How HARD is specialist?

[nbalakers24]

OVER9000, having done Specialist Maths this year I can say personally it was a really interesting subject. If you are decent at maths, and if you enjoy a bit of maths from time to time, doing Specialist Maths can be really rewarding. After doing Specialist, you will also realise that Methods also becomes extremely easy. Specialist covers most of the Methods course, with mainly just the topic of probability which stands out alone for Methods. Considering you are averaging 80%, I think that is more than enough to continue with Specialist.

Comparing Specialist with General Maths in Year 11 I can say that some of the year 11 material is irrelevant, however, a lot of the theory learned in Year 11 is relearned in Year 12 and applied to more complex and difficult analysis problems. Year 11 General Maths is kind of like the grounding knowledge you will need to take on Specialist Maths. The topics which will be covered again are trigonometry, calculus, complex numbers, vectors and dynamics, but at a more complex level. This theory is re-taught in Year 12, however this time you will actually apply these concepts to questions, often utilising many of the 'ideas' you have come to learn to answer an analysis question or short answer questions in the final exams.

As kdgamz has said, Specialist is largely a 'concept' subject. You must understand the concept behind the maths to do well in it. Although doing 100 trial exam papers may help you understand how to do specific questions (which will help you for Exam One), if you do not understand the particular concepts, you will struggle to work through harder and more unique VCAA analysis questions in Exam Two. Overall though, I would say if you work consistently through the year, by the end of the year you will come to enjoy doing Specialist Maths rather than fear it.

Just my two cents

Btw do you think spesh would be a good choice for me next year? Coz I'm averaing 50% ish in legal studies.

getting 50% in legal studies will give you the basics so yeah, i think you will do fine next year.

[Over9000]

OVER9000, having done Specialist Maths this year I can say personally it was a really interesting subject. If you are decent at maths, and if you enjoy a bit of maths from time to time, doing Specialist Maths can be really rewarding. After doing Specialist, you will also realise that Methods also becomes extremely easy. Specialist covers most of the Methods course, with mainly just the topic of probability which stands out alone for Methods. Considering you are averaging 80%, I think that is more than enough to continue with Specialist.

Comparing Specialist with General Maths in Year 11 I can say that some of the year 11 material is irrelevant, however, a lot of the theory learned in Year 11 is relearned in Year 12 and applied to more complex and difficult analysis problems. Year 11 General Maths is kind of like the grounding knowledge you will need to take on Specialist Maths. The topics which will be covered again are trigonometry, calculus, complex numbers, vectors and dynamics, but at a more complex level. This theory is re-taught in Year 12, however this time you will actually apply these concepts to questions, often utilising many of the 'ideas' you have come to learn to answer an analysis question or short answer questions in the final exams.

As kdgamz has said, Specialist is largely a 'concept' subject. You must understand the concept behind the maths to do well in it. Although doing 100 trial exam papers may help you understand how to do specific questions (which will help you for Exam One), if you do not understand the particular concepts, you will struggle to work through harder and more unique VCAA analysis questions in Exam Two. Overall though, I would say if you work consistently through the year, by the end of the year you will come to enjoy doing Specialist Maths rather than fear it.

Just my two cents

Btw do you think spesh would be a good choice for me next year? Coz I'm averaing 50% ish in legal studies.

getting 50% in legal studies will give you the basics so yeah, i think you will do fine next year.

Basically most of the stuff you learn in legal studies is carried over to spesh so if ur doing really well (~50%) then I think you should go for it.

[lacoste]

OVER9000, having done Specialist Maths this year I can say personally it was a really interesting subject. If you are decent at maths, and if you enjoy a bit of maths from time to time, doing Specialist Maths can be really rewarding. After doing Specialist, you will also realise that Methods also becomes extremely easy. Specialist covers most of the Methods course, with mainly just the topic of probability which stands out alone for Methods. Considering you are averaging 80%, I think that is more than enough to continue with Specialist.

Comparing Specialist with General Maths in Year 11 I can say that some of the year 11 material is irrelevant, however, a lot of the theory learned in Year 11 is relearned in Year 12 and applied to more complex and difficult analysis problems. Year 11 General Maths is kind of like the grounding knowledge you will need to take on Specialist Maths. The topics which will be covered again are trigonometry, calculus, complex numbers, vectors and dynamics, but at a more complex level. This theory is re-taught in Year 12, however this time you will actually apply these concepts to questions, often utilising many of the 'ideas' you have come to learn to answer an analysis question or short answer questions in the final exams.

As kdgamz has said, Specialist is largely a 'concept' subject. You must understand the concept behind the maths to do well in it. Although doing 100 trial exam papers may help you understand how to do specific questions (which will help you for Exam One), if you do not understand the particular concepts, you will struggle to work through harder and more unique VCAA analysis questions in Exam Two. Overall though, I would say if you work consistently through the year, by the end of the year you will come to enjoy doing Specialist Maths rather than fear it.

Just my two cents

Btw do you think spesh would be a good choice for me next year? Coz I'm averaing 50% ish in legal studies.

getting 50% in legal studies will give you the basics so yeah, i think you will do fine next year.

Basically most of the stuff you learn in legal studies is carried over to spesh so if ur doing really well (~50%) then I think you should go for it.

No doubt mate, put in the work and you should be fine!

lmao, yes legal studies provide the foundations for success as OVER 9000 said, theres nothing to worry about !!

[kamil9876]

Hey guys, should I take spec next year considering i've been averaging a field's medal every four years?

[lacoste]

Hey guys, should I take spec next year considering i've been averaging a field's medal every four years?

Definitely not, you should be in the olympics in London. with that talent you need to push harder and average over9000 medals


ps: last exam tomos pumped!!

[YT_17]

it is not about whether it is hard or not.........it is about ur interest for maths.......i am a non science student and i laugh at myself becoz i did spesh this year........dunno why......overall.....i have to say that this is a fun subject.....it makes u to hate it as well as loving it.........

[Over9000]

Hey guys, should I take spec next year considering i've been averaging a field's medal every four years?

I think you will find that with enough dedication and diligence, you will be able to have a successful year in spesh next year. Most of the topics you would have studied on ur field trip thingy will be similarly covered by spesh as well, so gl.

[kdgamz]

lol its funny how threads nearly always go off-topic

[Over9000]

lol its funny how threads nearly always go off-topic

Too true trunks.

[mystikal]

it is not about whether it is hard or not.........it is about ur interest for maths.......i am a non science student and i laugh at myself becoz i did spesh this year........dunno why......overall.....i have to say that this is a fun subject.....it makes u to hate it as well as loving it.........

non science student doesnt mean you are a non maths student =D

[YT_17]

haha.......it is just funny how science is always related to maths.......LOL

it is not about whether it is hard or not.........it is about ur interest for maths.......i am a non science student and i laugh at myself becoz i did spesh this year........dunno why......overall.....i have to say that this is a fun subject.....it makes u to hate it as well as loving it.........

non science student doesnt mean you are a non maths student =D

[YT_17]

Eh,  why is spesh related to legal studies?

Hey guys, I don't do Legal Studies right now, but do you think if I picked it up next year though, my Spesh performance may increase??
Say... around 50% better?
I'm hoping so, Spesh will be tough without a Legal Studies background.

[THem]

rofl

[minilunchbox]

Eh,  why is spesh related to legal studies?

Hey guys, I don't do Legal Studies right now, but do you think if I picked it up next year though, my Spesh performance may increase??
Say... around 50% better?
I'm hoping so, Spesh will be tough without a Legal Studies background.

lol oh dear.

[Mao]

Hey guys I did Specialist last year, should I do Legal next year to boost my study score in Specialist? My SAC average is %