ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Specialist Mathematics => Topic started by: SammyBoy on July 20, 2014, 06:56:59 pm

Title: Should I pick up spesh next year?
Post by: SammyBoy on July 20, 2014, 06:56:59 pm
I want to drop economics and pick up spesh for next year. I'm currently undertaking methods 1/2 and am enjoying it and averaging an A. I'm willing to work hard and I think I will enjoy the subject. My other subjects will be:
Biology
Chemistry
Methods
English

Can you guys help me out and tell me whether it would be a wise decision without doing advanced general as it would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Should I pick up spesh next year?
Post by: spectroscopy on July 20, 2014, 07:04:17 pm
it doesnt matter if you do advanced general or not, it helps but is absolutely not necessary. if you really hate economics then i see no reason not to do spesh other than youll have a pretty high workload. but im not sure why you want to drop economics? in 3/4 it is very logical, answers arent really subjective, and study=grades pretty much. i know in year 11 with me it seemed really subjective and the criterion not clear but in 3/4 is is very straight forward "x causes w y and z, when you do a, b occurs". eco 3/4 is pretty good but if you really dont wanna do it and you enjoy math, spesh would be fine
Title: Re: Should I pick up spesh next year?
Post by: keltingmeith on July 20, 2014, 07:12:40 pm
Advanced general is called advanced general because it is doing general mathematics with some more advanced concepts - not because it's meant to be taken prior to specialist 3/4. If that were the case, it would be called specialist 1/2 (granted, the new specialist 1/2 doesn't look like it'll be that great of help for specialist 3/4...)

You will be absolutely fine in specialist regardless of what you have or haven't done before - as long as you plan to do 3/4 methods either at the same time or before you do specialist.
Title: Re: Should I pick up spesh next year?
Post by: AngelWings on July 21, 2014, 12:08:39 am
I want to drop economics and pick up spesh for next year. I'm currently undertaking methods 1/2 and am enjoying it and averaging an A. I'm willing to work hard and I think I will enjoy the subject. My other subjects will be:
Biology
Chemistry
Methods
English

Can you guys help me out and tell me whether it would be a wise decision without doing advanced general as it would be much appreciated.

I had a very similar situation to you not too long ago, except I was choosing to do Further or Spesh. I was unsure with my workload. Unfortunately, I can't and won't write much on decision-making, for this is a decision that you should make yourself without my bias. On the other hand, I can give you this much:

In my situation, I discussed this swap with my Economics teacher, prior to making my final decision. She was very helpful in seeing it in perspective. I advise that you take similar action. If they are too biased in your opinion, talk to the resident Careers teacher, VCE Coordinator, a trusted teacher... somebody you know well enough and discuss this matter in more depth. Surely, they can give more constructive advice than I can.
Title: Re: Should I pick up spesh next year?
Post by: Zlatan on July 21, 2014, 06:58:03 pm
Yeah you should seriously consider doing it because it's really really interesting :) and also the added advantage of scaling up a lot :D
Title: Re: Should I pick up spesh next year?
Post by: SammyBoy on July 21, 2014, 08:32:46 pm
Thanks for the reply's.
I have spoken to some teachers today and made up my mind, Im going to put envrionmental science down as my first preference but if there isn't enough numbers for a class I will do specialist.