coming from someone you've never heard of nor spoke to, you are an amazing student
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: drake on December 21, 2013, 09:29:16 pm
1. Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how?
first of all, I believe the majority of high achievers (99.90 and 99.95) START EARLY! try to finish as many of the courses (particularly mathematical and science subjects) as soon as possible. this allows you to do heaps and heaps of practice exams and so prepare for the exam even at the start of the year! next, it is about CONSISTENT study, not studying just before SACs or exams. continuous study is crucial! and, i also believe, that really high achievers depend on the subjects they choose. you probably need at least two mark-up subjects (to 55, e.g. specialist maths, LOTE etc.) to score in the high 99s. however, try to also find subjects you enjoy as this, in the long run, is more beneficial!
2. Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?)
a balance is necessary, particularly because you will be stressed the majority of the time! year 12 was definitely the hardest year of my life, and i constantly tried my best to maintain some sort of balance, whether it was through sport, seeing my friends or other co-curricular activities.
3. Did you do a sport or part time job?
i played sport, but did not have a part-time job. i don't think there is really enough time to have a part-time job if you are aiming for the high 99s!
4. Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying?
i guess i made quite a lot of notes throughout the year, some being pointless but some also being useful. for chinese and english, i memorised completely, so it wasn't really about notes (however, i made quite a lot of notes for english before a created the document that i was to memorise before the exam!) also with those subjects, it is important to do heaps and heaps of practice essays and get them marked! it is crucial to increase vocabulary for LOTE subjects before year 12 and then start writing countless essays during year 12, memorising sentence structures, essay structures, good phrases etc. this was particularly necessary with chinese, as i (a foreigner) was competing against background students and had no chance unless i created a solid essay structure that would impress the examiners! with methods, spesh and chemistry, it is all about learning the theory and applying it to questions. and then hit the practice exams as hard as possible! i probably 200+ methods practice exams and 150+ specialist practice exams! i didn't do too many chemistry though (probably 20+). you will find repetition in some question structures! in regard to hours spent, i don't think you should set a time. i think it is best to be EFFECTIVE! i probably studied from the time i got home (~5-5:30) to sleep (~11), with of course dinner in between and breaks. however, i wasn't that effective, so i needed that much time to study every night! i never ever set myself times (e.g. i did not say, "i am going to study for 1 hour and then have a break"). but if that is the method in which you study, use it!
6. Do you regret anything?
sometimes i don't believe the 99.95 was worth it due to the amount of sacrifice that is necessary to achieve it (social sacrifice, relationship sacrifice etc.). while it is good to work hard and achieve high results, it is better to have a balance in life! it is a stressful year, and because i was studying so hard, i didn't have much time to truly enjoy it and take it all in! but that was a sacrifice i made...maybe it was worth it, but maybe not.
7. If you had to repeat year 12 again, what advice would you give yourself? What would you do differently?
hmmm, tough question! perhaps i would try to enjoy more of the year 12 life - being the head of the school, mentoring younger students etc.
if i didn't say it before, VCE is not necessarily about understanding the content of each subject, but understanding the system. it is rigged! it depends on what subjects you choose, not necessarily how well you do in them! and while you may understand the content, you MUST be meticulous! for example, in maths subjects, it is all about being meticulous and careful, not about how great your mathematical knowledge was. while i didn't have an amazing math mind (particularly in problem solving questions), i was very very meticulous when writing and very careful when checking.
also, as you probably work quite hard, make sure your motivations for working hard are good! it is too easy to be motivated by money, fame, men, women, success, security, pleasing your parents, getting into the course you want etc. try to think beyond yourself and be motivated by the fact that you yourself can make a difference in the world and a difference in the lives of individual people! the world already has too many selfish people!
all the best, i'm sure you will be great!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 21, 2013, 10:26:43 pm
what would you do over the holidays for your 3-4 subjects?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: speakerphones on December 21, 2013, 11:57:12 pm
I envy you and your 48 in business. I put in so much time in the last two weeks before the business exam, literally all day everyday for two weeks of studying and I came out with a 38 :P Did you enjoy it or did you just find it really easy and practice alot? For every SAC, I crammed on the day of it and scores very well, but at exam time I couldn't remember a thing and had to relearn all the content (which I could probably have done in 2-3 days, full consecutive days of study = delusion you're actually studying but in actual fact sitting there doing nothing) and I completed two practice exams, both in an hour an ten minutes when in the real exam I basically ran out of time.
I thought it was so easy though, fml. In all my SACS I literally didn't drop a realistic mark all year, but had several marks deducted just for the sake of realism and not cheating (teacher who got fired was retarded) and the exam was so EASY! I looked and it and was like 'wow, 100%!' Then I started being a spastic, writing like quadripple what I needed to because I was arrogant with time and wanted to perfect my answers for like 2 markers, so I ran out of time. Then I know that indicators of corporate culture question stuffed me up as well as the 'describe a social and ethical resp for op system,' as I thought they were two different things (why would you have two different definitions) despite consciously knowing how to answer it I thought it was a trick, so started identifying ONLY a social and ethical for each element. On any other day ... uhhh.
Don't know how you studied with music with business, was impossible. I'd have to sit there for ten minutes literally shouting a definition out into the streets after spending hours writing notes on a computer to being able to remember it for a minute, writing it down on a piece of paper like 20 times and then having a 25% chance of remembering it a week later. I had a realistic idea of what all these definitions meant but I didn't want to make them up on the spot as I was afraid of ambiguity. I literally woke up at 10AM, studied until might night straight without eating much food nor leaving my room, trying to study and it was torturous. I'm blaming this on my hate for business as I wasn't learning and it just sucked, but if that is any indication for what I am in for next year with my chosen subjects I'll probably sell my liver to some sketchy black marketarian fella and invest that money into bitcoins as a hapy medium for a means of life.
I guess it's just different for everyone to study for. Don't take this as me being very lazy or naturally smart, I actually did work very hard! I spent a lot of time doing practise SACs for business, a lot of time spent going over notes and asking questions after classes etc. I just meant that I have a very laissez-faire (LOL) work attitude. Being relaxed and not being too strict with a studying schedule allowed me to keep on top of my work and feel motivated enough to continue studying because I felt so ahead. I actually started my practise exams at the start of term 3, doing them gradually as initial revision. i ended up doing about 30 practise exams, which is a lot for a writing based subject. It's a good idea to get them marked, especially by a VCAA examiner (if one of the teachers at school is one!). This means that they can mark you harshly or equally as hardly as the real examiner, as well as give you tips and pointers on how you can improve your answers. My teacher was amazing at giving me constructive criticism that I would highlight and remember as points to put into the real thing.
I don't think it would be a good idea to keep timing yourself throughout your entire revision period, because you're basically pressuring yourself too much. I did them very VERY passively, sometimes one exam between 2 full days! It did allow me to keep motivated and not burn out, as well as take my time to formulate my answers and be articulate in the way I expressed my terminology. I actually only timed 3 exams - One at school for the practise trial exam and the other two on the weekend before the real exam. That was I was extremely comfortable with answering questions during timed conditions as I had trained myself to answer them calmly and passively, the only difference was toward the end I was much more confident and could formulate answers instantly in my head.
THAT being said, I'm glad I didn't time myself for all of them, because I was already feeling the pressure in reading time. I think it's natural to run out of time in a real exam, because your mind kind of gets to you and its difficult to be 100% calm. That's why I think its good to train yourself to be calm so you don't completely freak out all the time -- its more important to get comfortable with the questions and content than to get comfortable with timing.
AND LOL, i mean it basically comes down to your motivation to study for the subject. I LOVED business and i'm kinda sad its over, but its mostly just your attitude to the subject. I found the content really easy so it excited me to perfect it, but answering the questions is always difficult and has to be precise, that's why it annoys me when people say Busman is an easy subject because its not entirely, you have to know how to answer the question correctly!
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: speakerphones on December 22, 2013, 12:00:15 am
what would you do over the holidays for your 3-4 subjects?
Not too much at all. Let yourself relax and just do the minimal homework/headstart set. You could go over the first unit before school starts very briefly, but you will really just learn it all in class. Just make sure you have a good break and get back to school ready to learn, because VCE seems really tough! I was able to laze around in classes sometimes but purely because I only had two of the subjects, but i know that with 2 more of them next year I won't be able to spare much class time! (Well I hope so)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: speakerphones on December 22, 2013, 01:25:45 am
I never forced myself to study; I've always done as much as I personally wanted. To be honest, I never burnt out until I finished my two year 12 subjects' exams. After that, I burnt out & couldn't study for year 11 exams. But that was just me telling myself that all I needed to do was pass the year 11 exams, and not so much worry about getting really high marks for them. I dunno, everyone is different I guess. :)
OMG I'm the exact same! Didn't force myself to study but I really wanted to.. AND I BURNT OUT AFTER EXAMS TOO! I literally spent 2 weeks in bed doing nothing as my cool down after exams and VCE, cos I really hadn't had any breaks throughout the year and my body finally allowed my brain to give up and turn into mush
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: AsianNerd on December 23, 2013, 10:47:55 pm
Tbh i decided to take it seriously at the start off the year and studying soon became a routine/hobby... I played tennis every friday as an outlet from studying. After my exams i felt really empty... Really bored and nothing to do, studying was something that i missed to somewhat of a degree.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Only Cheating Yourself on December 23, 2013, 11:10:30 pm
Tbh i decided to take it seriously at the start off the year and studying soon became a routine/hobby... I played tennis every friday as an outlet from studying. After my exams i felt really empty... Really bored and nothing to do, studying was something that i missed to somewhat of a degree.
how many hours a week did you spend on methods and did you do it nightly? if so how long?
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: nhmn0301 on December 29, 2013, 08:43:53 pm
Hi, do you guys think students from a not up to scratch school can obtain a 99.90+? Most people I know seem to think it's funny for me to think I can be a high achievers. And tbh, it's really discouraging....
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: b^3 on December 29, 2013, 08:46:46 pm
Hi, do you guys think students from a not up to scratch school can obtain a 99.90+? Most people I know seem to think it's funny for me to think I can be a high achievers. And tbh, it's really discouraging....
It's not impossible, but it'll probably be a hell of a lot harder (...we're not turning this thread into a public vs private thread). A student from St Albans Secondary College got 99.95 a few years ago. You've just got not let others get you down, keep yourself motivated (this'll be the hard part when everyone around you is the complete opposite). Be reasonable with your estimates and such, but work towards your goal. Even if you don't quite get there, the motivation and effort that you put in will lift you higher than you would have originally.
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: Stick on December 29, 2013, 08:48:23 pm
Hi, do you guys think students from a not up to scratch school can obtain a 99.90+? Most people I know seem to think it's funny for me to think I can be a high achievers. And tbh, it's really discouraging....
I was in a similar circumstance, so I know exactly how you're feeling, but I can also tell you that it's definitely possible with hard work and diligent resourcefulness. Don't let anybody get you down. :)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: #J.Procrastinator on December 29, 2013, 09:10:58 pm
It's not impossible, but it'll probably be a hell of a lot harder (...we're not turning this thread into a public vs private thread). A student from St Albans Secondary College got 99.95 a few years ago. You've just got not let others get you down, keep yourself motivated (this'll be the hard part when everyone around you is the complete opposite). Be reasonable with your estimates and such, but work towards your goal. Even if you don't quite get there, the motivation and effort that you put in will lift you higher than you would have originally.
Yeah that's true, AND she skipped a year level too.
Hi, do you guys think students from a not up to scratch school can obtain a 99.90+? Most people I know seem to think it's funny for me to think I can be a high achievers. And tbh, it's really discouraging....
It is absolutely possible. It doesn't matter what school you go to really; it's entirely up to you, your capabilities, motivation, determination etc.., that will determine whether you can obtain that atar or not. Just do your best and stuff what anyone else says. Good luck though! :)
Title: Re: How did you do it?
Post by: mishamigo on December 29, 2013, 10:37:36 pm
Anyway, all you high achievers out there; how did you do it? Like really, how? Did you slave your arse off and never see daylight? Did you balance work, leisure and play (if so, how?)
I put a lot of my ATAR down to my legal result, as my scores this year weren't amazing. I'm probably one of the few people here who didn't study endlessly, and even reading of the 4-8 hour study sessions makes me shudder! I spent maybe 1-2 hours studying a night, and definitely not everyday. Id say maybe 5 times a week. If I had a SAC, I'd add on another 2-3 hours the night before (I'm a crammer, sue me). Anyway, I didn't have a balance, nor did I work my arse off. I kinda just procrastinated... A lot. I procrastinated studying by studying, cleaning by exercising, and everything by playing pokemon.
No sport, just walking. Part time job, yes. I worked 10-20 hours weekly. A lot of people criticise this, but I think it helped keep me sane. It was something to take my mind off studying for a few hours. Even through exams, I worked 5-10 hours a week.
Did you make endless amounts of notes and completed countless practice questions or spend hours each night studying?
I wrote up notes in class, never any more. When I studied, it was mostly reading, practice questions, or discussions with peers. From September onwards, I just smashed practice exams. For legal I did 22, but this year I only did maybe 5-10 for each subject (except lit, which I neglected, and wrote only 4 essays, oops). I learn through discussing, so a lot of my learning was just sitting down with my teachers or mates and talking about the content. As I already mentioned, I didn't study much at all.
Yeah, but I'm slowly getting over it. I regret doing further and methods both in one year. It made me hate Maths so much haha, and ultimately impacted my scores in both. I regret relying on natural ability in literature, it only gets you so far :( .
Overall, while our contributions may give you ideas, it really just depends on what works for you. Find a balance that gives good results and stick to it! However, I cannot express enough the importance of mental and social well being through the year.