Studying a module on your own?

[vashappenin]

Hi guys,
So I'm pretty content with all my modules in further, and everything was going well until BAM. Business maths. And I just HATE it.. I feel that it's so easy to make silly mistakes with this module, as the wording of questions can be misleading.. And I don't wanna risk doing it at the end of the year if that's the case. I'd much prefer to study matrices on my own, and after looking through the content in the textbook and going through past VCAA exams several times, it looks much more interesting than business, and I feel I'd be able to cope much better with it because there isn't usually those silly worded questions like business maths has.

What's your opinion on this? Should I just suck it up and continue with business maths or self-study matrices? Either way I still needa do business maths for my internal exam and upcoming SAC, but I'm willing to study matrices on my own if it means no more business maths. Because in the scheme of things, exams do count significantly more than our sac grades, so why should I risk doing worse on the exam when I could've had an opportunity to do better?

Thanks

[MJRomeo81]

This is a question that every further student ponders at some point. Ultimately I do recommend what you are suggesting but understand that it is a risk.  The logic is straight-forward - feeling that you're in a  better position during the exam when you have an extra module up your sleeve. e.g. on an exam, you might feel that module X has slightly easier questions than module Y.

Just keep in mind that your teachers/peers are less likely to help you out with matrices. Also, you are less likely to "touch all bases" in the module since you haven't had a SAC on it/no dedicated class time, etc. But if you are determined to self-study matrices then it should be no big deal. In any case, I would aim to learn both business maths and matrices (with the emphasis on matrices, but don't completely neglect BM).

[BLACKCATT]

In consideration that you have already done matrices in methods, furthermore it is a relatively easy module as opposed to others, i would probably do the same if i was in your position. Study hard for your business module sac and just revise matrices, gl~

[lachie.stewart]

I'm faced with the same question at the moment, I've just done Networks and Decision Mathematics, but I'm thinking about teaching myself Business Maths and doing that in the exam. Networks just doesn't seem like maths to me...

I've done Matrices this year too, and it's definitely possible to self-teach, and especially if you've done Methods you'll be fine. I completed Methods 1+2 so learnt the basics there and that made it a bit easier when we started it in Further.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on self-teaching Business Maths though, it just looks easier for me personally (maybe it's the Eco. student in me)

[Stick]

I don't like one of the topics I'm studying. Should I learn another one on my own?

This is not something I recommend lightly. No matter how much you dislike a particular topic, you're going to have to sit a SAC on it anyway and you're going to want to do fairly well in it to maintain a good ranking. You must also take into account that when it comes to exam revision, schools like to save paper and only distribute the required modules, so you'll have a bit of a tough time gaining some adequate resources to prepare for the exams. Some find that they feel somewhat uncomfortable doing something different to everyone else, or doing something without the support of their teacher and peers and that also may affect your overall performance. The time that you take to learn a new module could be used to perfect any module you are having trouble with.

Some people also learn an extra topic throughout the year in case they do not like the questions for one particular module on the exam. This is something I also do not recommend. There is no benefit in answering more sections on the examination papers as required since examiners will only mark the first three modules you completed - not to mention that you probably won't get enough time to ensure your answers are as correct as possible. Again, I'd rather concentrate on perfecting the modules you have already learnt rather than waste extra time and effort learning a completely new topic.

The only instance I ever recommend learning a new topic on your own is if you've sat the SAC for the topic you don't like and you didn't do well in it. If that is the case, you need to do whatever you have to in order to try and save your exam scores. Make sure you communicate with your teacher so that they can do the best they can to help you out.