ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 11:07:37 am

Title: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 11:07:37 am
hey guys
just thought id make a post .. on how people study
im quite interested to know what works for you and what you do in order to get that A+

personaly i cannot take notes .. i find them useless
i just do heaps of practice questions

how about you
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: The Detective on August 09, 2010, 11:19:33 am
Write up notes =)
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: boysenberry on August 09, 2010, 11:25:05 am
1) Read textbook and repeat
2) Do textbook questions
3) Read summaries
4) Do practice exams
5) Complete checkpoints

If I run out of time though or feel unmotivated I just skip step 3.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Visionz on August 09, 2010, 12:38:25 pm
I read and highlight the textbook.
Or I read the textbook and make notes basically just summarise the textbook. Then I highlight these notes.

When im revising for a sac I make a basic list of every subheading/concept involved with the area of study. Key words on a piece of paper basically in and orderly fashion.
I read over my notes or the textbook in this period then I list the subheading just to show that ive got it covered.

I dont really do a lot of questions, but I did/will for the exams. I just really like to have my head around everything by reading and organising it in my head and then on paper.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 09, 2010, 01:24:00 pm
It depends what im studying for.. For example, I would study differently for a test/SAC and I would study differently for an exam.

Some guy came to my school from a company called "Elevate" and we filled out this booklet, It should help!~ [My hand writing is shocking{as you can see} because I was writing on my hand as if it were a book]

It took me like 15 minutes to put this together, i hope it was a 15 minutes well spent.

http://img14.imageshack.us/g/19540856.jpg/
There is 7 slides. Enjoy

[You have to start making notes early on so you don't cram before exams/SAC's- doubt i'd have to say that xD, VN is full of genius'.]

p.s this sucks
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 01:32:41 pm
ahh
thanks alot buddy :)
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 09, 2010, 01:39:45 pm
No problem.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: andy456 on August 09, 2010, 05:25:08 pm
It really depends on the subject
-legal; lots of reading and summarising
-english; read through all my notes, steal my friends book and compare notes, then write practiCe pieces
-chemistry; briefly go through the texbook and then question after question after question
-methods; a few questions but not much, i classify work done with my tutor as study

Edit: Thanks for pointing that one out Hutchoo
I hope that I dont need to write that in the English exam  :o
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 09, 2010, 05:31:36 pm
Practise ? keke, sorry I just had to point that out.

With maths and such, I only tend to do the right hand side of the book >.> They're usually the harder ones.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Jdog on August 09, 2010, 06:20:58 pm
i write a shit load of  notes .. like for bio i read and after each sub heading i would write out notes in full sentences. I never read them though, I just re write and re write.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: m@tty on August 09, 2010, 07:02:07 pm
Okay, I am NOT a good model, but...

For science and maths I read from a few sources and think about the material.

Then eventually do a few checkpoints questions, and exam prep(~10-15 exams).

For english I do what I need to, making sure I think about the concepts and characters etc. Then write some essays.

Yeah, I'm lazy.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 07:03:48 pm
Okay, I am NOT a good model, but...

For science and maths I read from a few sources and think about the material.

Then eventually do a few checkpoints questions, and exam prep(~10-15 exams).

For english I do what I need to, making sure I think about the concepts and characters etc. Then write some essays.

Yeah, I'm lazy.

thats pretty good
for english .. say for e.g there is sac coming up in 1-2 weeks
how many prac essays would u do .. estimate on average
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: m@tty on August 09, 2010, 07:04:57 pm
2-3
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Russ on August 09, 2010, 07:05:58 pm
This is the first semester that I'm trying to stay up to date with lectures and revise/rewrite them every weekend. I'm about a week behind but that's not too bad. Previously it's been "do it all in swotvac" which is a viable model if you don't mind the study.

Back in VCE I wrote an essay a day for English and did 2 hours of other study, which turned out okay :) The other study was usually a mix of questions/exams, i rarely did notes properly
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 07:08:05 pm
an essay a day >??? thats crazy lol
and matt .. yeah thats pretty good 2-3 ..i usualy only do 2 or so lol .. slacking off for english hmm

good ideas people
thanx :)
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: eeps on August 09, 2010, 07:10:50 pm
FOR most subjects (e.g. Accounting)... I have 2 separate books... one to make notes... the other to do exercises in. I find that keeping notes and stuff separate from the exercises is more effective.

Generally, when it comes to tests (SACs) and exams, I just look over the notes that I've made throughout the year. + and I do a stack of past exam papers + Checkpoints to consolidate my knowledge. I also highlight key bits of information in my textbook and note-book. (Basically what I do has already been mentioned.) :P
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Russ on August 09, 2010, 07:27:24 pm
an essay a day >??? thats crazy lol

At the start of the year if I didn't have time I skipped it, but yeah...from about halfway through term 3 I started doing an essay a day. Was probably actually counterproductive because I kept thinking about statements I'd previously made, so I wouldn't recommend it.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 07:29:27 pm
do u mind me asking
ur raw score for english?
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Russ on August 09, 2010, 07:36:58 pm
raw can't remember, but scaled was 44

It was actually the one result I was gutted by, since I really wanted a 50 (arrogant I know) but I had a ton of problems during year 12 so yeah.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 09, 2010, 07:39:26 pm
dude
nah dont say "arrogent"
if u do an essay a day ... i think you deserve it man lol
but yeah
vcaa is a pain in the ass .. u can do so so many questions . and not be rewarded fully for your efforts
feel for ya buddy

but still
44 is bloody amazing
good on ya :)
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Russ on August 09, 2010, 07:41:57 pm
Oh yeah of course, it was a great score, I feel bad for wanting higher lol.
But yeah, so true, it all comes down to the exam prompts. And the Lake of the Woods prompts were terrible that year :( As was Whose Reality, but that context got shafted both years lol
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: mba on August 09, 2010, 08:45:14 pm
Depends on the subject. Humanties I usually write up the key ideas on a piece of paper then just use them to bounce ideas around/make mental notes in my head.
For every SAC I cut and paste relevant questions from past VCAA exams (I have exams up to 1999) and do the questions. I do this for all my subjects: Accounting/Geo/Maths etc. Then just compare my responses to the exam responses.
Going further then the textbook is important  for Humanities subjects, i.e.: Geo/Eco. Especially Eco. As long as you understand the basic concepts of the course, you can get a lot more marks if you do something different and bring outside relevant material into your responses.

English is a bit different. I may read the text a few times then I will try to dive into the back ground of the text. For any book or play or peotry I believe it is VERY VERY important to have an idea about the context it was written in and the lifestyle and views of the AUTHOR. The author is playwrite is key to a text, especially some of the texts studied in VCE. An understanding of the setting an historical perspective of a play like Man for all seasons can add a whole new dimension to your response. We are studying Cosi too, knowledge of the events that were occuring during the early 1970's is a must if you want to put together a strong text response.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 09, 2010, 08:51:56 pm
I remember being a thread on this website on "HOW TO GET A 50 IN ENGLISH" or something, and this person said that you should read each text like 10 times or more..
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Mulan on August 09, 2010, 09:26:48 pm
how do you study for bio?
do you have to remember all the definitions/make up your own by combining or just understand the concepts to do good in it.

i tend to just read the whole chapter and remember each line. i hate making notes :S
but i think my method aint working :(
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Jdog on August 09, 2010, 09:49:05 pm
bio you need to write and then re write and then re write your re writes,,
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: schnappy on August 09, 2010, 09:52:19 pm
Practice exams during the weeks before the exam. Practice SACs/textbook before SACs. Other times... I dont :)
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: happyhappyland on August 09, 2010, 09:58:16 pm
It depends what im studying for.. For example, I would study differently for a test/SAC and I would study differently for an exam.

Some guy came to my school from a company called "Elevate" and we filled out this booklet, It should help!~ [My hand writing is shocking{as you can see} because I was writing on my hand as if it were a book]

It took me like 15 minutes to put this together, i hope it was a 15 minutes well spent.

http://img14.imageshack.us/g/19540856.jpg/
There is 7 slides. Enjoy

[You have to start making notes early on so you don't cram before exams/SAC's- doubt i'd have to say that xD, VN is full of genius'.]

Ur in year 10.. but I might aswell tell you now that doing two practise exams per subject will screw u over for exams. dont even start practise exams a week before exam. u have to start atleast 3 weeks before exams and you have to do atleast 10 to 15 per subject to get a good mark.
For biology the best is to constantly take notes as well as do past papers
chemistry and methods just do tons of questions and repeat them
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: matt123 on August 10, 2010, 08:00:25 am
It depends what im studying for.. For example, I would study differently for a test/SAC and I would study differently for an exam.

Some guy came to my school from a company called "Elevate" and we filled out this booklet, It should help!~ [My hand writing is shocking{as you can see} because I was writing on my hand as if it were a book]

It took me like 15 minutes to put this together, i hope it was a 15 minutes well spent.

http://img14.imageshack.us/g/19540856.jpg/
There is 7 slides. Enjoy

[You have to start making notes early on so you don't cram before exams/SAC's- doubt i'd have to say that xD, VN is full of genius'.]

Ur in year 10.. but I might aswell tell you now that doing two practise exams per subject will screw u over for exams. dont even start practise exams a week before exam. u have to start atleast 3 weeks before exams and you have to do atleast 10 to 15 per subject to get a good mark.
For biology the best is to constantly take notes as well as do past papers
chemistry and methods just do tons of questions and repeat them

coudlnt agree more
the key to vce is studying along the way :) not cramming
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: hawks08 on August 10, 2010, 02:59:34 pm
for subjects apart from maths and english i try to remember info(especially definitions) of by heart. that works best for me
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: chrisjb on August 10, 2010, 03:42:22 pm
English and Literature, I just read or watch the book or film and think about it, maybe go on the web and look at other people's ideas and maybe discuss it with some people. It's not realy 'studying' more just exploring. Also, memorising quotes is an obvious one.
Maths, I just do practice question after practice question.
Legal Studies and International Politics, I read, make notes and try to memmorise specific definitions and sentences, sometimes word for word. Acroynims I use a lot in this to remember definitions etc. e.g. RODD for the ways of avoiding precedent, WICBOS for the magistrates' court's jurisdiction.
Media... don't realy study :P just wing it.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Abdi on August 10, 2010, 06:39:28 pm
For English I would write an essay every night
For legal I would throughly read the book and answer all the questions
for International Studies I watch the news and read the Age - :D
For chem I would read the book, attempt all questions, do checkpoints and diagnostics tests!
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Aqualim on August 10, 2010, 07:22:01 pm
English - somehow conjure up a practice essay or C&P piece a week before the SAC (especially for the C&P piece, since I try and leave my best ideas for the actual SAC)
Business - Type up notes after each time we have a lesson, and then start memorising them about a week prior to the SAC
Methods - complete all exercise questions from both the essential and quest textbooks
Accounting - Complete all the exercises and type up and memorise notes
P.E - same as business
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: slothpomba on August 10, 2010, 07:27:52 pm
Uh... Bio - Pretty much read all the stuff again and summarise it.
Do questions

Methods - Make sure i have a solid understanding of the theory... then questions...

Chemistry - Quickly read over what i need to know then a shit load of questions...

English lang - Read the book 

IT - not really much at all... what i do in class works fine for me
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: TrueTears on August 10, 2010, 07:28:13 pm
hey guys
just thought id make a post .. on how people study
im quite interested to know what works for you and what you do in order to get that A+

personaly i cannot take notes .. i find them useless
i just do heaps of practice questions

how about you
i like to read alot.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: busterBluth on August 10, 2010, 07:57:04 pm
methods-yeah practice questions..pretty basic...but if short for time i make sure i can do the harder more complex application type questions.
international studies- read textbook (which is OUTDATED and write outdated info in SAC, sure fire way to get u marks! not.), discuss with other ppl (this helps alot)
literature- write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D
psych- checkpoints
chem- checkpoints,

this all occurs 2 days before a SAC...which means every other day is FREE TIME!.....perfectly balanced lifestyle :D



Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 10, 2010, 08:11:12 pm
It depends what im studying for.. For example, I would study differently for a test/SAC and I would study differently for an exam.

Some guy came to my school from a company called "Elevate" and we filled out this booklet, It should help!~ [My hand writing is shocking{as you can see} because I was writing on my hand as if it were a book]

It took me like 15 minutes to put this together, i hope it was a 15 minutes well spent.

http://img14.imageshack.us/g/19540856.jpg/
There is 7 slides. Enjoy

[You have to start making notes early on so you don't cram before exams/SAC's- doubt i'd have to say that xD, VN is full of genius'.]

Ur in year 10.. but I might aswell tell you now that doing two practise exams per subject will screw u over for exams. dont even start practise exams a week before exam. u have to start atleast 3 weeks before exams and you have to do atleast 10 to 15 per subject to get a good mark.
For biology the best is to constantly take notes as well as do past papers
chemistry and methods just do tons of questions and repeat them

Yeah, I agree.. I didn't make the program >.> But I do agree with some of the concepts that were suggested. (Making notes) - remember.. This stuff is what I like, No crap- doing 1/2 prac exams per subject won't do anything..
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Mulan on August 10, 2010, 10:43:46 pm

write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D


LOL this is EXACTLY wat i do for English atm (8
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: 98.40_for_sure on August 10, 2010, 10:46:50 pm

write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D


LOL this is EXACTLY wat i do for English atm (8

Isn't this what everyone does? except for me... it takes 4 days to write it, and 3 days to memorise :(
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: iffets12345 on August 10, 2010, 10:50:33 pm
an essay a day >??? thats crazy lol

At the start of the year if I didn't have time I skipped it, but yeah...from about halfway through term 3 I started doing an essay a day. Was probably actually counterproductive because I kept thinking about statements I'd previously made, so I wouldn't recommend it.

Hence I don't write an essay a day...I've TRIED to do one a week but sometimes I fail. If I have an English SAC, I tend not to write a practice exam the weekend before, because I think it might alter my brain badly from thinking too much about one prompt when I need to be fresh for the SAC one.

In Lit, I try to do a few, like everytime the teacher gave me material I did the homework cause I am SHITTING MY PANTS ABOUT LITERATURE.

Maths, exercises.
my school's really behind and I'm dead lazy...so you can see how 2010 will be for me
:P
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: iffets12345 on August 10, 2010, 10:56:15 pm
and, doesnt everyone love studying for sciences/maths way more? They're so concrete and affirmative.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 10, 2010, 11:26:52 pm
I like studying for maths/sciences more because there is always a logical answer. I'm good at English, but sometimes I find it hard to agree/disagree with some topics.

^ If that makes any sense.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: TrueTears on August 11, 2010, 06:20:53 pm

write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D


LOL this is EXACTLY wat i do for English atm (8
yeah, this is the way I did english, I memorised ALOT of essays and then basically rewrote them in the exam, ended up with 46 LOL
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Blakhitman on August 11, 2010, 07:00:34 pm
English- nothing, that's why I'm gonna get <30 SS
Methods- I get ahead of class. For study, practice questions.
Further- Nothing, and I'm still hoping for a good score.
Chem- I do the Homework (only recently realised it helps) and practice questions (tests). for the exam ~12 Practice exams (and still didn't get A+ XD)
Physics- I like Physics so I do extra reading up and shiz. ~ 15-20 practice exams for exam.

But my main source is YOUTUBE.


write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D


LOL this is EXACTLY wat i do for English atm (8
yeah, this is the way I did english, I memorised ALOT of essays and then basically rewrote them in the exam, ended up with 46 LOL

Awesome score!!

*envious*
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: minilunchbox on August 11, 2010, 09:03:34 pm

write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D


LOL this is EXACTLY wat i do for English atm (8

I've always done this because it works fabulously for SACs. But I'm really unprepared to think on the spot for the exam. Eeek.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: stonecold on August 11, 2010, 09:09:48 pm

write one essay day before SAC, perfect it, then memorize and write same essay in SAC :D


LOL this is EXACTLY wat i do for English atm (8

I've always done this because it works fabulously for SACs. But I'm really unprepared to think on the spot for the exam. Eeek.

my english technique exactly haha...
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: liv on August 11, 2010, 09:53:02 pm
how do you study for bio?
do you have to remember all the definitions/make up your own by combining or just understand the concepts to do good in it.

i tend to just read the whole chapter and remember each line. i hate making notes :S
but i think my method aint working :(

i know this is uber late, but :O
i don't know how anyone can write notes for bio. it gets so boring. so me and my friends act it out (yes, we are nerds, and yes, it sounds lame. but it's kind of fun. + educational) ie. in mitosis- my friend and i become sister chromatids and then split apart in the anaphase (i think). ok, so i don't do that all the time, but for main ideas. and everything else, i just try to visualize in my mind, then i can just remember it.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Hutchoo on August 11, 2010, 10:49:40 pm
Liv, each to their own really. Some people (like yourself) are better by doing 'hands on' type of stuff, some are visual learners.. Some learn by writing notes.. Some do a totally different method.

Your idea sounds fun though :D I'd just look like a douche, thats all.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: iffets12345 on August 12, 2010, 12:47:25 pm
I learn really weird. It's not reading or hands on. I just need someone to do it for me. Like EXACTLY what you do in school with maths and the teacher runs through it on the board. I'm terrible at reading and intepretating things in textbooks cause I'm notation illiterate and I get confused with all the random signs in maths. Science, reading out of the heineman book is alright but I get scared I might not have absorbed it. In English, I like taking notes and reading or discussing with the teacher and other students.
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: che0106 on November 29, 2010, 01:18:21 am
It depends what im studying for.. For example, I would study differently for a test/SAC and I would study differently for an exam.

Some guy came to my school from a company called "Elevate" and we filled out this booklet, It should help!~ [My hand writing is shocking{as you can see} because I was writing on my hand as if it were a book]

It took me like 15 minutes to put this together, i hope it was a 15 minutes well spent.

http://img14.imageshack.us/g/19540856.jpg/
There is 7 slides. Enjoy

[You have to start making notes early on so you don't cram before exams/SAC's- doubt i'd have to say that xD, VN is full of genius'.]

ROFL, that guy came too. He was entertaining but most of it was just commonsense~
Title: Re: how do YOU study?????????
Post by: Ghost! on November 29, 2010, 02:02:04 pm
OMG ELEVATE CAME TO MY SCHOOL STUDY CAMP LAST WEEK.

I chatted up one of the hosts, Georgie B ;)