ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: vashappenin on September 04, 2013, 06:25:48 pm
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Hey guys
I don't know if this has happened/is happening to you, but you know when you're too eager before starting VCe and you buy almost every resource (slight exaggeration) available for a subject because you're still the naive little child that doesnt realise how impossible it is to get through every resource?
Well that kinda happened with me for methods. I kinda forgot about the an study guides, and even when i remembered i had way too many other resources for methods revision from school and my tutor.. but now that we've finished the couse and its just revision, Im considering maybe going tthrough all the questions from the topic tests before hitting the exams.
Do you think this is appropriate or should i just stick to practice exams? I was thinking that it'd ve useful because i could refresh my memory by doing the different topic tests and all, but would that time be better spent on practice exams?
What are your thoughts?
THANKS :)
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Wasn't the AN book written for the purpose of exam/sac revision? 8)
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Yeah but Im mainly talking about the tests written for sac preparation and if they're ok to do as exam questions this late into the year. Shouldve made myself clearer!
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Yeah but Im mainly talking about the tests written for sac preparation and if they're ok to do as exam questions this late into the year. Shouldve made myself clearer!
Should be more than fine to use them as exam prep questions. As far as I'm aware, they're all exam type-ish questions anyway.
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Um, nah. Like I have nothing against AN guides, I reckon it's great an all but doubt you should do topic-based tests for exam revision. Topic based tests are generally better for sac revision, but the full exams (that are usually found at the end of AN guides) could be useful. Buttt, you probs have access to a lot of free exams from your teachers.. so I'd start with them first ^^
That said, Study guides like the AN one and Checkpoints can be very useful if used properly
Some people hate this, but:
- After you finish an exam make a list of what you got wrong
- Organise your mistakes into a table, eg | Functions | Trigonometry | Calculus | Probability |
- Do a few exams and then look at which area you have made the most mistakes in
- For example, you got over half the trig qs wrong
- Now go back and use study guides you've purchased. Do the trig topic tests/questions
- Make a note that you have gone back and revised trigonometry. You should notice an improvement on your mistakes table in the next few exams you do
- Otherwise, go back and do more trig qs (or whichever area of study that you're a bit rusty on) from study guides (like AN) or from the textbook
- THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP: take some time out now and there and relax. Or you'll always be too worked up to notice your improvements
GOOD LUCK =D
PS: given the context of this topic + website, yes AN guides are very good! YAY AN! ;)
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I think the exams from the AN guides are worth doing, simply because they're at a very high standard and their solutions are as much a learning tool as any textbook.
As for topic tests, yeah a bit late now but if there's any topic you're not confident with (eg. probs, calc, etc.) why bother smashing out a full <company> exam when you could just focus on tackling specific questions that are exam-standard from that topic?
Seems like a buy from me just given their standard.
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Yeah. I think that I will spend some time doing the topic tests because a. I spend a s**tload of money on it and I feel bad not exhausting the resources i have and b. this way I can have a better idea of which areas I'm weak at, and focus on working on thes areas as well
Otherwise I'll just feel at the end of the year bad knowing that I had the resources but I didn't use them wisely!
Thanks :)
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Yeah. I think that I will spend some time doing the topic tests because a. I spend a s**tload of money on it and I feel bad not exhausting the resources i have and b. this way I can have a better idea of which areas I'm weak at, and focus on working on thes areas as well
Otherwise I'll just feel at the end of the year bad knowing that I had the resources but I didn't use them wisely!
Thanks :)
Don't just do all of them for the sake of doing them all/getting your money's worth though. I'm sure your time is limited and it's rather pointless to be doing topic tests for a topic you're extremely comfortable when you could be using that time on trials or working on other areas. But as other users have said, definitely make use of topic tests for topics you're having trouble with. It's probably more efficient o identify areas of weakness just with trial exams.
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Yeah I don't think I'll have time to do them all, but I will focus on what I'm weak in