Year 10 Subject/Elective Reviews & Ratings

[Joseph41]

This is a space where all current Year 9 students can read reviews by current/past Year 10 students in regards to Year 10 electives. This will, hopefully, assist with subject selection. Please note that, especially prior to VCE level, subjects many differ from school to school.

YEAR 10 SUBJECT REVIEWS:

Review Index
Current Totals
Creative Arts Subject Reviews: 1
English Subject Reviews: 1
Humanities Subject Reviews: 2
LOTE Subject Reviews: 0
Maths Subject Reviews: 1
Science Subject Reviews: 3
Technology Subject Reviews: 0
Health and Physical Education Subject Reviews: 2

Total: 10 Reviews
Total: 10 Subjects Covered

(2) (3) etc. denote 2^nd and 3^rd reviews.

Creative Arts Subjects (1)

Visual Communication Design - 2010

English Subjects (1)

English - 2019

Humanities Subjects (1)

Governing the modern world - 2019
History - 2019

LOTE Subjects (0)

Maths Subjects (1)

Maths advanced - 2019

Science Subjects (3)

Cells to Systems (Bio/Psych) - 2017 
Core Science - 2015
Forensics and the criminal mind - 2019

Technology Subjects (0)

Health and Physical Education Subjects (1)

Physical Education - 2019
Health and PE - 2019

This is a thread for subject reviews only.  If you have any questions, then please PM the member who wrote the review. The views expressed are those of the authors. Keep in mind that, despite best efforts, information provided may not be accurate.

We encourage you to review the subject(s) you have completed, even if someone else has already reviewed your subject(s). The more reviews we have, the more helpful this resource will be. Please do not name teachers or denigrate your school.

Please use the following template for subject reviews:

Code: [Select]

[b]Subject Name:[/b]

[b]Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:[/b]

[b]Workload:[/b]

[b]Assessment:[/b] (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)

[b]Exam Thoughts:[/b] (What's the structure? How hard was it?)

[b]Textbook Recommendation:[/b] (What did you use? How much did you use it?)

[b]Recommended Other Resources:[/b]

[b]Year of Completion:[/b]

[b]Rating:[/b]  out of 5

[b]Your Mark/Grade:[/b] (Optional)

[b]Comments:[/b] Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.

Updated as of reply #010

[Joseph41]

Subject Name:
Visual Communication & Design

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
I continued from Year 9 (started in Year 7), but you could pick it up fresh in Year 10.

Workload:
Moderate. It's one of those subjects where you could feasibly spend hours and hours on it, because design stuff is never really finished. But for the most part, I had time in class to complete the relevant assessments. I remember spending a few lunch times working on stuff but honestly, this was probably because I just enjoyed the subject.

There isn't a heap of theory like some other Year 10 subjects - it's mostly practical understanding and application. That's not to say that there's no theory at all, but it's different to, say, a science or maths subject.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
A lot of the year was spent working on drawing techniques and technical understanding through various assessments. For example (admittedly might be mixing up my years here a little):
* To learn about different technical drawing types, drawing the same object in isometric, orthogonal, planometric, one-point perspective etc.
* Going through the design process (research, idea generation, idea development etc.) by designing something from start to finish. We did this with the front cover of our school diary; whichever was deemed the best/most suitable was used the following year.
* Mini assignments responding to various briefs of fictional clients.

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
I honestly don't recall there being an exam at all. If there was, I'd imagine it would have covered basic drawing techniques, a little bit of theory (design elements and design principles), and responding to briefs.

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
I don't think we had a textbook for Year 10 VCD. For VCE, I used this one, which was fine but seldom used.

Recommended Other Resources:
If your school has access to Copic markers, learn how to use them! They are genuinely the most beautiful things in the world, and I hope you develop the same passion for them I did.

Year of Completion:
For Year 10, 2010.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Your Mark/Grade: A+

Comments:
I very genuinely enjoyed this subject - perhaps initially due to my teacher (who was a complete legend), but after that, too. I enjoyed it so much it developed in me an interest in design, and I was very close to pursuing design after high school in the end. If you take up VCD, don't do it as a bludge - it won't work out well. I know heaps of people who have done this, thinking it's "just drawing" or whatever, but the reality is, it can actually be quite time-consuming. If you end up producing a folio in Year 10, which you probably will, that's not going to be a bludge at all.

I recommend speaking with your teachers as much as you can to improve your drawing and design skills. And don't do what I did and assume that the research stage of the design process is pointless - it's actually very important!

[undefined]

This only applies to one school but it seems like half the year 9s on here want to go to JMSS anyways so

Subject Name:
Cells to Systems (Bio/Psych)

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
Picked up in year 10

Workload:
Not very high but varies from teacher to teacher

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
- Practical group write up (20%)
- Cells test (10%)
- Growth/development test (10%)
- Neuroscience test (10%)
- Exam (50%)
Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
The exam was pretty straight forward and easy but this is dependent on which semester you study the subject, as there are different teachers who have varying exam difficulties.

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
No textbook. Teacher made powerpoints.

Recommended Other Resources:
N/A

Year of Completion:
2017

Rating:  out of 5
5/5

Your Mark/Grade: (Optional)
A

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.
The subject itself is great if you intend to accelerate into Biology 3/4 in year 11 as it is essentially a combination of Biology and Psychology 1/2. It was very enjoyable and the teacher was great (he left at the end of last year however).


Subject Name:
Pharmaceutical Science (Chem)

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
Picked up in Year 10

Workload:
Moderate. Practical write up every week.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
- Monthly quizzes (20%)
- Solubility of enteric and non-enteric aspirin practical (15%)
- Practical logbook (10%)
- Promotion of drug pamphlet (25%)
- Exam (30%)

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
Split into 2 parts; practical and exam. Exam itself was almost the same as the previous year's and was very crammable. Practical was meant to be completed and written up in 25 minutes so it was very difficult to do well.

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
None. Although, now that I think about it, both Chem 1/2 and 3/4 textbooks would of helped a lot with the organic chemistry part of the course.

Recommended Other Resources:
Khan Academy, Chem textbook

Year of Completion:
2017

Rating:  out of 5
2/5

Your Mark/Grade: (Optional)
B

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.
The subject was great and started off interesting until the organic chemistry topic came. The workload suddenly increased substantially and we were given very little time to complete the practicals so it was very easy to fall behind. The content was around Unit 1 and 4 chemistry as well as some stuff related to pharmacology and drug absorption. Overall I recommend this subject if you're very interested in chemistry, however, it can turn tedious and hard very fast especially since there isn't a textbook to refer to if you start to struggle.

[Bri MT]

Subject Name:  Core Science

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:   We had standard science in year 9, year 10 was the first year we could choose a science stream (core (VCE science pathway) or forensic (more simplistic)

Workload:
Pretty easy. Just paying attention in class was enough to learn the content & the homework was fairly light.
Eg. going through the difference between distance and displacement was over multiple lessons.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
All I remember is that there was an assignment on cloning & also tests throughout the year

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
I think there was no textbook, or if there was we didn't use it much

Recommended Other Resources:


Year of Completion:
2015

Rating:  4 out of 5

Your Mark/Grade: (Optional)

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.

Basic introduction to scientific concepts used in VCE sciences. There was some opportunity for self extension and the teacher tried to implement a range of teaching styles targeted to the students.
Would choose certainly choose this over forensic science again.

[caffinatedloz]

Subject Name:
Governing the Modern World (Legal/Politics)

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
This was a continuation of some units we had done in Year 9 humanities.

Workload:
For my school at least, there was almost no homework and if there was it was very minimal. The time-consuming thing about this subject was how content dense it was when trying to revise. We covered the entire legal and political systems of Australia and Saudi Arabia as well as briefly looking at Afghanistan.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
For our school, there were three assessments: political systems test, legal systems test and the exam. Obviously, the exam was the largest assessment.

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
The exam was broken up into three sections, each worth 25 marks.
1. The Government (Australia)
2. The Legal System (Australia)
3. Saudi Arabia

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
We had the Oxford Big Ideas Hums Textbook and probably only used it two or three times. We also had digital access to a different textbook that our teacher provided which we used for the entire legal systems unit.

Recommended Other Resources:

Year of Completion:
One so far, but I am hoping to continue with global politics through VCE.

Rating:  out of 5
4/5 : Although I enjoyed the content I found the method that it was taught quite frustrating at times.

Your Mark/Grade: (Optional)
A* on all the assessments,

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.
I would recommend this subject, particularly if you have an interest in global politics ect. The best part was probably the excursion that we got to go on to Parliament House and the Courts.

[caffinatedloz]

Subject Name:
Maths (Advanced) Semeter 1

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
I continued this subject from Year 9.

Workload:
Fairly standard. It certainly wasn't easy but I didn't find it too difficult.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
- triganometry test
- surds, indices and logs test
- solving equations with algebraic fractions test
- simultaneous equations & coordinate geometry test
- simultaneous equations & coordinate geometry task

For extra credit:
- circle geometry test
- financial maths test

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
The exam was very difficult, a lot harder than any of the tests. It was made up of two forty minute sections, one without a calculator or notes followed by one where we were able to access them.

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
We used the textbook for everything!

Recommended Other Resources:
Our teacher provided powerpoints that she never actually went through with us but they were really helpful.

Year of Completion:
Two.

Rating:  3 out of 5
It was a very difficult job but also quite rewarding as I felt challenged and well prepared for VCE.

Your Mark/Grade: (Optional)
A

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.
The subject was fine. I found it frustrating at times but overall I think I enjoyed it. I would recommend working through all the questions you got wrong on tests through the unit as this was the best thing that I did to help me prepare for exams.

[caffinatedloz]

Subject Name: English (Semester 1)

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
Continued from Year 9.

Workload:
There was a fairly low workload in terms of homework. In terms of study, it was really up to you how much effort to put in but I found that a moderate amount was all required to do well.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
This may vary from school to school... but for us:
- Creative Response to Growing Up Asian in Australia (creative writing based on the themes or else a continuation of a story)
- Argument Analysis Assessment
- Essay about The Merchant of Venice
- Exam

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
Our exam had two parts:
1. Argument Analysis Essay (intro and one body paragraph)
2. The Merchant of Venice Essay (full essay with at least three body paragraphs and intro + conc)

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
We used the Senior English Skill Builder, but only for the short unit on Argument Analysis. Other than that we mainly used the texts we were studying.

Recommended Other Resources:
Whatever online notes you can find about the texts. (sparknotes, cliffsnotes, shmoop). I also made a thread in the Year 10 English section about TMOV with heaps of practice topics and summaries.

Year of Completion:
11 so far...

Rating: 5 out of 5

Your Mark/Grade: (Optional)
A*

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.
I absolutely love English and I feel like this is the year when I really started to understand how to write a good essay. Understanding good ways to structure each type of paragraph you will need to write is one of the best ways to succeed!!

[sara.vce]

Subject Name:
Physical Education

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
I continued it from Year 9.

Workload:
Moderate; revision took a long time for me because lots of terms needed to be memorised but in class, we would just copy notes from powerpoints and fill out booklets of questions. Plus, about once a week we got to play sport in the gym and focus on team-building skills, fitness and leadership.

Assessment:
1. Participation in a netball unit.
- assessed based on teamwork and leadership skills.
2. Lab reports
- analyse the way body systems respond to exercise (x3).
3. Written Report
- design a fitness program and include information on fitness components, workout phases and other fitness training principles
4. End-of-semester Exam

Exam Thoughts:
Not too difficult as many of the questions were similar to the ones done in class. It's important to know the key words for each question, though, so a lot of memorisation is involved. Fortunately there were lots of marks so you didn't have to get everything right to get a good score.

Textbook Recommendation:
We weren't given a textbook, we had a few different booklets for practise questions and used them a lot.

Recommended Other Resources:
Quizlet flashcards helped so much with memorising terms ( here's a set I used for some topics - https://chamomileandcolour.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/phys-ed-flashcards/ )
https://chamomileandcolour.wordpress.com/2019/08/15/the-musculo-skeletal-system-revision/

Year of Completion:
Year 10, 2019. (single semester subject)

Rating: 4 out of 5
Less sport and more theory than I expected but still really interesting. Most of the topics were simply logical continuations from Year 9 (but in more depth).

Comments:
Although it was different to what I expected (not much sport, similar knowledge to Year 9), I definitely recommend Year 10 P.E. I've also heard that it's pretty similar to VCE P.E., covering similar topics in less depth so it would be good to do if you're considering that subject.

[caffinatedloz]

Subject Name: Forensics and The Criminal Mind

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
I picked this up in Year 10 as a science elective.

Workload:
It was super chill if I'm honest. The only real homework was writing up super easy experiments we did in class. I think we probably spent most of the classes watching true crime documentaries and talking about them. (Or making fingerprints, blood spatters and shoe prints ect.)

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)\
There were three graded assessments for the semester:
1. Forensic Science Test
2. Forensic Psychology Investigation (design your own experiment + write up)
3. Exam

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
I'm doing the exam on Monday, but if it's anything like the test it should be really easy. There's a short MC and T/F section at the start followed by short answer questions about forensic science and forensic psychology.

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
We weren't asked to buy the textbook but I kind of wished we did. Instead every week we were given a new couple of photocopied pages of the textbook. We did literally everything on it.

Recommended Other Resources:
Watch and read about as much true crime as humanly possible. Also the "Forensic Files" videos on YouTube are really useful and specifically related.

Year of Completion:
2019

Rating: 4 out of 5

Comments: Give your overall opinion of the subject, content, assessment etc. and a recommendation, plus anything else which you feel is relevant.
This was a fairly chill subject, though a sound understanding of scientific method was really important for doing well. You have to be able to here about some pretty gory and horrific things, but it was very enjoyable. (The worst bit was probably an in-depth study into the James Bulger case.) If you like true crime- you'll be fine.

[caffinatedloz]

Subject Name: Health and PE

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
Continued from Year 9

Workload:
This was a compulsory subject but really felt like a bit of a bludge. The teachers were super strict about everyone being involved in all of the prac lessons and playing all of the sports. There was also an assignment each term (but we got time to work on them in class). It was fairly chill and I only had a little bit of homework on off occasions.

Assessment:
Each term (for PE) we were given a mark for our performance on the Beep Test, as well as a rubric about our general ability in the sports we were playing. In Term 3, we also had to choreograph a dance which was marked in groups. This was a really fun assessment!

In terms of the theoretical assessments, there were:
- An assignment about road rules, budgeting and safe cars, all in one.
- A digital presentation about mental health.
- A powerpoint presentation about drugs.

Exam Thoughts:
Thankfully, there wasn't an exam!

Textbook Recommendation:
We were given handouts from teachers and some websites to use. They were useful, but there wasn't a textbook.

Year of Completion:
2019

Rating: 3 out of 5

Comments:
In our class, we watched "The Sugar Film" at the end of the year. I would definitely recommend you watch the it, even if you don't do the subject. It is so, so interesting.

[caffinatedloz]

Subject Name: History

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
Continued from Year 9.

Workload:
The teacher didn't assign a lot of work, however, I put in a lot of practice at home and probably should have done more. (Especially practising document analysis...)

Assessment:
- A Document Analysis (WW2)
- A Mini Documentary (Rights and Freedoms)
- Exam (WW2, Rights and Freedoms, Migration)

Exam Thoughts:
The exam had a document analysis section for each exam. This was 15 marks for WW2, 15 marks for Rights & Freedoms and 10 marks for migration.

There was then a long answer question for each topic, worth 10 marks each for a total of 30 marks.

It wasn't super difficult, but I struggled to get everything done within the time.

Textbook Recommendation:
We had the Oxford Big Ideas Humanities 10 book; we relied on it quite heavily. We took notes and answered questions from it EVERY lesson. You really need it for the subject.

Recommended Other Resources:
Watch "Immigration Nation"- a three-part series on SBS that's on YouTube. It's super helpful for the migration unit.

Year of Completion:
2019

Rating: 2 out of 5

Your Mark/Grade: A

Comments:
The style our teacher had didn't suit me, but I really enjoyed the content- especially looking at the Rights and Freedoms movement in Australia (and the US). It's a fun subject, but there is a lot of content to learn!

[aplantaday]

Subject Name:
Fashion

Continued from Year 9 or picked up in Year 10?:
Picked up in year 10.

Workload:
The subject was only for one semester. Really not a lot, it was just making one garment.

Assessment: (Outline the various assessments which make up the subject and how much each counts for)
Folio of 20 annotated drawings in colour.
A garment

Exam Thoughts: (What's the structure? How hard was it?)
Exam was cancelled due to COVID.

Textbook Recommendation: (What did you use? How much did you use it?)
No textbook

Recommended Other Resources:
None

Year of Completion:
2021

Rating:  4 out of 5

Comments:
I feel like this review is kinda irrelevant since most school don't offer fashion but I think the subject was okay. I just felt that a lot of the people weren't really dedicated to the subject (they were watching videos in class and mostly just chatting). It often made me get stressed and mad a lot when I was drawing and when I had to unsew things and resew them all over again especially since there is limited time to sew, so if you get mad easily like me it might not be the subject for you. As a whole though, I felt like it was worthwhile and I learned a lot of new skills (I can actually use a sewing machine now).