ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: SDPHD on May 30, 2011, 09:00:14 pm

Title: Dreading Chem...
Post by: SDPHD on May 30, 2011, 09:00:14 pm
Am I the only one dreading the Chem exam?

There is so much god damn crap to remember! Its impossible!

I've done a couple of past papers but I spend most of my time looking at the assessment report figuring how to do things rather than actually doing them.

I need reassurance people!
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: nacho on May 30, 2011, 09:01:21 pm
Am I the only one dreading the Chem exam?

There is so much god damn crap to remember! Its impossible!

I've done a couple of past papers but I spend most of my time looking at the assessment report figuring how to do things rather than actually doing them.

I need reassurance people!
I can reassure you Luken will not drop more than 3 marks on his exam..
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: bawse on May 30, 2011, 09:02:39 pm
Am I the only one dreading the Chem exam?

There is so much god damn crap to remember! Its impossible!

I've done a couple of past papers but I spend most of my time looking at the assessment report figuring how to do things rather than actually doing them.

I need reassurance people!
I can reassure you Luken will not drop more than 3 marks on his exam..

LOL  :2funny:
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: Keki on May 30, 2011, 09:22:35 pm
I feel the same way... I need to get my 17% on my first practice exam to 80% at least...
I'm doing checkpoint questions and getting them mostly wrong.. which discourages from doing anymore :/
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: luken93 on May 30, 2011, 09:36:38 pm
HAHA wtf, I can almost guarantee you that I will lose more than 3 marks on the exam.

But this is not about me, it's about you. As for the reassurance that has most affected me, was the fact that Mao used to lose a few marks in most practice exams - and he got 50 not to mention his brilliance now!

I think if anything the first 5 or so can somewhat be discarded, as it's a huge step up in terms of timing and questions. Are you having problems with anything in the textbook, or is it a case of fearing the step up from the textbook to exams? Rest assured, we're all here to help!
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: thushan on May 30, 2011, 10:18:37 pm
Luken, perfect summary there.

Guys, don't get disheartened! You'll find that you'll start getting lots of questions right as you keep doing past papers. The first biology trial exam I did I got 36/75, and by the end I was clocking 68-72.
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: jane1234 on May 30, 2011, 11:29:13 pm
Luken, perfect summary there.

Guys, don't get disheartened! You'll find that you'll start getting lots of questions right as you keep doing past papers. The first biology trial exam I did I got 36/75, and by the end I was clocking 68-72.

Just out of interest, how many did you do?
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: Mao on May 31, 2011, 03:39:43 am
Several people have pm'd me for advice with regards to practice exam scores.

Back in the days, I clocked my first chemistry exam at just under 60%. It took me the rest of checkpoints and quite a few exams later to crack the 90% mark. I have never full scored a practice exam in chemistry (both units).

Practice exams are designed to do two things, to make you do your stoichiometry faster, and to incrementally teach you things the textbook forgot to mention. Just keep practising and learning. People who have never cracked the 95% mark has been able to get 49s (true story).

Oh, and 50 does not require perfect score. I know for sure that I dropped marks in both exams.
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: luken93 on May 31, 2011, 07:38:20 am
Yeah, great advice Mao.

As for scores, scocliffe lost 2.5 or 3 (can't remember), so for anyone with some tiny errors can do it! But nacho, if you're gonna put money on anyone put it on the guy with 2x 50s in year 11 that has replied in this thread :P
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: VivaTequila on May 31, 2011, 10:28:10 am
I've done 14 as it stands for chem, but I'm hating it because I'm showing little improvement...

Constantly averaging 75%, even on the early exams.

I have to work so hard in all my subjects to get decent marks because I'm not naturally smart, and I've done so many practise exams for chem and physics and I'm still getting crap marks in them. It's so annoying...
Title: Re: Dreading Chem...
Post by: nacho on May 31, 2011, 11:32:50 am
I've done 14 as it stands for chem, but I'm hating it because I'm showing little improvement...

Constantly averaging 75%, even on the early exams.

I have to work so hard in all my subjects to get decent marks because I'm not naturally smart, and I've done so many practise exams for chem and physics and I'm still getting crap marks in them. It's so annoying...
I think this is what you should do.
AFter marking each exam, record what topic seems to be troubling you.
Eg. If you lost 5 marks out of 12 on AAS, then go back to your textbook and nail this concept. Don't just re-read it, but teach it to yourself.
As in, imagine if you are teaching the underlying concepts and methods to someone else.
This will show whether you know your stuff or not.