ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Psychology => Topic started by: hanj95 on January 01, 2013, 10:11:15 am
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Any tips on how to get a study score of above 40?
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I'm not doing Psychology, but I'd imagine doing well in it would be similar to Biology. Study consistently, do practice exams (definitely make sure you have a feel for the type of questions and how you should answer them), checkpoints, etc. Apart from that, you might want to try using flashcards to help you study. As long as you keep up a strong studying routine and address any questions you don't understand in the course, a study score of 40+ should definitely be achievable.
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Study really consistently. Sounds pretty obvious, huh? Just you wait, youngon's.... just you wait...
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Make summaries/notes on all the content ,I did and come exam time it made revising a whole lot easier.
When it comes to practice exams make a list of all the quedtions/concepts you have difficulty with.
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@shaiga95 do u have psych notes or did u handwrite them
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I found making mind-maps was really helpful.
These force you to identify how different aspects of the study design relate to each other, and can be helpful in identifying aspects of the course that you aren't familiar with.
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I handwrote them it took a while but after making notes I already had a reasonable understanding of the content
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I would recommend using a wide range of resources (e.g. multiple textbooks, lecture notes), revising consistently, making good use of your teacher and asking any and all questions you may have and, come exam time, doing plenty of practice papers and picking up on the way the content is usually examined. Like any VCE subject, you'll need to put the work in to achieve a 40+. Also, here's a thread which provides some excellent advice for succeeding in Psych. :)
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memorising definitions is critical too! doing lots of practice exams, and like Lado said, making the most of resources such as A+ notes, checkpoints etc. If you work hard and do many practise questions I'm sure you'll do great.
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:) I think you should look at the other threads, they give you can give you extra tips! :) and they are very thorough!:)
just remember, enjoy it !:) its a great subject ! :)
pm or post any questions that you come up with :)
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This is what i wrote in a similar question prior to recieving my psych study score :) now that i have finished i back up my own advice 100%. Most of all enjoy the subject! its great and goodluck for this year!! :D
Don't bother about the learning activities in the Grivas textbook, here is why.
1)they are merely there for you to recite information in the text (copy and paste questions)
2)they do not cover any of the tricks that vcaa often throw in.
3)complete waste of time, boring as hell and you get so much value out of doing exam type questions.
second piece of advice!
When it comes to pysch, don't 'learn' the information, 'know' the information. Be able to make links between different concpets, and often think about why the information occurs, it helps you understand it.
third piece of advice!
Checkpointscheckpointscheckpointscheckpointscheckpointscheckpointscheckpoints. I will not emphasise enough how useful this small book can be. Full of the questions you should be answering. It gets to the stage where you have done so many questions in the checkpoints book, that you face the exam, read the first line and know what the question wants. Most questions are quite similar across the board of VCAA exams. I really recommend this book as it helps consolidate the information in your brain.
Personally i find notes a little hopeless (thats me) because i write them without making them stick and the most important thing whilst doing them is making sure they are colour coded haha. INSTEAD what i did, was identify the concepts that i found hard. wrote them on a piece of paper, read over the relevant extract in the text, and link them like a cause and effect map. What information is realted? ect... a mind map! that helped me, although i may learn differently to you
I also went to two lectures mid and end of year. I went to the NEAP ones. I found it quite valuable because it covered all the topics, and refreashed what i had learnt. Also i obtained a wealth of succesful support material that assisted me alongside checkpoints. Defs worth it, if you can afford it they are a bit pricy unfortunately
Make sure you enjoy the subject the content is great and really grabs ones interest. Although i have to say it is beneficial to have done biology, because it gives you a one up on the neural basis of pyschology but its not that hard. Anyway i have heard the study design has been modifed anyway, cutting out some of the complicated material
One last piece of advice Learn the core! not the superficial 'classification' eg.. waffle information. you have to UNDERSTAND it
Good luck, hope this helps and enjoy year 12 next year!
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I think it is also really important to keep your note taking/summaries/mind maps whatever up to date, so that you aren't stressing in the weeks before the exam making them. That time should be for going over them, adding anything knew, clarifying problems etc. I used to come home each Wednesday after school because we had a double period and make sure that I had my notes up to date. (I used to use the text book, Study notes books and the teacher's powerpoints and put it into my language with examples.) Try not to make silly mistakes (always a problem for me :p)
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Check out the NEAP Psychology study guides. They're rad.