ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: slothpomba on January 23, 2010, 12:35:49 am
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Hey, im going to the bookshop soon, to pick up mainly notes (A++, Checkpoints, Ect) and i thought hell why not consider some other text books as well.
Do you think its a good idea to have more than one text book (ie not one thats used in class or by the school) or will it just add to the work unnecessarily and make it more confusing, with the different layouts and formats and such?
My subjects are in my signature.
~cheers, kingpomba.
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It's double the workload if you do questions from both =/
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The books would probably have the same stuff. If you want a different explanation on a certain topic, just look it up on Wikipedia or something...
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isnt it the best type of practice though? I mean if you buy checkpoints etc. A different textbook is just checkpoints but more?
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isnt it the best type of practice though? I mean if you buy checkpoints etc. A different textbook is just checkpoints but more?
not necessarily, a different textbook explains the same concepts and the only difference in questions would be the slightly altered numbers. if ur really interested in gettin 2 textbooks, dl an ebook, saves u time and money.
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isnt it the best type of practice though? I mean if you buy checkpoints etc. A different textbook is just checkpoints but more?
ebook? What are they and where to get them from?
not necessarily, a different textbook explains the same concepts and the only difference in questions would be the slightly altered numbers. if ur really interested in gettin 2 textbooks, dl an ebook, saves u time and money.
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Textbook questions are much easier than exam questions; furthermore textbooks tend to repeat the same kind of question many times. Textbook questions aren't really for practice, they are more intended to aid students understand concepts. Therefore textbook questions grow redundant once you comprehend the concept entailed - further repetition of simple questions at that point is just a waste of time. Actual exam questions are more suited to practice.
In short if you're going to use 2 textbooks, choose questions wisely and don't do them all, otherwise you just waste time and effort.
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No, I think it's a waste of money. Textbooks pretty much contain the same information, just written differently. You need to learn the concepts then do practise EXAM style questions in prep for end of year exams. This is the best way to revise, IMO (once concepts are mastered).
I would be spending the money on stacks of paper and ink for printing. VCE is designed so anyone can master it. Repition how ever is required for some to nail the ideas and concepts into memory. Exam style questions helps to do this, but also prepares you for those important tests in November.
2c, mba
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I'm doing 2 textbooks for methods and accounting. For methods, I'm doing the chapter reviews in the Essential Methods book (and the extended answer questions from each chapter if I have time) because apparently the questions are a lot harder and more worthwhile than my prescribed text. For accounting, I'm doing two textbooks for a shit-ton of practice (and because Double Profit is really lacking in the theory component).
But generally, I'd say it's not worth it, at least not the whole book (you could read through the PDF files or pick out a few hard questions to do, if you wanted).
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with englang for this year, the tutor i'm going to have (whose a teacher) recommended that i get more than one textbook. it gives you perspective, different definitions, more examples, allows you understand the course better and know the little important things that each textbook has.
i actually have 3 if you count the A-Levels Textbook!
also, my friend who did busman this year got a second textbook because some parts of each book were better for explaining things and depending on the topic- better definitions.
it allows you to expand your knowledge a bit:)
but some subjects it's unnecessary and would hinder your performance in that subject. like psychology where its all definitions to memorise, and another textbook would be annoying & confusing cos it'd be different.
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depends on the subject, and the text book. some text books i saw (but werent used by our school) were absolute shockers... for chem and biol i would have two text books if you can be bothered, biol more importantly. dont bother getting like different summary books, they're much less useful and will all contain the same stuff. text books, however, are not always based on the study design and will often contain either irrelevant things, omit things, or things which VCAA (in their wisdom) thinks would be a surprise challenge onthe exam (but which, if you used that text book, are very obvious). hence i thought for biol and chem, two textbooks ensured i hadnt left anything out of my study.
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With the maths subjects, if not using Essentials then it would be worth it to get Essentials and do the chapter reviews at the very least. With biol and chem I used two and I think it was useful in getting another viewpoint and in increasing my knowledge of examples. With physics I used one, tried to use two but realised there was no need about half way through and so just stuck to the one.
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depends on the subject, and the text book. some text books i saw (but werent used by our school) were absolute shockers... for chem and biol i would have two text books if you can be bothered, biol more importantly. dont bother getting like different summary books, they're much less useful and will all contain the same stuff. text books, however, are not always based on the study design and will often contain either irrelevant things, omit things, or things which VCAA (in their wisdom) thinks would be a surprise challenge onthe exam (but which, if you used that text book, are very obvious). hence i thought for biol and chem, two textbooks ensured i hadnt left anything out of my study.
Which two brands of textbooks did you use for your chem and bio? I'm just interested to know :)
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for chem and biol i would have two text books if you can be bothered, biol more importantly.
I would second the advice to have at least two textbooks for bio. Firstly, because sometimes one textbook will explain a difficult topic in a way that suits you better; but secondly, and more importantly, each textbook (for Vic at least) has different "case studies" for each general topic - particularly so when you have to look at individual examples of hormones, genetic technologies, or weird sex chromosome arrangements (bees, for instance.) Often one of these case studies, or a similar one, will pop up in an exam, so it's useful to have the background knowledge instead of having to figure it out from the question.
Which two brands of textbooks did you use for your chem and bio? I'm just interested to know
For bio, in terms of textbooks, I used Jacaranda and "Biozone" (http://www.biozone.com.au/Review/AUS/AUS-06-1.php) mainly, with reference to Heinemann. But to be completely honest, my main reference was Wikipedia. I am confident that, if you look at the syllabus carefully, you can learn at least half of the bio course from Wiki alone - although then again, maybe I would have done better than a SS of 43 if I hadn't! ;)
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I guess it wouldnt hurt to, but i would just get the ebook like suggested. Because some books have better explanations than others.
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for chem and biol i would have two text books if you can be bothered, biol more importantly.
I would second the advice to have at least two textbooks for bio. Firstly, because sometimes one textbook will explain a difficult topic in a way that suits you better; but secondly, and more importantly, each textbook (for Vic at least) has different "case studies" for each general topic - particularly so when you have to look at individual examples of hormones, genetic technologies, or weird sex chromosome arrangements (bees, for instance.) Often one of these case studies, or a similar one, will pop up in an exam, so it's useful to have the background knowledge instead of having to figure it out from the question.
Which two brands of textbooks did you use for your chem and bio? I'm just interested to know
For bio, in terms of textbooks, I used Jacaranda and "Biozone" (http://www.biozone.com.au/Review/AUS/AUS-06-1.php) mainly, with reference to Heinemann. But to be completely honest, my main reference was Wikipedia. I am confident that, if you look at the syllabus carefully, you can learn at least half of the bio course from Wiki alone - although then again, maybe I would have done better than a SS of 43 if I hadn't! ;)
Oh alright, I have heinemann and am wondering if getting another textbook would be handy. Definitely agree with the different case studies, and I have used Wiki for a bit of help with my holiday homework ;)
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depends on the subject, and the text book. some text books i saw (but werent used by our school) were absolute shockers... for chem and biol i would have two text books if you can be bothered, biol more importantly. dont bother getting like different summary books, they're much less useful and will all contain the same stuff. text books, however, are not always based on the study design and will often contain either irrelevant things, omit things, or things which VCAA (in their wisdom) thinks would be a surprise challenge onthe exam (but which, if you used that text book, are very obvious). hence i thought for biol and chem, two textbooks ensured i hadnt left anything out of my study.
Which two brands of textbooks did you use for your chem and bio? I'm just interested to know :)
I'll give my experience as well if that's ok :)
For bio I used Nature (which was very good) and Nelson (not so good, but I think one of the examples in one of the exams was mentioned in the book)
For chem I used Nelson (good for unit 4) and Heinemann (very good)
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For bio I used Nature (which was very good) and Nelson (not so good, but I think one of the examples in one of the exams was mentioned in the book)
By "Nature" do you mean Jacaranda "Nature of Biology"? If so, I agree that it's really good. Haven't used Nelson but as you say, no harm reading it for the case studies.
Oh alright, I have heinemann and am wondering if getting another textbook would be handy. Definitely agree with the different case studies [...]
If you're using Heinemann and you want just one other textbook, go with Jacaranda "Nature of Biology" as NE2000 said. It's huge but awesome.
[...] and I have used Wiki for a bit of help with my holiday homework
Good on you! I'm a Wikiholic.
As far as Web resources go, I can't believe I forgot to mention this:
MIT Open Courseware AP Biology
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/biology/biology/index.htm
A lot of the concepts in the US' "AP Biology" are in the new VCE syllabus, so I found these videos helpful - especially on meiosis, which I phayled to understand for a while.
Good luck!
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For bio I used Nature (which was very good) and Nelson (not so good, but I think one of the examples in one of the exams was mentioned in the book)
By "Nature" do you mean Jacaranda "Nature of Biology"? If so, I agree that it's really good. Haven't used Nelson but as you say, no harm reading it for the case studies.
lol yes, sorry, Nature = Nature of Biology
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i think i used 'nature of biology' and nelson for biology. (the big one with the fish on the front, and the orange one). the thin one (nelson) was good for concepts, but NOB had a lot of extra stuff in it which is good for broadening your knowledge... i learnt from nob but used the thin one to revise concepts
the point made about the case studies is particularly valid - often 'unique examples' used by VCAA can be found in various text books (e.g. the tasmanian devils of 2008 midyear are discussed, albeit briefly, in nelson but no others)
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more textbooks = more resources = improved likelihood of you learning more knowledge (that are related to the course structure)
why not? =P
not necessarily :P
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depends on the subject, and the text book. some text books i saw (but werent used by our school) were absolute shockers... for chem and biol i would have two text books if you can be bothered, biol more importantly. dont bother getting like different summary books, they're much less useful and will all contain the same stuff. text books, however, are not always based on the study design and will often contain either irrelevant things, omit things, or things which VCAA (in their wisdom) thinks would be a surprise challenge onthe exam (but which, if you used that text book, are very obvious). hence i thought for biol and chem, two textbooks ensured i hadnt left anything out of my study.
Which two brands of textbooks did you use for your chem and bio? I'm just interested to know :)
I'll give my experience as well if that's ok :)
For bio I used Nature (which was very good) and Nelson (not so good, but I think one of the examples in one of the exams was mentioned in the book)
For chem I used Nelson (good for unit 4) and Heinemann (very good)
Ooh yes i have Heinemann for chemistry! :)
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For bio I used Nature (which was very good) and Nelson (not so good, but I think one of the examples in one of the exams was mentioned in the book)
By "Nature" do you mean Jacaranda "Nature of Biology"? If so, I agree that it's really good. Haven't used Nelson but as you say, no harm reading it for the case studies.
Oh alright, I have heinemann and am wondering if getting another textbook would be handy. Definitely agree with the different case studies [...]
If you're using Heinemann and you want just one other textbook, go with Jacaranda "Nature of Biology" as NE2000 said. It's huge but awesome.
[...] and I have used Wiki for a bit of help with my holiday homework
Good on you! I'm a Wikiholic.
As far as Web resources go, I can't believe I forgot to mention this:
MIT Open Courseware AP Biology
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/biology/biology/index.htm
A lot of the concepts in the US' "AP Biology" are in the new VCE syllabus, so I found these videos helpful - especially on meiosis, which I phayled to understand for a while.
Good luck!
Thanks a heap for the link! :P
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i also had heinemann for chem, twas fine didnt seem to lack anything
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If your in year 12 I'm not sure if you have time to do that. If year 11, sure.