Further/GMA Query

[iNerd]

I've had a change of heart and decided Spesh is too hard for me

I'm allowed to change subjects at the start of Term 1 or after Semester 1.

Should I change straight away into Further Units 1/2 (General Standard) or do Unit 1 GMA then switch to Unit 2 Further.

Unit 1 GMA looks partly Further anyway? Going off the 2010 syllabus:
1. Indices
2. Set notation/surds
3. Variation
4. Sequences and series
5. Quadratics
6. Ratios/similarities etc
7. Trig/3D problems
8. Circle theorems/properties etc

Any of that Further? Variation? Seq n series? :S

What should I do? Any advice appreciated!

[luken93]

I'd do Spesh Unit 1 to start with, you don't need Further 1/2 at all so you may as well try Spesh out and see if you like it before you get rid of it.

As for the subjects, the only ones I know of are Sequences and Series and Variation, but I haven't done further so I'm not too sure

[Pixon]

I would do what luken suggests if you're still unsure. But if you are set on further, you might as well do the correct pathway to be as prepared as possible (as unnecessary as it is).
Just so you know...GMA is actually pretty hard (generally because you have to pick up so many new concepts very quickly) and not that I know anything about Further but a lot of what you take from GMA goes almost directly into the Specialist course which I don't think has very many similarities to the Further course.

[iNerd]

GMA is actually pretty hard

Exactly what I figured after surverying the book, syllabus, class projects and practice exams. I mean it's undue stress/pressure for Semester 2 anyway...but Unit 1 Further is a waste? 3 weeks on Linear shit -.- ...still thinking.

[ben_ess12]

I'm doing GMA as well this year....
Might as well give it a shot and see how u go, if u find that you are struggling with it you can drop it but no point not having a go

[iNerd]

I'm doing GMA as well this year....
Might as well give it a shot and see how u go, if u find that you are struggling with it you can drop it but no point not having a go

But is it worth spending energy learning non-Further concepts such as Trig in 3D, circle theorems and the lot because I have to pass to get 'diploma credits' (school shitty thing).
And I'm wondering if I should take the traditional route of Further 1 - 4 or do GMA 1, Further 2 - 4 :S

[Pixon]

GMA is actually pretty hard

Exactly what I figured after surverying the book, syllabus, class projects and practice exams. I mean it's undue stress/pressure for Semester 2 anyway...but Unit 1 Further is a waste? 3 weeks on Linear shit -.- ...still thinking.

Dude...I'll be honest, I was given a GMS test for fun once and I couldn't do it. Simply because I'd never learnt some stuff like a Simplex. I think there are lots of random things in there like that which you wouldn't actually learn unless you did it...linear programming and stuff. It's not hard to understand, but I just hadn't seen a question like that before and I was given no explanation. It's definitely not in methods and spesh.

Edit: just cos you mention "non-further concepts"...I will say that some of it is quite useful for methods.

[iNerd]

GMA is actually pretty hard

Exactly what I figured after surverying the book, syllabus, class projects and practice exams. I mean it's undue stress/pressure for Semester 2 anyway...but Unit 1 Further is a waste? 3 weeks on Linear shit -.- ...still thinking.

Dude...I'll be honest, I was given a GMS test for fun once and I couldn't do it. Simply because I'd never learnt some stuff like a Simplex. I think there are lots of random things in there like that which you wouldn't actually learn unless you did it...linear programming and stuff. It's not hard to understand, but I just hadn't seen a question like that before and I was given no explanation. It's definitely not in methods and spesh.

Edit: just cos you mention "non-further concepts"...I will say that some of it is quite useful for methods.

What on earth is a Simplex? -.-
And what are you suggesting now? Still stick with GMA for Methods help and review Further 1 in Semester holidays...? :S

[Romperait]

GMA was probably my hardest subject last year. =)

[Pixon]

What on earth is a Simplex? -.-
And what are you suggesting now? Still stick with GMA for Methods help and review Further 1 in Semester holidays...? :S

I think it has something to do with a shape or something made out of lines on a Cartesian graph, and the solution to a question lies on the perimeter of that shape (honestly I'm still not sure).
I'd say go with GMS because you're doing the 1/2 course for methods. I never did the 1/2 for methods which is maybe why I found GMA more useful for methods...but that's not to say it won't help you with the 1/2 as well. Just asses how you feel about methods and further. Personally, I would do GMS because I wouldn't want to go into year 12 completely unfamiliar with a subject. But then again, many will tell you that GMS is completely unnecessary. Your choice.

GMA was probably my hardest subject last year. =)

This. It's actually harder than methods 3/4 in many ways. But...GMA is awesome at the same time...especially at my school.

[iNerd]

What on earth is a Simplex? -.-
And what are you suggesting now? Still stick with GMA for Methods help and review Further 1 in Semester holidays...? :S

I think it has something to do with a shape or something made out of lines on a Cartesian graph, and the solution to a question lies on the perimeter of that shape (honestly I'm still not sure).
I'd say go with GMS because you're doing the 1/2 course for methods. I never did the 1/2 for methods which is maybe why I found GMA more useful for methods...but that's not to say it won't help you with the 1/2 as well. Just asses how you feel about methods and further. Personally, I would do GMS because I wouldn't want to go into year 12 completely unfamiliar with a subject. But then again, many will tell you that GMS is completely unnecessary. Your choice.

GMA was probably my hardest subject last year. =)

This. It's actually harder than methods 3/4 in many ways.

Don't many many people go into Further 3/4 without 1/2 though? It's now a question of weighing up the benefits of practising indices/quadratics etc for Methods vs the time used for irrelevant material (3D trig etc) vs the 'traditional' route of Further 1 -4 ...

[Romperait]

What on earth is a Simplex? -.-
And what are you suggesting now? Still stick with GMA for Methods help and review Further 1 in Semester holidays...? :S

I think it has something to do with a shape or something made out of lines on a Cartesian graph, and the solution to a question lies on the perimeter of that shape (honestly I'm still not sure).
I'd say go with GMS because you're doing the 1/2 course for methods. I never did the 1/2 for methods which is maybe why I found GMA more useful for methods...but that's not to say it won't help you with the 1/2 as well. Just asses how you feel about methods and further. Personally, I would do GMS because I wouldn't want to go into year 12 completely unfamiliar with a subject. But then again, many will tell you that GMS is completely unnecessary. Your choice.

GMA was probably my hardest subject last year. =)

This. It's actually harder than methods 3/4 in many ways.

Don't many many people go into Further 3/4 without 1/2 though? It's now a question of weighing up the benefits of practising indices/quadratics etc for Methods vs the time used for irrelevant material (3D trig etc) vs the 'traditional' route of Further 1 -4 ...

I think only one or two people at our school did Further 3/4 in year 11 (not sure if they did 1/2 or not), while there was ~20 doing Methods 3/4 without 1/2.

[Menang]

Are you naturally good at Maths?

I did GMA last year, because I thought that most other subjects, like further, wouldn't need the 1/2. So by doing GMA I thought I was keeping my options open.

In the end I absolutely hated GMA (I was okay Semester One, but by Semester Two I was a mess) and pretty much gave up on it.

If you don't actually like maths/don't think you will like the content in the syllabus, don't do it.

If you find GMA hard, chances are Specialist is going to be way harder and I would just drop it now.

Having a 1/2 you're really struggling with gets annoying - especially when you'd rather work on other subjects or your 3/4 subject.

[iNerd]

It's now a question of weighing up the benefits of practising indices/quadratics etc for Methods vs the time used for irrelevant material (3D trig etc) vs the 'traditional' route of Further 1 -4 ...

That's what I'm pondering. I can cope with Unit 1 GMA due to its Methods similarity and not many new concepts like vectors/complex numbers but will I miss stuff in Further 1...

Are you naturally good at Maths?

No.

[Pixon]

GMA is only enjoyable if you actually like maths. It is a pretty decent subject if you like the challenge...similarly to how people find Spesh rewarding if you put in the work. But if you find GMA too difficult and don't like maths then it'll be strenuous, time consuming and distressing, all of which can affect your study for other subjects.

It's now a question of weighing up the benefits of practising indices/quadratics etc for Methods vs the time used for irrelevant material (3D trig etc) vs the 'traditional' route of Further 1 -4 ...

That's what I'm pondering. I can cope with Unit 1 GMA due to its Methods similarity and not many new concepts like vectors/complex numbers but will I miss stuff in Further 1...

You're doing Methods 1/2. You'll be fine without GMA.