Starting Early

[Aqualim]

Hey Guys,
Thought it would be a good idea to start all of my subjects really early. Just wondering how much of the course should I know (from each subject) before starting school? Any particular timetabling anyone went about studying through the summer break?

Thanks in advance

[THem]

1. Very good idea to start your subjects during the holidays
2. Maybe like 1 area of study for each subject. ( EG: text response for english, functions for methods, motion for physics etc etc)
3. I didn't do anything during summer ( biggest mistake here) but I'd suggest maybe wake up, do 2 hours, take breaks, do another 2 hours sometime later. Or if you're REALLY dedicated, you could do another 2 hours at night but don't stress/over-work yourself on the holidays.

[Liv.]

Yeah. That's a good idea to start early. Since I'm undertaking 6 subjects next year o.o;;
If all else fails, I can always drop one if work load gets unbearable.

[kendraaaaa]

You're all legends.

[mandy]

I'm also planning to do all my math courses in the summer holidays, just hope I don't get lazy and lose motivation.

[kendraaaaa]

Hahah because we want to start early ?

Did you start early kendraaaa?

I did not 'cause I was lazy, that's why I admire your guys' committment so much. Just make sure to get a balance, don't be studying 10 hours a day.

Youth lasts 18 years, whilst you're an adult for the rest of your life. Keep that in mind

[Aqualim]

Hey Aqualim,
I'm doing the same thing as you, starting real early.
Have you finished year 11 exams though?
I suggest finishing them first, and then get cracking.
(That's my plan)

Maybe also find a tutor for maybe once a week or something throughout Summer, to get that extra insight into each course you're doing. (Also my plan)

The key to succeeding in early studies will be motivation, your aim of 95+ is enough .
(Also my aim haha {Biomed.})

Also, make sure you enjoy your holidays as you've got a big 12 months ahead, and won't feel rested!
Perhaps: Study every morning till midday or 2pm or something, like a school day sort of thing, and go out with your mates after.

If it helps, devise your own personal timetable. It gives you that incentive to study, you'll feel.. guilty/let down if you don't study, but if you do, you'll feel accomplished and be able to enjoy yourself.

Hope this helps, I'm in the same boat as you!

Havn't finished Year 11 Exams as of yet, will be finished at the end of next week, and then it's one week of year 12 transition :S

So far I'm planning on just doing, (Like you said andrewloppol), to do study each morning as I tend to work better in the morning and not feel distracted by Facebook or anything like that. I'm thinking of working on a subject a day, just to mix it up a bit.

Haha Yeah, unlike you though i'm not striving for Biomed, just want to beat all the other Loony bins at my school.

Tutor sounds like a good idea, i'm thinking of attending one of Derrick Ha's lectures for Maths (I wish he did Accounting), just to see what the fuss is all about.

But all in all, I think i've got the motivation to be able to achieve my goal of 95+, will be interesting to find out whether the hard work pays off

[ZachCharge]

Same boat here...sorta. Exams are in two weeks (can't this year just end already) and I plan on trying to learn as much of the methods course as I can over holidays, a friend and I are both going to a tutor together for discount, read a few books on the Tzars etc etc. However, I am afraid that I will loose motivation after getting homework from orientation week. Last year I had hours worth of homework from one day orientation (mostly spent on the 150 or so English questions, character profiles, mini essays)....

[kendraaaaa]

Same boat here...sorta. Exams are in two weeks (can't this year just end already) and I plan on trying to learn as much of the methods course as I can over holidays, a friend and I are both going to a tutor together for discount, read a few books on the Tzars etc etc. However, I am afraid that I will loose motivation after getting homework from orientation week. Last year I had hours worth of homework from one day orientation (mostly spent on the 150 or so English questions, character profiles, mini essays)....

Read Sheila Fitzpatricks' "The Russian Revolution". Very good book, albeit on a rather easy scale it's a great introduction.

[m@tty]

I'm planning to finish Further course and do as much as I can of Chemistry, Physics and Specialist with a little English in there too... very very busy.
The only way any start will be made on your subjects is if you are very motivated, you have to resist the urge to procrastinate because such an attitude will guarantee very little work will be completed. Personally I am motivated to complete work I find fun and interesting so somehow I must make English fun....

I'm thinking of attending one of Derrick Ha's lectures for Maths (I wish he did Accounting), just to see what the fuss is all about.

I went to his revision lecture for Methods this year, and I have to say it was way better than TSFX or any of the other lecture programs I attended (if you know most of the content already) he knew the content thoroughly and also enhanced the session through use of random videos to make his point which also served as a little break. Similarly his Methods revision book (provided at the session) is by far better than anything else I've seen. He was very very good.

With methods I do not recommend just rote learning, this was what I was doing at the beginning of this year and it was loathsome. The worst bit was doing the exercises just for the sake of finishing them I did not learn much when doing this and it seemed like a chore. Rather maths needs to be tackled with conceptual understanding, I am now doing this and it has made maths markedly more enjoyable, and there is not the problem with forgetfulness as important stuff can be derived from the related concept. eg graphs why is it that shape? Why is that key point always present? etc. Such things I was merely memorising at the beginning of the year which lead to errors from incorrect recall.

Hope that helps

[GerrySly]

When does Derrick Ha start for methods? Expensive?

His methods lectures are in the term 3 holidays and if you get in early they cost $77. 1 day and you get the book with that

[m@tty]

When does Derrick Ha start for methods? Expensive?

No idea, he hasn't released the details yet. For the revision lecture it was $89(early bird $77) for a full day. He is running summer head start programs for methods and specialist, and also weekly tutoring. As I said before no details have been released but he is accepting 'expressions of interest' at his website http://www.derrickha.com.au

He also does specialist

[GerrySly]

Sweet, does he do spec too?

Sure does