ATAR Notes: Forum
National Education => Admissions tests => Selective Schools Admissions Tests => Topic started by: pangushi on March 12, 2019, 07:05:18 pm
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Hello Everyone !
This year I’ll be sitting the test for one of the selective schools with Mac Rob being my first and Suzanne Cory as my second and I was wondering if anyone has any tips and/or tricks to succeed? Maths is my weakness while English is my strength. If any past people have sat the test (have or have not made it in I don’t mind) can you please tell me how it went and how difficult the test is and important things/topics I may need to know?
I also do go to tutoring but I’m quite behind as I started this year while the course started in June last year.
Would also love to make friends here :D
Thanks!
- Pangushi
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Hello Everyone !
This year I’ll be sitting the test for one of the selective schools with Mac Rob being my first and Suzanne Cory as my second and I was wondering if anyone has any tips and/or tricks to succeed? Maths is my weakness while English is my strength. If any past people have sat the test (have or have not made it in I don’t mind) can you please tell me how it went and how difficult the test is and important things/topics I may need to know?
I also do go to tutoring but I’m quite behind as I started this year while the course started in June last year.
Would also love to make friends here :D
Thanks!
- Pangushi
Hey!
Took the test in 2014, honestly didn't find it too bad!
I can't remember much honestly (since it was 4 and a bit years ago!), but I do know that the exam is pretty much designed to weed out the slow thinkers. My advice to you, especially for maths, is to remember the basics and do many practise questions as you can.
Anecdotally, I still remember to this day that on the maths test, I didn't even know my times table lol so I wasted collectively a minute doing them.
For the English ones (not the essay), I suggest you look up words you don't know and read tonnes of books. My tip for the essay writing is a bit outdated as we only had 15 mins to write (I think you guys get up to 30 mins?), but what I did was plan out dot points quickly, and cross out the ones that aren't coherent.
Hope this helps, reach out if you need more help.
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time is not on your time :P
recommend doing past exams in strict condition to get you used to their strict timeline
also I recommend hand writing all your practise essays because you really need to write fast
don't stress. yeah screw dat...u better stress its a tough competition out there and once u see the crowd u realise why.. ;D
Anyways y'all Good LUCK not that u need it
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Hello Everyone !
This year I’ll be sitting the test for one of the selective schools with Mac Rob being my first and Suzanne Cory as my second and I was wondering if anyone has any tips and/or tricks to succeed? Maths is my weakness while English is my strength. If any past people have sat the test (have or have not made it in I don’t mind) can you please tell me how it went and how difficult the test is and important things/topics I may need to know?
I also do go to tutoring but I’m quite behind as I started this year while the course started in June last year.
Would also love to make friends here :D
Thanks!
- Pangushi
I’m giving the selective test this year and I started my selective course in June last year(Spectrum)
I recommend trying out the ‘De Roza practice selective entry tests’ as they are really similar to the real exam.
Good luck:)
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Hey!
Took the test in 2014, honestly didn't find it too bad!
I can't remember much honestly (since it was 4 and a bit years ago!), but I do know that the exam is pretty much designed to weed out the slow thinkers. My advice to you, especially for maths, is to remember the basics and do many practise questions as you can.
Anecdotally, I still remember to this day that on the maths test, I didn't even know my times table lol so I wasted collectively a minute doing them.
For the English ones (not the essay), I suggest you look up words you don't know and read tonnes of books. My tip for the essay writing is a bit outdated as we only had 15 mins to write (I think you guys get up to 30 mins?), but what I did was plan out dot points quickly, and cross out the ones that aren't coherent.
Hope this helps, reach out if you need more help.
Thank you so much for your quick reply, I’m not exactly a slow thinker but more of a guesser so that’s that (not a thing to be proud of rip) Thanks for the advice though, really appreciated. If you do not mind me asking, did you get accepted?
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time is not on your time :P
recommend doing past exams in strict condition to get you used to their strict timeline
also I recommend hand writing all your practise essays because you really need to write fast
don't stress. yeah screw dat...u better stress its a tough competition out there and once u see the crowd u realise why.. ;D
Anyways y'all Good LUCK not that u need it
Honestly I’m stressing out already and still have around 3 months to go ahhh. Thanks for the tips though.
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I’m giving the selective test this year and I started my selective course in June last year(Spectrum)
I recommend trying out the ‘De Roza practice selective entry tests’ as they are really similar to the real exam.
Good luck:)
Oh hey, I go to spectrum aswell ! Bit of a latecomer though rip. Which one do you go to and what school are you applying for? And if you don’t mind, can you tell me what I have missed out on in the last 6 months? Thanks for the tips also :)
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Thank you so much for your quick reply, I’m not exactly a slow thinker but more of a guesser so that’s that (not a thing to be proud of rip) Thanks for the advice though, really appreciated. If you do not mind me asking, did you get accepted?
Yes, I was accepted straight in (no principals discretion)
I'd advise you see your current teachers now and go over the concepts you're struggling with (esp for maths as you said it's your weakness)
Good luck :)
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Oh hey, I go to spectrum aswell ! Bit of a latecomer though rip. Which one do you go to and what school are you applying for? And if you don’t mind, can you tell me what I have missed out on in the last 6 months? Thanks for the tips also :)
I go to the St Albans campus.
I’m applying for MHS 1st preference(it was supposed to be Suzanne but i changed it) and 2nd is Suzanne Cory.
I don’t have my Spectrum books from last year but as far as I can remember, we have done:
Percentages, ratios and decimals
Algebra(Linear)
Unitary method and number patterns
Fractions
A bit of inequalities
A lot of problem solving.
The whole last term was basically about graphs, y and x intercept, gradients and index laws.
We also do practice tests for math, verbal and reading comp at the end of every term(in class)
In term 3 for english(term 1 in selective course) we have done Creative writing, which includes imagery, personification, similes, metaphors, action sequences, show not tell.
Last term for english we have done persuasive writing, which includes TEEL, a structure for rebuttal and a structure for intro n conclusion.
This term we r repeating creative writing(idk why).
We also did some verbal reasoning here and there(especially this term).
Good luck!
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Yes, I was accepted straight in (no principals discretion)
I'd advise you see your current teachers now and go over the concepts you're struggling with (esp for maths as you said it's your weakness)
Good luck :)
Wow you are smartttttt. I have got some questions (sorry and hope you do not mind once again) but which school(s) did you apply for, in maths, do you know like any short cuts to find the answer instead of doing the entire equation and last question (i think sorry once again) but which test did you find the hardest and easiest?
Sorry for all the questions again
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I go to the St Albans campus.
I’m applying for MHS 1st preference(it was supposed to be Suzanne but i changed it) and 2nd is Suzanne Cory.
I don’t have my Spectrum books from last year but as far as I can remember, we have done:
Percentages, ratios and decimals
Algebra(Linear)
Unitary method and number patterns
Fractions
A bit of inequalities
A lot of problem solving.
The whole last term was basically about graphs, y and x intercept, gradients and index laws.
We also do practice tests for math, verbal and reading comp at the end of every term(in class)
In term 3 for english(term 1 in selective course) we have done Creative writing, which includes imagery, personification, similes, metaphors, action sequences, show not tell.
Last term for english we have done persuasive writing, which includes TEEL, a structure for rebuttal and a structure for intro n conclusion.
This term we r repeating creative writing(idk why).
We also did some verbal reasoning here and there(especially this term).
Good luck!
Oh niceeee, guess I had missed out on alot oops. Is maths or english your strength by the way? Also I go to the Footscray campus :D
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Wow you are smartttttt. I have got some questions (sorry and hope you do not mind once again) but which school(s) did you apply for, in maths, do you know like any short cuts to find the answer instead of doing the entire equation and last question (i think sorry once again) but which test did you find the hardest and easiest?
Sorry for all the questions again
I applied for MHS and NHS (got into MHS).
There really aren't any shortcuts when it comes to Maths. For numerical thinking, I usually try and visualise what's happening and slowly digest the words as to not misconstrue the intent of the question. I don't really have any tips for the maths one as it's hard to cut corners. I guess my advice would be to take extra care with negative signs.
What I did for maths, knowing I had to spend at least 30 seconds on each question, was that if I couldn't do the question in less than 15 seconds then I just move on to the next and come back.
The reading comprehension was by far the simplest - I had plenty of time to go over my answers confidently.
The hardest was definitely numerical reasoning - I hate deciphering worded problems lol
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Oh niceeee, guess I had missed out on alot oops. Is maths or english your strength by the way? Also I go to the Footscray campus :D
I’m really good at maths but I’m super bad at English.
Here’s my order for the tests from easiest to hardest(estimate)
1.numerical reasoning
2.maths
3.essay
4.verbal reasoning
5.reading comp
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I applied for MHS and NHS (got into MHS).
There really aren't any shortcuts when it comes to Maths. For numerical thinking, I usually try and visualise what's happening and slowly digest the words as to not misconstrue the intent of the question. I don't really have any tips for the maths one as it's hard to cut corners. I guess my advice would be to take extra care with negative signs.
What I did for maths, knowing I had to spend at least 30 seconds on each question, was that if I couldn't do the question in less than 15 seconds then I just move on to the next and come back.
The reading comprehension was by far the simplest - I had plenty of time to go over my answers confidently.
The hardest was definitely numerical reasoning - I hate deciphering worded problems lol
Oh gosh I actually hate negative signs honestly.
When sitting the test, is there a live timer right in front of you or will there be like people letting you know when there is like 5 minutes left?
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I’m really good at maths but I’m super bad at English.
Here’s my order for the tests from easiest to hardest(estimate)
1.numerical reasoning
2.maths
3.essay
4.verbal reasoning
5.reading comp
Many people have told me that english is my strength so I am just going to go with that ahhaha.
For me, I think it would be:
1. Reading Comprehension
2. Writing
3. Verbal Reasoning
4. Maths
5. Numerical Reasoning
I feel like I am just gonna flop the test tbh. :(
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Many people have told me that english is my strength so I am just going to go with that ahhaha.
For me, I think it would be:
1. Reading Comprehension
2. Writing
3. Verbal Reasoning
4. Maths
5. Numerical Reasoning
I feel like I am just gonna flop the test tbh. :(
Believe in yourself!
We have the opposite strengths😂
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Oh gosh I actually hate negative signs honestly.
When sitting the test, is there a live timer right in front of you or will there be like people letting you know when there is like 5 minutes left?
Sorry! I can not remember whether they had a live timer or not - I wasn't wearing my glasses anyways so I wouldn't have noticed :P
We were given 5 minute warnings though. Make sure you actually stop writing when times up otherwise you're screwing yourself over (I've heard bad stories about it).
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Believe in yourself!
We have the opposite strengths😂
Oh yeah we do ahahaha. I really think I will struggle with maths as I’m even struggling with week 6 topic surfs :(
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Sorry! I can not remember whether they had a live timer or not - I wasn't wearing my glasses anyways so I wouldn't have noticed :P
We were given 5 minute warnings though. Make sure you actually stop writing when times up otherwise you're screwing yourself over (I've heard bad stories about it).
Oh that’s all good ahaha. Wouldn’t pressure you to remember something so far back. Honestly, I’m that type of person who if doesn’t finish, would sneak an answer or two or finish the sentence but let’s hope I use my time wisely here. Would hate to jeopardise my chance.
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Oh yeah we do ahahaha. I really think I will struggle with maths as I’m even struggling with week 6 topic surfs :(
Don’t worry, just keep practising and you’ll get it.
I was fine with week 6 and week 7 surds but week 5 volume and surface area of cylinders and other shapes was pretty hard.
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Hey,
I am writing the exam this year too and I started to go to edu-kingdom tutoring from October last year so we are sort of on the same page ahaha:)
For me, English is my strength and maths is my weakness. Some tips I have got from others is don't pressure yourself and don't be nervous. Most importantly, dont be overconfident with questions you find easy as that may be a reason to make a silly mistake.
Also now that we have 30 minutes to write + 10 minutes planning time dont stress to much about it. However, make sure your piece is still good and don't go too in-depth:)
I also did a few henderson workshops and i definitely recommend them :)
Good Luck and message me if you want to discuss further
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Don’t worry, just keep practising and you’ll get it.
I was fine with week 6 and week 7 surds but week 5 volume and surface area of cylinders and other shapes was pretty hard.
Yeah I am starting to get the hang of surds now ahhaha. Also, are you going to attend the mock exam?
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Hey,
I am writing the exam this year too and I started to go to edu-kingdom tutoring from October last year so we are sort of on the same page ahaha:)
For me, English is my strength and maths is my weakness. Some tips I have got from others is don't pressure yourself and don't be nervous. Most importantly, dont be overconfident with questions you find easy as that may be a reason to make a silly mistake.
Also now that we have 30 minutes to write + 10 minutes planning time dont stress to much about it. However, make sure your piece is still good and don't go too in-depth:)
I also did a few henderson workshops and i definitely recommend them :)
Good Luck and message me if you want to discuss further
Hello ! Just wondering, is edu kingdom good? A lot of people who I know from my school are attending there for the selective and I am kind of scared going up against them ahahahah. What school are you trying to get into by the way?
I feel like trying some hendersons workshops because apparently there are really similar to the actual exam but harder.
Good luck to you too :)
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Yes, edu-kingdom is good. They really help you with your time-management skills however if you want to go to a tutoring where they actually teach you the topics then I don't recommend Edu-Kingdom as they don't go over the individual topics.
My 1st preference is Suzanne Cory, 2nd is Macrob, and 3rd is Nossal.
What about you?
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oof I haven’t been on atarnotes in ages
I noticed people were talking about the tests they find easiest so here’s mine from easiest to hardest
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical
Writing
Maths
Reading
also I go to James Ann for tutoring
good luck to all ;)
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also my easiest to hardest is
1. reading comp
2. verbal reasoning
3.numerical
4. maths
5. writing
lol its kinda surprising to see how much it varies
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Lol hi guys I did the exam for 2018 and unfortunately did not get in.
You guys should know about the hendersons mock exams right? Anyway, prior to the exam I had studied a lot and once it came to the mock exam I came out with five superiors. In the real exam I only had one superior.
Just because you get good marks in mock exams does not mean that you are guaranteed to get into these schools. You guys have to put in the hard work and not get carried away by these results. Try to be as prepared as you can, event though these mock exams are similar to the real exam in a way, you can never predict what will be on the test. My advice to all of you doing the test this year is too put in the hard work, and I can assure you, the outcome will be positive.
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By the way guys, the exam for math last year was extremely difficult, I think it had some very complicated concepts such as functions and relations. You guys should thoroughly study the year 9 content, and most of the year 10 content. I dont know how hard the math test will be this year, but you guys need to keep flipping through textbooks and studying the content.
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What was the math topics in last years math test
In numerical reasoning what kind of questions was it
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Yeah I am starting to get the hang of surds now ahhaha. Also, are you going to attend the mock exam?
Nope, way too expensive and from what I’ve heard, it’s way easier than the real exam.
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Nope, way too expensive and from what I’ve heard, it’s way easier than the real exam.
Oh really? Alot of people have said that it is very similar to the actual exam
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Oh really? Alot of people have said that it is very similar to the actual exam
No, it’s not. One of my family friend did the mock exam and got 5 superiors, yet he got 1 superior in the real exam(got pd but didn’t make it in)
I may be wrong though, don’t take my words for granted.
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No, it’s not. One of my family friend did the mock exam and got 5 superiors, yet he got 1 superior in the real exam(got pd but didn’t make it in)
I may be wrong though, don’t take my words for granted.
Oh okay, but I guess it is still good to do just to get an experience. However I must admit that they are too expensive :)
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I sat the henderson's mock exam 2 days ago. The standard was pretty low, superiors were like in the 30's for every subject with writing being 16. Personally I found the questions were pretty hard, but I don't know how that will compare in the actual test.
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I sat the henderson's mock exam 2 days ago. The standard was pretty low, superiors were like in the 30's for every subject with writing being 16. Personally I found the questions were pretty hard, but I don't know how that will compare in the actual test.
One of my friend did the Mock Exam on Sunday and she got 2 superiors (writing and numerical)
She did mention that the maths was very difficult though. How did you find it?
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The superior mark was in the low 30s and high 20s for numerical and maths so I am guessing everyone found it hard. I managed to get 8 or more marks higher than the superior mark for both. I flunked the writing though, we all have strengths in different areas so I'd recommend not to stress about it.
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The superior mark was in the low 30s and high 20s for numerical and maths so I am guessing everyone found it hard. I managed to get 8 or more marks higher than the superior mark for both. I flunked the writing though, we all have strengths in different areas so I'd recommend not to stress about it.
Wow I haven’t been here for a while damn ahaha.
Hey The Progenitor, for the hendersons mock exam, do they help give you the solutions after the exam or do they only tick/cross them (e.g if you got a question wrong would they only put a cross next to it or would they add a solution to help you out?)
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They do not tell you the solutions in person, they provide a booklet that has the method and solutions to every question in every subject. This is used at home after the exam to look over questions that you got wrong.
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Would you guys say that going to Henderson’s or James An College is necessary in order to get good results? I’m really worried because I don’t know what standard I am at compared to the rest of my cohort, and I can’t really afford to go to those selective exam tutoring programs.
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Would you guys say that going to Henderson’s or James An College is necessary in order to get good results? I’m really worried because I don’t know what standard I am at compared to the rest of my cohort, and I can’t really afford to go to those selective exam tutoring programs.
Not necessary, no. I know many people who got in without any tutoring at all.
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Okay, thanks! Also, sorry for the additional query, but do you have to follow the TEAL structure in the persuasive essay, or is it okay not to as long as it is clear that the essay is following some form of structure?
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Okay, thanks! Also, sorry for the additional query, but do you have to follow the TEAL structure in the persuasive essay, or is it okay not to as long as it is clear that the essay is following some form of structure?
No, you don't have to follow the TEAL structure. As long as you are following the correct structure then you will be fine.
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What Maths Year level should I be studying, Yr 10, Yr 11?
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What Maths Year level should I be studying, Yr 10, Yr 11?
Year 8, briefly year 9 and 10
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What Maths Year level should I be studying, Yr 10, Yr 11?
First of all, you should definitely know ur year 8 maths, If not, work on that before moving on anything. After that, work on year 9 and a bit of year 10. The test will mostly be year 9 content(I think) with a few year 8 questions and a few year 10 questions.
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First of all, you should definitely know ur year 8 maths, If not, work on that before moving on anything. After that, work on year 9 and a bit of year 10. The test will mostly be year 9 content(I think) with a few year 8 questions and a few year 10 questions.
Wouldn't it would have Year 8 and 9 content for sure and a few year 10 questions?
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Wouldn't it would have Year 8 and 9 content for sure and a few year 10 questions?
Around about that
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Wouldn't it would have Year 8 and 9 content for sure and a few year 10 questions?
I think it would have hard Year 9 content at highest. Surely a Year 9 entrance test for Year 8's wouldn't include Year 10 content. Just make sure you are familiar with the Year 8 curriculum and understand everything with knowing some Year 9 stuff.
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I’m giving the selective test this year and I started my selective course in June last year(Spectrum)
I recommend trying out the ‘De Roza practice selective entry tests’ as they are really similar to the real exam.
Good luck:)
In the Deroza practice selective entry tests, I found the maths to be a bit too easy. Will there be more worded problems (e.g like I have 3 batches of 4 cookies instead of 3*4)? Because basically all of the maths problems were normal straight up questions.
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In the Deroza practice selective entry tests, I found the maths to be a bit too easy. Will there be more worded problems (e.g like I have 3 batches of 4 cookies instead of 3*4)? Because basically all of the maths problems were normal straight up questions.
TBH, same. The maths was definitely easy on the de roza* test, I felt like the verbal and numerical were real hard though.
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TBH, same. The maths was definitely easy on the de roza* test, I felt like the verbal and numerical were real hard though.
What did you get on your deroza tests?
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TBH, same. The maths was definitely easy on the de roza* test, I felt like the verbal and numerical were real hard though.
What did you get on your deroza exams?
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What did you get on your deroza exams?
Um, as far as I can remember it was:
Maths:53/60
Verbal:40/60
Numerical 39/50
What about u?
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Um, as far as I can remember it was:
Maths:53/60
Verbal:40/60
Numerical 39/50
What about u?
Same as you for maths, 45/60 verbal, 32/50 numerical(I’m horrible at numerical reasoning)