Methods Exams 2014: Predictions

[keltingmeith]

I'm thinking they'll chuck in a question that will test people on what a modulus does to a graph (or the definition of it in someway) but not over the entire function like say:

(pretty simple I know but I think it'll crop up this year)..

Fun fact: if f(x)=4x^2 - 6x, then f(|x|)=4x^2 - 6|x|, so you can employ the same techniques for graphing it.

[EspoirTron]

I don't know, VCAA could go both ways, after last year, I think two things could happen:

• Test the basics since after last year most students will be practising the real hard stuff and may just forget their simple algebra and calculus skills. A lot of people have struggled with this in the past as mentioned throughout several examiner's reports. 
• Put in some difficult algebraic manipulation questions.

Honestly I expect the difficulty the same as last year, or that or 2012, I think what will trap most students is the wording of the question, as apparent from the 2013 exam 2.

[devilsadvocate]

Very, very high chance that students will have to sketch graphs this year, as there were no graphing questions on last year's end-of-year exams (both 1 and 2). Personally I found it very unusual (I was totally happy with it though LOL). Given that last year's cohort had to tackle some challenging questions, it was probably VCAA's attempt at trying to save them some time. But yeah, don't forget your rulers this year.

[keltingmeith]

Very, very high chance that students will have to sketch graphs this year, as there were no graphing questions on last year's end-of-year exams (both 1 and 2).

Using that logic, expect LOTS of normal distribution questions on this year's exam.

[GeniDoi]

Using that logic, expect LOTS of normal distribution questions on this year's exam.

Honestly, I'm starting to think this whole "if theres less of topic x on an exam one year there will be more of topic x on the next year" is BS. There's very little to no correlation between any two successive VCAA exams (if you discount the things that examiners are "picky about", such as dx's at the end of integrals and the usual mark losers). If VCAA had any intent on doing so they would create a flawed system and people would catch on quickly "oooh I'm going to study normal dist/graphing so much but lets skip non-routine calculus because that was on 2013 exam 2". As far as we are concerned, there's a bank of questions that VCAA make that is randomly pulled, polished to make the exam flow well and sent off. The last thing they want is giving an advantage to observant students.

TLDR: Assume everything from Methods 1/2/3/4 is on the exam 

[Blondie21]

TLDR: Assume everything from Methods 1/2/3/4 is on the exam 

Hmm I think you're missing something

[keltingmeith]

Honestly, I'm starting to think this whole "if theres less of topic x on an exam one year there will be more of topic x on the next year" is BS.

This is actually the point I wanted to make, hahah. I learned this the hard way, unfortunately...

[momo123]

is it possible to get consequential marks in exam 2? i know last year there were a few questions where you needed the previous answer, but it doesn't say in the report...

[Yacoubb]

is it possible to get consequential marks in exam 2? i know last year there were a few questions where you needed the previous answer, but it doesn't say in the report...

I'm pretty sure they normally do, but apparently, on that gradient question on last year's exam, no marks were awarded for consequential errors.

[devilsadvocate]

Honestly, I'm starting to think this whole "if theres less of topic x on an exam one year there will be more of topic x on the next year" is BS.

Obviously students would need a thorough understanding of the entire course content and not just focus on one particular topic. The real problem is when they have this blind conviction that the topics on the exam will be the ones they've studied for, which I'm hoping nobody will do. But provided that they've done enough revision, it doesn't hurt to spend some time thinking about which topics they're more likely to face on the actual day, since that may calm their nerves a little and leave them feeling more confident.

[Orb]

I had a brief discussion with one of the members of the exam panel (the people that write the exam), not that he was allowed to tell me anything, but he did mention that the exam should be 'alright' (weow helped so much).

Hence, i'd predict that it would be comparative to last year's in terms of difficulty

[momo123]

At least last year there were questions that were relatively fine on both exams...it was really that last exam 2 question haha :3 Since it's two pages shorter this year and has an extra question, HOPEFULLY there won't be those long parts to question e.g., eii where everyone has died!

[Robert123]

My prediction is that for exam 2, they will try and freak everybody else by having C as the answer for all the Multiple Choice 

[Yacoubb]

My prediction is that for exam 2, they will try and freak everybody else by having C as the answer for all the Multiple Choice 

That would be the ultimate mind-eff!

& guys, I have a feeling they'll put in addition of ordinates. They haven't really done it before & I reckon they'll throw it in. Or a tan graph

[momo123]

That would be the ultimate mind-eff!

& guys, I have a feeling they'll put in addition of ordinates. They haven't really done it before & I reckon they'll throw it in. Or a tan graph

Agreed- tan graph would throw a lot off