VCE Year 12 Class of 2015

[cameotodd]

Hey alter, if you don't mind me asking, I see that you got 44 in both Legal and Psych, and I was wondering what SAC grades (as in average for the year) and exam grades you got in order to get that solid SS I'm doing both these subjects this year, and for Legal im averaging about 93% in sacs and about 92% in psych. Am I on the way to a 42+ SS?

[Alter]

Hey alter, if you don't mind me asking, I see that you got 44 in both Legal and Psych, and I was wondering what SAC grades (as in average for the year) and exam grades you got in order to get that solid SS I'm doing both these subjects this year, and for Legal im averaging about 93% in sacs and about 92% in psych. Am I on the way to a 42+ SS?

My advice might not necessarily be applicable given that your percentage scores will end up being different depending on whether VCAA move them up or down, so it's hard for me to know where you're at exactly. Anyway, to answer you, I got an A+ for every GA and on the exams of both subjects, but I think these might have been scaled up and might have been just As before. Anyway, all of my legal SACs last year were marked out of 40 (the teacher then edited these out of 25 and stuff to meet VCAA, not really sure about that), where I averaged around 36-37 with a couple of high ones (39) and some lower (31-32). Giving you numbers is pretty pointless, so I'll just state figures that might clarify it: I was ranked 2nd for Legal in a cohort of about 15 people and received the equal highest study score from my cohort in it.

Psychology, on the other hand, was completely different. I was ranked 18th in a cohort of about 60 people, so my ranking wasn't flashy at all. The cohort was, however, somewhat strong (psychology was my school's best subject of last year, I think (side note: I got to a school in a rural area)) so despite my performance in the SACs (normally around 85%), both of my grades scaled to an A+. In this sense, I think I must've done very well in my psychology exam compared to my legal one given my rank in both subjects compared to the study scores. Initially, I thought I failed my psychology exam and was expecting ~35 (kept stressing out and I read answers online that differed to mine), so I was completely shocked when I saw my result.

Spoiler

Fun side story: I was on exchange in Germany on the day VCE results were released and I forgot about them completely. It was also the night before they would normally be released because of timezones, so I wasn't expecting results at all. My exchange partner and I were playing CS:GO on his laptop when I got a text all of a sudden with my results and I freaked out thinking it was someone trolling me.

It's super cool that you're aiming for a high study score; I found psych and legal both super interesting in terms of content. I'm really bad at giving indicators of what grades you need for a specific study score, so maybe compare your rank # to the #th score a student got in your subject last year. Better yet, if your school is into it, ask your teacher for a predicted story score or any other advice they can give in achieving a high score.

Another thing to keep in mind is making sure you've properly learnt all the content for these subjects before doing prac exams. There is absolutely 0 reason in fooling yourself into believing you know the course when you actually don't. Aim to start prac exams ASAP in the term 3 holidays after you've nailed content.

Above all, remember that the exam is key. If you're looking for a strong score in one of these subjects where the exam weighs 50% of your SS, definitely aim to destroy the exam and don't let SAC scores discourage you from doing this. I was predicted a 37 or something in psych, so you can always exceed your expectations!

edit: oops after re-reading this I think I turned it into my own diary entry but hopefully my main points got across either way.

[cameotodd]

My advice might not necessarily be applicable given that your percentage scores will end up being different depending on whether VCAA move them up or down, so it's hard for me to know where you're at exactly. Anyway, to answer you, I got an A+ for every GA and on the exams of both subjects, but I think these might have been scaled up and might have been just As before. Anyway, all of my legal SACs last year were marked out of 40 (the teacher then edited these out of 25 and stuff to meet VCAA, not really sure about that), where I averaged around 36-37 with a couple of high ones (39) and some lower (31-32). Giving you numbers is pretty pointless, so I'll just state figures that might clarify it: I was ranked 2nd for Legal in a cohort of about 15 people and received the equal highest study score from my cohort in it.

Psychology, on the other hand, was completely different. I was ranked 18th in a cohort of about 60 people, so my ranking wasn't flashy at all. The cohort was, however, somewhat strong (psychology was my school's best subject of last year, I think (side note: I got to a school in a rural area)) so despite my performance in the SACs (normally around 85%), both of my grades scaled to an A+. In this sense, I think I must've done very well in my psychology exam compared to my legal one given my rank in both subjects compared to the study scores. Initially, I thought I failed my psychology exam and was expecting ~35 (kept stressing out and I read answers online that differed to mine), so I was completely shocked when I saw my result.

Spoiler

Fun side story: I was on exchange in Germany on the day VCE results were released and I forgot about them completely. It was also the night before they would normally be released because of timezones, so I wasn't expecting results at all. My exchange partner and I were playing CS:GO on his laptop when I got a text all of a sudden with my results and I freaked out thinking it was someone trolling me.

It's super cool that you're aiming for a high study score; I found psych and legal both super interesting in terms of content. I'm really bad at giving indicators of what grades you need for a specific study score, so maybe compare your rank # to the #th score a student got in your subject last year. Better yet, if your school is into it, ask your teacher for a predicted story score or any other advice they can give in achieving a high score.

Another thing to keep in mind is making sure you've properly learnt all the content for these subjects before doing prac exams. There is absolutely 0 reason in fooling yourself into believing you know the course when you actually don't. Aim to start prac exams ASAP in the term 3 holidays after you've nailed content.

Above all, remember that the exam is key. If you're looking for a strong score in one of these subjects where the exam weighs 50% of your SS, definitely aim to destroy the exam and don't let SAC scores discourage you from doing this. I was predicted a 37 or something in psych, so you can always exceed your expectations!

Wow, you really didn't have to go into that much trouble of explaining haha, but i really do appreciate it! thanks a lot and yeah for legal all of our SACs are out of 40 as well and im in the same boat as you at the moment, I'm getting about 36-37 (lowest 36 and highest 39) on all SACs. You've really put into perspective on what I need to do to achieve my desired study score. Thank you )) and good luck this year

and hahahah im going to be in the us during the time of my results this year so if i get a text with my results, im probably gonna have the same reactions as you

[odeaa]

Anyone here live near box hill? I'm probs gonna go to the library like every day these holidays and try and smash out the rest of the methods course (and maybe physics) with a few mates, if anyone is keen to join hit me up

[Alter]

I'd take that offer but sadly I live in the middle of nowhere. I'm more than likely to be going to the ATARNotes lectures running these holidays for the applicable subjects, though. Hopefully I'll see some of you guys there :]

[Floatzel98]

I had a Methods SAC today that I messed up. My teacher was saying how easy it was, since it was only a short SAC not worth much, and that it would be easy to get 100% in. I know i lost marks on at least 2 questions and I'm really worrying about my ranking in the class because it was such an easy test and I'm pretty sure most people would have gotten full marks on it.

I feel like I can do questions from the textbook with ease and I can help people in my class with no problem, but i just can't preform well in SACs. It's also worrying me because my school's cohorts are still pretty weak compared to most/if not all schools and i still can't reach rank 1.

I just can't wait until Year 12 is over now.

[tashhhaaa]

do any of you guys have tips for being productive?

I only get like 2 subjects worth of work done a night and at this point that's obviously a concern

[StupidProdigy]

do any of you guys have tips for being productive?

I only get like 2 subjects worth of work done a night and at this point that's obviously a concern

I had a friend say that there is only around 80 days left of school or something...that made me wake up a bit!

[AngelWings]

Numerical scores plz

Oops, sorry, didn't see this. Might as well say my score now that the GAT's over for another year. (40.)
Reminder that I hadn't written a persuasive piece in 2-3 years and my story was probably what dragged up my average, so the end result shocked me a bit. (Also, I hadn't written a story for about a month before either so... yeah.)

do any of you guys have tips for being productive?

I only get like 2 subjects worth of work done a night and at this point that's obviously a concern

Uh, I only got like 2-3 subjects' worth of work a night as well last year?

It's not quantity, it's quality. If you study better with all of your subjects in a night, go for it, otherwise, don't. Do what's best for you, not telling yourself "Oh no. I've done only English and Methods tonight." You should be looking at whether you did all the homework required of you, as well as preparation for upcoming SACs, typical revision and probably exam revision at this stage in time. All of this will certainly not be done (to a high extent) in just one single night, so divide it up into sections. As long as you switch the subjects you're giving attention to, there is no problem in doing this.

[wobblywobbly]

Hey hamo, did you go to the debate night a few days ago?

[Orb]

Hey hamo, did you go to the debate night a few days ago?

HAHAHA yes indeed I did, woops i was the organiser

Hope you had fun if you went!

[Mr Debonair]

Anyone finished all unit 3 sacs yet?

[dankfrank420]

Anyone finished all unit 3 sacs yet?

Yep, yesterday.

[cosine]

Anyone finished all unit 3 sacs yet?

Got a spesh one tuesday and thursday, three periods :3

You?

Edit: however, it's a unit 4 sac, but for some reason we are doing it in term 2..

[Orb]

Anyone finished all unit 3 sacs yet?

Am on holidays, so yesss