Sarangiya's 사랑하는 VCE Journal

[chooby]

Have you guys seen her FB page "YYC"? She's basically posting a bunch of terms and chemistry meanings every once in a while and it seems like a pretty chill group.

[Lear]

I’m honestly looking forward to every subject honestly. I’m so glad I picked these subjects. Maybe the one i’m looking forward to most is legal studies!

[sarangiya]

Oh my god my chem teacher has started saying that at the start and end of lesson too hahahaha. Only the people who watched edrolo understood it.
''If ever you're lost or want to give up, remember, yeah you can'' :'')

HAHAHAHA LAWD too good.
I highly doubt our teacher will because although he is a meme, that's not his style. Bless hahahaha

Have you guys seen her FB page "YYC"? She's basically posting a bunch of terms and chemistry meanings every once in a while and it seems like a pretty chill group.

I hadn't !!! Omg thanks so much. It looks great and she's actually an angel! Wow.
I wish I can get a welcome shoutout bahahaha
Thanks so much for sharing! <3

I’m honestly looking forward to every subject honestly. I’m so glad I picked these subjects. Maybe the one i’m looking forward to most is legal studies!

Legal studies sounds so cool. There are so many things I wanted to try in VCE. I actually think the study designs are fairly comprehensive, so I wish I could have gotten that firm foundation in a whole wide range of disciplines.
Glad things are looking optimistic!

[sarangiya]

My first day of Year 12! (On Thursday)
I was lucky enough to not have any classes on my first day back. I spent my day catching up with friends, doing some study during my frees, and preparing for the day after. I went with a friend to ask our methods teacher about a question we both had trouble with on the holiday homework. It felt great to have him go through it with us, although I felt a little bad for imposing on him. My justification is that we are Year 12s and the main priority, but I’m going to try and stick to our lunchtime consultation groups that the teachers run.

On Friday, I had methods, English language and psychology with a few frees scattered around. Methods was great and I felt inspired, I guess you’d say. It’s hard to get hyped about math alone, but my teacher is really great. I’m so lucky this year. English language was good too. I haven’t had this teacher but she seems to really like me and has great flexibility. On the other hand, I met our new teacher for psychology as the previous one took long service leave. She seems pretty chill, but like the previous teacher, she is too anal-retentive in regards to notetaking. I’m not mad on teachers that prescribe a way of working. Like even in English Language, our teacher said most of our work would be done online and uploaded to her using Google Classroom. Yet the mentality in psychology (apparently) is that writing notes helps increase speed and memory retention. Well I’ll be damned if my English teacher is okay with us not writing in pen and paper even though speed and memory retention is undoubtedly more important in EL as compared to psychology.
What is everyone’s opinion on this?

My general impressions are that I’ll enjoy methods and chemistry most this year, followed by English language which I will enjoy if I can motivate myself, and psychology will trail behind in terms of interest. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I can afford to slack off.

On Saturday, I went up to Monash for a free “introduction tuition class” by Evolve Academics. There were two back-to-back 90-minute classes, one for EL and one for chemistry. Both presented by Calvin Fletcher, who was an engaging presenter. I really liked his EL class. Funnily enough, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it because I’m generally very comfortable with EL, but it was extremely helpful. Chemistry was great too, but the EL lecture seemed more insightful and ‘strategic’. If anyone reading is thinking of contacting Evolve Academics, I can safely recommend it. Especially for Chemistry, I am so tempted to have him tutor me purely to pick his brain – I reckon there is a lot he would be able to cover that wasn’t in the lecture.

Overall, I’m feeling really great about this year and going to these classes on the weekend and after/during school has really given me a sense of achievement. Hopefully the momentum stays!

[sarangiya]

Another week done!

I had my first classes of VET and religion (compulsory at my school). I thought I wouldn’t enjoy RE - purely because I wanted more frees, not because I didn’t like the subject matter. But actually, it was a really good class. It has been a while since I actually engaged in philosophical thought but I think the class unanimously agreed it was a lot of fun.

I had a methods test on differentiation (just chain/product/quotient rules) and got 4th in the class – 2 marks under the first. I wasn’t too pleased but I’m convinced it’s a positive start, and feeling relieved that it wasn’t a SAC.

Also, I did my first UMAT practice exam on Tuesday. I started off so stressed I could barely read the first question — completely unlike me. After I got into the swing of things, I did quite well. My strongest area by far is Section 2, then Section 1, and then Section 3. I’ll be working on improving Sections 1 and 3 this week. Fingers crossed we see an improvement.

English language isn’t bad. A little boring, I guess. Psychology isn’t going too well… but surely it’ll be okay. Only time and SAC marks will tell. On the other hand, Chemistry is great.

I’ve been staying after school every day to study, which has worked extremely well. I also only had one shift of work this week, and picked up some Checkpoints books.

Next week I’ll be working on catching up on my to-dos and preparing for my first SAC — psychology.

Have a good week everyone

[Bri MT]

Imagine how good you'll be at the UMAT once your nerves settle a bit more. Given how much pressure you put on yourself it must've been hard not to just procrastinate it - kudos for actually facing it and getting past the stress.

What's your psych SAC on? The nervous system?


Edit: removed content of quote to aid reading ability

[sarangiya]

Imagine how good you'll be at the UMAT once your nerves settle a bit more. Given how much pressure you put on yourself it must've been hard not to just procrastinate it - kudos for actually facing it and getting past the stress.

What's your psych SAC on? The nervous system?


Edit: removed content of quote to aid reading ability

Thanks so much ! I'm hoping it'll work out that way. Thanks for the encouragement haha
It's daunting but I've got all these practice exams so it would be a waste not to get through them all!

Yeah I think so! I vaguely remember she mentioned testing stress as well but I'm not too sure. We should be getting onto Lazarus and Folkmann's next lesson, so theoretically I guess it's possible. Either way it's a test format (just like the old study design bless lmao) so hopefully a few Unit 3 practice Q's will do the trick!!

Hope you're doing well and thank you

[grestal]

are you preparing for the UMAT using Medentry practice exams? or do you use some other brand.
i'm using the NIE books and i went to a TSSM UMAT lecture last year as well, what about you?
good luck with year 12 and the UMAT!

[sarangiya]

are you preparing for the UMAT using Medentry practice exams? or do you use some other brand.
i'm using the NIE books and i went to a TSSM UMAT lecture last year as well, what about you?
good luck with year 12 and the UMAT!

I'm using a variety of exams from different companies
I have been to a few iCanMed lectures and I'll be going to a TSFX UMAT lecture this coming weekend (which is free, by the way, if you wanted to check it out!)

Best of luck to you too!

[sarangiya]

It doesn't really feel like it but I am slowly realising we are now in the thick of Term 1.

I've had quite the eventful week this week - full of ups and downs. Mainly, because I got really ill with gastro. I actually stayed home for a good part of the week.
Before that though, I was able to visit my work placement for VET! It was a lot more intense than I expected, and to be honest I felt a little nervous.
I'm sure that will settle after a few weeks, so I've decided to just take it as it comes for now.
After the gastro, we had our school swimming carnival. We had a clean sweep and it was a fantastic last event for my team. I cheered more than I ever had bothered to, and participated in events I never thought I would. It's cliche, but I wish I had spent my previous years like they were my last as well. But I guess that's the point of making the most of the last one anyway.

My psychology SAC is slowly creeping closer, but I'm quite content with my preparation for that. On the other hand, I heard we are doing a chemistry prac on Monday and the write-up later on - which, apparently, is a SAC task. I'm not entirely sure my sources are accurate though. Surely a SAC wouldn't be sprung on us the week before, right? And surely not a Prac SAC, which is what I am the most worried about in the whole course?
When I caught up with my teacher after being sick, he didn't mention it... fingers crossed that it isn't true.

I've finally caught up with my overdues - so now I'm only three weeks until finishing notetaking for 3/4 Psychology. Then I'll begin doing questions, practice exams, making summary sheets... all of those things which actually make you learn the content. On the other hand, I only just reached Unit 4 in Chem. It'll take me a bit longer to finish notes for that.
For methods, I've decided to spend half an hour a night doing textbook questions. I don't know if it will work but I've barely done any so far, so I better implement some way of adding it to my schedule. It might be a bit ambitious (I'm horrible at "daily" tasks), but I'll adjust it as I go.
English Language seems to be going nowhere. I don't actually know what I'm learning at the moment, so I think I ought to begin scheduling for English next. Notetaking (according to the study design, which will hopefully help with the "I don't know what I'm learning"), and especially a schedule for writing practice analytical commentaries/expository essays. Despite it all, I'm faring well at the moment, though, so hopefully I can hold off on that for a little longer.

This coming weekend I am going to some free TSFX lectures for chemistry, psychology, methods and UMAT. It is free, for anyone who is interested!

Best of luck to everyone and have a good week!

[TheAspiringDoc]

You're trying to pre-learn the entire psych and chem courses?! 

[sarangiya]

You're trying to pre-learn the entire psych and chem courses?! 

I don't know if I'd call it pre-learning. Especially with Chem I think you really have to do a fair amount of questions to see if you actually 'get it's or not. The idea is to have heard/read it before I do in class. Also means I can start "revision" activities all year/doing practice exams over a longer time.
Idk if it's a good idea. Here's hoping

[DBA-144]

I don't know if I'd call it pre-learning. Especially with Chem I think you really have to do a fair amount of questions to see if you actually 'get it's or not. The idea is to have heard/read it before I do in class. Also means I can start "revision" activities all year/doing practice exams over a longer time.
Idk if it's a good idea. Here's hoping

How do you even find time to learn half the course in term 1? That's some really hard work though! 
So won't you get bored now though in class; actually you could also use that as a form of revision!
Journal's looking really good so far!
Hope you have a great week! Good luck with all your subjects!

[sarangiya]

How do you even find time to learn half the course in term 1? That's some really hard work though! 
So won't you get bored now though in class; actually you could also use that as a form of revision!
Journal's looking really good so far!
Hope you have a great week! Good luck with all your subjects!

Actually I did most of it throughout the holidays. Part of that was to get me into a steady routine before school actually started to avoid being thrown in the deep end.
It was a little bit inevitable the psychology would be a bit boring. Not only have I gone through the content, but I also did the subject a couple years before. Also, our classes are just focused on the content. We haven't watched any videos, played games or really anything except for going through slides. Hopefully it is just because we are trying to get through a SAC soon. After that if time allows I hope we can do some activities that are more fun than copying notes (which by the way, is even more hellish because it has become the "read through the slide, wait for people to write notes, try to change slides but people are still writing word for word..." pattern).

Yeah, using it as revision is a good idea too! I've been listening to our teacher speak, and been reading the slides trying to see if there are discrepancies between my notes and theirs. Other than that, I use class time to go through checkpoints.

Thank you so much! It has been a great experience writing it so far!
Best wishes to you too

[sarangiya]

One month into Year 12!

I had my SAC on Friday, which went really well. I'm hoping for close to full marks but at the same time trying to not dwell on what I can't control. I also had a math test on Monday… which didn't know about. Luckily it doesn't contribute as a SAC but I got a positively abysmal score. My teacher said to me, "I have nothing to say to you but ‘what the hell?’"

more about this

I blamed it on the gastro and receiving no notice of a test. In reality, it was my own fault for not checking with the people in my class or my teacher. I had kind of trusted my classmates would fill me in - considering they sent me photos of what they did in class, I thought they already had. In the end, it was my own irresponsibility that lead to a surprise test that reflected far, far less than what my potential was.
The moral to this story is that I ought to address things myself. I have already discovered over and over again that I cannot trust or rely on really anyone in or outside of school, but it seems I was inexplicably optimistic this time.

I did more UMAT practice but discovered the exam I did was incomplete, and moreover, I didn't have the solutions to it. Nonetheless, it served as practice and should be the only one which is a bit dodgy. I am yet to do this week's test…
Frankly, English Language and Psychology are painful. It has been a month with no improvement. I know I could probably do something to make the classes more palatable, but...

Over this weekend I went to the TSFX lectures I mentioned. I went up with a few mates and really botched the whole getting-there part of the trip. Other than that, we had a good time.
My general impressions are great of TSFX. I really felt tempted multiple times to look at that registration sheet.

TSFX lectures impressions

On Saturday, I had methods and methods exam 2, followed by psychology and then UMAT. Methods was intimidating so say the least. Our school is different in that we have done differentiation while other schools seem to be completing circular functions. There was a lot of focus put on trig and I was struggling to recall Year 11 knowledge. The exam lecture following was even more brutal. Just felt like I had any hope of going decently in math sapped out of me. In saying that, there were some good tips.
Psychology was shocking. The only good part I can recall was the memory cues for parts of the brain… which, ironically enough, are not especially important for the new study design. I was a bit confused as to why it was focused on so much. The rest I have covered over and over so I could barely listen without getting a headache.
On the contrary, UMAT was fantastic. It was the best UMAT or medicine-related lecture I have been to. Our presenter was engaging and insightful, and I even got a little ego boost because I could get through the example questions. Even my friend who isn't completing the UMAT said it was the favourite over the two days.
On Sunday, I had chemistry and chemistry prac writing. Funnily, I feel like I gained more insight into practical SAC writing from the former rather than the latter. The presenter for chemistry was excellent. Even though it was intimidating, I really enjoyed the lecture. The later one also wasn't bad - I had probably just hit a wall by then lol.

I'm so happy with the notes provided as well. For any future students, they are filled with notes as well as exam-style questions with answers. Really quality and would recommend highly if they're running next year.

This week I will have the chemistry SAC and find out the result of my psych SAC … wish me luck!!
Have a great week everyone !