Specialist 2017 Tips and Preparation

[Drewballs]

Hi Everyone!
So I'm doing Spec next year, without units 1 and 2, any tips and advice for my preparation?
Also, and trig graphs assessed because I am terrible at them!

[brenden]

Hi Everyone!
So I'm doing Spec next year, without units 1 and 2, any tips and advice for my preparation?
Also, and trig graphs assessed because I am terrible at them!

Oh I didn't even see on the Further exam thread you were only Year 11... I'm sure there will be lots for you next year! Welcome to the community

[Orb]

Here's some ideas that you could try:

1- Try and go through the 1/2 course over the holidays (a lot of 3/4 knowledge is directly built on 1/2 foundations, so if your foundations are really weak (or non-existent) it will be very difficult for you next year.

2- Make sure your Methods knowledge is firm. A lot of Specialist knowledge is built upon what you've already learned in Methods (Circular functions, differentiation, etc) so covering that over the holidays would also be quite useful.

3- Going to headstart lectures (like the one that AN runs at the start of every year) would give you a good introduction to Specialist.

4- You can even try doing some of the exercises in the 3/4 textbook just to get a better understanding before the subject starts at school!

All the best

[Buddster]

As others have said, make sure your methods knowledge is solid. I also recommend reading the chapter introductions and summaries in the textbook, if there's anything super unfamiliar perhaps watch a khan academy video or talk to us!

[Muchos Help]

Btw for the new study design, is arc length, segments, those kind of things important to know? there's so many formulas to remember, and there's them also with the radians zzzz

also, is it worth memorising the double angle, addition and subtraction formulas?

[Sine]

Btw for the new study design, is arc length, segments, those kind of things important to know? there's so many formulas to remember, and there's them also with the radians zzzz

also, is it worth memorising the double angle, addition and subtraction formulas?

I kinda knew the double angle and compound angle formulas but would always refer to the formula sheet so that i didn't make a careless mistake. Arc length formula is on the formula sheet however easy to memorise and segments? I assume your referring to an Area of a circle - i didn't memorise a strict formula but would be able do this two ways - using logic and geometric formula or integration.

I actually don't think there is too much to memorise the most common formulas that aren't on the formula sheet are probably only linear dependence and vector and scalar resolutes.

[Buddster]

Btw for the new study design, is arc length, segments, those kind of things important to know? there's so many formulas to remember, and there's them also with the radians zzzz

also, is it worth memorising the double angle, addition and subtraction formulas?

Almost all the formulae you'll need are in the formula sheet, which will be provided during the exams (and hopefully your SACs): http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/mathematics/specmaths-formula-w.pdf
your school shouldn't expect you to memorize them for SACs neither, but it would be good to double check.

Segments of a circle would be good knowledge to self-teach, but you can always find the area through other means like integration or geometric methods, and it is generally simple to do this way.

Some formula you may need that is not on the sheet include:
the integral solution, standardization formula (for stats), vector and scalar resolutes, and any little tricks that make things simpler

[coolaths]

This year in spesh 1/2, I found it very hard to grasp the concepts at times and just really found it hard to listen in class for the whole lesson..
I really want to do much better next year but I don't know where to start exactly...
I know the basics, which is enough to get me a pass, but when it come to hard questions, I find it really hard and not able to score it..
Any tips/ suggestions please?

[Buddster]

This year in spesh 1/2, I found it very hard to grasp the concepts at times and just really found it hard to listen in class for the whole lesson..
I really want to do much better next year but I don't know where to start exactly...
I know the basics, which is enough to get me a pass, but when it come to hard questions, I find it really hard and not able to score it..
Any tips/ suggestions please?

Practice makes perfect. With questions you have trouble with, try and step through it. See if you can 1 on 1 with a teacher or tutor, else worked solutions may be available. We can probably help with any specific questions in the sticky (or pm me)

[Callum@1373]

My advice - learn the entire course. Only if you want to spend time in your holidays doing it, but the benefits are insurmountable.

[coolaths]

thank you +Buddster and +Callum@1373

[AvogadroCadabra]

This might be a bit late, but I'm picking up Specialist 3/4 next year as well without the 1/2. My teacher suggested I do these for preparation:
1.   Chapter 1 Algebra 1
2.   Chapter 2 Number systems (Must know Modulus Functions)
3.   Chapter 3 Variations
4.   Chapter 5 Algebra 2 (Must know Partial Fractions)
5.   Chapter 12 Sampling and Sampling Distribution
6.   Chapter 13, 14, 15
7.   Chapter 16 Complex Numbers
8.   Chapter 20, 22, 23
Hope this helps!