Make us proud: English, HHD, Chinese and surviving methods

[Maybe_mybest]

Hellooo peeps,

I am a hard worker, so I want to do my best in my subjects   

My goals are: English 50, HHD 50, Chinese 38, Chemistry 40 and Methods 35.

English: I've been writing an English essay every week, and that's helped heaps. However the exam is legit daunting, being 6 weeks away (internal scream), so I want to do as much preparation as is healthy to ensure I can perform at my very best on the day. I will now write all my essays under strict 60min timing. 

HHD: I'm unsure about, it seems really easy, but obviously only a few people get 50s... my goal is to spend 10mins everyday memorising information on quizlet and complete one practice exam every thursday from tomorrow onwards. 

Chinese: I'm half background, so I'm going to try do a practice oral exam everyday (as it's only 15 minutes), and recite my vocab so I can speak fluently.  I'll aim for two essays every week too.

These are my goals, keep  me to them coz it's the final stretch. I am willing to change my actions and routine to whatever you advise, in order to achieve my potential. 

CHEERS!!!!

[zofromuxo]

First of its nice that you know what your doing.
But I have to ask about the practice work your doing for your 3 subjects

Do you get them marked and do you work on what you did wrong?
-It just seems like your just churning them out and not getting them marked nor seeking feedback on them

I can't speak for anything other subject besides English, but are you focusing on a particular type like Language Analysis, Comparative or Text Response?

What prompts are you using for Text Response and/or Comparative?
Are you using hidden texts for Language Analysis? Are you different types of text and not just "newspapers articles"?

I'm not discouraging on what your doing, you are clearly driven and know what you want & how to get it.
These are just some concerns I have with what you have written.

[Maybe_mybest]

Do you get them marked and do you work on what you did wrong?
-It just seems like your just churning them out and not getting them marked nor seeking feedback on them

I can't speak for anything other subject besides English, but are you focusing on a particular type like Language Analysis, Comparative or Text Response?

What prompts are you using for Text Response and/or Comparative?
Are you using hidden texts for Language Analysis? Are you different types of text and not just "newspapers articles"?

Hey Zofromuxo
I'm not really sure  how this replying thing works but here goes!

So... for HHD, I always review my work with the answer guide, and make a list of my mistakes, and add them to quizlet.  My teacher has corrected all my practice SACs, which I'm assuming are just the exam but in chunks.  I'm hoping that my writing skills will get me through with the short answers, because I find the interrelationship 6 markers quite easy... and then the rest will have to be memory and definitions.  I have only completed one practice exam so far, because the stress froze me . I'm not sure how to get them marked by my teacher during the holidays though :O .

English: The advice Bob Hillman (chief assessor) gave was to become an expert on my texts and then smash out heaps of practice essays.  I think for L.A I will go from the 17 past VCAA exams first.  The prompts  for text and comp are from my teacher, I've done the vcaa suggested ones.

Thanks for the feedback! I've been really scared about the exams have had trouble waking up or writing. Just gotta keep going.

[zofromuxo]

Hey Zofromuxo
I'm not really sure  how this replying thing works but here goes!

So... for HHD, I always review my work with the answer guide, and make a list of my mistakes, and add them to quizlet.  My teacher has corrected all my practice SACs, which I'm assuming are just the exam but in chunks.  I'm hoping that my writing skills will get me through with the short answers, because I find the interrelationship 6 markers quite easy... and then the rest will have to be memory and definitions.  I have only completed one practice exam so far, because the stress froze me . I'm not sure how to get them marked by my teacher during the holidays though :O .

English: The advice Bob Hillman (chief assessor) gave was to become an expert on my texts and then smash out heaps of practice essays.  I think for L.A I will go from the 17 past VCAA exams first.  The prompts  for text and comp are from my teacher, I've done the vcaa suggested ones.

Thanks for the feedback! I've been really scared about the exams have had trouble waking up or writing. Just gotta keep going.

The reply thing is working.
It seems like you have a solid plan, which is good.

Although I have to ask with the preparation and planning you are doing, Why are you scared about the exam?
Is it confidence? Fear?

[amorphous]

Good luck on your exams!! 
I just want to ask - is HHD really that easy?

[Maybe_mybest]

I just want to ask - is HHD really that easy?

Hey amorphous
I reckon it is pretty easy because I am quite good at memorising information, which so far has accounted for at least a third, if not more than half of the marks.  Knowing how to link the memorised information strongly and state accurate connections is also crucial. But apparently no one has ever gotton 100% on the exam, so maybe they're really picky or they throw students off with new angles of the study design...

[Maybe_mybest]

It seems like you have a solid plan, which is good.

Although I have to ask with the preparation and planning you are doing, Why are you scared about the exam?
Is it confidence? Fear?

Hey zofro, thanks for the reply 

I have just never really examed well; the huge task of revising seemed so overwhelming.  Everyone else seems to be doing some tuition and smashing out practice exams, so it's hard to focus on just doing my best.   

I kinda tried to tackle one bit of the study design and then tried a bit of a practice exam and then tried to revise the textbook and just got really confused, because nothing was consistent.  So now I'm doing timed 30min blocks of each subject, twice a day, unless I'm doing an exam for that subject.   

It's fear that I'm not doing enough, not progressing, and seeing the hours tick away too fast.

[zofromuxo]

Hey zofro, thanks for the reply 

I have just never really examed well; the huge task of revising seemed so overwhelming.  Everyone else seems to be doing some tuition and smashing out practice exams, so it's hard to focus on just doing my best.   

I kinda tried to tackle one bit of the study design and then tried a bit of a practice exam and then tried to revise the textbook and just got really confused, because nothing was consistent.  So now I'm doing timed 30min blocks of each subject, twice a day, unless I'm doing an exam for that subject.   

It's fear that I'm not doing enough, not progressing, and seeing the hours tick away too fast.

I like how you have identified your issue and thought of a solution to tackling it.
It shows your initiative and motivation to reach the goals you have set.

As for your fear of not doing, not progressing and seeing the hours tick away too fast .
My advice is ignore what the others are doing and focus on yourself .
Sometimes, it helps to see what others are doing and use that as motivation. But can be a double-edged sword, as in your case and many others like myself, it makes us doubt ourselves and freak out.

What you see isn't always the "true" picture. My friend used to never socialise with anyone at school because thier home environment wasn't good for studying. So they spent everytime studying not because they were a nerd and didn't like people. But because they had to in order to get their goals.
Of course not everyone is this extreme, but the point stands that people are doing their own reason, so don't concern yourself with it.

Focus on what you can do and not what others are doing.

[Maybe_mybest]

My advice is ignore what the others are doing and focus on yourself .
Sometimes, it helps to see what others are doing and use that as motivation. But can be a double-edged sword, as in your case and many others like myself, it makes us doubt ourselves and freak out.

I'd like to thank you for the advice you offered me last year, Zofromuxo.  My exams went well (a bit worse than my coursework, but still to be proud of).  I'm now enrolled in Medicine at Monash, and I think Atar Notes was the best organisation for helping support students in their studies throughout the year.

[Joseph41]

I'd like to thank you for the advice you offered me last year, Zofromuxo.  My exams went well (a bit worse than my coursework, but still to be proud of).  I'm now enrolled in Medicine at Monash, and I think Atar Notes was the best organisation for helping support students in their studies throughout the year.

Awesome! Love to hear that. Congratulations on your achievements.

P.S. Why not start a university journey journal to track your progress through Med?