HEY! Want to succeed in VCE/HSC?

[AmericanBeauty]

Hi again,

No problem! Thanks for clarifying. My pop-culture knowledge is well below par, so that reference flew straight over my head.

Best of luck with your studies; I have seen some of your results in other threads, and it looks like you're steaming home! Keep up the great work!

Nick.

haha so sorry.

Thanks for that! Very kind. You really are born to motivate aren't you, selfless deeds!

[brenden]

I followed your steps and got my dick caught in the fan. Do you have any troubleshooting steps? (speaking metaphorically).

Thankfully, ATAR Notes is not YouTube or bodybuilding.com, so we don't usually post useless absurdities. Had this thread not taken a productive turn for the better I likely would have death out a short-term ban to get the point across - but saying "please don't post things of this nature again" should suffice .

Happy studies!

[24bauer12]

Hi Joseph41,
For subjects like Business management and HHD is it sufficient to merely have a conceptual understanding of topics rather than learning things word for word?

[Joseph41]

Hi Joseph41,
For subjects like Business management and HHD is it sufficient to merely have a conceptual understanding of topics rather than learning things word for word?

Hi there.

This varies a little bit. In HHD, some concepts require a word-by-word understanding. A glossary of the terms that would ideally be understood word-for-word can be found in the 'Advice for teachers' document (here). Initially, it may seem as though there is a significant number of terms to remember, but it becomes a lot less overwhelming during the year. You have a lot of time to learn them, and by the end of the year, I'm sure you would be able to rattle off most if not all of them.

For many concepts, though, a conceptual understanding should suffice. This is because many questions require you to apply your understanding of concepts to a given case study. So, in summary, a bit of both: it is mostly sufficient to have a conceptual understanding of topics, with some word-for-word definitions thrown in for good measure.

From memory, Business Management is similar. However, it has been more than three years since I finished Business, so I can't quite remember.

All the best.

[Joseph41]

Hi all,

Apologies for my relative inactivity; I have been traveling.

I hope all of you from the Class of 2014 were happy with your results. Regardless, I encourage you to stick around, because ATAR Notes is a great and rewarding community. As helpful as it was for me during VCE, in many ways, I have found it much more useful during uni.

And to the Class of 2015, though I am strongly of the view that one needs not do too much during these holidays, perhaps this would be a good opportunity to leisurely peruse this and many other threads. Getting into a good head space at this time of year is an important stepping stone to achieving your goals.

All the best.

[Joseph41]

Class of 2014: I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are looking forward to the next chapter in your life, whatever that may entail. Remember VCE - use it - but there is no point in dwelling on it, now. If you were happy with your results, that's brilliant - congratulations. But I hope that doesn't mean that you now stop trying; the job isn't done. If you're at uni, use your good results as motivation to keep going along that path. And if you were not happy with your results, you now have another opportunity to succeed in whatever you might be doing. Again, use VCE as a means to the end, not as the end itself.

Class of 2015: I hope Year 12 has been treating you well. If you have any questions during the year, feel free to ask them in this thread. Now is your time to shine!

And Class of 2016: Now would be a super time to start getting into good habits for next year and beyond. Indeed, many of you will be undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject (or more) this year, so this thread is extremely relevant for you, too.

All the best.

[Burt Macklin]

Hi Nick,

Do you have any tips for keeping a balance between study and leisure for the upcoming holidays? What did you do?

[Joseph41]

Hi Nick,

Do you have any tips for keeping a balance between study and leisure for the upcoming holidays? What did you do?

Howdy, Burt. Good question. Timely question.

I think it's really important to hit that study-leisure balance in the upcoming holidays. I recommend letting how much you study be contingent on how you're feeling. I am firmly in the anti-study timetables camp, so I don't think that saying things like "I'm going to do x practice exams" or "I need to do x number of hours of study per day" will be beneficial.

From memory, I quite enjoyed my Term 2 holidays. It was the Term 3 holidays that things moved into a higher gear. I can't say with great confidence, but I don't think I would have touched any practice exams. If anything, I would have been revising for my nearest SACs: the ones that I knew were coming up soon after the holiday period.

No doubt, I would have gone to the footy to see the Dees lose again, relaxed with friends and so on. There's no real need to treat these holidays as if your exams are all next week. Of course, if you want to spend the entire time studying, that's okay. Just be wary that you still have a little while to go, and 'burning out' is a real risk.

In your position, I would focus on one of two things: a) consolidating knowledge from the first half of the year; or b) trying to gain some sort of understanding of the content that you will learn after the break - get a head start.

All the best.

[leu0017]

Hi Nick, knowing that you have outstanding results in business management, I would just like to ask how should I approach business to achieve a 45+? I personally feel confident about this subject when learning the concepts but I'm not sure whether or not it is enough to compete for a high score.

Also, out of all the subjects I study, business management would be the best one, and its the only one that motivates me to studying on it. How can I increase my motivation on my other subjects (English, Further, Maths Methods)?

[Joseph41]

Hi Nick, knowing that you have outstanding results in business management, I would just like to ask how should I approach business to achieve a 45+? I personally feel confident about this subject when learning the concepts but I'm not sure whether or not it is enough to compete for a high score.

Also, out of all the subjects I study, business management would be the best one, and its the only one that motivates me to studying on it. How can I increase my motivation on my other subjects (English, Further, Maths Methods)?

EDIT: I apologise for the horribly lengthy response. I'm not really sure how that happened. tl;dr: Aim high in Business. You can score a 50. Stay confident, work hard. In regard to your other subjects, consider the fact that doing well in them will (ostensibly) be important for your ultimate goals. Try breaking up the time you spend on Business into smaller blocks, and allocate some of those blocks to your other subjects. With time, balance out how much you spend on each subject. Reward yourself during the process.

Hi leu0017,

Thanks for the question. I apologise for my tardy response; I have been on important business* for the last few days.

I think the way that you approach Business (or, indeed, any subject) shouldn't really change contingent on what sort of study score you are aiming for. With that in mind, I would approach it this way:

You can score a 50. Multiple people in the state will, and you can be one of them. It's fantastic that you feel confident about the subject. I can guarantee that it is enough to compete for a high score.

To put it in perspective, I was aiming for 42 in Business, and that was one of my biggest mistakes during VCE. Being my first ever 3/4 subject, I didn't know what to expect. I was also told that by virtue of my school and previous results, I shouldn't expect too much. But if I was aiming for a 50, I can guarantee that I would have done better. I wouldn't have been quite so complacent.

I guess you can take two things from this account: firstly, aim high; secondly, believe in yourself, because you may very well significantly surpass what you think you are capable of. I was tentatively aiming for 42 and scored 48. You can score a 50.

In regard to the second question, I think it comes down to balance. It should be understood that predicting which subjects will be in your top 4 is ludicrously difficult. Half way through the year, I was 99.9% sure that VisCom would be in my top 4. By the end of the year, I was even surer. It ended up being my worst subject, and my final results for my other subjects probably suffered because of it.

Look at it this way: it's great that you enjoy (relatively) Business, but Business is but a drop in the ocean of VCE. Just as one needs to balance factors of friends, family, school, work, sport, music and so on during VCE to remain healthy, one also needs to balance one's subjects in order to remain on track.

That is all very conceptual, so perhaps some practical advice is necessary, here. Let's take English for sake of example. Try building into it. Instead of working for one hour on Business Management revision, try working for the first ten minutes on English, and then go to Business. That's not much at all - just ten minutes of your time. You might not get anything out of it at all, but that's okay. At least you have done something toward that subject. If you keep building up that time - to fifteen minutes, then twenty, then twenty-five - you will find that studying for English becomes a lot easier.

It's a bit of a vicious cycle, really. The more you know in a subject, and the more confident you feel in that subject, the easier it is to study for. As such, like a lot of things in life, the hardest part is getting started. Try rewarding yourself in the early stages in order to get over that initial hump.

Best of luck.

*Visiting my girlfriend, which is undoubtedly the most important of all business.

[Joseph41]

As the collective VCE experience of the Class of 2015 comes to a close, I am bumping this thread for the benefit of the Class of 2016 and beyond.

In particular, I have seen a number of posts recently asking what to do over the summer holidays - how to prepare, as it were. Everybody is different here, but my honest opinion is that the best preparation you can do is to enjoy your time off. Go to the beach, read books, just generally hang out. Enjoy your holiday, because you've deserved it, and that's what it's there for. Travel if you can.

When the start of the 2016 academic year comes around, you will be refreshed and, hopefully, reading to crack on.

If you feel the need to start ahead and eat into the 3/4 syllabus, then go ahead. I don't think you'll be harmed by doing as much. But so long as you complete your holiday homework (I just remembered that this existed), try not to concern yourself too much with the year to come.

Cheers.

[Joseph41]

Hey, friends! Huge bump - apologies. But I'm bumping this thread because I've now edited in my tips to the actual post, meaning that users don't have to download the PDF version to benefit. I'll also post them here for convenience!

#1 Mental illness and stress

Spoiler

This is by far and away my most important piece of advice. If you take anything out of this document, let it be this: if you are struggling, seek help. It does not make you weak. There are people there to help: family, friends, teachers, counsellors. Give BeyondBlue a call (1300 22 4636). Anybody. VCE means nothing compared to your health. Let me repeat that: VCE means nothing compared to your health.

My experience: I didn't. I wish I did.

#2 Get in good habits

Spoiler

This one starts early. If you cruise through the earlier years of high school with little regard for deadlines, it seems unlikely that much will change for VCE.
I'm not suggesting completely devoting all of your time from the first minute of Year 7 (I sure didn't), but good habits are only going to be beneficial. Good habits may also include, for example, taking  a water bottle to school each day, or using broad resources.

My experience: I never once handed in an assignment late through all of my schooling. In Year 12, nothing changed for me, whilst peers who, in my opinion, were a lot more naturally gifted, struggled to adjust to the fairly quick pace of assignments and SACs.

As an aside, I only started to use a drink bottle in Year 12, and it made a significant difference; I found that I could concentrate for longer each day, and generally felt more invigorated.

#3 Believe in yourself

Spoiler

Like anything in life, succeeding in VCE is all about self-belief. You can do all the work you want, but at the end of the day, if you go into SACs or exams thinking that you won't do well, chances are you won't. In my opinion, the basis for belief is preparation. Do what you can to prepare, and you will feel positive.
 And this is essential for doing well. It's never too late to turn it around.

#3a It's never too late to turn it around

Spoiler

I suppose this deserves its own point. If you don't do as well on a SAC as you would have liked, or if you're failing halfway through the year, try not to be dictated by what has happened in the past. Instead, concentrate on the future and what you can control in order to maximise your achievements.

#4 Have goals, and remember those goals

Spoiler

‘SMART’ goals are even better (thank you, Business Management 3/4!): make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound, and you will be on your way to success. In my experience, short-term goals are more effective. For example, “complete [assignment] by [time]” may motivate you more than “achieve [ATAR],” but this will be different for each individual.

#5 "I have no idea what I want to do after school, so what's the point of trying?"

Spoiler

I'm so glad you asked! I had no idea, either. I still have no idea! And that's the thing: if you don't have a specific goal (see tip #4), why would you not try to keep as many metaphorical doors open as possible? I know that it's sometimes hard to stay motivated when you're not really working toward anything, but I promise you it will be worth it in the end.

#6 Remember that VCE is but a single door

Spoiler

Clichéd, but relevant. Try not to get too worked up about (not) getting into your dream course. VCE is by no means the end of the road. If you miss the requirements for a particular course, it is very often the case that you will be able to transfer in subsequent years. Don't give up!

#7 Choose subjects about which you are passionate

Spoiler

Sometimes it's hard to be motivated to study. That's understandable. Everybody, to some degree, experiences that feeling where you know that you probably should do some work, but you're just not in the right mood (or, if like me, you would rather play FIFA). I'm in that non-study mood right now! Choosing subjects you think you will enjoy will make this less of a concern. Conversely, choosing subjects just because your friends are doing them, or because you think you ought to choose them, may result in a lack of motivation.

My experience: I chose subjects which many would regard to be 'easy'. In reality, it is no easier to do well in them, all things considered. I was substantially more interested in, say, Health and Human Development than Methods, and Visual Communication & Design than Chemistry, and I chose appropriately. Do I regret it? Not for a second.

#8 Ignore scaling

Spoiler

It means nothing. Subjects scale for a reason, and if you perform well enough in a subject that scales down a lot, it renders scaling entirely irrelevant.

#9 Uni extension subject

Spoiler

I'm not particularly qualified to give advice on this, as I didn't do a uni extension subject myself, but I did consider it. It's important to consider all options, and according to numerous people I know who did do an extension subject, it is largely a rewarding experience, and gives a great insight into uni life.

#10 Surround yourself with good people

Spoiler

I think we are influenced by those around us more than what is generally acknowledged. Surround yourself with dedicated, committed people, and you will go a long way to realising your potential. If that means sitting away from your friends in class, so be it.

#11 3/4 in Year 11

Spoiler

Why not? You have nothing to lose. There are numerous benefits: you get the experience of completing a 3/4 subject, you get the extra 10% on your ATAR, you can learn from your achievements and from your mistakes.

My experience: I did Business Management 3/4 in Year 11. In hindsight, it was particularly dry, and if I had the choice, I wouldn't do it again. But I would definitely undertake a 3/4 subject in Year 11. In fact, if my school had allowed me, I would have done two. If the chance is there, grab it!

#12 Prioritise

Spoiler

If you do choose to undertake a (or multiple) 3/4 subject(s) in Year 11, remember that it is, ultimately, more important than your 1/2 subjects. That's not to say that you shouldn't try in your Year 11 subjects (they are, after all, a good foundation for Year 12), but if you only have time to revise for one or the other, I know which one I would be studying for!

#13 Separate work and rest areas

Spoiler

It is important for your mental state to differentiate between where you're going to work and where you're going to chill. If you're trying to revise on your bed, it may be tempting to go to sleep and dream about Year 12 being over, or Melbourne actually winning a game in the footy for once.

My experience: I tried to work at school as much as possible, because I liked home to be relaxing. If that's not feasible for you, try separating rooms. This does not have to be religiously followed, but I find that if you sit down to work in a designated work area, you're half the way to completing a good study session.

#14 Find a study space that works for you

Spoiler

There's no point trying to study in a space where you are likely to get distracted easily. Remember that one hour of solid study is likely to be more beneficial than four hours of "study", where you're really more interested in whom Person X made out with on the weekend, or what Person Y said to Person Z at lunch. What worked for me? The soothing silence of the library's back corner before school, and the usually-deserted VCE Centre after school.

#15 Be kind to yourself

Spoiler

Year 12 is a stressful year for all involved. There is no point being hard on yourself, because it will only make you more stressed. Didn't do as well as you wanted on a SAC? That's okay; use it as a learning experience for the next one. Falling behind in Methods and have no desire to learn about simultaneous equations? No problem - go for a walk and come back to it soon.

#16 Our old friend procrastination

Spoiler

Trust me, I found myself aimlessly opening the fridge in the hope that something had magically appeared in the thirty seconds since I had last checked as much as anybody (particularly just before exams). Different people combat procrastination in different ways. I tried to avoid situations in which distractions were many (see tip #13).

#17 Try not to compare yourself with your peers

Spoiler

It's tempting to compare yourself with the people around you, or even others on ATAR Notes. But remember this: some people may be aiming for 99.95, some to pass VCE, and others still couldn't care less about what they achieve. It's trivial to compare yourself to others because at the end of the day, everybody will have different goals. And, in the end, thinking about what other people are doing is only going to distract you from what is important - you.

#18 Be organised

Spoiler

I hate organising my entire week in timetables before it has even started. It makes me feel confined, but everybody is different. If you are motivated by knowing that you have things to do at a particular time, then great! I prefer checklists because a) I know precisely what I have to do,
 and b) there are no time-barriers, so I don't feel under too much pressure. Regardless, it is important to stay on top of what you have to do.

#19 Try to keep perspective

Spoiler

VCE is a game, and not much else. A four digit number by no means defines you.

#20 Embrace the experience

Spoiler

VCE isn't always fun, but you only get one (for most people) shot at it. If you're that kind of person, why not apply for a leadership position?
 Even if you're not that kind of person, why not apply for a leadership position?

My experience: I am very quiet at the best of times. I would much rather stay home and read a book than actually converse with a peer, but I enjoyed my role as a school leader in my final year. I consolidated some good friendships and felt a much greater connection with the school. I found it very satisfying, but admittedly it's not for everybody.

#21 Trust what you know works for you

Spoiler

Because, well, you know it works!

My experience: We had a guy come in to talk to us at the start of Year 12. He was an inspirational speaker. He told us all that we could only use folders with loose leaf paper - strictly no exercise books, which I had used for all of my schooling. I listened to his suggestion and took his advice on board,
 but I stuck to my guns. I knew what worked for me, and it continued to work for me.

#22 Use rewards as motivation

Spoiler

Operant conditioning, for all of my Psychology friends! Motivating yourself with rewards can be a great way of getting through an extra five minutes, or reading one more chapter.

#23 Sleep well

Spoiler

Important and extremely underrated. A night of good sleep is an excellent launching pad for the next day, particularly if you have an upcoming SAC or exam. I essentially never studied after 5-6pm, and went to bed early every night.

#24 Eat well

Spoiler

As above. The healthier you are in Year 12, the better you will feel, the more you will be able to concentrate, and the more effective your study will be.

#25 Be consistent

Spoiler

Year 12 is a bit of a slog, but it becomes easier once you break it down into sections. Study for each SAC, keeping in mind how that content relates to broader concepts that run throughout the course. Consider this: if you study well for one SAC and score 18/20, then lose focus for a bit and score 6/20, it's going to be difficult to catch up and learn the content you missed. I think it's much better to score 12/20 each time, and learn from your mistakes in each SAC.

#26 Be prepared

Spoiler

It's important to go into each SAC and exam knowing (roughly) what to expect. Also important is preparation of stationery etc.; you don't want to be frantically searching for a pen that works with five minutes left!

My experience: I simply used a small zip-lock bag with everything I needed. I had two, actually, one of which I kept at school (just in case I had a SAC and I forgot to bring my exam pens!). #nerdlife

#27 Keep doing what you love doing

Spoiler

Maybe you love playing music, or love playing sport, or love watching the ever-so-brilliant David Mitchell (he truly is a beautiful man). I believe that if you love doing these things, it would be detrimental to stop doing them. There will surely be times when you will need to prioritise, and perhaps reduce your load, but everybody needs to relieve stress by doing something they enjoy.

#28 Find study techniques that work for you

Spoiler

Everybody is different, and everybody learns differently. If you're musical, try turning your notes into a song. If you're a visual learner, make posters and colour-coordinate your notes.

#29 Read

Spoiler

It doesn't matter what you read, so long as it is stimulating and enjoyable.

My experience: I read both major papers each morning before school, and used the time to relax before the day really started. It put me in a good frame of mind, and on numerous occasions, I could use articles I read to aid my studies in English Language.

#30 Work with your peers

Spoiler

So you're competing with everybody around you - I understand that - but at the end of the day, I think it's easier to keep motivation if you have others around you with common goals. If you work well in a group, then start study groups. If you're like me, and try to avoid social interaction at all costs, I hear that the interwebz is a great resource! Why not interact with the great people at ATAR Notes instead? And think about this: the better the people in your cohort perform in their exams, the more likely you are to have your SAC scores scaled up!

#31 Take initiative

Spoiler

Okay, maybe don't take it as far as I did (I had many animated conversations (okay, very animated (okay, they were arguments)) with teachers about my marks), but it's important to understand how you can improve. After each SAC, work out what you can do differently next time to get better. Try to understand your mistakes so that you can turn your weaknesses into strengths for the exam(s)!

#32 Respect your mood

Spoiler

One of my favourite teachers from school is an absolutely brilliant artist. I asked him once what he did when he didn't feel like painting - how he kept motivation - and his answer was simple, but telling. He said, "When I don't feel like painting, I don't paint." Year 12 is similar; there are going to be times when you're frustrated, or angry, or sad. Contrary to what some may say, I suggest not trying to push through. Take a time-out, instead.
 Get your head right, and try again later on.

My experience: I went against my own advice and, on occasion, tried to push myself through these emotional barriers. I'm not saying that you should only study when you feel like it, because you may never feel like it. But if you're genuinely upset, I have found that trying to work only compounds the issue. Year 12 should not be a priority over your mental health.

#33 Use your teachers

Spoiler

I referred to my teachers a lot throughout the year. If they were willing to mark my practice exams, I would do as many as I could to take advantage of their goodwill. Even better if nobody else could be bothered doing them! Their job is to help you. Your job is, for lack of a less violent phrase, take advantage of them at every opportunity.

#34 You are not defined by your school

Spoiler

Anybody can succeed in VCE. Keep in mind that you don't have to be the best to succeed, nor do you have to attend the best school.

#35 Don't fall into the 'one subject' trap

Spoiler

You may really love a subject, but that doesn't mean that you should use 100% of your time on it.

My experience: I spent way too much time throughout the year on my Visual Communication folios. I completely neglected Further, justifying it because the former would definitely be in my top 4, whereas the latter definitely would not. In the end, I used my Further lessons to work more on folios.
 I full-marked both of my folios. Great idea, huh? No. Bad idea. My end results? VCD: 44, Further: 45.

#36 Doing a folio? Front-load your work!

Spoiler

You do not want to be using time (... especially Further periods) to do a lot of work on your folio instead of revising for exams. Let me repeat that: you do not want to be using time to do a lot of work on your folio instead of revising for exams.

My experience: I did Visual Communication & Design (I dropped Art in Year 11, as I didn't want two folio subjects). I lost sleep over it, sure - I didn't sleep at all the night before my folio was due - but I was most definitely not the worst; one of my friends didn't sleep for about three days. Obviously,
 this is not an ideal outcome, and to avoid it, I am almost begging you to do as much of your folio as you can, as early as you can.

#37 Consider tuition

Spoiler

But in no way is it necessary.

My experience: I had a tutor in Year 11, but felt I didn't need one for any of my Year 12 subjects. It worked fine for me.

#38 Write effectively, efficiently

Spoiler

It's all well and good to know the content of a course like the back of your hand, but if you can't write quickly enough to portray that knowledge in your exam(s), your knowledge will be rendered (partially) redundant. If you're not a naturally quick writer, I think it is worthwhile to practise writing essays and extended responses within a particular timeframe. All other variables equal, I can guarantee that the student who knows how to write effectively and efficiently will get better marks than the student who labours over each word.

My experience: I spent a fair bit of time trying to perfect my exam writing. A significant portion of this was teaching myself how to write quickly. My work resulted in finishing each exam with just enough time left to have a very brief look over what I had written to make sure I hadn't made any obvious errors.

#39 Practice exams

Spoiler

In my opinion, there is no better source of revision. Once you feel semi-confident with a subject's content, complete as many practice exams as you feel necessary. Note that last bit: as you feel necessary. Just because one person does 30, doesn't mean that you should do 31. It's a very individual thing, and quantity is definitely not as effective as quality. Don't be afraid to do an exam more than once if you run out of new ones!

My experience: I started practice exams even before I was confident with the content. To begin with, I completely the exams not time-bound and open book, and completed them over the course of several days. Gradually, I took away my notes, started to time myself, and eventually completed the exams in exam conditions. Ease yourself in. Make sure you mark every paper you do - otherwise they're not very useful! And for a second opinion,
 get your teachers to mark as many as possible (see tip #33).

#40 How about an end-of-year revision lecture?

Spoiler

Revision lectures can be a great way of solidifying knowledge and being exposed to great advice. I found the more useful for subject-specific exam hints, many of which I implemented. I hear that ATAR Notes hosts some banger free lectures.

#41 Reading time

Spoiler

Reading time is crucial. It will differ between subjects, but I think this general advice holds: don't waste it. Use it to read each question - really read each question - and start to plan your answers for the first few questions. Reading time sets you up for the entire exam, and in my opinion separates the good papers from the great papers.