Susie - Ask a State Ranker (Q+A Closed)

[jamonwindeyer]

Susie's Q+A is Closed!
If you missed your chance to ask, no stress, you can still visit our Question Threads! Here are the links to some of them:

Modern History Question Thread
Ancient History Question Thread
History Extension Question Thread

Welcome to Susie's Q+A!


Some things you might want to know about Susie:
- Achieved 18th in NSW for Modern History
- Achieved 2nd in NSW for History Extension Essay Prize
- ATAR of 97.80
- Currently studying Media and Arts Production at the University of Technology

Susie has also introduced herself just below!

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1. If you haven't already, register for an ATAR Notes account by clicking here!
2. Scroll down to the Quick Reply window at the bottom of the page
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[sudodds]

hey hey 

As Jamon said, my name is Susie and I'm super excited to be answering any and all of your questions this coming Saturday! Thought i'd take the time now to quickly let you know a little bit more about myself

My full name is Susanna, my dog is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation, I'm convinced Sansa is going to win the Iron Throne, and I don't drink coffee because I'm scared it will burn my mouth - hi nice to meet you Maybe some stuff that is a bit more relevant to you though; I graduated last year, studying Modern History, Ancient History and History Extension (I know... am I not just like, the coolest person?). On top of that, I also studied English Advanced, Economics, Studies of Religion I and Drama, the latter of which was another huge passion of mine, making a short film for my IP

I'm happy to answer questions on any of these subjects (don't feel like you have to keep it all history related!), and more general stuff as well Wanna ask for my super specific opinion on Trotsky's role during the signing of the Treaty of Brest Litovsk? Go for it! Interested to know how I studied? Ask away Keen to know about what it's like to literally be in the same room as jamonwindeyer? Words can't describe - but i'll give it a go.

Keen for a rad time! Don't be shy, I'm not as scary hardcore as my profile picture makes me out to be

Susie

[lilivincent]

Hi there,

I am about to sit my Trial examinations for English Advanced.. and i was wondering if you had any tips for the Modules and also Creative Writing. I know that is broad but do you suggest memorising, and where do you come up with your ideas for a creative?
Thanks

[JD99]

Hey Susie!
Firstly, for History, if i remember 4 important events in Albert Speers life (include stats/dates etc.) would this be enough to get me through section a of the personality study??
Also, for English, is it ok to abbreviate texts names, because i'm using To Kill a Mocking Bird for my related texts and writing that lots of times is going to take a lot of time in the exam! so could I just write TKAMB after I write it in full the first time??

Thank you!!

[katie,rinos]

Hey Susie
Just wondering what are your tips for scoring in the A band for the longer essays in Ancient (especially with Julio Claudians/Agrippina)? How many pages were your Sparta, Julio-Claudians and Agrippina essays? With your detail tables, how often did you look at them/write things out and actively try to memorise stuff (or was it mainly done by using them for practise essays)? Do you have any predictions for the essay questions in Ancient?
Do you have any tips for people who are good at history but find it difficult to write essays in English (I find it really frustrating that I can write really complex ideas in extension and get pretty good marks, but my essays in English are really bad)?
Were you expecting the marks/Atar that you received? Do you have any tips for people who are aiming for a highish atar?
You’ve mentioned before that you want to mix film with history what type/period/personality would you most like to do?
Do you have a favourite song/did you have an exam playlist?
Thanks so much for answering all my questions-you are so amazing!!

[chloeannbarwick]

I am currently studying for my Modern History trial which is on Thursday, what do you suggest as the most efficient way to study for Modern History? 

[Tara Martin]

hey!
i do modern history... our class did a essay under exam conditions the other day...
got it back from my teacher and she said the whole way thru that i was telling a narrative and not analysing enuf...
what would u suggest for me to fix this? any tips on how to analyse more etc.??
thanks so much 

[sailorgirl]

Hi Susie,
How many historians should I have memorised for each part of the Modern History exam as it's hard to memorise one for each specific part of the syllabus and what are some good historians to use? eg Russia, Trotsky and Conflict in Europe.

[lucyjayne]

Hey Susie,

I was just wondering with a question that says "The impact of the treaty of versailles was more significant than any other factor" for modern, would this be asking about the fall of the Weimar republic or some other broad thing? I have no Idea what it wants me to talk about.

Thank you

[rvfroggy]

Hi Susie,

I'm doing extension history by distance and my teacher does nothing, i hardly got given work at the beginning of every term, Just wondering with the case study, I'm doing appeasement and i was wondering how to go about answering a question, like would i usually be talking about a few of the debates with like 3 historians for each type thing or do i talk more generally about all of them and discuss the problems with them??

sorry if that doesn't make sense

[amymcgee]

Hi!

i was just wondering if you had any tips on memorising specific dates and key points for all the topics for the Modern trial, is there any tips you used when studying for your trials to help you memories the dates and events for each specific topic!?

also, how do i stray away from my essays becoming narratives? (especially for the studied personality section of the modern exam)

Thanks!

[ash_mcalpine]

Hey, so I've just finished my Trials, I was wondering whether it would be healthy to take a brake (focus on Majors etc) or to kind of just keep plowing down with the study, any advice?

Cheers

[omnomnoodles]

hi!!!
so I'm sorry if this is a bit of a boring question but since I feel I don't study 'enough' I was wondering if you could possibly explain how you studied? (Also, I'm pretty convinced about Sansa winning the Iron Throne too).
Thank you so much for doing this Q & A...!

[Zainbow]

Hey Susie

What tips do you have for being able to get really good marks across all subjects? In other words, I find it hard to divide my time for all my subjects and feel as though I may be neglecting some. What should I do so that I give each subject enough time as well as perform really well in them?

[skyrx27]

Hi Susanna,
my trials are in a couple of days, paper 1 and paper 2 for english are the first exams. I'm contemplating on whether I should memorise my better essays and just the quotes/techniques/themes for the ones i didn't do well in or just memorise them all. I have done 2 past papers for each but still unsure on what strategy i should use. Also english is my weakest subject and my trials aren't weighted that high, so I know my rank will not improve that much, so what should i do heading towards the hsc