Class of 2014! :D

[walkec]

The point is that the system is built for people who can perform well under VCAA's set curriculum and not as a means of encouraging creativity and personal/intellectual growth.

I actually disagree with the bolded part quite a lot. You can still be creative and growth within the constraints of the curriculum set by VCAA. Creativity doesn't just have to come by taking "creative subjects". You can be creative in your approach to study, how you structure an essay or a presentation or even how you manage your time.

As for personal/intellectual growth, experiencing these was inherent to my VCE experience. I have a fair few friends heading into year 12 next year, so talking to them recently has made me reflect on who I was 12 months ago. I can wholeheartedly say that I was so different this time last year. Maybe it's because it was far more difficult to see the end of school this time last year, but I think Year 12 makes a lot of people mature and gain new perspectives on various things in their lives. I have learnt that your life will never stop, especially when things seem to start moving too fast. But realising this is also okay, it has made me more focused on living in the current moment and appreciating those around me, as it is not certain that the people in your life today will be here tomorrow. This is just one small example of something I've learnt by "growing" during VCE. I think the extent to which someone "grows" during Year 12 is reflective of how involved they are. By involved I do not necessarily mean just academically. But I mean involved as engaged in all aspects of their lives - family, friends, school, the wider community, hobbies, wider global issues etc.

After all, once school is over you will no longer be nearly as sheltered. "Growing" during the year is one way to begin to adapt to the exposure you're about to experience as an adult in the wider world. It's like a gradual transition - you're slowly exposing yourself to ideas and concepts previously not considered to add to and refine what you see as important. I think this is crucial to surviving and forging forward post VCE - you're continuously developing and reassessing your own identity to match your current situation and not one that reflects what has happened previously and can never be regained.

[Reus]

Let's face it yeah VCAA's system is flawed but so are many other education systems around the world. It's hard to get a general grasp of the benefits but it could be worse.

[gurlpls101]

I thought I would get in the 80s and now I'm not even sure I'll get 70. I struggled with my exams, especially the time constraints. This truly sucks, considering my SAC marks were really good and I was ranked top 10 in half of my subjects. I honestly feel sick, can't even be happy that I'm done with exams.
Anyway, back on topic, honestly... it's a little side-eye inducing that some people develop a superiority, houlier-than-thou complex because of their ATAR. Yes, it means you excelled in your final year but it doesn't mean you're smarter than everyone else. In a couple of years, re-evaulate your attachment to your ATAR- it might be surprising.That being said, I have a few friends who will get 95+ and I will be extremely supportive for them and praise them, as of course, it takes hard work and devotion to do that well.   

[fareseru]

I actually disagree with the bolded part quite a lot. You can still be creative and growth within the constraints of the curriculum set by VCAA. Creativity doesn't just have to come by taking "creative subjects". You can be creative in your approach to study, how you structure an essay or a presentation or even how you manage your time.

Of course you can still be creative and grow within the constraints of the system but they aren't valued anywhere near as much as doing well academically. And naturally you can be creative in other ways but that's just irrelevant. I can be creative by arranging my clothes in a way that lets me express myself but that has nothing to do with VCAA/VCE.

As for personal/intellectual growth, experiencing these was inherent to my VCE experience. I have a fair few friends heading into year 12 next year, so talking to them recently has made me reflect on who I was 12 months ago. I can wholeheartedly say that I was so different this time last year. Maybe it's because it was far more difficult to see the end of school this time last year, but I think Year 12 makes a lot of people mature and gain new perspectives on various things in their lives. I have learnt that your life will never stop, especially when things seem to start moving too fast. But realising this is also okay, it has made me more focused on living in the current moment and appreciating those around me, as it is not certain that the people in your life today will be here tomorrow. This is just one small example of something I've learnt by "growing" during VCE. I think the extent to which someone "grows" during Year 12 is reflective of how involved they are. By involved I do not necessarily mean just academically. But I mean involved as engaged in all aspects of their lives - family, friends, school, the wider community, hobbies, wider global issues etc.

Each person grows all the time. Just by saying that you grew during the year doesn't mean that the system encourages it. I don't see how a system that puts an enormous amount of pressure on students to achieve their potential is beneficial to personal growth. Stress teaches people a lot about themselves, but again this is mainly academic. Do you honestly think that they made a system in which you get an ATAR at the end to promote growth as being equal to academic achievement?

Edit: I don't want to argue about it, let's just move on.

[Mieow]

I thought I would get in the 80s and now I'm not even sure I'll get 70. I struggled with my exams, especially the time constraints. This truly sucks, considering my SAC marks were really good and I was ranked top 10 in half of my subjects. I honestly feel sick, can't even be happy that I'm done with exams.

Don't feel too bad, I'm on the same boat as you. I thought I'd do a lot better than how I actually performed on my exams. But ATAR scores and SS scores aren't out yet, so you never know 

[Yacoubb]

Don't feel too bad, I'm on the same boat as you. I thought I'd do a lot better than how I actually performed on my exams. But ATAR scores and SS scores aren't out yet, so you never know 

This is so true. Methods and Physics were a big disappointment for me. But I think it's really important to remember that a study score/ATAR should not dictate how you are as a person or your capabilities. And as you've mentioned, results are not out yet, so hopefully we are pleasantly surprised.

[psyxwar]

Yup, we're all brilliant people who cares about the ATAR? seriously no one gives a shit once uni hits

[gurlpls101]

Don't feel too bad, I'm on the same boat as you. I thought I'd do a lot better than how I actually performed on my exams. But ATAR scores and SS scores aren't out yet, so you never know 

thanks but honestly, it's not a case of being modest or anything... I could get an atar of less than 30 worst case scenario  hopefully all the other doubters are pleasantly surprised, though.  And I'm sure you've done better than anticipated  oh wow what am I supposed to do until the 15th?! haha

[Yacoubb]

Yup, we're all brilliant people who cares about the ATAR? seriously no one gives a shit once uni hits

^this. Seriously your ATAR is so irrelevant once you get into your course. Regardless of how much you get, you just get whatever you need to get you into your course, and then it becomes so insignificant that you forget it afterwards (in most cases lol).

thanks but honestly, it's not a case of being modest or anything... I could get an atar of less than 30 worst case scenario  hopefully all the other doubters are pleasantly surprised, though.  And I'm sure you've done better than anticipated  oh wow what am I supposed to do until the 15th?! haha

Catch up on everything year 12 has deprived us. Seriously I'm playing Buffy: The Vampire Slayer ~ Chaos Bleeds on by X-box 1. I LOVE LIFE haha!! On a side note, I've got my hazards test tomorrow.

[fareseru]

On a side note, I've got my hazards test tomorrow.

Be prepared for the worst graphics the world has ever seen...

[Yacoubb]

Be prepared for the worst graphics the world has ever seen...

Hahaha! Is it hard to pass? I hear it isn't, but knowing my luck lol...

I need my log book for the drive test right? Not the hazards.?

[fareseru]

Hahaha! Is it hard to pass? I hear it isn't, but knowing my luck lol...

I need my log book for the drive test right? Not the hazards.?

In short it's not hard to pass but it's hard to do well in. Have you done the practice one? I think the SA one is the same... Try going onto their website You can't really see when things appear on the horizon and if you click too early/too late you get the question wrong. So it's a bit hard when it's all pixelated and shit. The log book you hand over before you go for the drive test, they take it for a few minutes and 'check it' and then you leave for the test

The best advice is: ALWAYS do headchecks. ALWAYS. Do them when turning, changing lanes, merging, reversing, parallel parking... everything. Plus be very, very careful around school zones. They don't do anything other than stare at your speedo through them. Hopefully you've booked a good time haha

[Yacoubb]

In short it's not hard to pass but it's hard to do well in. Have you done the practice one? I think the SA one is the same... Try going onto their website You can't really see when things appear on the horizon and if you click too early/too late you get the question wrong. So it's a bit hard when it's all pixelated and shit. The log book you hand over before you go for the drive test, they take it for a few minutes and 'check it' and then you leave for the test

The best advice is: ALWAYS do headchecks. ALWAYS. Do them when turning, changing lanes, merging, reversing, parallel parking... everything. Plus be very, very careful around school zones. They don't do anything other than stare at your speedo through them. Hopefully you've booked a good time haha

I did 12PM on Tuesday, so thankfully it's good
Yeah I know that's annoying for the hazards test! Are there practice one's online?

[AmericanBeauty]

So it's a bit hard when it's all pixelated and shit.
The best advice is: ALWAYS do headchecks. ALWAYS.

The hazard test is such a piece of shit. When it says you are going 100KM/H you're going like 5KM/H so you naturally quick early. I think they pass you regardless tbh, I was dreadful at it due to how shit it was.

With the actual driving test, I found that head checks weren't that necessary. I passed with flying colours but my only comment was that I did not head check enough, I just drove naturally with my beedy shifting eyes. You should emphasise your head checks if you are afraid you'll muck up something else, but if you drive naturally and well you'd be fine as well.

[fareseru]

I did 12PM on Tuesday, so thankfully it's good
Yeah I know that's annoying for the hazards test! Are there practice one's online?

Hahahha have fun it's pretty much the same

http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/hazard-perception-test