General Advice for IT Applications
Before the year starts...
- Grab the study design and copy and paste the key knowledge dot points into a Word document. Use these dot points as headings to put your notes under. I've already copied the dot points for you (see attached file at the bottom) - all you need to do is it fill it throughout the year.
- Find out what programs your school will be using (Excel is a requirement) and learn how to use them well. The ITA examiners tend to ask specific questions concerning the functionality of them (there were quite a few on the 2008 exam) so don't be surprised if you're asked to write a formula for a spreadsheet or a rule for a database. You probably won't have time to learn how to use your set programs during the year, which is why you should use this time now to do so.
During the year...
- ITA SACs are probably the most draining SACs you'll ever do (I'm sure many will agree with me here). They're easy, but there's just so much to do. Don't neglect them though, they contribute 50% to your study score and the tasks required of you in your SACs will be very similar to the questions you'll get on the exam.
- Preparing for SACs: Your textbook should have sample case studies. These are really helpful, and they're all usually the same - some organisation has a problem (too inefficient or ineffective) and you have to develop a solution to fix it. Practice pinpointing the key problems in case studies and you should be fine for the outcomes. The answers are generally the same as well - you just have to mould the answer so that it relates to the case study.
- Add to your notes as you learn new topics in class and read over them regularly (it doesn't have to be everyday, but regular enough so that you won't forget it).
- Familiarise yourself with the IT terminology and in particular how VCAA defines certain words. Grab the VCAA IT Glossary and make sure you are familiar with how they define key terms such as analysis and design as well as potentially ambigious terms such as constraints and capabilities, efficiency and effectiveness etc.
- Also familiarise yourself with the type of questions that will appear on the exams. Go through the past exams/assessment reports and identify the common questions that they ask (e.g. there's always a legal/ethical obligation Q). This might ruin your exam practice later in the year, but I think it's worthwhile to really understand how VCAA words questions and what kind of answers they expect.
- Explore the ITA forum, actively participate in discussions and even read through some old threads.
Mnemonics
Use mnemonics - recalling key information in an exam/SAC is easy when you do.
- Problem solving methodology: ADD T DIE - Analysis, Design, Development, Testing, Documentation, Implementation, Evaluation
- Factors/constraints: TOES - Technical, Operational, Economic, Social
- Electronic validation checks (there are more): FREDS - Format, Range, Existence, Data type, Spell check
- Audience characteristics: GALSEC - Gender, Age, Location, Special needs (disabilities etc), Education level, Culture
- Disaster recovery plan: BERT - Backup, Emergency, Recovery, Test
Exam Advice...
- Use pen (but pencil of course for the MC) and write neatly. Obvious, but it's not worth risking marks just because they can't read your writing.
- For multiple choice - Cross out the wrong answers before you select the correct one. Basic but effective MC technique.
- For short answer - Don't write long, extended answers. Examiners are lazy and will prefer you to write in dot points - generally, if there are X number of marks, you should make X number of points.
- Pretend that the examiner is comptuer/technologically illiterate when writing your answer - you can't run the risk of them not knowing what you're on about. Also, always remember to relate your answer back to the question/particular situation.
- Don't be surprised if you're asked to do a full task - e.g. a whole Gantt chart or a layout design. There was one on the 2008 exam.
- Whenever in doubt with a question, just use your common sense - it'll probably come up with the correct answer.
- You should be aiming to finish the exam with a lot of time to spare. Don't waste it, though - use it to check over your answers, and make sure you've answered every question.
- More advice from Mark Kelly himself: http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/vceit/examtips/examtips.htm
Useful links
Feel free to add any other points, websites, resources etc. ITA is an easy subject in terms of content, which is why it is easy to neglect it in favour of other subjects. Don't neglect it - it'll pay off in the end (it did for me).