Doing 3 Maths in Year 12 - 4 in total

[qazser]

Hey all,

What are you thoughts of me completing 3 maths next year(further, spesh,uni maths)?

Thanks in advance.

[Joseph41]

Have you considered that they can't all be in your top four?

EDIT: I think we need more detail. Interests, other options, other subjects, your current thoughts, perceived pros and cons, career aspirations etc.?

[Aaron]

Just going off what you've provided so far - it can be really important to do something *different* (a different discipline other than maths).

I observe that you're really keen on maths and that's great, but I question whether it's too much maths. Have you researched uni extension? Do you understand what this involves (such as extra commitments needed for this study)?

Of course this is just my own personal view - you should be making an informed decision yourself after you've understood what the workload is going to be like and all of that. You're the one that has to put up with it in the end for the whole year 

I'd have a chat to people that are -qualified- to give this sort of advice (such as a career counsellor at your school) as well as seeking opinions on here. Best of luck qazser!

[Striddawg]

Hi! I am one of those crazy children who will have completed all three levels of vce mathematics by Monday week, so although I don't know your exact position or desires I can understand where you are coming from.
I believe that maths is an incredible discipline, however I do agree with the above that too much is potentially not the greatest. Speaking personally, last year I did 3/4 Further, 1/2 Methods, 1/2 Physics, 1/2 English and U1 of Chemistry. I only completed unit 1 of Chem (dropped it for art and then picked up psych this year instead alongside spesh) because
I couldn't keep up with the demands required for that much science and math. My marks were good, but my stress levels and mental state weren't, and making the decision to add more diversity to my subjects imo helped to keep me sane.
Again, this is one persons experience and of course should be taken with a grain of salt. Echoing what was said by Joseph, only 2 of 3 vce maths may be in the top 4 so that may weigh into the decision making process also.
It is clear that you want to go to university to study something, and based off that alone my recommendation is to maybe consider something other than further, it really isn't a prerequisite for anything.

Take as much or as little away as you would like- at the end of the day this is your education and you know yourself, your interests and your ambitions better than anyone else. Good luck for 2017, whatever choice you make 

[qazser]

As of now, i'm doing methods 3/4 and aiming high 40s. I have considered not doing 3 maths next year because 4 go into the top four, where English/Chem/Spesh/Methods cover the top four and further/uni maths cover 5/6. It is quite risky, knowing that chem definitely has to go top 4 (high 40s/50) , but this assortment will give me more time to spend on spesh and english(arguably my strongest subject). Assuming i get 40+ in methods, i definitely want to do uni maths. ATM, it is between Bio 3/4 and Further for the other 5/6 subject spot and imo it is easier to get a 50 in further than a 47+ in Bio, hence the selection hehe. Thoughts?

Ty all btw for your insight

[Swagadaktal]

As of now, i'm doing methods 3/4 and aiming high 40s. I have considered not doing 3 maths next year because 4 go into the top four, where English/Chem/Spesh/Methods cover the top four and further/uni maths cover 5/6. It is quite risky, knowing that chem definitely has to go top 4 (high 40s/50) , but this assortment will give me more time to spend on spesh and english(arguably my strongest subject). Assuming i get 40+ in methods, i definitely want to do uni maths. ATM, it is between Bio 3/4 and Further for the other 5/6 subject spot and imo it is easier to get a 50 in further than a 47+ in Bio, hence the selection hehe. Thoughts?

Ty all btw for your insight

The problem is that you're not giving yourself flexibility, if one of your top 4 subjects go to shit (which could happen you never know) you could end up getting rekt coz you have no back up

[qazser]

The problem is that you're not giving yourself flexibility, if one of your top 4 subjects go to shit (which could happen you never know) you could end up getting rekt coz you have no back up

Thats the biggest problem atm.

English - Meth - Chem -Spesh

Further - Uni Maths

Afraid if i bomb chem, will pull atar down quite a bit. English will be fine and should get higher in spesh than further so all g in that aspect.

[Swagadaktal]

Thats the biggest problem atm.

English - Meth - Chem -Spesh

Further - Uni Maths

Afraid if i bomb chem, will pull atar down quite a bit. English will be fine and should get higher in spesh than further so all g in that aspect.

It's hard to plan out ur top 4 - i thought chem was gonna be my beast as subject and physics my bottom 2, but having finished the year I now think physics is my good as subject and chem is my bottom 2 -- if i didn't have physics as that backup i couldve harmed my atar really badly you know

like being idealistic is great and maybe planning out your top 4 could work but you don't know what's going to happen and you dont want to restrict yourself - i'd say if you wanna do uni maths at least swap further out - but tbh i'd swpa out uni maths for a diff subject, further is an easy 40+ bottom 2 subject that would lower your workload

[qazser]

It's hard to plan out ur top 4 - i thought chem was gonna be my beast as subject and physics my bottom 2, but having finished the year I now think physics is my good as subject and chem is my bottom 2 -- if i didn't have physics as that backup i couldve harmed my atar really badly you know

like being idealistic is great and maybe planning out your top 4 could work but you don't know what's going to happen and you dont want to restrict yourself - i'd say if you wanna do uni maths at least swap further out - but tbh i'd swpa out uni maths for a diff subject, further is an easy 40+ bottom 2 subject that would lower your workload

On the other hand, uni maths is 2 hours a week. Orb and zsteve reckon its less of a workload than any other subject

[Clockwork]

It's great that you want to do so much mathematics for your VCE but there may be a problem if you're looking at maximizing your ATAR. Remember that one of those four will not count at all toward your ATAR. With the second-lowest score you get counting as 10% no matter how low your other subjects are and the top two in your primary four.

If your ATAR incorporates a Higher Education increment from any of the study areas of mathematics, English, languages, music, history or computer science/information technology then at most two VTAC scaled study scores and/or VET increments from that study area may be used.

As someone said before, maybe swap out uni maths if you want to aim for a top score in Further. (Personally I'm thinking of not doing Uni Maths next year as the other subject I'll do (Algo) will most likely count for my primary four but Uni Maths won't)

[Syndicate]

It's great that you want to do so much mathematics for your VCE but there may be a problem if you're looking at maximizing your ATAR. Remember that one of those four will not count at all toward your ATAR. With the second-lowest score you get counting as 10% no matter how low your other subjects are and the top two in your primary four.

As someone said before, maybe swap out uni maths if you want to aim for a top score in Further. (Personally I'm thinking of not doing Uni Maths next year as the other subject I'll do (Algo) will most likely count for my primary four but Uni Maths won't)

I will also be doing three maths next year, and what I do believe is that doing uni maths is more beneficial than doing further maths. First of all, it would be easier to get a 5.0 in uni maths, then getting a 50 in further, since there is no scaling involved. Secondly, Uni maths will benefit you a lot more in uni than further. Finally it may also help understanding the spesh and methods content more easily (basically how specialist may help a student in methods ).

Edit: I think doing biology would be more advantageous in a situation where you want to maximise your ATAR.

[JellyBeanz]

I will also be doing three maths next year, and what I do believe is that doing uni maths is more beneficial than doing further maths. First of all, it would be easier to get a 5.0 in uni maths, then getting a 50 in further, since there is no scaling involved. Secondly, Uni maths will benefit you a lot more in uni than further. Finally it may also help understanding the spesh and methods content more easily (basically how specialist may help a student in methods ).

In addition to this, i do believe that uni maths workload is arguably less than a VCE subject's. At least that's what i've heard from some peers.

[angrypotato1]

What are you thoughts of me completing 3 maths next year(further, spesh,uni maths)?

I did methods, spesh and uni @ monash this year!
If it's at monash it's easily manageable. While the topics are somewhat difficult, the load isn't too heavy. As you're clearly a competent maths student, further should be a breeze for you. The best thing about a heavy math load is there is so much overlap, and each one strengthens your understanding in the other. Worst part you'll get sick of spending all your study time on maths, different subjects can be a relief sometimes.

[Jemin99]

Trust me man, Biology 3/4 requires so much work....
since you are competing with quite alot of top year 11 students it is also quite hard to get high 40 s

[qazser]

Thanks all for feedback. Sorry for not replying b4 ahah. Will consider subject selections post Methods results <3