Need some advice on what to do now (subjects-wise)

[Ematuro]

So after getting my mid year results. I was ecstatic to get an A+ for accounting. However for chemistry I only got a C+ which is a shame. I was hoping to put chemistry in my top 4 but now I have to rethink it. Of all things I never expected a C for chemistry. Anyway, right now I'm faced with a dilemma - should I continue to study hard for chemistry to try for that A/A+ at the end of year or should I give it up? Originally I planned to have further maths in my bottom two but now I'm unsure. Its sort of a risk both ways since for further, it really depends my luck on the day. However since I am rank 1/2 for it I do have hope.

So what do you think?
Work my butt of in further from now and get that 40+ and slack off with chem but risk getting a low exam score for further and hence a low study score for both further and chem?
Or, work really hard in chem from now to aim for a higher exam mark to even out my C+?

I don't think putting effort into both subjects is ideal because its very time consuming and the benefits may not really be worth it. So I thought I'd ask you guys for some advice

[Greatness]

If you're truly going to work hard, then you're better if to try harder in further. Getting an A/A+ will get you a mid 30 for chem - which would scale to high 30/low 40. If you think you can smash the further exams and not make too many mistakes then do further.

[Ematuro]

I guess you have a point. The max I could get for chem is probably mid 30s. Where as for further I've still got hope of the 40+. Its just, doing further also runs the risk of getting like mid-30s because of a bad day or silly mistakes. Thing is, my SACs for further haven't been terribly great. Unfortunately no 100%s so far. Then again, I have been taking further very lightly. Do you think if I start to do out of school work, that I can pick it up and reduce mistakes etc..? I've heard scary stories about further maths exams so not sure D:

[lilaznkev1n]

Same dilemma as me and I decided to put more effort into my other subjects in order to maximize their scores in order for them to be in my top 4 and leave chem to be my 5 or 6 subject. 

[Greatness]

I guess you have a point. The max I could get for chem is probably mid 30s. Where as for further I've still got hope of the 40+. Its just, doing further also runs the risk of getting like mid-30s because of a bad day or silly mistakes. Thing is, my SACs for further haven't been terribly great. Unfortunately no 100%s so far. Then again, I have been taking further very lightly. Do you think if I start to do out of school work, that I can pick it up and reduce mistakes etc..? I've heard scary stories about further maths exams so not sure D:

Well the only way to get better at maths and not make stupid mistakes is to do more questions! So considering you havent been studying for furhter that much, i'd say that if you start working harder in it, you'll get to the stage where you can answer most questions. And yes it is very easy to lose marks in further exams but if youre prepared you won't lose that many as you'll know the tricks.

[Ematuro]

Okay. So say I decide to trash chemistry and focus on further maths. How much work should I be putting into chemistry now? I mean, I don't want a 0 for it, but I don't want to put too much effort where its not needed. After all subjects 5&6 only count 10% to the ATAR. So should I do like 90% further and 10% chem or something? Is it enough to get by by just listening to the teacher in class for chemistry?

[Greatness]

Okay. So say I decide to trash chemistry and focus on further maths. How much work should I be putting into chemistry now? I mean, I don't want a 0 for it, but I don't want to put too much effort where its not needed. After all subjects 5&6 only count 10% to the ATAR. So should I do like 90% further and 10% chem or something? Is it enough to get by by just listening to the teacher in class for chemistry?

Yeah pay attention in class, do the relevant chapter questions to help you understand the stuff. Then do a few practice exams so you have a general idea of what the questions are like.

[jane1234]

You'll probably all disagree here - but I don't think it's the best idea to focus one one subject and "trash" the other.
At the start of the year I thought Bio would be easier to get a good score in so I was going to concentrate on that and neglect chem. However, I got a few disappointing SAC marks and suddenly realised I had a much better chance of doing well in chem. But after getting SoM, I think I'll do better in bio. So it continues to go back and forth.

Point is, you don't know when you'll screw up. Could be the subject you're focusing on. You also might do much better on the one you delegate to your bottom two. So I'd distribute effort fairly evenly, albeit you'll probably naturally "favour" one over the other. Worst thing is when you accidently make stupid mistakes in your "chosen" subject and don't study for the other, and end up with crap scores for both.

[Ematuro]

Which is what makes this risky and hard to decide on. Its because I don't want to spend pointless time on a subject which will count little towards my final score. Like, rather than getting sameish on both subjects and one ending up being bottom two and almost worthless, I want to make one of them significantly higher than the other if you know what I mean. But I do see where you're coming from. Last year I did two VCE subjects the one I thought I was better at I did slightly worse in..

[jane1234]

Bottom two subjects aren't "worthless" - they make a bigger difference than people think, especially at the top end.
I get where you're coming from, but it's not worth risking not having a back up subject simply because you spent too much time on the other one.

[Ematuro]

Yeah I agree. The bottom two can make quite a big difference but if I'm aiming for a 90 its not as important as compared to me aiming for 99.95 you know.. According to ATARcalc I'm better off getting a study score of 1 extra in my top four than to get 5 study score points for my bottom two. But now with your opinion I think I'm back at the starting line. Really unsure what to do!