Is one week adequate time to get into the 40+ chemistry range?

[Coolgalbornin03Lo]

I’ve just come off 3 exams last week and am now turning my attention back to Chem. I must have “lost “ some skill because I did the 2017 vcaa exam and only got 71% but previously I had worked my way up to 75% in hard company exams and VCAA exams. With one week to go I need to get between 75-85% on the exam depending on how hard it is. I’m assuming it won’t be last year type hard so aim aiming more for 80%.

Unit 3: I got 73.5/100 maybe rank 80/137

Unit 4: 78/100 maybe rank 100/137

These are my guesses I asked the teacher and she said “I’m in a good spot” like the top half definitely, BUT it depends how everyone goes on the exam (it’ll determine how my SACs scale).

Will this exam score save my dreams of a 40+ or should I just give up?

[The Cat In The Hat]

I don't know about Chem, but seriously - don't give up. You can't be certain either way, and if you give up, you'll never know if you could get in that range. Do your best, try not to worry about it, and you'll get the best mark you can get.
Also, badger your classmates to keep working, for your score if for no one else's.

[Orb]

Truthfully, it's very difficult to go from where you currently are to a 40+ and one week is probably not enough time. The bigger question(s) you should be asking yourself right now is two-fold:

1. Would I rather work hard for the next week and get a 36 (hypothetically) or give up now and get a 33?

and

2. Looking back in a years' time, or a months' time, what line of action would I personally be most proud of?

Use your answers to 1 & 2 to inform what you should do from now on. Everything else (e.g. study score predictions, is it possible.. etc) will only detract you from your next step plans

All the best!

[The Cat In The Hat]

Also, to add to Orb's comment, think about your other subjects that you still have to do, if any, and study for the highest returns - for whatever goals you have: which might be to maximise your ATAR, or to get above a certain study score in a particular subject, or whatever. So, for example, I prioritised studying for Methods over studying for Revs - despite Revs being earlier than Methods, and both subjects needing to be in my top four - since it was likely to give me a higher return in increased study score per hour studied than Revs would, or even English.

[Coolgalbornin03Lo]

Truthfully, it's very difficult to go from where you currently are to a 40+ and one week is probably not enough time. The bigger question(s) you should be asking yourself right now is two-fold:

1. Would I rather work hard for the next week and get a 36 (hypothetically) or give up now and get a 33?

and

2. Looking back in a years' time, or a months' time, what line of action would I personally be most proud of?

Use your answers to 1 & 2 to inform what you should do from now on. Everything else (e.g. study score predictions, is it possible.. etc) will only detract you from your next step plans

All the best!

I think if I gave up now I’d get a 36+ so hmm maybe it is time 

[keltingmeith]

I think if I gave up now I’d get a 36+ so hmm maybe it is time 

But then, maybe if you put in that one last push, you'll be able to bring that to a 40+. Or maybe it'll just be a 39+, or maybe even a 38+ - but it will be higher that what you're on now. And what you're on now might be lower than 36.

We can't promise you higher than 40 if you continue to study, but we can promise you that if you stop now, you're condemned to whatever mark you're currently sitting on. Best case scenario - you still get your desired ATAR for your course. Worst case? What you have isn't enough.

Even if it looks like you won't reach your goals, that doesn't mean you can't get as close as physically possible with the time you have left. I can understand the crippling anxiety and how it might be restricting your ability - but if you let it get in the way every time you're unsure if you'll meet your goal, you condemn yourself to a life of mediocrity.

[tiredandstressed]

I think if I gave up now I’d get a 36+ so hmm maybe it is time 

One of my friends got a 36 raw with a B+ in the exam
He did get A's for both unit 3 and unit 4 sac but goes to show your definitely capable of achieving a 36 and over if you put your mind to it.
Be strategic with revision, focus on what VCCA typically likes to ask and perfect those particular questions and think about what topics they didn't cover last year but they could now that most of unit 4 aos 2 is removed -> plan for those type of questions and im sure you will put yourself in the best position 

[Orb]

I can understand the crippling anxiety and how it might be restricting your ability - but if you let it get in the way every time you're unsure if you'll meet your goal, you condemn yourself to a life of mediocrity.

Preach! Think about the decision you're making each day and multiply it 1000 times. Don't study tonight? Multiply that by 3 years in a row where you don't study each night and see how much of an impact it'll be. If you did this from the start of Year 10 to the end of Year 12, that's likely the difference between a 99.95 and a 75 ATAR. Drastic - but if you keep thinking "just this once" it'll become a long-run problem 

[Stormbreaker-X]

I’ve just come off 3 exams last week and am now turning my attention back to Chem. I must have “lost “ some skill because I did the 2017 vcaa exam and only got 71% but previously I had worked my way up to 75% in hard company exams and VCAA exams. With one week to go I need to get between 75-85% on the exam depending on how hard it is. I’m assuming it won’t be last year type hard so aim aiming more for 80%.

Unit 3: I got 73.5/100 maybe rank 80/137

Unit 4: 78/100 maybe rank 100/137

These are my guesses I asked the teacher and she said “I’m in a good spot” like the top half definitely, BUT it depends how everyone goes on the exam (it’ll determine how my SACs scale).

Will this exam score save my dreams of a 40+ or should I just give up?

To be truthful I think you should give it all best, but at the same time not be surprise if you don't get that 40. Normally to score 40 or above you really have to be ranked in the top of your cohort unless you got a strong one. My advice is just to keep doing practice exams and see how you go at the end of the day you can still score in the mid 30's which scales to 40. I will never ever say give up because that is just the wrong way to think. GL and keep us updated.

[Coolgalbornin03Lo]

Normally to score 40 or above you really have to be ranked in the top of your cohort unless you got a strong one.

My cohort is “strong” but I’m not sure if this year it’ll be the same usually a 70% average (with a decent exam score of course) allows for a 40 study score in bio and between 75-85 average last year yielded a 45 study score in chem because the SACs are hard.

I just want to bring it home with a worthy exam performance because that (and everyone else’s performance too) will determine how my SACs scale! Anyway I’ll keep you guys updated and probably lower my goals to a 37 so I don’t feel as if the exam is deciding my study score- take some pressure off my teacher believes I can get 85% and I hope he’s right.