ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematical Methods CAS => Topic started by: Mystery on November 08, 2007, 02:33:16 pm

Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: Mystery on November 08, 2007, 02:33:16 pm
Ok guys, I have methods under control sorta but I havent done any revision since around 2 months ago and I remember doing the CSE IARTV trial exam and I only got around 30% on both exam 1 and 2 along with most of my class...


I'm ranked 3rd in sacs, 84/100, I understand most concepts required but I'm not coping with analysis type questions where they go in depth to really test your knowledge...

I really need YOUR help to cram as much as I can tonight and the weekend for mondays exam2 which is worth 44%!!

Any tips or suggestions which I can employ in order to succeed in Methods. AND YES - I WILL put in the efforts - I am a CRAM MACHINE =) I will do 6 hours tonight, 8 hours tommorow night, 15 hours on saturday and around 10 hours on sunday.  

Please help me out!!! URGENT!!! Should I be going over as many practice exams as I can? or should I be reviewing over lots of questions from textbook and A+ Notes...

THANKS GUYS, YOUR ALL SUCH GREAT PEOPLE!! LOVE YoOU aLL (^_^)
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: melanie.dee on November 08, 2007, 02:42:24 pm
just do as many practice exams as you can. identify areas you have no idea with or arn't good at, look them up in text book, do extra examples of these. then do more prac exams.
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: Mystery on November 08, 2007, 02:55:24 pm
Quote from: "melanie.dee"
just do as many practice exams as you can. identify areas you have no idea with or arn't good at, look them up in text book, do extra examples of these. then do more prac exams.


ok nice, so work on weakness!

I'll get straight to it then, cheers!
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: hifer on November 08, 2007, 02:57:07 pm
ya i guess the best way to "study" for math is to practise it..

I don't think there's much point memorizing stuff for math if u can't apply it in  a different situation in the exam.
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: kido_1 on November 08, 2007, 03:00:41 pm
Do not worry it will be fine. Just re read the text book that you use. Try to understand the concepts, what is being done and why it is being done.

You might also like to try these papers from VCAA, to give you an indication of the examiner's styles and trends:

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/mathematics/methods/exams.html
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: Mystery on November 08, 2007, 03:04:47 pm
cheers guys! thanks for all the input - I guess practice makes perfect!! =) especially practising the format of the paper as in similar style of questions, so thank you!
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: kingmar on November 08, 2007, 03:59:30 pm
The best advice is simply to not panic. Think through your answers, and minimise silly mistakes (i.e. accidentally leaving off "dx" from your integrals, or forgetting to add "+c" at the end of your indefiinte integrals etc.)

Do VCAA exams. Especially tonight, and you really should be doing only these exams in the two days before the exam (well, it works for me).

One last note:

The IARTV exams are crap. If anyone does shit in em, don't worry, because they test extremely difficult concepts that are VERY UNLIKELY to appear in the real exam. Having said that, they are a good way to experience "VCAARSE", or VCAA being an arse and giving everyone a stupidly difficult exam with rarely examined topics (like limits and identities. oh god no.)
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: Eriny on November 08, 2007, 05:50:40 pm
While 30% is concerning, lots of people do much worse in analysis questions, so don't worry. You're lucky that you understand the concepts and stuff. I hate to reitterate what everyone else is saying, but practise is all you can do. Extended response is very hard, most of the state agrees with it. To rise above the others you need to expose youself to many questions. Be confident! I'm amazed at how comitted you are (though you shouldn't have left it so late!), and I promise that after your fifth or sixth exam, your skills will be better developed. It's all in getting used to the questions.

Remember to eat and sleep and take rest breaks and stuff though. I find one exam to be tiring enough, I don't envy someone who is doing 10 hours worth!
Title: URgeNT NEED TO GET ABOVE 35 foR METHODS PLEASE HELP!!!!
Post by: Mystery on November 08, 2007, 06:25:32 pm
Oh, thank goodness IARTV exams are not going to be like the vCAA exams! I had a feeling about them being a bit too difficult =)

Eriny, yea I agree with your suggestion as well as everyone else! Its just that methods is my last exam and I'm really prepared to give it my final goodbye, hehe.

I really needed only 25 for it, but I think I can bump it up to around 35 which in turn will be my 4th subject and maybe I can get into Melb uni(95 enter xD)

anyways, Im glad most of the state find it difficult, because I'm actually getting some of them after just around 5 or 6 big questions!

thanks a lot guys!

*runs off to practice*