hi, and grats on the score!
1) What was your exam strategy? Did you do a certain section first, or was it just whichever ones you were most confident in?
2) How, and how long before, did you study for the exam?
3) What would you attribute your success to?
4) What would you say is necessary to scoring a 40+? And 45+?
5) Any regrets in regards to how you approached the subject?
6) Tips for the 10 marker?
7) If you don't mind, what were your SAC and exam scores?
Thanks!
Thanks Lyristis!
1) My exam strategy was rather simply really - front to back! I think this is almost certainly the best method and would recommend you use it. By doing the multiple choice questions first you prime you brain with cues for information that may be useful in later sections. Technically, as you will learn this year, MC also uses the measure of retention called recognition, which is generally regarded as easier than SA, especially considering the exact right answer is there for you. If you approach a difficult question and spend a minute or so on it without any progress, skip it, but remember to come back! Personally in the 2018 exam Q1 stated that we could use a diagram and I decided that I was better off to come back and do this later, but ultimately forgot - so don't do that - not sure if I lost a mark for it in the end. Then, after you've covered all the other sections move into the Extended response and try to use some of the information you would've already referenced throughout the exam to make this easier for you.
Reading time: straight to the extended response - rough plan in your head if it seems slightly difficult. Then read the SA repeatedly. I personally wasn't planning on even looking at multiple choice during the reading time - and I didn't! I'm sure as the year progresses, you will discover what works best for you.
2) As I only had this one 3/4 my exam preparation started around 2 months before the exam if I recall correctly, or almost instantly after the final SAC. I began in the first week memorising all of my notes as a baseline. Then, I would've done checkpoints (but I'd already completed these during the year) and so I went straight into company exams. I would generally do one section each night (MC or SA) and I did maybe 5 extended responses separately when I could be bothered (which to be honest, probably wasn't enough of the time!). Ensure you save 4-5 VCAA exams/company exams to complete entirely under the 3 hour time on a weekend - preferably at the same time as your final exam will be to prepare you for it.
3) I think what really allowed me to go well in the subject was always working ahead of the class, so that I couldn't really ever fall behind and so the class times to me were times solely for revision and for tips Orr key pointers from my teacher. And on that note, teachers, use your teacher. I asked heaps of questions throughout the year to ensure I was on the right track and made sure to tailor my SAC responses to suit what I knew my teacher would want. It takes dedication, but a high score is certainly achievable.
4) A stated in (3). Working ahead, using teachers, planning out your study and simply working hard and trying to resist the urge to sit down and relax when you feel you cannot go any longer. Setting attainable goals, such as by the use of checklist/todo list is helpful! Also necessary to note is that you are working towards VCAA and so responses all year should tailor to what they are expecting from you to gain top marks.
5) My main regret would be not truely delving into why I lost certain marks on questions. I always gathered a superficial understanding, but never really noted it down or placed it into a word document somewhere to ensure it truly stuck in my mind.
6) Do not focus all of your attention here. It may seem like a large section, but it's really only 10/120 marks, less than 10%! If you have a reasonable structure and can make some clear points you will guarantee a 5/10 and then it is really just extending yourself by providing examples and clear analysis, rather than superficial statements to reach the higher mark boundaries. I actually only got a 4 I think on my first practice one and progressively improved until I could consistently obtain 8-9.5s. Not sure if I ever got a 10!
7) For Unit 3 I got 96/100 with a median of 76 at my school and 100/100 for Unit 4. I didn't get my statement of marks just yet and so don't know how I went on the exam in terms of marks, but I'd be more than happy to let you know once I receive it. An important thing to also note is not to be discouraged by a bad SAC mark. I was actually very disappointed with my first SAC, being new to the subject and style of writing and I let it set me back slightly, lowering my goals from 45+ to 40s, but really, one bad SAC won't make a difference - it's the exam that counts!
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