Methods is so frustrating to study for

[EllingtonFeint]

Yeet I dropped it

I hope you're feeling a lot better now!
I just discovered this thread and I totally relate to you! Methods is killer

[colline]

Methods can definitely be frustrating! I have a love/hate relationship with it - when it makes sense it's great, but when it doesn't I want to smash my CAS against a wall.

I think the main thing with methods (and maths in general) is consistent practice and revision. The concept may seem straightforward when you see your teacher do the problem on the whiteboard, but tackling them yourself is a different matter. For me, the best way to study for it is to make sure you solidify all the content the first time you learn it. After that, keep practicing to REALLY drive it home. It can definitely get tedious, but sometimes smashing through practice question after practice question is really the best way to learn. Unlike English or humanities subjects, you can't get by in methods by reading the textbook or going through the content in your head. You actually have to APPLY it.

Is Methods really that hard?
Also, what's the workload like?

The difficulty is subjective. Obviously, if you're naturally talented at maths then you probably won't find it too challenging. But for most of us, yeah methods is definitely a hard subject. The workload, again, depends on the person. As I personally find it difficult, I have to do a lot more practice questions to be on the same level as someone who's more mathematically minded. Thing to keep in mind is, the textbook questions are never enough for SACs or for the end-of-year exam, so you're expected to go beyond that.

[Snow Leopard]

Methods can definitely be frustrating! I have a love/hate relationship with it - when it makes sense it's great, but when it doesn't I want to smash my CAS against a wall.

I think the main thing with methods (and maths in general) is consistent practice and revision. The concept may seem straightforward when you see your teacher do the problem on the whiteboard, but tackling them yourself is a different matter. For me, the best way to study for it is to make sure you solidify all the content the first time you learn it. After that, keep practicing to REALLY drive it home. It can definitely get tedious, but sometimes smashing through practice question after practice question is really the best way to learn. Unlike English or humanities subjects, you can't get by in methods by reading the textbook or going through the content in your head. You actually have to APPLY it.

The difficulty is subjective. Obviously, if you're naturally talented at maths then you probably won't find it too challenging. But for most of us, yeah methods is definitely a hard subject. The workload, again, depends on the person. As I personally find it difficult, I have to do a lot more practice questions to be on the same level as someone who's more mathematically minded. Thing to keep in mind is, the textbook questions are never enough for SACs or for the end-of-year exam, so you're expected to go beyond that.

What do you mean by going beyonf the textbook questions?
Doing more questions than the teacher's sets or finding other resources?

[colline]

What do you mean by going beyonf the textbook questions?
Doing more questions than the teacher's sets or finding other resources?

Finding other resources would be the best. I'm not too sure about the Cambridge book, but for Maths Quest, most of the questions are just for you to understand the theory and can probably only get you as far as the first page of the tech-free exam. They do have a few application Qs at the end but those are nowhere near the VCAA-level you need to be at by the end of the year.

Textbook questions are a good place to start but once you've gone through them, ask your teacher for extra resources and worksheets. Past SACs and VCAA exams would be the most ideal, company exams are great as well (personally recommend MAV).

[JR_StudyEd]

So today, I completed SAC 1. I froze up several times in the process of completing it. Throughout this year so far, out of fear of looking stupid and dumb, I've greatly hesitated in asking questions to my teacher, unless if absolutely necessary. I'm almost impressed with how badly I managed to stuff that SAC up. The whole experience of completing the SAC was painful and gruelling. The fact that while in the SAC, I STRUGGLED to sketch the BASE cos function, let alone the dilations of it, epitomises my struggles with Methods. One of the worst parts of completing the SAC was that I didn't know what I was getting wrong, because I thought I understood what was going on.

I'm glad that's over.

[Snow Leopard]

So today, I completed SAC 1. I froze up several times in the process of completing it. Throughout this year so far, out of fear of looking stupid and dumb, I've greatly hesitated in asking questions to my teacher, unless if absolutely necessary. I'm almost impressed with how badly I managed to stuff that SAC up. The whole experience of completing the SAC was painful and gruelling. The fact that while in the SAC, I STRUGGLED to sketch the BASE cos function, let alone the dilations of it, epitomises my struggles with Methods. One of the worst parts of completing the SAC was that I didn't know what I was getting wrong, because I thought I understood what was going on.

I'm glad that's over.

What topics from Maths in previous years did you find really important to know for Methods?

[JR_StudyEd]

What topics from Maths in previous years did you find really important to know for Methods?

Hope you don't mind me asking, but are you doing Methods Unit 1/2 or 3/4? I'm doing Methods now, so I'm probably not the most qualified to give you such information, since I haven't gone through the entire course yet!

Regardless, you need to have a solid grasp on linear functions, quadratics, function notation, polynomials, transformations of functions, probability, exponential and circular functions (plz be solid on unit circle and exact values) and differentiation.

[Snow Leopard]

Hope you don't mind me asking, but are you doing Methods Unit 1/2 or 3/4? I'm doing Methods now, so I'm probably not the most qualified to give you such information, since I haven't gone through the entire course yet!

Regardless, you need to have a solid grasp on linear functions, quadratics, function notation, polynomials, transformations of functions, probability, exponential and circular functions (plz be solid on unit circle and exact values) and differentiation.

I'm not doing Methods now, but I plan to do Units 1 and 2 next year.

[brothanathan]

I hope you're feeling a lot better now!
I just discovered this thread and I totally relate to you! Methods is killer

Oh I didn't create this thread, but yeah a lot better

[undefined]

I'm not doing Methods now, but I plan to do Units 1 and 2 next year.

I didn't do year 10 maths since 1/2 pretty much teaches you everything you need to know. You do need to know basic algebra, index laws, quadratics etc off the top of my head though.

[JR_StudyEd]

This is the most relatable article I have ever read in my entire life.

[JR_StudyEd]

How do I know when I'm ready to do Checkpoints questions? I'm going to be honest, that week when I was doing the Checkpoints questions was one of the few times I felt that I was making progress in Methods. But I guess you're only supposed to use Checkpoints for either revision or preparation for exams, since internal SACs are so different to the actual exams.

How do I know when I'm ready to move to the next exercise or section in the textbook, seeing as we're not really given homework anymore. The class will continue to move on, and I'm already behind on Integration.

[colline]

How do I know when I'm ready to do Checkpoints questions? I'm going to be honest, that week when I was doing the Checkpoints questions was one of the few times I felt that I was making progress in Methods. But I guess you're only supposed to use Checkpoints for either revision or preparation for exams, since internal SACs are so different to the actual exams.

How do I know when I'm ready to move to the next exercise or section in the textbook, seeing as we're not really given homework anymore. The class will continue to move on, and I'm already behind on Integration.

I'm not really the biggest fan of Checkpoint as they're all just past VCAA questions jumbled up, scattered, and re-ordered into a little A5 book, so it spoils the questions if you ever want to attempt a proper VCAA exam under timed conditions in the future. But maybe it's just me.

I think you'll know when you're ready to move on if you're able to complete any difficult application-style questions from that topic. But IMO the term ""move on"" is a bit misleading - you can't just 'move on' from a topic. You have to keep coming back to it throughout the year, even after you've finished the relevant SAC, to make sure you have the concept 100% consolidated in your mind, that way you won't be desperately cramming before the final exams.

[JR_StudyEd]

A few months ago, I asked this question in the Methods question thread:

Any tips for making Methods more fun (or less boring/monotonous/painful) to study? Just in general, not referring to any topic.

This was the response I got:

Methods can be an extremely dull subject if it is approached as a list of basic skills / knowledge to memorise or rote learn (not suggesting this is what you are doing, of course, it sounds like you want to avoid this). The strengths of the subject lie in the many opportunities for connecting the various concepts (which is often tested in tougher exam questions). So if possible, try to minimise the amount of routine textbook questions you are doing, and prioritise exam qs and qs from good quality commercial papers. The course will feel more rewarding if you are spending your time doing questions that require more application and understanding.

As you can see, it's contradictory to much of the advice I've been given in this thread. No disrespect to those who like maths and problem-solving, but for the most part, I simply find it a chore and a drag. It doesn't help that the only way to 'study' for maths is to do practice questions. And I know that saying that something is boring, therefore I'm free to not do it is a poor excuse, but what else can I do?

Also, I don't seem to be learning anything in Methods, no matter how hard I try. I really try and contribute in class, but my teacher's lecture-style method makes it difficult for me to process anything he says. It only helps me forget more easily.

And it's the holidays right now, and not only do I have work to catch up on (as always), but I got an N for the first SAC and have to complete a task to change that to an S. Can't really ask for help, though.

I suppose doing questions slowly, but understanding what I'm doing is better than going quickly, but having no idea, right?

[Meddling]

A few months ago, I asked this question in the Methods question thread:
This was the response I got:

As you can see, it's contradictory to much of the advice I've been given in this thread. No disrespect to those who like maths and problem-solving, but for the most part, I simply find it a chore and a drag. It doesn't help that the only way to 'study' for maths is to do practice questions. And I know that saying that something is boring, therefore I'm free to not do it is a poor excuse, but what else can I do?

Also, I don't seem to be learning anything in Methods, no matter how hard I try. I really try and contribute in class, but my teacher's lecture-style method makes it difficult for me to process anything he says. It only helps me forget more easily.

And it's the holidays right now, and not only do I have work to catch up on (as always), but I got an N for the first SAC and have to complete a task to change that to an S. Can't really ask for help, though.

I suppose doing questions slowly, but understanding what I'm doing is better than going quickly, but having no idea, right?

Don't worry too much on doing questions.
I strongly recommend you reading the textbook and doing the example questions for each topic and compare your working out with the given solution for the examples.

THEN, you do the textbook questions listed on the checklist given to you by the teachers (you can of course 'skip' a few if you think you know the concept fully - but you never know where you struggle without doing them all!)

I strongly disagree with using checkpoint questions as a main source of learning for methods! During my VCE times, i have not used the checkpoints at all and still did fine! You should always nail the concepts before moving on to harder, exam style questions.