How I got a 50 in Further Mathematics - By Stick

[Stick]

Very nice guide

Any techniques/checking mechanisms to minimise silly mistakes?

Staying calm and going slowly helped me the most. A lot of people make stupid errors because they're trying to get the paper done as quickly as possible and then try and look through it again and find mistakes. For all the assessments, I only finished with 5 minutes left because I made sure I worked carefully and meticulously. Time will most likely not be an issue like it is in Methods or Specialist.

[duhherro]

Hey Stick, one of the most important aspects of getting a good mark in further is pretty much to NOT get mistakes. How would you capitalise this? Just try to finish the exam quick but with precision and then do a check to capitalise any errors made ??

It seems so easy to get mistakes in an exam due to the pressure. Its like 1 mark loss on exam is like 1 mark loss on study score

[HighLatency]

Hey Stick, one of the most important aspects of getting a good mark in further is pretty much to NOT get mistakes. How would you capitalise this? Just try to finish the exam quick but with precision and then do a check to capitalise any errors made ??

It seems so easy to get mistakes in an exam due to the pressure. Its like 1 mark loss on exam is like 1 mark loss on study score

I got one question wrong and lost 4 ss if that makes you feel any better

[Quantum.Mechanic]

Hey Stick, one of the most important aspects of getting a good mark in further is pretty much to NOT get mistakes. How would you capitalise this? Just try to finish the exam quick but with precision and then do a check to capitalise any errors made ??

It seems so easy to get mistakes in an exam due to the pressure. Its like 1 mark loss on exam is like 1 mark loss on study score

In response to this, you are aware there are multiple methods to do some questions for Further Mathematics. If you do it one way, there are other ways that you can use to check it. I did this for Further Mathematics and ended up with a 50SS. The only module that is quite difficult to check is the Business Maths and Networks module because Business is all tech based, and Networks is barely tech based in that aspect...

[Stick]

Hey Stick, one of the most important aspects of getting a good mark in further is pretty much to NOT get mistakes. How would you capitalise this? Just try to finish the exam quick but with precision and then do a check to capitalise any errors made ??

It seems so easy to get mistakes in an exam due to the pressure. Its like 1 mark loss on exam is like 1 mark loss on study score

Umm… half my guide was about this. Read it properly.

[McFleurry]

It depends on the person. If you work fast & and have pretty decent accuracy for you SACs, then do this in the exam. If you are like stick and work at a more moderate pace, and get all your answers right on the first shot, then do this.

Do what feels most comfortable to you, just make sure to leave about 10 mins at the end to check!

[Planck's constant]

Hey Stick, one of the most important aspects of getting a good mark in further is pretty much to NOT get mistakes. How would you capitalise this? Just try to finish the exam quick but with precision and then do a check to capitalise any errors made ??

It seems so easy to get mistakes in an exam due to the pressure. Its like 1 mark loss on exam is like 1 mark loss on study score

On a side note, it is wrong that the VCAA should set exams which are determined by minimising silly/ mechanical mistakes. They need to make the exams tougher and properly test students' knowledge.
The exams at the moment are far too easy, and the A+ cut-offs are ridiculously high.

[Stick]

Yes, they are achieving this through the introduction of more theory questions, rather than differentiating students on how well they can manipulate numbers. As I said, the theory questions always seem to be answered poorly and at this stage make a good platform for separating students. Over time though, students will become accustomed to both theory and arithmetic questions and VCAA will have to work out some other way of keeping things reasonable (perhaps reverting back to the to only two Maths subjects rule is a possible solution). I'm not sure making the questions more difficult would really work, because once you leave the 40-50 range, the cohort really starts to dwindle down in ability.

That being said, this year's Exam 2 cutoff was higher than in previous years, so perhaps students are already grasping the theory very well considering much of the exam asked for a worded response.

[Planck's constant]

The problem with the further exam is that it is far too accessible, and it brings the kids who know their stuff back to the field. Let's face it, a good student is just as likely to make a mechanical error as a bad student, but only a good student can answer the tougher questions and that is  more fair.
I have seen kids who can't add single digit numbers without using their fingers get 39/40 in Exam 1. That can't be right

[Stick]

I'm not too sure I agree with your last sentence because Further is not that easy. I do agree something needs to be done though.

[Professor Polonsky]

Do what feels most comfortable to you, just make sure to leave about 10 mins at the end to check!

Woah. So different from methods...

[HighLatency]

From what I have done, this is how to succeed further maths:

Geometry&Trig: Year 9 maths + calculator programs
Graphs and Relation: Year 9/10 graphs + calculator programs
Business Maths: calculator, calculator, calculator + common sense.

Any other formulas w.e put in your notebook.

Anyone who gets over 40 pretty much know the same amount of theory (the minute amount of it there is).

[Scooby]

Guys, Further was designed for those who aren't proficient at maths but want to continue with it into year 12. The exams are accessible for a reason. It really wouldn't be fair on those students if VCAA decided to make the exams harder just to accommodate for the smarter kids, who the subject wasn't meant for anyway.

If you wanna do Further, you're just gonna have to accept that stupid "mechanical errors" are going to cost you. If that's not exactly your cup of tea, then stick to Methods and Specialist

[Stick]

From what I have done, this is how to succeed further maths:

Geometry&Trig: Year 9 maths + calculator programs
Graphs and Relation: Year 9/10 graphs + calculator programs
Business Maths: calculator, calculator, calculator + common sense.

Any other formulas w.e put in your notebook.

Anyone who gets over 40 pretty much know the same amount of theory (the minute amount of it there is).

Looks like the difference between your score and mine was attitude.

Anyway, there's no point debating this because there's nothing we can do about it.

[HighLatency]

the difference between your score and mine was 1 mc question and 80 practice exams.