ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Specialist Mathematics => Topic started by: ahat on September 01, 2013, 09:13:03 pm
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Not even kidding
90+% on all the Spec practice exams so far.
Wanting to die when doing Methods.
Anyone else?!?!? D: D: D:
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The methods exam last year was really hard and the spec exam last year was really easy. That could be the problem.
I suggest trying the 2008 spec exam if you are looking for a difficult one.
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The methods exam last year was really hard and the spec exam last year was really easy. That could be the problem.
I suggest trying the 2008 spec exam if you are looking for a difficult one.
I don't know why everyone says last year's exam was so hard. It normally takes me 90 minutes to do exam 2s; it took me 70 minutes last year. I don't see how that makes it harder.
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I don't know why everyone says last year's exam was so hard. It normally takes me 90 minutes to do exam 2s; it took me 70 minutes last year. I don't see how that makes it harder.
It might've just been one of those "pressure of the moment" things, but I couldn't finish the exam on time. The MC was too time-consuming for how few marks they were worth, so I had to guess a few.
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It normally takes me 90 minutes to do exam 2s; it took me 70 minutes last year.
Adrenaline from being in the actual exam, maybe?
To OP: I'm the opposite, been nailing methods exams but losing heaps of stupid marks on spesh ones. I guess all we can do is try to work harder on what we're struggling the most at.
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Hey Special at Specialist,
your description say that you finished VCE last year, yet you are redoing it this year? Why are you repeating VCE?
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He had a Literature score of 23 and evidently wants to do better in English to improve his ATAR to be able to go to Melbourne Uni. At least, that's how I see it.
Adrenaline from being in the actual exam, maybe?
To OP: I'm the opposite, been nailing methods exams but losing heaps of stupid marks on spesh ones. I guess all we can do is try to work harder on what we're struggling the most at.
I'm always slower in the exam because I don't want to make mistakes. I do practice papers as fast as possible.
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Ah right, you go for it special at specialist. Hope you mange to get into your course :P
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The methods exam last year was really hard and the spec exam last year was really easy. That could be the problem.
I suggest trying the 2008 spec exam if you are looking for a difficult one.
91% I got on those practices! None of methods so far has gone as well.
I find probability really confusing :/
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If probability is the issue it's probably lol a good idea to focus on those types of practice questions. Have you got something like cambridge checkpoints which offers a large amount of topic-related exam questions in one place? Make sure you ask in class about anything you don't get so your teacher can stop and explain it to you, it's not like asking questions is a bad thing. Also, you could possibly try borrowing/buying an alternate methods textbook which might explain probability from a slightly different perspective. I know with markov chains, for instance, Maths Quest has an exercise and Essentials has a chapter. By your spesh scores, I'm sure you're a competent student and will be able to crack methods if you put a little extra effort into your weak spots.
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just wondering what you guys did before attempting the exams. i have done one or two specs exams one from kilbaha and i found it a little difficult cause i didn't review the course...so no really sure if doing checkpoints before attempting exams is a good idea or doing heaps of past exams asap..
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I made my rules book! (methods and spesh in the one book) That worked as great revision for the start-of-year stuff and forced me to fill any gaps in my understanding. My book doesnt have may questions yet, as I'm aiming to fill it with hard questions from practice exams.
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I'm the opposite, but I've hated spesh all year and loved methods. Plus I don't think I'll bother trying in spesh, especially cos I've got Lit and History exams on the same day. I'll be happy with a 20, honestly.
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What type of scores should you be getting at this time of the year to achieve a 45+? And when you say 90%, do you mean 108/120 total then?
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just wondering what you guys did before attempting the exams. i have done one or two specs exams one from kilbaha and i found it a little difficult cause i didn't review the course...so no really sure if doing checkpoints before attempting exams is a good idea or doing heaps of past exams asap..
Sorry for the late reply. Throughout the year, we were given notes for each topic (very detailed and extensive) that had questions and theory on it that we filled in/worked through etc. with the teacher during class. It was essentially like a bound reference. Before I started exams, I just went through the all of my notes again to refresh my memory.
I think at this time of year, it's better to start exams rather than checkpoints, as they're essentially the same questions. If you find you have a particular weakness, you can go back to checkpoints and do the chapter (it really irked me that they never say if the question is exam 1 or 2 D:).
As you go through the exams, you'll find that you'll remember most of it, and your skills will exponentially increase. Just keep pegging away at it, not too much longer :)
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Is it the company exams? I found some of the company exams awful for methods last year! I remember there were some I did where I lost marks on three/four mark questions I couldn't even begin! I'm finding spec exams much better this year, there are less tricks and it's more about mathematical understanding and theory. :) Hence I would say spec necessitates less work than methods in picking up on tricks, but more in terms of mathematical understanding. I did lots of company exams such as NEAP - and they were awful - but by the time I got to the VCAA practice exams they seemed easy in comparison, and I'd seen all the tricks they could throw at you. I full marked the exam and got a premier's award - so I'm assuming it's normal to find methods papers hard! Don't worry, you'll get there! Just keep smashing out any company papers you have, they'll prepare you adequately :)