Possibly failing VCE

[Beanboy]

So today I just received a letter regarding 'Not Satisfactory' for my current progress in VCE and as you can imagine, it's stressing me out. The reason behind this is because i ended up failing two of my resits for maths(stupid reason) and psychology. In order for me to not fail VCE I have to ask for an appeal with a valid reason on why I should continue VCE. I'm currently in Year 11 and I'm finding VCE a massive train wreck from the very beginning.
My current subjects consist of:
Unit1&2 - English
Unit1&2 - General Maths
Unit1&2 - Psychology
Unit1 - Biology (dropping for Human Health and development unit 2)
Unit2 - History 20th century

I'm finding English and Maths fine and really excited for History as it is a subject where I show complete passion for and is confident in. I'm dropping Bio due to countless unsatisfactory SAC results for health for which I am sorta worried about. Psychology is where I also struggle at which is ironic considering I want to be a Psychologist. Any type of help would be awesome.

[AngelWings]

You mentioned becoming a psychologist but you're struggling in Psychology?

Tips for Psych:
1. Be prepared to be fired with definitions.
2. Practise Questions.
3. Know the content and review it regularly.
4. Start asking the teacher for help. (Goes for any subject.)
5. Be able to apply stuff.
6. Draw up tables/ diagrams and stick them in your own space. Take time to see it all in perspective. A lot of Unit 1 and 2 Psych is about knowing who, what and where it can be applied.
7. Try mnemonics, acronyms and silly stories. (It's explained in Units 3 and 4.)

Tips in school life in general:
1. Write up a schedule. Plan ahead. Typical stuff.
2. See the teacher and ask questions. 
3. Know problem areas and work on them.
4. Break content down. Find what is necessary and learn it.
5. Find motivation. (Internet's a lovely thing for this.) Stick it up. Everyone says it, few do it. It can help lift your spirits in desperate times. This also leads to...
5b. Just keep trying. Never give up.
6. Practise makes perfect. Most obvious thing to say.
7. Know yourself and act accordingly. e.g. Study at home impossible? Tell the parents that you're going to the library. Don't sit next to the mate that distracts you!

Surely something there will help you.
Good luck and stay calm. The worst thing to do is to succumb to the idea that you're no good at anything, because everyone is good at something - you just need to find it!

[Jono_CP]

Don't worry about this. It's all about finding what your passionate about in, e.g. history. Also you're only in Year 11.

I am not necessarily failing VCE, but at the moment (I am in Year 12) I am failing Further Maths.

Despite this I just persevere with it, and if there is one positive I find is that I know where my true passions are.

That is a positive you can take from this - remember that.

[Beanboy]

Thanks so much for the advice guys, definitely helped me boost my confidence. Hopefully I'm not asking too much but what are some good ways to study efficiently for Psychology exam? My psychology exam is on a Tuesday and I really wanna pass so that I might change my teachers mind.

Thanks!

[Jono_CP]

I don't do psychology, so my advice here will be superficial.

I constantly ask for my teachers' help outside of class-time. E.g. lunch or after school. This way you can clarify difficult areas in relation to the psychology exam.

I often write about the important key knowledge and place the relevant information under that. E.g. look at your Unit 1 study design for psychology as guidance.

Concentrate on difficult areas, don't waste your time on areas you are confident in. This way you are studying not just efficiently but effectively.

Flash cards can help, sometimes reading concepts instead of writing can be useful.

If it helps, sometimes I do voice memos on my iPod and listen over to them over and over again.

Ask for practice SACs/exams, and seek feedback if possible.

All the best!

[AngelWings]

Thanks so much for the advice guys, definitely helped me boost my confidence. Hopefully I'm not asking too much but what are some good ways to study efficiently for Psychology exam? My psychology exam is on a Tuesday and I really wanna pass so that I might change my teachers mind.

Thanks!

The ways to do Psychology exam revision:
1. Rewrite notes, diagrams and flow charts.
2. Everyone loves Checkpoints and StudyOn. Try them.
3. VCAA exams. I think it was before 2008 or something, the topic of visual perception was a part of the content in Units 3 and 4. That'll help.
4. Some people like flashcards. I don't like it for Psych, but everyone's different.
5. Review the middle. (Research Serial Position Effect to understand this.) Find weak points. Do questions. Revise how you do/ prefer. 

Remember, majority of it is knowing stuff and applying it. Many questions will be structured to apply content.
e.g. Leanna is a 2 year old child and her mother is worried that she is immature for her age. While playing with a friend of hers, Leanna becomes distraught when she can't see her favourite toy. Describe Leanna in *lists a psychologist and a theory* theory.

The first thing you should be writing down is "Leanna" or "Leanna's mother". Then go on to list the psychologist and his/ her theory, what stage Leanna's likely to be in, whether her mother should be worried and why. That's the basic process. (Not necessarily in that order, as long as it makes sense in English and ticks the boxes, but you get the idea.)