ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Technical Score Discussion => Topic started by: captainbob on July 20, 2014, 10:36:50 pm

Title: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: captainbob on July 20, 2014, 10:36:50 pm: Hey guys ;D, i am in year 11 this year doing Biology as my only unit 3/4 subject. Biology is by far my favorite subject, and I was just wondering if i would still be capable of a score of above 40 at my current caliber of SAC results, now that i have realized that i might need to pick up my game to achieve a good score ;D

Here are my results this year:
SAC 1: Movement through membranes: 28.5/35 (81%)
SAC 2: Photosynthesis & Cellular respiration: 25.5/30 (85%)
SAC 3: Endocrine system: 20.5/25 (82%)
SAC 4: Immune system: 22/26 (85%)
Mid year practice exam: 84%

To help me study for Biology I use the biozone workbook, as well as write notes based of the handouts that we get in class and our text book 'nature of biology', i also went to the Neap winter lecture last holidays, although i heard afterwards that the TSFX lecture probably would have been better. I also listen to Douchy's Biology podcasts, which i think are a great recap of the content in each area of study. Listen to them here -> http://biologyoracle.podomatic.com/
I was just wondering what i could do to to maximize my results this year, and what kind of mark i would be capable of if i stepped up my game.

Thanks a lot in advance for the help guys :D Best of luck with your bio studies everyone!
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: jw12 on July 20, 2014, 10:57:15 pm: I suggest trying to do as many practice exams as possible. Also take note of what vcaa expects in an answer, many concepts have similar questions repeated (eg transcription/translation) and the suggested solutions don't change too much. I scored over 40 last year and your marks are better than mine were if that changes anything :)
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: Stew_822 on July 21, 2014, 07:28:42 am: I downloaded all of douchys podcasts at the start of this year - to me, they weren't succint enough. I prefer bozemans videos. The cellular resdpiration\photosynthesis ones rwsally helped me.
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: Micheal Jackson on July 21, 2014, 05:21:25 pm: Quote from: captainbob on July 20, 2014, 10:36:50 pm
Hey guys ;D, i am in year 11 this year doing Biology as my only unit 3/4 subject. Biology is by far my favorite subject, and I was just wondering if i would still be capable of a score of above 40 at my current caliber of SAC results, now that i have realized that i might need to pick up my game to achieve a good score ;D

Here are my results this year:
SAC 1: Movement through membranes: 28.5/35 (81%)
SAC 2: Photosynthesis & Cellular respiration: 25.5/30 (85%)
SAC 3: Endocrine system: 20.5/25 (82%)
SAC 4: Immune system: 22/26 (85%)
Mid year practice exam: 84%

To help me study for Biology I use the biozone workbook, as well as write notes based of the handouts that we get in class and our text book 'nature of biology', i also went to the Neap winter lecture last holidays, although i heard afterwards that the TSFX lecture probably would have been better. I also listen to Douchy's Biology podcasts, which i think are a great recap of the content in each area of study. Listen to them here -> http://biologyoracle.podomatic.com/
I was just wondering what i could do to to maximize my results this year, and what kind of mark i would be capable of if i stepped up my game.

Thanks a lot in advance for the help guys :D Best of luck with your bio studies everyone!

Just keep doing practice qs and exams. Also, ask your teacher as many qs as you can (email or face to face) so you understand the concepts thoroughly. Keep up the good work, and try your best for the remaining SACs (but remember it is the exam that really matters at the end of the day). Good luck with your studies, bio is a great subject to do in year 11 in my opinion :P
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: dankfrank420 on July 21, 2014, 08:43:28 pm: Quote from: jw12 on July 20, 2014, 10:57:15 pm
I suggest trying to do as many practice exams as possible. Also take note of what vcaa expects in an answer, many concepts have similar questions repeated (eg transcription/translation) and the suggested solutions don't change too much. I scored over 40 last year and your marks are better than mine were if that changes anything :)

Really? Because OP's GA1 was 83 (a very good score) but still not enough to get into the top 10% from the 2013 results (top 10% was 93+). I guess your SACs must have scaled up?
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: jw12 on July 21, 2014, 10:04:09 pm: Quote from: dankfrank420 on July 21, 2014, 08:43:28 pm
Really? Because OP's GA1 was 83 (a very good score) but still not enough to get into the top 10% from the 2013 results (top 10% was 93+). I guess your SACs must have scaled up?

Yep, i got 81/100 and 83/100 respectively for units 3 and 4, and both scaled to A+
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: dankfrank420 on July 21, 2014, 10:22:28 pm: Quote from: jw12 on July 21, 2014, 10:04:09 pm
Yep, i got 81/100 and 83/100 respectively for units 3 and 4, and both scaled to A+

Damn, what school did you go to? I got 80/100, hopefully scales up as much as yours.
Title: Re: Do i have what it takes to score 40+ in Biology, what does it take?
Post by: jw12 on July 21, 2014, 10:30:39 pm: Quote from: dankfrank420 on July 21, 2014, 10:22:28 pm
Damn, what school did you go to? I got 80/100, hopefully scales up as much as yours.

My school isn't that amazing and my cohort was probably average ahaha. If you do really well in the exam your sac marks would definitely go up!