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Author Topic: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!  (Read 27238 times)  Share 

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vor0005

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How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« on: January 10, 2016, 06:19:23 pm »
+7
Hey :)

While I'm on holidays, I thought I'd share some advice on how to maximise your chances of getting a 40+ study score in Psych. I've done a similar thing before with Bio and it helped a few people, so hopefully this thread is similar! If you have any questions, please ask them below and I'll be happy to help  :)

1) First things first, avoid the TSFX Psychology Lectures. Their notes are... average (that's the only reason I'd ever go to their lectures). Instead, find a student on VCE Discussion Space who received a 50 last year, and buy their notes. These guys have done the hard work for you, so take advantage of it. If you're interested, I'm selling my own for $5 per unit (Here is a sample of what they look like:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qs4yRm-p5448i9pvZVWbjYgeG2jxs1BknnuLGYOgevQ/edit?usp=sharing )

2) Textbook... avoid. Teacher notes ✓ High achieving student notes ✓ A+ notes ✓ (anything that ends in the word "notes", really)

3) This is by no means crucial - but try to get a head start over the holidays. Personally, I'm pretty organised - that being said, I covered AOS 1 of Psych during the last 2 weeks of the holidays. I was pretty happy with my self at the time, but looking back, definitely don't be afraid to cover AOS 2 or even the whole of Unit 3. However, ensure that you do not burn out. Once you have reached the point where you simply can't be screwed, stop. Also, don't cram - this is pointless. Do as much as you can that will sink in and help you throughout the year. There's no point making notes for something you won't remember in a couple of months.

4) The rest is just simple and mainly revolves around keeping on track and not falling behind. Constant note taking - try to do it before class so that you're consolidating knowledge in class. Don't fall behind - simple as that. If you fall behind, catching up is very hard!

5) Checkpoints, Checkpoints, Checkpoints!!! This little book is your best friend for SACs & even before the exam! Teachers can be lazy... For your SACs, they don't always want to think of their own questions - so what do they do? They look through your checkpoints books or past exams and copy paste (with different names, numbers etc.). Most schools will do this! (and not just for Psych) Before every SAC, I would go through the checkpoints questions. Hence, come SAC time, when I would see a familiar question (which came up at least twice per SAC), I had already known the answer! Beware, though, there are some incorrect answers throughout the Checkpoints answers so always make sure to ask your teacher if something doesn't add up (do the same with your practice exams!!)

6) While your SACs are important - it is all about the exam! Generally, you want to have an A+ average for Unit 3 and 4 to have a good chance at getting above 40 but do not worry if you don't achieve this!! My mate received an A+ for Unit 3, an A for Unit 4 and an A+ for the exam; he walked away with a 40 study score. Essentially, make sure you kill the exam and you will walk out with above 40 (given that your SAC scores aren't toooooooo low)

7) RESEARCH METHODS!!! Make sure you know exactly how to tackle Section C of the Exam. The state average is 3/10 for the extended response. Easiest marks on the exams if you know what you're doing. Again, find someone who has A+ RM notes and buy them!

FAQ:
How many practice exams do I need to do to get above 40?

As many as you need to feel confident going into that exam. I did about 25 all up - you may be different. I honestly don't recall but I think i was averaging (by the end of it) mid 80's - low 90's. (115-130/140).

Do I need to cover anything from Unit 1&2 if I'm going straight into 3&4 (without 1&2)?
No - I honestly didn't notice that I was at any disadvantage compared to students who undertook 1&2. Worst case scenario, they might have heard of some terms before which I hadn't - really no big deal. Don't stress, you'll be fine

« Last Edit: January 10, 2016, 10:39:50 pm by vor0005 »
VCE English Tutoring 2016 - RAW 50 Study Score



2014: Biology [41]
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illfightvcaa

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2016, 10:43:33 pm »
+4
Hey, just wanted to add to this with my experiences [got a 46].

Contrary to the OP, I did 2.5 practice exams. I say 2.5, but only one exam was done under timed conditions and in one sitting. I only marked the MC section and I got ~95% on that. I think over the course of the year I wrote 3 Section C's in total. I do believe that is where I lost most of my marks.

BUT I did 90-95% of Checkpoints in the 2 weeks leading up to the exam. As OP said, some of the answers are rather dodgy, and some of the MC questions aren't actually part of the curriculum  >:( But this book really is your friend.

My friend went to TSFX lectures and said it was a complete waste of time. I took a look at the TSFX notes and found them useless, tbh. Though I am the kind of person who likes to either rote learn or write things out as my own notes. I actually depended mostly on my Textbook, as my teachers were often away and I don't pay attention in classes. There's a lot of unnecessary stuff in the TB, but the Oxford one is decent in most things, excluding neuroscience related stuff. It's horrible at that.

Research Methods will apply all year, so don't think it's just the Section C of the exam. You'll be needing it for SACs and the ROARI. At least I think everyone has to do a ROARI, which is basically a research report.

I ended up cramming everything in the last 2 weeks, averaging about 10 hours a day of straight studying, because I forgot all about Psych in Semester 2 to focus on my Methods. Don't recommend. It wasn't the worst though, because I had written detailed notes for all of Unit 3, which I did as a head start until I basically forgot I did Psych in Semester 2. I still read through the entire textbook like 2-3 times.

Also, as you will all learn, SLEEP. Do not stay up cramming, particularly before a SAC or the Exam. I crammed for 10 hours but got 9-10 hours of sleep.

If you have any questions, send me a message. OP and I had very different experiences and approaches it seems, so you can get both sides of it.
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spectroscopy

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2016, 11:45:19 pm »
+1
i disagree personally with a couple(most) of your points but i know alot of people that would agree with them, and different opinions can never hurt so ive chucked this into the psychology resources thread

i think i'll write up something as well as to what i did to get over 40 in psych after i finish up with this summer school assignment LOL hopefully it will give the board some life. nice scores anyway :D

illfightvcaa

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2016, 05:45:20 pm »
0
i disagree personally with a couple(most) of your points but i know alot of people that would agree with them, and different opinions can never hurt so ive chucked this into the psychology resources thread

i think i'll write up something as well as to what i did to get over 40 in psych after i finish up with this summer school assignment LOL hopefully it will give the board some life. nice scores anyway :D

Which points do you disagree with? What's your opinion? I'm curious.
2015: Methods and Psychology
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spectroscopy

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2016, 07:29:21 pm »
0
Which points do you disagree with? What's your opinion? I'm curious.
they were mainly with the op's post but ok ill keep it simple and when i finish the assignment im working on ill make a bigger post haha
1) First things first, avoid the TSFX Psychology Lectures. Their notes are... average (that's the only reason I'd ever go to their lectures). Instead, find a student on VCE Discussion Space who received a 50 last year, and buy their notes. These guys have done the hard work for you, so take advantage of it.
i really really liked tsfx lectures. i learnt alot of content there and i feel like it was a really productive way to spend a couple of days quite seriously going through each AOS to see what you know well, what you dont, hear about some types of exam questions, and as another source of info that might give some more insight vs your school.

i wouldnt go for the notes, definitely not worth $100+ or whatever it was, but the lecture itself was really good, and if you are in a financial position where you can afford it, i think they really helped for psychology. also i got some funny questions in practice exams that my textbook didnt have the answers for but tsfx's notes did LOL
alot of people go not for the notes but the lecture believe it or not :P

2) Textbook... avoid. Teacher notes ✓ High achieving student notes ✓ A+ notes ✓ (anything that ends in the word "notes", really)
i only really used the textbook. the textbooks info is pretty much always correct and if you do a sac or something and you write what the textbook says and you lost marks you can also back up your argument with "but its in the textbook" which is the most valid excuse you can possibly give. i had the macmillan textbook and i thought it was the bees knees and was pretty much the only resource i used when studying unless it didnt contain an answer to a question (which only happened twice across like 20 practice exams) in which case i referred to tsfx notes



spectroscopy

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2016, 07:30:19 pm »
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the tsfx debate on whether its useful or not really depends on the person but if you get enough sleep, you are well rested, and choose to go willingly and you really want to learn, they can be really useful. most people just go and say "man this sucks im so bored lol its holidays i slept at 4am last night zz"

lozzle.pop

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2016, 02:09:18 pm »
+9
alrighty, as a 50 raw, I thought i might add my tips to this thread as well. As we all know, everyone learns differently and the tricks that might work for some people won't be a useful for others.
so, here's how I got my 50 in psych in 2015, hope it's helpful:

1. make. your. own. notes. I can't stress how important this was for me. yea, you can use other people's notes to compare and read over, but, for me, it was essential that I had everything down in my own words, in my own handwriting. yep - that's hard copy!!! you won't be typing your answers to the exam. so, here's what you do, you take down all your crappy in-class notes and textbook questions during the year - make sure it covers EVERYTHING. check with your teacher, other students, and any notes you might have nabbed. Then, about a couple weeks before the term 3 holidays, buy a notebook. A big one. maybe with a pretty cover. Then copy down your whole year's work into this notebook. Reword it, colour code it, add arrows and examples and diagrams and flow charts. The whole kit and kaboodle. This is now your bible for the weeks coming up to the final exam. worship it

2. do practice questions!!!!!!! a LOT of them. make sure you're intimately familiar with what each question wants from you. Like, if it's a 2 mark question, what are those 2 marks for?  Being a natural writer/verbal learner helps, but it isn't essential. You will pick it up. personally, I did around 15 practice exams in the lead up to the final exam, and that was enough for me. at that point, I actually felt like if I did any more I'd probably explode, and I didn't do any practice questions at all for the 4 or so days immediately before the exam :O probably not a great move, but hey, it worked and I felt confident.

3. don't stress too much about SACs!!!! I got a B+ on my first psych sac and was devastated. still got a 50 though, lmao. so if you bludge a couple of your sacs (not all of them!!!!), but ace your exam, you're still in with a fighting chance, my friend.

4. lectures aren't worth it. I'm telling you this now. Instead, have some one-on-one sessions with your teacher or some other students. Draw mind maps, reread your textbook, watch youtube videos on the topics - much more worth the time (also not nearly as expensive - i used the hundred or so bucks i saved on some quality stationery and a weekly 7-11 run in the lead-up to the exam, much more worthwhile imo)

5. the ABSOLUTE BEST thing that I did (and I'm certain this is what got me that 50) was recording every single question that I got wrong or was unsure about (whether in the textbook, for homework, in a SAC or prac SAC, past exams, whatever). I'd write every single one down on a palm card, find the correct answer from my teacher or the examiner's report, and write that on the back as well. I structured it so that I'd have a dot point for each mark in the answer. This way, the next time I came across the question (or one similar to it) I'd know EXACTLY what I had to write to get those marks. I made about 150 of these by the end of the year. They really were invaluable - no way could I have got that kind of raw score without them.

6. study in your own time!!!!!!!! to be honest, I didn't even pay attention much in psych class....was on my phone for 40% of the lessons (lmao yes......im one of those people). It's the homework and study sessions that really count. If you think you can afford to chill out a bit during classes, do it. we all need a bit of r&r sometimes. but definitely knuckle down on your psych work at home.

7. do NOT neglect section C. I'm serious. write so many discussions you think your brain might short circuit if it sees the phrase "control for extraneous variables" ever again. know your research methods back to front and back again. In the exams and SACs, write as much as you can, for as long as you can. you can NEVER make too many points, mention too many extraneous variables, or waffle on too long about limitations. just do it. shia labeouf compels you

8. don't cram. I know, you've been told this 4928402 times before. but like, legit, do not. study consistently. the 3 or so weeks pre-exam, I studied around 2-6 hours per day. some days I didn't study at all - because i'd worked all throughout the year, and i just didn't need to be staying up late and losing sleep over it.

So, TLDR,
- make your own EXTENSIVE AMAZING BEAUTIFUL notes, the kind you'd want hung in MOMA, that's what you're aiming for
- practice exams. do them. do them again. one more time
- dont worry if u bludge a sac or two. you'll find your feet
- lectures just aren't worth the time or money. study in your own ways instead
- record EVERY single question you come across (over the course of the whole year!!! that's right, every one, my boy) that you are unsure about. plus the answer, too, otherwise it's a little pointless.
- study outside of school. kind of obv, but your home study time is much more valuable than your class time, partcularly when it gets down to the pointy end of the year.
- section C rulez
- cramming sux

so that's it. happy psych-ing :) yall get that 50

scarletmoon

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2016, 08:48:01 pm »
+1
Disagree about the tsfx psych lectures. Some of the stuff that was in their notes actually appeared on the exam last year.
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Michael2929

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2016, 11:13:02 am »
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hey vor, im interested in your psych notes, how would i go about getting them?

lanilou15

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2016, 12:05:19 am »
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Lozzle.pop can I ask what marks/grade or percentage you received on your Psych Exam to help you get that 50 study score? So far I'm getting A's on my SACS and I'm annoyed because I did an S/N test which most failed but I got an A+ but that won't be shown as an A+ (bugger) but I'm curious how you went on the exam

lilyt19

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #10 on: August 17, 2018, 09:36:30 am »
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Hey there! So I'm going into year 10 and I'm doing early advancement so I'm doing psychology units 1 and 2 next year and then units 3 and 4 in year 11. I want to do really well as I'm aiming for an ATAR of 93. I know my VCE is still a few years away but I want to be prepared so I can do well.

So I'm just wondering what you meant by the C section of the exam being tricky. And how do actually do it?

I'd really appreciate your help, thanks so much!

Ashking

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Re: How to get a 40+ Study Score in VCE Psychology!
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2018, 10:35:49 pm »
+1
Hey there! So I'm going into year 10 and I'm doing early advancement so I'm doing psychology units 1 and 2 next year and then units 3 and 4 in year 11. I want to do really well as I'm aiming for an ATAR of 93. I know my VCE is still a few years away but I want to be prepared so I can do well.

So I'm just wondering what you meant by the C section of the exam being tricky. And how do actually do it?

I'd really appreciate your help, thanks so much!

These guys are talking about the old psychology study design, section C no longer exists on the new study design. However, there is a long question at the end of the exam worth 10 marks and your teacher should tell you how to tackle it. Also, don't stress too much about 1/2 psych. I did 1/2 psych as an early advancement too and averaged around a B for the whole year and ended up getting a raw 46 in 3/4. I really loved psychology, it is a really great subject. Good luck!  :)