Specialist or Further (unique situation)

[hcteme]

I know this has been asked thousands of times, but my situation is completely different (and tougher) from others.


• I found Methods 3 & 4 a lot easier and more fun than General Maths 1 & 2.
• I hate financial or business/stats topics
• I hate physics

Further contains lots of financial arithmatics and statistics, while Spec is Physics heavy. Considering that Methods 3 & 4 was my favourite subject, should I do Further or Spec? I'm thinking of a career in IT.

[Sine]

I know this has been asked thousands of times, but my situation is completely different (and tougher) from others.


• I found Methods 3 & 4 a lot easier and more fun than General Maths 1 & 2.
• I hate financial or business/stats topics
• I hate physics

Further contains lots of financial arithmatics and statistics, while Spec is Physics heavy. Considering that Methods 3 & 4 was my favourite subject, should I do Further or Spec? I'm thinking of a career in IT.

I don't know about your situation being harder than others and I don't think you can make that assumption based on your own thoughts - but that is neither here nor there.

If your hatred of a topic is gonna stop you from doing a subject you should probably just not do either futher or spec?? But anyway spec doesn't have that much physics tbh. Also I don't think it is healthy for long term growth if you just skip anything that is too hard or not enjoyable to you because you aren't always gonna be able to do stuff you like.

As for IT it doesn't really require a high ATAR so I don't think your admission will be dependent on choosing further or spec so this choice shouldn't really hurt you.

[Quantum44]

To be honest, you’ll probably find further very boring if you found methods really easy. I’d also say that spesh isn’t that physics heavy and you’ll get a lot out of challenging yourself in this way. I’ve heard that some areas of IT can be pretty maths-based so it wouldn’t hurt to develop your mathematical reasoning skills by taking a more advanced subject.

[sweetiepi]

As the others have said, spesh doesn't have that much physics in it, from what I remember, and if you found methods easy, it could be possible that you could find further also very easy as well and you'll possibly could end up bored. Take a look at the study design and perhaps see which one draws your attention more- you don't want to be stuck with something you find too easy or too hard.

Differing from the others, given that you're interested in IT, maybe algorithmics is something you could consider as well- here's a link to the study design if you want to take a look: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/algorithmics/AlgorithmicsSD-2017.pdf

[Aaron]

Background: I actually have a degree in IT.

I think the important thing here is to think about whether you want to go into IT or Computer Science first off. They are two different areas, even though they sound similar. I like to make a very easy distinction between IT and Computer Science. IT is the application of existing software/hardware etc... it usually has a business purpose. So you may find that IT peeps work in support or touch on development, database admin, system-based things. Computer Science is the one that requires the maths, because they focus on areas such as the logic/algorithmics behind compilers, they program, they look at AI (just thinking of a few examples off the top of my head).

Anyway, now we've got that out of the way... Majority of Computer Science courses require methods as a prerequisite, so you've got that covered. Personally from the information you've given in this thread, i'd say do Spesh purely because higher-level maths will benefit you in the long run. I got through fine with just Further but if you want a stimulating challenge, then do Spesh.

Differing from the others, given that you're interested in IT, maybe algorithmics is something you could consider as well- here's a link to the study design if you want to take a look: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/algorithmics/AlgorithmicsSD-2017.pdf

Second this. Algorithmics started in 2015 and is a HESS (higher education scored study). It scales around the same as Methods due to the similar difficulty. You will most likely have to do it through DECV unless your school is one of the select few that offers it (there's around 18-19 schools now that offer it as of this year). It is by no means easy, though... so you'll have to work for the high SS. It's about the same as a 1st-2nd year CS sub at uni.

I don't think you'd be significantly disadvantaged if you did Further either, to be honest. Some of the areas in Further are beneficial for IT (e.g. networks, recursion). Given you already have done methods, that's imo all you need.

Do you have a specific area in IT that you're interested in? IT is a very broad discipline containing quite a number of areas.. maybe this could help narrow the decision down for you.

[Sine]

Second this. Algorithmics started in 2015 and is a HESS (higher education scored study). It scales around the same as Methods due to the similar difficulty. You will most likely have to do it through DECV unless your school is one of the select few that offers it (there's around 18-19 schools now that offer it as of this year). It is by no means easy, though... so you'll have to work for the high SS. It's about the same as a 1st-2nd year CS sub at uni.

fixing this up just incase anyone takes it on face value.

Scaling of a subject does not indicate the difficulty of the subject but the overall level of competitiveness of the subject so methods(difficulty) =/= algorithmics(difficulty). E.g. For instance specialist maths scales form 30 --> 42 this is because the median score of spec students on their other subjects = 42.

[hcteme]

Do you have a specific area in IT that you're interested in? IT is a very broad discipline containing quite a number of areas.. maybe this could help narrow the decision down for you.

Thanks for the detailed info. I'm just planning on doing a degree in ICT.

As the others have said, spesh doesn't have that much physics in it, from what I remember, and if you found methods easy, it could be possible that you could find further also very easy as well and you'll possibly could end up bored...

I actually found Methods easier than Further 1 & 2. It was still challenging, but a lot more enjoyable.

[exit]

Do Spesh as it is essentially a more advanced version of Methods. Guaranteed you will like the content more. Physics is just a minor part if the course. Bonus scaling too! (Spec scales 11 but its supposed to be ~8 since VCAA use a different scaling algorithm for it -scale against only math subjects and takes people who accelerate Methods into account)

[Sine]

Do Spesh as it is essentially a more advanced version of Methods. Guaranteed you will like the content more. Physics is just a minor part if the course. Bonus scaling too! (Spec scales 11 but its supposed to be ~8 since VCAA use a different scaling algorithm for it -scale against only math subjects and takes people who accelerate Methods into account)

the 11-13 scaling is actualy more accurate than the previous 6-8 before 2011.

also it is not true that they ONLY scale it against maths subjects (they do both and give you the higher scaling)

The following is from VCAA

To ensure that students undertaking the more difficult mathematics studies are not disadvantaged, all three mathematics studies are scaled against each other as well as being scaled against all other studies. The higher of the two resulting scales is used for each of the mathematics studies.

[exit]

the 11-13 scaling is actualy more accurate than the previous 6-8 before 2011.

also it is not true that they ONLY scale it against maths subjects (they do both and give you the higher scaling)

The following is from VCAA

Yes but the people who do Specialist generally do better in maths subjects than other subjects which gives it a higher scaling. Also, the 11 scaling is more accurate than the 6-8 yes but other subjects use the 6-8 scaling algorithm. Regardless, the OP should pick the subject based on their interests and strengths rather than scaling.

[Sine]

Yes but the people who do Specialist generally do better in maths subjects than other subjects which gives it a higher scaling. Also, the 11 scaling is more accurate than the 6-8 yes but other subjects use the 6-8 scaling algorithm. Regardless, the OP should pick the subject based on their interests and strengths rather than scaling.

that's a given already tbh

anyway trying not to derail with thread I definitely agree - do subjects that you actually want to do without following scaling.

[hcteme]

Thank you everyone for your help. I have all the information I need to make my decision. Spec here I come!

BTW, I'm having problems deciding which CAS calculator to use for the course. (HP Prime vs ClassPad 400) If it's appropriate, I'll be starting a new thread regarding this.

[Lear]

I couldn’t recommend the TI Inspire enough. I have no idea how some people use the class pad

[hcteme]

I couldn’t recommend the TI Inspire enough. I have no idea how some people use the class pad

Yeah, but I'm after a touchscreen one. I currently have a Classpad 330 but it's slow.

[Sine]

Yeah, but I'm after a touchscreen one. I currently have a Classpad 330 but it's slow.

I'd still recommend the TI Inspire tbh I really don't see how a touchscreen is important for vce maths.