ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Mathematics => Topic started by: Boink on November 01, 2019, 02:23:00 pm

Title: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Boink on November 01, 2019, 02:23:00 pm
EDIT - Thanks for the help everyone! I ended up changing to Further Math last week.

So I've hit a bit of a wall in terms of subject choices.
TL;DR - I barely care for Methods but am worried that if I change to Further Maths I'll be jeopardising my study score even more. Thoughts/Opinions? Is it worth it?

This year I've done Units 1/2 of Maths Methods.
My issue is that, as the year has gone by, my motivation to study for it has gone lower and lower. From the beginning, I wasn't studying for it as much as I was supposed to, and now the most I do is study the night before the exam without doing any coursework for the chapter. I've yet to fail a SAC despite my lack of effort and I do seem to be performing better than around half my cohort.
I don't want it having a bad effect on my ATAR and I still want to do a math subject though, hence why I'm looking to change into Further Maths.

My homeroom/advisory is a Methods teacher and he's 100% against my decision (though he is extremely biased and kinda looks down on anyone who doesn't do Methods). He tells me that all students who've changed from Methods to Further have regretted their decision.
My current Methods teacher is also telling me that if I do decide to start putting in effort then I can do well. He's also told me that if I do decide to change to Further, I will need to catch up on some of the content their learning as the focus is very different.

I want to get opinions from as many people as I can to see their experiences with making this jump.
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Joseph41 on November 01, 2019, 03:28:35 pm
He tells me that all students who've changed from Methods to Further have regretted their decision.

For what reason?
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Boink on November 01, 2019, 03:41:46 pm
For what reason?

Honestly, I have no clue.
He doesn't like to talk too much and hasn't elaborated on that point, but from what I've heard so far from him and my Methods teacher, I think students would regret switching because they haven't done the prior content(?).
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: www on November 01, 2019, 03:47:35 pm
By the end of year 10 maths, I was on track to be doing Methods 1/2. I swapped that for Further 1/2 - which my teachers found to be very weird as I seemed capable enough to do Methods - and then completed Further 3/4. I don't regret my decision, and in fact, believe I did better in Further than I feel I would have done in Methods even with scaling.

I had a lot of friends who went into Further 3/4 without doing 1/2 (and a lot were also doing Methods 3/4 with it). Although the focus is different, it's not like not doing 1/2 is going to mean you are going to be clueless. The prior content is not that pivotal, and any key concepts in 1/2 will be again covered in 3/4, so the idea that regret is because of not doing the prior content is a bit of a stretch in my eyes.
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Sconey on November 01, 2019, 03:49:56 pm
Hey mate. I can't really help you make your decision but many of my friends have talked about making this exact same move. Something that I always tell them when they tell me that is that the problem solving skill you get from hard maths really does make you smarter. Of course, you will get some of this benefit from further; just less. I know with myself, doing high level and difficult maths made me more intelligent and the smartness you get from doing it will help you out in all facets of your life.
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Boink on November 01, 2019, 04:03:11 pm
By the end of year 10 maths, I was on track to be doing Methods 1/2. I swapped that for Further 1/2 - which my teachers found to be very weird as I seemed capable enough to do Methods.

Thanks for the response!
I also completed Yr 10 Maths with a consistent high score and had lots of encouragement (mixed with expectations) from teachers that I would do Methods, so I did.
At that stage, I was slightly more motivated in my studies as it was before I ran into some hurdles with subject changes (despite all the backing I got from my teachers, I was denied a spot in Advanced Yr 10 Math due to being undecided on my future career choice).
Because of said hurdles, I had to do the coursework from Advanced Math on the side, along with my existing subjects which included a 1/2.
I think along the way I burnt out because of the sudden increase in workload, hence why Methods is just something I don't care about.

I do feel a lot more encouraged to pick Further Maths after reading your post though. Thanks again!
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Boink on November 01, 2019, 04:06:34 pm
...the problem solving skill you get from hard maths really does make you smarter. Of course, you will get some of this benefit from further; just less. I know with myself, doing high level and difficult maths made me more intelligent and the smartness you get from doing it will help you out in all facets of your life.

I get what you mean by the idea that higher level maths does encourage critical thinking - and that's great!
I'm just worried that I'll burn out by doing something which, as it's looking right now, I don't enjoy as much as I used to.
Thank you so much for your input though!
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: AngelWings on November 01, 2019, 07:31:22 pm
Here’s my two cents:
If you are interested in courses such as engineering, commerce, some biomed and sciences, etc., then Methods is a prerequisite for direct entry. If this is you, then I would be super cautious about dropping Methods.

If you have little to no interest in these types of courses, then dropping Methods would be totally fine and no consequences will eventuate (unless you have a switch in direction later on).

Do you have a general idea of what you’d like to study after Year 12 (if that’s your intention) or what sorts of courses you’d enjoy? This could be crucial in making this decision.
Title: Re: Is it worth changing from Methods to Further Math for 3/4?
Post by: Boink on November 27, 2019, 11:58:14 am
Do you have a general idea of what you’d like to study after Year 12 (if that’s your intention) or what sorts of courses you’d enjoy? This could be crucial in making this decision.

Hey, sorry about the late reply.
I wanna do something in the Business field but not Commerce, which is why I was considering changing. I prefer fields related to Management or Marketing.
Thanks for the help though!