Maths Methods 3/4 Help Thread 2011

[nbhindi]

What do you guys generally think of iTute exams, I personally think they're too obscure and not really what the VCAA would ask? :S

Yeah agree with you man. I have done ~ 3 Itute exams and have found that they deviate significantly from the conventional questions asked by VCAA. Having said that, the thought process required to solve these "obscure" questions does help in building your problem solving skills. Additionally, it broadens your mind as to how "standard questions" may be asked in a "non-standard" manner.   

[yawho]

A trial exam is a good exam if it consists mostly of questions that you couldn't do. So you find out the skills/concepts you haven't acquired before the real exam.

[b^3]

A trial exam is a good exam if it consists mostly of questions that you couldn't do. So you find out the skills/concepts you haven't acquired before the real exam.

True, but there is no point in irrelevant stuff that itute comes up with sometimes.

[yawho]

Like what?

[b^3]

I'm talking in general over itute's exams, not just for methods. For example the mid years physics exam, although it was for the newer study design, it had irrelevant questions that equations that we don't get and cannot derive using the knowledge that we are supposed to have. Even their solutions are a bit out at times, as in way too complex compared to the working that VCAA expects.

[paulsterio]

iTute exams are not indicative of VCAA Exams - anyone can write a hard exam, I've written a rather difficult part of a SAC before, but to write one that is balanced and challenging whist hard at the same time is quite hard, I still can't do it! D: - that's why I don't value iTute exams

[yawho]

so methods is ok.
physics: obscure, challenging sure, irrelevant no. A non-routine question does not make it irrelevant. What is the point in doing a trial exam when you know the answers?

[REBORN]

err with that mentality..you shouldn't be able to do any question?

The point is for practice, confidence and exposure to different styles of questions - both easy and hard.

[yawho]

If you know the answers you don't need to practice.

[yawho]

May be you mean if you don't practice you forget the answers.

[yawho]

correction: practise

[b^3]

so methods is ok.
physics: obscure, challenging sure, irrelevant no. A non-routine question does not make it irrelevant. What is the point in doing a trial exam when you know the answers?

The point of a practice exam is to firstly find where your weaker areas are so that you can work on them. Then it is (as said above) to build confidence in yourself that you should be able to answer any question that will come up in the REAL VCAA exam. You don't know the answers, you know how to approach the questions that you are going to face in the coming weeks. The reason I don't like itute exams is because (and yes this has been said above aswell) they are not gauge for VCAA exams and go off the scope of the course not only for physics, but for methods as well.

You may like them, and that is fine, you are entitled to your opinion.

[yawho]

have you noticed that vcaa methods exams are getting harder. say 10 years ago: find the amplitude and period of 2sin2x. compare with 2010

[b^3]

Yes they are getting harder as VCE is getting more competitive, but it is still within the scope of the study design, not way off somewhere where we will not need to know in the present. Anyway this is getting off topic, ending it now. Who wants help with methods?

[nacho]

correction: practise

you can edit your posts
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I  just did very poorly on the itute exam.. (<30 above 20)
what are you guys getting on it?
Although i made a heap of silly errors, i practically left the last two probability questions T_T .. should probably revise probability... probably
I think it was not a bad exam,
i learned a few safer short cuts which i will most likely use/recognise in the future.
But the quality of the itute exam was not as good as the MAV exam.. It's just a 'tedious' paper as opposed to difficult/thinking required