ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Specialist Mathematics => Topic started by: Allygator on November 02, 2010, 07:10:16 pm
-
Hi!
I'm doing specialist maths 3/4 in 2011 and was looking for some advice from those of you who have done it previously. I was wondering what areas of the course are the most challenging, so I could at least have a look at them on the holidays so they may be a bit easier when I come to them during the year.
Thanks in advance 8-)
-
Complex fucking numbers. Thought they were easy until we got a really complex question in the exam which screwed me over. So yeah, really know that topic inside out, so you're prepared for anything.
-
I'd also focus on the calculus section, especially antidifferentiation. There'll be some new methods that you'll have to learn in finding the integral of particular expressions.
-
Don't shy away from the hard exams, even if they rape you the first time round and take you 3 hours to do. I would have been screwed in the real exam if I wasn't used to rushing through a barrage of super-hard questions so that I could finish in time. I did mostly iTute, Kilbaha, TSSM, Derrick Ha,\ and CSE, the rest VCAA, and about 3-4 "easier" exams (e.g. Heffernan).
Personally I'm less careful in the real exam because my mental state is a little bit more agitated than in practice conditions, so I had to remedy this with subconscious training lolz.
-
Don't shy away from the hard exams, even if they rape you the first time round and take you 3 hours to do. I would have been screwed in the real exam if I wasn't used to rushing through a barrage of super-hard questions so that I could finish in time.
Wish I followed that advice instead of doing the ones that reflected the VCAA standard the most.
-
Don't shy away from the hard exams, even if they rape you the first time round and take you 3 hours to do. I would have been screwed in the real exam if I wasn't used to rushing through a barrage of super-hard questions so that I could finish in time.
Wish I followed that advice instead of doing the ones that reflected the VCAA standard the most.
Yep, to prepare for methods, it's kilbaha all the way :D
-
Don't shy away from the hard exams, even if they rape you the first time round and take you 3 hours to do. I would have been screwed in the real exam if I wasn't used to rushing through a barrage of super-hard questions so that I could finish in time.
Wish I followed that advice instead of doing the ones that reflected the VCAA standard the most.
Yep, to prepare for methods, it's kilbaha all the way :D
Im quite surprised Kilbaha is not that bad for methods. Maybe i should try itute..
Hardest section in spesh ( i found ):
Kinematics + Mechanics ( or at least, some aspects of it ) it was the physics section which took most time for me.
-
I'm just wondering does doing hard exams actually help you in the wrong run in that although you may initially get destroyed by them, it prepares you well for potentially difficult questions in the actual exams? Or do they simply lower your confidence and aren't worth the time?
-
Well, coming out of doing probably one of the harder exams set by the VCAA for Specialist only just two days ago, people around here might say things are a bit harder than they actually are. Cos I'm sure most of us are disheartened with how we went ><'
But anyways, I'm going to tell you what I would've liked someone to have told me if I asked the same question as you are asking now :)
Specialist is practically as follows, give or take a few things of course:
- Know your geometry. Properties of parallelograms, squares, rectangles, triangles etc. etc
- Vector Proofs mainly consist in working your way around these geometrical facts to prove shapes and sizes.
*I found Vector proofs to be the most challenging in the Vector section, the rest is straight forward.
- Complex Numbers; it's not as bad people say it is I actually enjoyed it the most.
- Circular Functions; pretty safe coming off the bat from Methods. Just a few new rules and functions to remember.
- Differentiation/Anti-differentiation; pretty basic stuff again with a few new techniques and rules added on to the Methods stuff.
- Differential Equations; Probably the hardest for me personally. It was really weird at the start but after a bit of practice it's not that hard to get your head around.
- Kinematics & Dynamics - if you do Physics, this shouldn't be nothing new. Specialist just goes a bit further by adding Frictional Forces and also using vectors when working with Newton's F=ma but no surprises at all :)
I don't know how much of that would make sense to you or anyone else but hope it does a bit at least ><
Differential equations were probably the hardest going for me in Specialist :(
But I think that's just me..haven't heard many complain about it before ><
-
I'm just wondering does doing hard exams actually help you in the wrong run in that although you may initially get destroyed by them, it prepares you well for potentially difficult questions in the actual exams? Or do they simply lower your confidence and aren't worth the time?
To a certain extent. Personally, I didn't bother with iTute and TSSM exams after doing a couple because they were stupendously hard. However, there's no point doing just Heffernan exams (I found them the easiest).
So mix and match, and challenge yourself to go that extra mile into the uncomfortable zone but don't fall off the edge of the cliff. (Y)
-
The hardest for me was Kinematics and Mechanics.. and i guess that was mainly because i didnt have any physics knowledge so took me quite a while to get the hang of it
-
Thanks for everyone's advice!
I do physics, so hopefully the kinematics/dynamics stuff will be okay. Although I'm a bit suspicious of my Physics class, as we never really did much... :P
Thanks especially 3Xamz! Very helpful :)
-
I'm just wondering does doing hard exams actually help you in the wrong run in that although you may initially get destroyed by them, it prepares you well for potentially difficult questions in the actual exams? Or do they simply lower your confidence and aren't worth the time?
=/ They increased my confidence lol. I got absolutey destroyed at them at first, took 2:40 to finish exam 2s,got around 25-30/40 for exam 1s and 60-65/80 for exam 2s. Then after like my 10th practice exam, I started getting decent scores on them as well as finishing on time, up to like 39/40 and 77-79/80. I got to the point where I believed that there was no exam question that I couldn't do; iTute and TSSM questions may seem "horrendously hard" at first, but after doing a lot of them they become commonplace.
And that confidence was important in the real exam. Because the exam 2 was DEFINITELY NOT a smooth ride. Freaking question 3a.) I had to rub out 5 minutes of working just because I didn't use the method specified by the question, and the graphing question with "k=100, k=200, k=800", my calculator did not give me a graph at all when I first put the equation in, and it took 3-4 minutes of fumbling about to figure out why. If I didn't have the conviction that "Omg there is no way this can be happening, there's no way I can't win this", then I would have given up right there and then - "Oh shit. FML!!! I'm going to run out of time. WTF WHY DOESN'T CALCULATOR WORK =.= omgggg I screweeed up so bad" stuff like that lol
It's not really about preparing yourself for difficult questions as it is training your mentality. IMO mentality, especially under exam pressure, is 9301851930138x more important than actual mathematical ability (There are a few ppl in my spesh class who I deem as mathematically superior 0.o)
Basically insane exams teach you how to confront difficult questions for a sustained period without getting panic attacks. They are like immunity shots against a mental blankout in the real exam.
-
I'm just wondering does doing hard exams actually help you in the wrong run in that although you may initially get destroyed by them, it prepares you well for potentially difficult questions in the actual exams? Or do they simply lower your confidence and aren't worth the time?
=/ They increased my confidence lol. I got absolutey destroyed at them at first, took 2:40 to finish exam 2s,got around 25-30/40 for exam 1s and 60-65/80 for exam 2s. Then after like my 10th practice exam, I started getting decent scores on them as well as finishing on time, up to like 39/40 and 77-79/80. I got to the point where I believed that there was no exam question that I couldn't do; iTute and TSSM questions may seem "horrendously hard" at first, but after doing a lot of them they become commonplace.
And that confidence was important in the real exam. Because the exam 2 was DEFINITELY NOT a smooth ride. Freaking question 3a.) I had to rub out 5 minutes of working, and the graphing question with "k=100, k=200, k=800", my calculator did not give me a graph at all when I first put the equation in, and it took 3-4 minutes of fumbling about to figure out why. If I didn't have the conviction that "Omg there is no way this can be happening, there's no way I can't win this", then I would have given up right there and then - "Oh shit. FML!!! I'm going to run out of time. WTF WHY DOESN'T CALCULATOR WORK =.= omgggg I screweeed up so bad" stuff like that lol
It's not really about preparing yourself for difficult questions as it is training your mentality. IMO mentality, especially under exam pressure, is 9301851930138x more important than actual mathematical ability (There are a few ppl in my spesh class who I deem as mathematically superior 0.o)
Basically insane exams teach you how to confront difficult questions for a sustained period without getting panic attacks. They are like immunity shots against a mental blankout in the real exam.
I think you make some very valid points, especially in regards to training your mind to deal with the possibility of sustained pressure applied during an exam.
-
"Oh shit. FML!!! I'm going to run out of time. WTF WHY DOESN'T CALCULATOR WORK =.= omgggg I screweeed up so bad" stuff like that lol
story of my life. wish i had done what you did before the exam, because I choked.
but at least i can learn from this and apply it in methods.
-
"Oh shit. FML!!! I'm going to run out of time. WTF WHY DOESN'T CALCULATOR WORK =.= omgggg I screweeed up so bad" stuff like that lol
story of my life. wish i had done what you did before the exam, because I choked.
but at least i can learn from this and apply it in methods.
It's time that we avenge the raping that we got from spesh.
-
I predict a similar scenario with methods... you can't beat the system.
-
Story of my life, wish I bothered opening my textbook and studying earlier, not with 2 weeks to go =/ Cramming does help though =D
Coming from someone who enjoys 1st then suffers, do it the other way round and you'll be rewarded :P
Bleh too late to change anything now :buck2:
-
Theres nothing hard in spesh. Make sure you have no loopholes in your knowledge - its not about how much work you do, its about who understands the fundamental concepts the best. If you get that down, its a breeze.
-
Theres nothing hard in spesh. Make sure you have no loopholes in your knowledge - its not about how much work you do, its about who understands the fundamental concepts the best. If you get that down, its a breeze.
But that's true for everything from kindergarten games to PhD maths ;)
There's no secret about it, Specialist is harder than Methods.
-
oh of course spesh is harder conceptually than methods, but its still the same - dont freak, just know the stuff!
-
For my brain I found methods harder
-
For my brain I found methods harder
ditto
-
why is methods harder, is it because it has probability distributions or what?
-
Personally I found methods much easier cos I don't have to deal with all this conceptual crap.
-
why is methods harder, is it because it has probability distributions or what?
More memorizing.
-
No my brain works with conceptual airy fairy stuff.
-
For my brain I found methods harder
ditto
Same
I didn't do 1/2 Methods, so 3/4 Methods was completely new to me 0.o I never ever encountered function notation before. All this stuff about inverse functions and domains and ranges hurt my head =/ Same with differentiation and antidifferentiation X.x Never ever seen that stuff before and had to face it first time for a 3/4.
Spesh however, is just an upgrade of Methods. There was nothing new in Spesh except for some vector and complex number stuff, the rest was just a natural extension of the Methods stuff I learned the year before Spesh.
-
I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S
Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?
-
In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.
-
In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.
So do you just go through the textbook at home and write your own notes?
Sometimes I find I like to copy down the notes onto rough paper and then edit them and add some of my own words, examples etc into them and then just completely rewrite them all neatly into a book
-
I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S
Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?
No. I almost never listened in classes (ask EZ xD) and I never developed notes/bound reference throughout the year (I spent 20 minutes making a 3 page bound reference, and I didn't even open that in the exam). All I did was note the really tricky little details stuff, and the result of that is my Compilation of Tricky Points X.x
And haha I finished Spesh course like 1.5 months before the actual exam. I don't understand you ppl who finish it in the holidays =X
-
No bound notes is the way I went in.
In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.
So do you just go through the textbook at home and write your own notes?
Sometimes I find I like to copy down the notes onto rough paper and then edit them and add some of my own words, examples etc into them and then just completely rewrite them all neatly into a book
Writing things out in own words and deriving things for yourself is a must.
-
In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.
+1, exactly how i do things :D
-
In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.
This is definitely the way to go =D
In maths classes I never take notes and I encourage others to not do so as well. Listen and follow what the teacher is saying, only if something is notable just write down something in the margin and thats it. Its much better this way and you'll find remembering things much easier as well.
So do you just go through the textbook at home and write your own notes?
Sometimes I find I like to copy down the notes onto rough paper and then edit them and add some of my own words, examples etc into them and then just completely rewrite them all neatly into a book
The thing about Spesh is...you don't need to make notes, it's actually a waste of time for the most part.
-
I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S
Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?
No. I almost never listened in classes (ask EZ xD) and I never developed notes/bound reference throughout the year (I spent 20 minutes making a 3 page bound reference, and I didn't even open that in the exam). All I did was note the really tricky little details stuff, and the result of that is my Compilation of Tricky Points X.x
And haha I finished Spesh course like 1.5 months before the actual exam. I don't understand you ppl who finish it in the holidays =X
Bahahah xD It sounds like I have no life but I'm really excited to go through it.. haha
I reckon that if I finish the course once in the holidays and then gain my own personal understanding of it, I'm basically just relearning and revising the concepts in class - which I believe can further solidify those concepts? Plus, I'd be able to ask the teachers more detailed and indepth questions! :D
-
For maths in general: know how to construct your own proofs, no need to take notes if you thoroughly understand the concepts (ie, can you prove something is true for yourself? if not, then you don't understand it), know your fundamentals (again know where things come from, not just HOW do things work).
-
I'm planning to finish both the Methods and Spesh course in the holidays.. everyone says to just do practice exams from then on but is that really the right way to go? I mean, I'd obviously listen in class and steadily build my notes/bound reference from each class, but mmm :S
Also, did you guys just copy the notes from every class in a book and then used that as your bound reference?
No. I almost never listened in classes (ask EZ xD) and I never developed notes/bound reference throughout the year (I spent 20 minutes making a 3 page bound reference, and I didn't even open that in the exam). All I did was note the really tricky little details stuff, and the result of that is my Compilation of Tricky Points X.x
And haha I finished Spesh course like 1.5 months before the actual exam. I don't understand you ppl who finish it in the holidays =X
Bahahah xD It sounds like I have no life but I'm really excited to go through it.. haha
I reckon that if I finish the course once in the holidays and then gain my own personal understanding of it, I'm basically just relearning and revising the concepts in class - which I believe can further solidify those concepts? Plus, I'd be able to ask the teachers more detailed and indepth questions! :D
Lol my boyfriend did this, don't feel like a social recluse...
-
But beware that the process of mathematical learning often begins with knowing HOW things work, however for most students (this goes for VCE and mathematics students in general), they forget to realise that after knowing how things work, they need to conceptually formalise their understanding which is kinda like "backwards" learning. Knowing how something works -> then going back to formalise it with rigor and understanding/constructing proofs. This is the case for many areas of mathematics and is a good way to learn.
http://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/there%E2%80%99s-more-to-mathematics-than-rigour-and-proofs/
http://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/there%E2%80%99s-more-to-mathematics-than-grades-and-exams-and-methods/
-
OMG terry tao - MY HERO :D
But yeah, that's true; I'm the sort of person who always wants to know how/why/what/when/where in Maths + Science etc
-
he is a hero of many ;)
a true inspiration for all mathematicians young and old.
-
Make sure you understand the concepts.
Unlike methods, Spesh requires a deeper level of understanding and thinking.
-
hey, im planning to do both methods and spesh 3/4 next yr.
i have done general advanced maths (but we didnt learn any of the spesh content only stuff related to further :/)
so essentially i will have no background knowledge for spesh....
im also planning to learn/teach myself most of the course over the summer or get a tutor to ease the workload throughout next yr so that i will mainly be revising, when everyone is learning :P
Thoughts?
-
hey, im planning to do both methods and spesh 3/4 next yr.
i have done general advanced maths (but we didnt learn any of the spesh content only stuff related to further :/)
so essentially i will have no background knowledge for spesh....
im also planning to learn/teach myself most of the course over the summer or get a tutor to ease the workload throughout next yr so that i will mainly be revising, when everyone is learning :P
Thoughts?
A couple of guys in my Spec class went straight in this year without GMA. That said, they did complete Methods admirably the previous year.
I heard somewhere (citation needed? :P) that Methods and Spec were designed to be taken concurrently.
I'm not sure that it's such a good idea to go through the entire course over the summer. At this point last year I was planning on doing the same thing, and a close friend warned me against it (incidentally he had received 50 in Spec and a 99.95) - it means that you'll be bored in class and demotivated for SACs and the finals. Familiarize yourself with the course - yes. But go in depth - no.
-
hey, im planning to do both methods and spesh 3/4 next yr.
i have done general advanced maths (but we didnt learn any of the spesh content only stuff related to further :/)
so essentially i will have no background knowledge for spesh....
im also planning to learn/teach myself most of the course over the summer or get a tutor to ease the workload throughout next yr so that i will mainly be revising, when everyone is learning :P
Thoughts?
A couple of guys in my Spec class went straight in this year without GMA. That said, they did complete Methods admirably the previous year.
I heard somewhere (citation needed? :P) that Methods and Spec were designed to be taken concurrently.
I'm not sure that it's such a good idea to go through the entire course over the summer. At this point last year I was planning on doing the same thing, and a close friend warned me against it (incidentally he had received 50 in Spec and a 99.95) - it means that you'll be bored in class and demotivated for SACs and the finals. Familiarize yourself with the course - yes. But go in depth - no.
Thanks for the reply, what i meant to say was that i just want to get a broad understanding of the course so i wont be thrown by the new concepts and such when we actually learn it in class.
Would it be 'harder' to do spesh without GMA and methods 3/4 in yr 11?? -The feedback that ive had from teachers, students and VNers suggest that this yrs exams for both methds and spesh were relatively difficult so i am getting very worried that i may not be able to cope xD
-
Well if you are a capable maths student, you will be able to cope.
If not, nothing a bit of hard work cant fix :P
-
Well if you are a capable maths student, you will be able to cope.
If not, nothing a bit of hard work cant fix
I think his username says it all :P
-
haha yeah i will be working my ass off next year - literally :P
Im probably just gettting a bit ahead of myself. I just need some advice on what to do, but i ddo have high expectations and i am kicking myself that i didnt try harder in my 3/4's this yea :(
-
Thanks for the reply, what i meant to say was that i just want to get a broad understanding of the course so i wont be thrown by the new concepts and such when we actually learn it in class.
Would it be 'harder' to do spesh without GMA and methods 3/4 in yr 11?? -The feedback that ive had from teachers, students and VNers suggest that this yrs exams for both methds and spesh were relatively difficult so i am getting very worried that i may not be able to cope xD
forget about what other ppl say, seriously.
-
haha yeah i will be working my ass off next year - literally :P
Im probably just gettting a bit ahead of myself. I just need some advice on what to do, but i ddo have high expectations and i am kicking myself that i didnt try harder in my 3/4's this yea :(
it's good that you're motivated to do well, Specialist is the way to go for people who want to 'work their ass off', as effort is rewarded in the end.
Try to not go sky high with the expectation though, a better approach would be to try your hardest so that at the end of the year, you know you've done your best (so cliche, I know :) )
-
mmm... I disagree
I didn't do a shred of work throughout the year, I havent even completed a single excercise from the book, yet, I got top sac rank.
It's not about how much work you do, its about how well you understand concepts. And its not as if "yeah i understand it" is good enough, if you really understand maths the same way you understand english, where letters and numbers are more like words that will always make logical statements and working with whats true and whats not - you literally can do specialist with 2 hours of work for the year and come out on top - I did it!
Remember, its not how much work you do (you'll peak a few exams in anyway and wont make any progress from there so theres no point in doing more than 10 exams tops), it's about how well maths makes sense. And you really need to fill in any hole you may have at all!
-
mmm... I disagree
I didn't do a shred of work throughout the year, I havent even completed a single excercise from the book, yet, I got top sac rank.
It's not about how much work you do, its about how well you understand concepts. And its not as if "yeah i understand it" is good enough, if you really understand maths the same way you understand english, where letters and numbers are more like words that will always make logical statements and working with whats true and whats not - you literally can do specialist with 2 hours of work for the year and come out on top - I did it!
Remember, its not how much work you do (you'll peak a few exams in anyway and wont make any progress from there so theres no point in doing more than 10 exams tops), it's about how well maths makes sense. And you really need to fill in any hole you may have at all!
what did you do in 2 hours?
-
I learnt to use the calculator :D
-
So much good info here haha
I wasn't intending to specialist after my gen a teacher kept scaring us with (at the time) crazy tests but after doing methods I kinda feel obligated to make up for the exam. =)
-
yeah its not hard at all - you just need a good teacher :)
-
you literally can do specialist with 2 hours of work for the year and come out on top - I did it!
2 hours of work for the year, you did it with a calculator. can you elaborate on what you did. i want to learn your skills
-
yeah its not hard at all - you just need a good teacher :)
+1
-
..Did you have a hyperbolic time chamber, abes? LOL
-
hahah no, i just like maths!
-
well im the kind of person who learns better via doing questions, after i do a few i usually get the hang of it and do every 2nd or 4rd questoin xD
Also my spesh teacher next year is an assessor and word is she is really good, she had 3 kids last yr get 40+ raw (:
-
To me it's about knowing the content through first principles - then you can apply your knowledge to any problem, even derive your own methods
If you think you haven't done this, you have - during this year's methods exam 2. We don't do expected values in conditional probability, but we were able to derive a method ourselves using first principles to solve the problem!
-
Im going to be doing spesh next year without doing GMA.
Anything in particular that i should learn during the holidays or alternatively should i get a tutor??
Thanks
-
well the things that I learnt in GMA that were completely different to Methods + relevant for Spesh would be
-Vectors
-Imaginary numbers
-Complex numbers
-Kinematics/Forces
Have a crack at Vectors, its actually quite enjoyable imo :D
-
well the things that I learnt in GMA that were completely different to Methods + relevant for Spesh would be
-Vectors
-Imaginary numbers
-Complex numbers
-Kinematics/Forces
Have a crack at Vectors, its actually quite enjoyable imo :D
thanks for that buddy, ill have a read of the GMA book a mate gave me.
-
To me it's about knowing the content through first principles - then you can apply your knowledge to any problem, even derive your own methods
If you think you haven't done this, you have - during this year's methods exam 2. We don't do expected values in conditional probability, but we were able to derive a method ourselves using first principles to solve the problem!
that's really good advice because VCAA will ask you to do something out of the ordinary but it still tests your course knowledge so its still relevant.
-
Im going to be doing spesh next year without doing GMA.
Anything in particular that i should learn during the holidays or alternatively should i get a tutor??
Thanks
check here for more info and practice stuff to do over the holiday break:
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,31939.msg329261.html#msg329261
Good luck!
-
Im going to be doing spesh next year without doing GMA.
Anything in particular that i should learn during the holidays or alternatively should i get a tutor??
Thanks
check here for more info and practice stuff to do over the holiday break:
http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,31939.msg329261.html#msg329261
Good luck!
wow good job for putting a lot of effort into that thread :)
i shall look through a lot of that stuff in the coming weeks, im sure it will help a lot of us! karma for you :D
Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience