ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: DiMennzzaa on September 29, 2012, 09:47:01 pm

Title: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: DiMennzzaa on September 29, 2012, 09:47:01 pm
Im not sure what to do.

I've completed all my notes for my subjects and now i have a delemma, should i try to memorize the entire study design by the exam and do a few practice papers

or should i just do heaps and heaps of questions from each area of the study design? and hopefully that will cover everything ?
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: synchronise3 on September 29, 2012, 09:50:42 pm
Im not sure what to do.

I've completed all my notes for my subjects and now i have a delemma, should i try to memorize the entire study design by the exam and do a few practice papers

or should i just do heaps and heaps of questions from each area of the study design? and hopefully that will cover everything ?

You should read your notes, not necessarily memorising them, but digest the information and then proceed to doing past exams.
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: DiMennzzaa on September 29, 2012, 10:09:37 pm
how does one digest?
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: nisha on September 29, 2012, 10:12:52 pm
It all depends for different subjects. For example, yes, writing notes for Maths is good because it helps you remember the concepts, but it then rests on YOUR UNDERSTANDING of the concept. Therefore, the more practise you get the better.

Imo, do a combination of both, but hit the practise exams. Anytime you get a question wrong, re-read your notes, then repeat.
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: Felicity Wishes on September 29, 2012, 10:17:51 pm
how does one digest?
Focus on the meanings of the definitions, rather than just remembering the sentence or the phrase. I find that reading over my notes, the text book and other peoples notes really helps me to 'digest' the information and really understand it.
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: FlorianK on September 29, 2012, 10:21:33 pm
Im not sure what to do.

I've completed all my notes for my subjects and now i have a delemma, should i try to memorize the entire study design by the exam and do a few practice papers

or should i just do heaps and heaps of questions from each area of the study design? and hopefully that will cover everything ?
When you want to memorize your notes than do question open book.
In that way you'll memorize everything much easier.
Furthermore and most importantly you don't get as bored/sleepy like when you sit down and memorize.
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: DiMennzzaa on September 29, 2012, 10:53:30 pm
Thanks for the replies guys.

Im getting so stressed, i feel like im running out of time. I have practice exams next week and i am no where even close to being prepared for them
Title: Re: Memorizing notes vs Doing Questions?
Post by: Limista on September 29, 2012, 10:58:05 pm
Doing questions (particularly practice exams) engages the brain to a greater extent, than just memorising notes. Then again, you can memorise your notes either passively or actively... for example in psychology, one might ask "what does dopamine do?" I would then draw a venn-diagram or flow chart and list how the definitions for dopamine vary according to mental illness and learning, thinking from the examiner's point of view.

In essence, if you try and memorize your notes in the context of a potential exam style question(s), then you are actively memorizing your notes, and perhaps, this could be an adequate substitute for doing heaps and heaps of questions.

Or maybe, you could set a day aside for actively memorizing your notes, and on the next day, just do questions? It all depends on how you learn best, what sort of study timetable you've set for yourself, and what you're trying to achieve by the end of 3 days/ a week/ a month.