An Overview of Spesh

[bakacchis]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could outline the Specialist Maths course briefly (listing important topics), compare its difficulty and relevance to Methods and basically tell me whether you think it's worth the time and effort put into it.

I'm not sure whether I want to do Spesh for VCE as of yet. Personally and honestly, I'm not very keen on the concepts introduced in Spesh and its nature as a maths subject - proving theories and all. I feel like Spesh is for people who truly enjoy the 'essence' of math down to the core and I understand that it is a VERY hard subject to succeed in. However, the scaling is gr88888 and I'm a pretty proficient math student - in Methods right now at least - and many students in the same position have already started prepping for it via tuition. Spesh may not be my thing, but if I don't do it I feel like I'll be giving up my lead.

So there's my little problem, any responses are much appreciated!

[heids]

I didn't do spesh and have nothing to do with anything maths-ish, but I see in this an opportunity to get on to my hobby horse: don't do something just for scaling! 

I got a far better score in HHD, a notorious down-scaling subject, than I could have got scaled in Spesh.  If I were to re-select my subjects now, with the aim of getting the highest ATAR possible, I'd locate all the 'easy' subjects like say PE - as long as you don't take an easier subject as a bludge, you have a higher chance of getting a really high score, especially as you're likely to have less competition and also to have more confidence.  (And I promise, it's way more satisfying getting a raw high score than a scaled high score ).  But most importantly, it's way more satisfying doing a subject you really enjoy, and you'll be far more motivated to study for it and get a good mark.  So obviously, if you love maths, of course do Spesh.  It's just you sound a bit doubtful that you'd enjoy it.  Are there other subjects you'd like better?  Go for them.

My older siblings all killed Methods/Spesh and were shocked when I told them I wouldn't do Spesh and that I was going to prove that someone from our family could have Methods as their bottom score... they said I was wasting myself.  But I equalled their ATARs and I'm sure that I enjoyed my year more than they did.  Please do what you want.  It really doesn't disadvantage you, ATAR-wise.

</rant>

P.S.  You briefly aroused hobby horse #2 with your comment that others have 'already started prepping via tuition'.  Year-long courses were meant to take a year, right? ... hey actually, why don't we start prepping kids for VCE subjects in primary school kinder??

P.P.S.  I don't think I've actually answered your question at all.  I blame you for getting me started ...  Anyway, read this summary: Re: An overview specialist in basic terms., I think you're going to be in the new study design by 2017? (uncertain)

P.P.P.S. To clarify, I'm not against Spesh at all.  I don't have a clue how hard it really is.  I'm just against the relentless focus on 'scaling' and 'hard' subjects.

[SammyBoy]

Do spesh its fun if you enjoy maths. Also don't worry about the difficulty its not that much more difficult more methods, if your a competent methods student you should be able to do spesh.

[JackSonSmith]

I'd say 2/3 of Methods (namely Calculus) is covered in Specialist, so you would be saving quite a bit of time in Methods. Also, while I found the first few chapters to be difficult (Vectors and Circular functions), we are doing differentiation and integration now and its quite manageable. I'd say the calculus in Specialist is not necessarily more difficult than Methods, just an extension of what you learn. I agree that you shouldn't pick subjects solely based on scaling, from what I've seen, the 'average' student in Specialist is in the top %10 in Methods.

Bottom line: if you enjoy/are good at maths, then I'd highly recommend doing Specialist. It seems daunting at first (I know I sucked at the start) but it's a rewarding, challenging and enjoyable subject in my opinion.

[Kel9901]

I'd say 2/3 of Methods (namely Calculus) is covered in Specialist, so you would be saving quite a bit of time in Methods. Also, while I found the first few chapters to be difficult (Vectors and Circular functions), we are doing differentiation and integration now and its quite manageable. I'd say the calculus in Specialist is not necessarily more difficult than Methods, just an extension of what you learn. I agree that you shouldn't pick subjects solely based on scaling, from what I've seen, the 'average' student in Specialist is in the top %10 in Methods.

Bottom line: if you enjoy/are good at maths, then I'd highly recommend doing Specialist. It seems daunting at first (I know I sucked at the start) but it's a rewarding, challenging and enjoyable subject in my opinion.

the cross-over calculus isn't really taught in specialist, it's 'assumed' which could make it harder