3/4 Bound Reference: What is it and how to make/use it to the best level?

[panicatthelunchbar]

Hi everyone,

I am doing 3/4 next year and I am in Year 11. I haven't been exposed to too many exam techniques as of yet but I would like to know how I should go about making my bound reference, and how to make use of it efficiently?

Are we only allowed bound references in exams and SACs and what content can we put into it?

Basically, I would just like to make sure I have the right idea of the uses of it so I don't get penalised for something I wasn't too sure about!

Thanks!!

[bomb]

You can put whatever into it, the most efficient way to use it is to not use it at all. Most people don't even open it, you might look at one thing just to make sure but apart from that you'll virtually never use it.

If you ARE using it a lot, you didn't prepare enough.

[sheepgomoo]

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/correspondence/memorandums/2007/28.html

this website has the official specifications, principles, etc regarding bound references.

for methods, you can use a bound reference in tech allowed SACs and in the tech allowed exams. You can basically put whatever you want into the bound reference, its just that you cant have any pages/notes sticking out of the book, that can be detached, etc. It has to have a single spine, and you can probably bind two or more books together at an officeworks or some place like that. I've seen bound references that contain three exercise books, and a text book all bound together.

ummm what else? its pretty much all explained in the website, but if you have any other questions regarding it..

But yeah like bomb said, you will only really use it maybe to check something, a formula maybe. Generally you dont use it often. But some people want to be very "prepared" i guess, and put everything in their bound reference. its like a safeguard against you randomly forgetting a formula or something like that.

[dyaner]

Besides the bound reference, make sure you have completed ALL of the past VCAA papers. They're handy to pick out strengths and weaknesses for the reference itself.

Though I'm sure there's others who's more pro at advice than me.

[thushan]

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/correspondence/memorandums/2007/28.html

this website has the official specifications, principles, etc regarding bound references.

for methods, you can use a bound reference in tech allowed SACs and in the tech allowed exams. You can basically put whatever you want into the bound reference, its just that you cant have any pages/notes sticking out of the book, that can be detached, etc. It has to have a single spine, and you can probably bind two or more books together at an officeworks or some place like that. I've seen bound references that contain three exercise books, and a text book all bound together.

ummm what else? its pretty much all explained in the website, but if you have any other questions regarding it..

But yeah like bomb said, you will only really use it maybe to check something, a formula maybe. Generally you dont use it often. But some people want to be very "prepared" i guess, and put everything in their bound reference. its like a safeguard against you randomly forgetting a formula or something like that.

If the best way for you to learn the course is to summarise it, then compiling the bound book would be an excellent way to revise and bringing it into the exam would just be a bonus. If that's not the case, I don't recommend you spend hours writing a bound book; it's best if you use the time to do questions. Anyhow, as is often said, time's of the essence in the second exam and you would not want to rely on your bound book for every other question.

Personally, the textbook would make a good bound book, because you do have a table of contents to quickly find the section you are after.

On the other hand, the BEST thing you could put in a bound book is "READ THE QUESTION." Put it in permanent marker on your bound reference - in all seriousness. A maths teacher in my school (an assessor) recounts a dialogue between her and the chief assessor:

"What advice would you give to students doing Methods?"
"Read the question."
"OK OK besides that?"
"Read the question again."
"OK!! Anything else?"
"Yeah, read the question a third time!"

An 'error' section, where you can write things like 'units' and 'don't forget dx on integrals' would also be a very useful thing to put on your bound reference.

I used the A+ Notes (commercial ones) as my bound reference and I wrote in big letters: RTQ

[nacho]

In my opinion, you want to be good enough so that you can go into the SAC/exam and confidently say you don't even need the bound reference and it's just there incase of a mind blank (ex. forgetting the product rule)

This year, i saw myself in the first semester making cheat sheets for the first semester for my methods tests and averaged 85-90% (I was practically ROTE learning maths at this stage..)

The second semester, I tried to understand the concepts, and made the cheatsheet 5 mins before the test and usually gave it to some silly person who forgot to make one, this is when i was averaging 95%+

So, all in all, don't worry about bound references, put in only the really hard questions (make an error-log filled with all the questions you get wrong, or the "challenge questions" and write the solutions for those if you still can't do them after a lot of practice [unlikely])
Good luck

[taiga]

I would say to do heaps of trial exams, write down your mistakes, and then put them on a sheet in your reference, and refer to it once you have finished your real exam and are checking through to make sure the same mistakes weren't made

[Pixon]

This should help.

http://vce.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,34940.0.html

I only stress one thing: Since you're in year 11, you're probably reasonably decent at mathematics. Don't make heavy use of the bound book; you'll find that naturally you won't need it. I basically never used it within a sac or exam. (i make the same comment in my post within the thread)

[adelaide.emily10]

one of my friends did further 3/4 this year and she told me that for any bound reference for maths you should do the past vcaa exams and fix errors etc and get the exams bound with the rest of your notes, this is apparently because if the wording of a question puts it off you can refer to what it exactly asks etc. i'm not sure how true this is. i found in 1/2 that i never used my bound refernce except one or twice in the exam for a formula check, but others in my class constantly used their bound reference, so make sure your bound reference is personalised to your own needs, it might be more helpful than purchasing a commercial bound reference or copying a friend's.

[kevvy]

Yeah i'd say if you had to use the book a lot in an exam, you probably didn't prepare enough.
For me in year 11, i had my notes open all throughout my general exam constantly checking everything. got a 62% (i admit i didnt prepare much for it, except for the book).

for methods however, i didnt use the book at all, coz i had studied my arse off for it. got 92% for that.

[SDPHD]

I had a pretty thick bound reference this year.

I had all of Jack's notes from this year plus a LOT of loose leaf paper bound in to one.

(The loose leaf paper was to write some last minute things that I might have needed)

By the time the exam had finished, I hadn't referred to it once.

It's good to have in case you forget something basic in the midst of all the exam stress, it makes you feel safe.

But don't spend too much time making one, I reckon even a text book would suffice.

[tagasauras_dan]

My bound reference ended up being a piece of paper.  To be honest if you get enough practice and you know the course well enough you won't need to use it.  I did write stuff on mine regarding careless errors I had made while doing past exams 

[Zafaraaaa]

Most of the time, you won't use your bound reference but I brought mine in for assurance! But don't be like me with a disorganised bound reference..Throughout the year, just make a booklet of whatever questions or concepts you struggle with, and add to this booklet as the year progresses. When you start with your trial exams, also attach any questions that you couldn't understand the methodology or technique of. Write explanations or notes to each question in your booklet. This way, you won't be rushing at the end of the year, and also you won't have an obese bound reference bursting with papers you didn't need.

[thushan]

Hahaha Azure. I'd say bring your textbook - just in case.

[iNerd]

Hahaha Azure. I'd say bring your textbook - just in case.

Azure is the female version of you.

Pretty sure she's doing Biology and Methods - two 50s