ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: mandy on November 10, 2009, 06:21:42 pm
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Hi, I'm gonna be in Year 12 next year, so I thought I'd get a headstart on all my subjects in the holidays and get study guides. There are so many to choose from and I have no idea which ones to pick. I'll probably get them from Academic & General, and have no idea what they have there. What would you recommend for my subjects?
- English;
Context: Conflict
- Chemistry
- Specialist Math
- Math Methods
- Further Math
Thank you so much :]
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I found Insight good for English. For Spec and Methods just doing a buttload of questions worked for me, maybe try that before you buy books?
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I'd probably recommend you get them off ebay/vce forums and stuff because a lot of people buy it, barely use it and end up re-selling.
English - I used insight encountering conflict study guide. They had a lot of good ideas/notes and exercises to try and get you to make your own intrepretations/ideas but I couldn't be bothered doing it. Used NEAP one also and it probably isn't worth it to get both. Basically, you can use this to get ideas/sample essays but in the end, the most effective thing will be the exercises that try and get you to broaden your intreptation,understanding and analysis of the text/context.
Specialist - Probably just textbook and exams would be sufficient. If you have the time ( finish the course early), you could probably go through A+ notes, exam busters, leading edge exercises, A+ exams but your first priority should just be the textbook, checkpoints ( if you want) and exams.
Methods - Found that the textbook and checkpoints and exams was sufficient. A+ notes wasn't too bad.
Basically for the maths subjects, i'd just say textbook to understand + do questions and then checkpoints + exams to improve. The other stuff may/may not help. EG: I did the A+ exam books and I found that it was practically useless.
I dunno how much time you're gonna spend on year 12 but if you managed to finish the course early, then you would probably have time to do all the extra exam revision books.
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I found Insight good for English. For Spec and Methods just doing a buttload of questions worked for me, maybe try that before you buy books?
Would Insight be only for the context bit? Or are there seperate books for each novel? Yeah, I'm gonna do the questions while looking at study guides, haha. I hope that works too.
For spesh, I have this years A+ notes and checkpoints already. I'm using the Heinemann books for the maths, so is that enough in terms of textbooks?
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I found Insight good for English. For Spec and Methods just doing a buttload of questions worked for me, maybe try that before you buy books?
Would Insight be only for the context bit? Or are there seperate books for each novel? Yeah, I'm gonna do the questions while looking at study guides, haha. I hope that works too.
For spesh, I have this years A+ notes and checkpoints already. I'm using the Heinemann books for the maths, so is that enough in terms of textbooks?
Depends on the company who made them. I got my English study guides from Leading Edge, and for Context, they were for each individual novel. Personally I found the Leading Edge books to be really useful. Also you could consider getting Checkpoints for English. It offers some great tips for writing
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If I buy the study guides second hand, will the content be much different?
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No ofcourse not!
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If I buy the study guides second hand, will the content be much different?
Should be the same. I think they made a study guide to cover 3-4 years ( before the study design gets re-evaluated)
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No ofcourse not!
If I buy the study guides second hand, will the content be much different?
Should be the same. I think they made a study guide to cover 3-4 years ( before the study design gets re-evaluated)
Okay, good. Thank you.
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Chemistry: I like Checkpoints and A+ notes. I didn't even do any textbook questions, just Checkpoints all year. A+ notes is a pretty useful summary.
Methods: As someone who sucks at Maths I found Exambusters useful. It's basically a supercharged examiner's report. I found the real examiner's report skipped too many steps and I couldn't really understand anything >_> Checkpoints might be more helpful if you're good at Maths.
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Is exambusters only for the previous year's exam paper or theory and qn format?
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Is exambusters only for the previous year's exam paper or theory and qn format?
it doesn't really have a normal theory section like A+ notes, it mainly goes through lots of old VCAA qns (divided by topic) and gives a more methodical way to do the questions, and shows things to look out for etc. It also has lots of tips for solving using calc, which is nice. There are some questions to do as well but checkpoints would be better for that purpose.
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Oh, Exambusters sounds good. Does it have ones for Chem as well? Or just maths?
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Oh, Exambusters sounds good. Does it have ones for Chem as well? Or just maths?
They have Chem too but I find it lacking. It's like, half the thickness and not quite as in depth as the Methods ones. A+ notes is probably better for Chem. Also due to the nature of Chem something like A+ notes which covers theory would be better than Exambusters which covers technique more.
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Alrighttt, thanks SmRandmAzn :]
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Oh, Exambusters sounds good. Does it have ones for Chem as well? Or just maths?
They have Chem too but I find it lacking. It's like, half the thickness and not quite as in depth as the Methods ones. A+ notes is probably better for Chem. Also due to the nature of Chem something like A+ notes which covers theory would be better than Exambusters which covers technique more.
Really? I thought A+ notes for Chem were a bit bleh. But then again, I did TSFX and what A+ covered in 2 pages, TSFX would write 10 on...
I think for Chem maybe just use your text book and then supplement it with Checkpoints? :)
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Oh, Exambusters sounds good. Does it have ones for Chem as well? Or just maths?
They have Chem too but I find it lacking. It's like, half the thickness and not quite as in depth as the Methods ones. A+ notes is probably better for Chem. Also due to the nature of Chem something like A+ notes which covers theory would be better than Exambusters which covers technique more.
Really? I thought A+ notes for Chem were a bit bleh. But then again, I did TSFX and what A+ covered in 2 pages, TSFX would write 10 on...
I think for Chem maybe just use your text book and then supplement it with Checkpoints? :)
I would prefer TSFX chem revision lecture notes over A+. Those things saved my ass for mid years.
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Oh, Exambusters sounds good. Does it have ones for Chem as well? Or just maths?
They have Chem too but I find it lacking. It's like, half the thickness and not quite as in depth as the Methods ones. A+ notes is probably better for Chem. Also due to the nature of Chem something like A+ notes which covers theory would be better than Exambusters which covers technique more.
Really? I thought A+ notes for Chem were a bit bleh. But then again, I did TSFX and what A+ covered in 2 pages, TSFX would write 10 on...
I think for Chem maybe just use your text book and then supplement it with Checkpoints? :)
I would prefer TSFX chem revision lecture notes over A+. Those things saved my ass for mid years.
I agree! :)
And also they introduced Byron mid-year, and he literally changed my life; I never knew Chem could be interesting until I sat through a Byron Jones lecture
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I wasn't planning on going to any lectures or anything next year. Is that bad?
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I wasn't planning on going to any lectures or anything next year. Is that bad?
I think it is - they helped heaps this year!
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it might not be a study guide, but i advise for you to start printing all your practise exams for chem/spesh/methods since you dont want to waste your time printing during the school year, it is very time consuming especially for methods and spesh since they have a shitload.
For studyguides, buy chem checkpoints also go to NEAP lectures(good summary notes) and buy smartstudy exam papers, for methods and spesh buy the MAV version of checkpoint WERMS. English is just Insight for the language analysis tools as mentioned from previous posters.
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it might not be a study guide, but i advise for you to start printing all your practise exams for chem/spesh/methods since you dont want to waste your time printing during the school year, it is very time consuming especially for methods and spesh since they have a shitload.
Yeah, there are heaps of papers to print.
So get it done earlier when you're more tolerant and patient about things.
Oh, and also print them double-sided; not only will it save the environment, but your wallet if your school is tight and charges for printing :)
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What's the best study guide for accounting and legal guys?
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Thanks mystikal, that printing exams idea is pretty good, haha. I'll be doing that double sided, cos my school does charge for printing :(
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Thanks mystikal, that printing exams idea is pretty good, haha. I'll be doing that double sided, cos my school does charge for printing :(
Do double sided anyway, save the trees! Use recycled paper if possible :P.
Anyone else feel a bit.. guilty after printing off 10 practice exams for one subject?
High five for environmentalism! :)
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yeah, usually I print two pages to the one side, but that makes me mad cos theres not enough space to write.
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yeah, usually I print two pages to the one side, but that makes me mad cos theres not enough space to write.
It's especially bad for maths subjects which always inevitably require heaps of working out :(
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Hahah thanks :P.
Always trying to reduce my ecological footprint... then someone uses their car to drive a 2 minute walk, makes my actions just useless lol...
yeah, usually I print two pages to the one side, but that makes me mad cos theres not enough space to write.
It's especially bad for maths subjects which always inevitably require heaps of working out :(
Did a methods SAC today, printed on half pages?!
You've probably already seen this one before, but...
http://funnyexamanswers.com/2009/08/10/118/
And my condolences for you having to undergo the torture of a Methods SAC. Hope you survived the that traumatic experience of maths :P :)
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Hahah thanks :P.
Always trying to reduce my ecological footprint... then someone uses their car to drive a 2 minute walk, makes my actions just useless lol...
yeah, usually I print two pages to the one side, but that makes me mad cos theres not enough space to write.
It's especially bad for maths subjects which always inevitably require heaps of working out :(
Did a methods SAC today, printed on half pages?!
Omg what. How do they expect you to take that :P
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Nice.
Except I like writing on an exam paper, it feels weird not doing an exam on paper...
OK, that might have been me revealing a tad too much OCD :P
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Haha, I can never do that, cos I end up on vcenotes and msn. The prac exam never gets done. I always print the exams, so I don't have to turn on the computer and get tempted.I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Nice.
Except I like writing on an exam paper, it feels weird not doing an exam on paper...
OK, that might have been me revealing a tad too much OCD :P
LOLOL, don't you worry, I've got some of that OCD also :p
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Haha, I can never do that, cos I end up on vcenotes and msn. The prac exam never gets done. I always print the exams, so I don't have to turn on the computer and get tempted.I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Nice.
Except I like writing on an exam paper, it feels weird not doing an exam on paper...
OK, that might have been me revealing a tad too much OCD :P
LOLOL, don't you worry, I've got some of that OCD also :p
You forgot Facebook and Twitter :P
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Lol same. Except teachers at my school are willing to print out exams for us for free which is awesome.
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Lol same. Except teachers at my school are willing to print out exams for us for free which is awesome.
What our teachers are so tight. Tell us to go on schools intranet and print ourselves, they will only give us a few if we're lucky. But if your serious about studying for it, you will have to print so much more, and like for my accounting, printed off like more than 10 prac exams =.=
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Yeah mines called fastdraft, colour doesnt come out too well, but not like you need it. Still i reckon it was a real waste of paper lol
Lol same. Except teachers at my school are willing to print out exams for us for free which is awesome.
What our teachers are so tight. Tell us to go on schools intranet and print ourselves, they will only give us a few if we're lucky. But if your serious about studying for it, you will have to print so much more, and like for my accounting, printed off like more than 10 prac exams =.=
Reams of paper are only like $7, and make sure you change your printer settings to draft or something, where it uses minimal ink :P.
Maximise efficiency :D.
Also recycle your exams :P.
I bet you probably did all of this anyway ;).
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Is it worth printing practice exams at home? ...Costs a fair bit of ink. Or would you be better off just buying them?
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I look at practice exams on my computer and write down the answers on a scrap piece of paper. Woo saving trees and on overpriced ink cartridges.
Lol same. Except teachers at my school are willing to print out exams for us for free which is awesome.
What our teachers are so tight. Tell us to go on schools intranet and print ourselves, they will only give us a few if we're lucky. But if your serious about studying for it, you will have to print so much more, and like for my accounting, printed off like more than 10 prac exams =.=
Reams of paper are only like $7, and make sure you change your printer settings to draft or something, where it uses minimal ink :P.
Maximise efficiency :D.
Also recycle your exams :P.
I bet you probably did all of this anyway ;).
How do you do this?