4U HSC Exam on Friday

[Ty510]

I dunno how you are guys are feeling, but I am feeling absolutely terrified of the 4U exam coming up on Friday. It feels like I've lost all ability to do math really and I also have another exam the day before.

Any advice on how to stop freaking out and manage all of this?

[sunshinelollipops]

OMG I 200% FEEL YOU

I'm doing last year's paper and I can't do any parts of the final question! I'm so worried!!!

Maybe looking at this site will boost your morale (but at the same time i'm not too sure how reliable this site is): http://rawmarks.info/wiki/Main_Page

[RuiAce]

I dunno how you are guys are feeling, but I am feeling absolutely terrified of the 4U exam coming up on Friday. It feels like I've lost all ability to do math really and I also have another exam the day before.

Any advice on how to stop freaking out and manage all of this?

Well ultimately you need to find a way to stop freaking out yourself. But let's break it down.

Why exactly do you feel like you've lost the ability. When you see a mathematics question, what exactly is going on in your mind. Is it a blur?

Because without identifying what your causes are, you can't find a solution. If it's stress, then you need to go through some of the typical techniques - taking a deep breath, refocusing, drinking water and etc.

[jakesilove]

I dunno how you are guys are feeling, but I am feeling absolutely terrified of the 4U exam coming up on Friday. It feels like I've lost all ability to do math really and I also have another exam the day before.

Any advice on how to stop freaking out and manage all of this?

With 4U, I had to come to accept that I wasn't going to know all of the content perfectly. I wasn't going to get full marks in the exam, I could keep studying into infinity and still not be done, and the exam would be completely unpredictable. However, two things to note. Firstly, you got through an entire year of 4U maths. What does that mean? That you're good at maths, no matter what you might think. So, you'll do well in the exam, I promise you that. Secondly, freaking out about an exam just doesn't help you do better, or get through it more easily. I know it might seem tough, but just keep telling yourself it will be okay (because it will), and try to calm down. It's just one exam. You'll do great. Let us know if we can help you in any way. Peace out

[Ty510]

Well ultimately you need to find a way to stop freaking out yourself. But let's break it down.

Why exactly do you feel like you've lost the ability. When you see a mathematics question, what exactly is going on in your mind. Is it a blur?

Because without identifying what your causes are, you can't find a solution. If it's stress, then you need to go through some of the typical techniques - taking a deep breath, refocusing, drinking water and etc.

I think a big part of it is that I'm sitting down to past paper questions and as soon as I hit questions 13 and 14, my whole head turns into a blur. I feel like I can't answer any of the difficult questions, such as conics and motion, even though throughout the year I have been getting pretty good results.

I think stress is a definite part of it, but I don't know the best way to overcome not knowing how to answer the back end of the papers.

[RuiAce]

I think a big part of it is that I'm sitting down to past paper questions and as soon as I hit questions 13 and 14, my whole head turns into a blur. I feel like I can't answer any of the difficult questions, such as conics and motion, even though throughout the year I have been getting pretty good results.

I think stress is a definite part of it, but I don't know the best way to overcome not knowing how to answer the back end of the papers.

Before commencing a paper, take some time to think about how was it you were able to do it back then. Look at any questions that you answered in the past and follow them. Try to figure out how you were able to answer the questions back then, and also how you actually answered them (i.e. the train of thought).

That way, you can generate some ideas as to how to tackle questions.

Then, pick up a paper, and just get through the M/C and Q11/12 for confidence. When you hit Q13, stop and take a deep breath. Destress and clear your mind so that you're ready for the first of the tougher problems.

Think back to how you answered the questions back then, and start.

[birdwing341]

I think a big part of it is that I'm sitting down to past paper questions and as soon as I hit questions 13 and 14, my whole head turns into a blur. I feel like I can't answer any of the difficult questions, such as conics and motion, even though throughout the year I have been getting pretty good results.

I think stress is a definite part of it, but I don't know the best way to overcome not knowing how to answer the back end of the papers.

Hi there, just adding on to what Rui said with what I've been doing,

I absolutely feel you - there's so much stress coming going into the exam. The way I studied for the exam at the start was to go through the HSC papers question by question, so I would do all of the Q11s and then all of the Q12s etc. That way you get a feel for the general level of difficulty of the questions and can really hone your methods to do the questions, because you're doing so many of the same type.

So if you're doing fine on q11 and q12 maybe go through the q13 and q14 hsc questions that you haven't done yet and really try and work through them. If you think you can't do one, wrack your brain for possible methods and try all of them. I assure you, you'll be surprised at how much you can do when you force yourself to do the question . But if you can't do the question, then that's OK have a gander at the answers and then come back to it, write it out and remember the method that the answers used.

Most of all, don't worry!! And always write down some working