ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: Glasses on July 22, 2015, 12:26:15 am

Title: Subject Selection Query
Post by: Glasses on July 22, 2015, 12:26:15 am
Hi guys,
So I'm just after some advice/suggestions in selecting my Year 12 subjects for next year.

This year, I'm currently completing:
- 3/4 Psychology (GA 1 = 80/100) Rank 2/10
- 3/4 Religion and Society (GA 1 = 98/100) Rank 1/18
- 1/2 Literature (Average = 77-82%) Top 5/20
- 1/2 English (Average = 75-80%) Top 5/70
- 1/2 Legal Studies = (Average = 87-93%) Unknown rank.
- 1/2 Business Management (Average = 90-95%) Rank 1/20

Next year, I intend on doing Lit, English, Legal and Bus Man - however, I'm trying to work out whether I should either;
a) Purely complete those 4 subjects (so I'll have 6 in total).
b) Repeat Psych through the DECV.
c) Pick up Global Politics or Australian Politics as well as my other 4 subjects.

In sum, I'm aiming for an ATAR of 90+, but I don't know whether I'll be able to achieve this.. --- I was also relying upon/hoping that Psych would be in my top 4, however I don't think I'll be able to obtain a 40 in Psych this year (which is what I was aiming for).

But anyway, I'd greatly appreciate some advice!!
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: keltingmeith on July 22, 2015, 12:44:34 am
If you won't be able to get the score for psych this year, what makes you think you'll get substantially higher next year? Look at it this way:

Say you get 38 for Psych. Welp, that's not the 40 you wanted - so, we work harder, and get a 41. That's an extra 3 aggregate points. In full honesty, you're not going to get terribly higher if you repeat the unit.

However, what about what would've been your 6th subject? Welp, the moment you get a 30 in that subject, you've already matched that extra 3 aggregate points. Get any higher than 30, and you've already done better than you would have if you had redone psych.

IMHO, there's no point repeating a subject, unless you've scored lower than was required for a given course (eg, want to do commerce, got 24 in methods). For any onlookers, I would also only suggest this if you did said subject in year 11 - there's no point repeating year 12 if you're meant to be graduating that year.
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: sjayne on July 22, 2015, 12:03:06 pm
Don't repeat a subject. There's no point unless it's a prereq. It's a waste of time and effort tbh

I did 7 subjects in total and sometimes I wish I'd only done 6, however that may be because I had some pretty heavy subjects in year 12 (methods, japanese etc). The reason I did this many was because I couldn't decide which one to drop and I wanted to learn everything ;). It also helped to have an extra subject to fall back on.

I don't know what your workload is like, so I can't help you there. What I can say, is that there is no reason you can't do well in 5 subjects next year. Everyone else manages fine but if you are happy with the four you have and you want to focus on them, that may be beneficial too.
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: Glasses on July 27, 2015, 11:25:25 pm
If you won't be able to get the score for psych this year, what makes you think you'll get substantially higher next year? Look at it this way:

Say you get 38 for Psych. Welp, that's not the 40 you wanted - so, we work harder, and get a 41. That's an extra 3 aggregate points. In full honesty, you're not going to get terribly higher if you repeat the unit.

However, what about what would've been your 6th subject? Welp, the moment you get a 30 in that subject, you've already matched that extra 3 aggregate points. Get any higher than 30, and you've already done better than you would have if you had redone psych.

IMHO, there's no point repeating a subject, unless you've scored lower than was required for a given course (eg, want to do commerce, got 24 in methods). For any onlookers, I would also only suggest this if you did said subject in year 11 - there's no point repeating year 12 if you're meant to be graduating that year.

So generally, do you think I would be better off completing a 7th subject or repeating a subject? - Meaning I would have 5 subjects next year in year 12.
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: Orb on July 28, 2015, 05:10:26 pm
Don't repeat a subject. There's no point unless it's a prereq. It's a waste of time and effort tbh

If you're an asian, repeating it for the sake of pride is valid. I did reasonably well by most standards in Methods last year (40+), but due to potentially abnormal asian expectations, i decided to repeat (or, more accurately, pressured).

As long as you don't lose motivation and continue to work hard, at the same time knowing that you'll definitely get a higher score than last year (it'll be a really sad day when you repeat and get worse), then it should be perfectly fine imo.

I'd strive to do as best as you can this year, and decide when results day comes out. Most schools let you change subjects until Christmas! :)
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: JackSonSmith on July 28, 2015, 08:02:25 pm
Depends on how much time you'll have in Year 12, and how much you like Psychology.

If you have free time (eg. you don't play sport or have a job), then picking up a new subject would be best.
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: Glasses on July 29, 2015, 05:44:32 pm
Depends on how much time you'll have in Year 12, and how much you like Psychology.

If you have free time (eg. you don't play sport or have a job), then picking up a new subject would be best.

I have a job, however my hours are very flexible and I choose them. And I don't really play any sports, so I think I would be able to manage with 5 subjects in year 12.
I'm now just deliberating whether or not I should repeat Psych or pick up Global Politics..? Or just do 4 next year? (Making 6 in total)


All comments welcome!
Title: Re: Subject Selection Query
Post by: strawberries on July 29, 2015, 05:57:43 pm
I have a job, however my hours are very flexible and I choose them. And I don't really play any sports, so I think I would be able to manage with 5 subjects in year 12.
I'm now just deliberating whether or not I should repeat Psych or pick up Global Politics..? Or just do 4 next year? (Making 6 in total)


All comments welcome!
5 is very manageable in Year 12 as like the majority of the state do it as well as work too.

I would do 5, no matter how well or poorly I did in Year 11, but I definitely wouldn't repeat like the others said. It's always good to learn extra things anyway so definitely go for 5! :)
I wish I am doing 5 this year instead of 4, because I did 2 Unit 3/4 subjects last year too haha :(
Plus, if you're really struggling in Year 12 you can always drop it.

Anyway, best of luck! :)