Which company exams are worth the time?

[bae]

Hi,

Currently in the middle of gathering up practice exams, but I've come to a little halt. While I've been told by many that for a subject like biology I should only do the most recent vcaa exams and forget about company exams, however as I read through forums a lot of people vouch to do as many company exams as possible. I can see that for a subject like chem it would be beneficial to do company exams, but for bio would it be a better use of time to stick to revising notes and completing only vcaa exams?

Thanks (don't mind my pre-exam buckle)

[Bruzzix]

Hi,

Currently in the middle of gathering up practice exams, but I've come to a little halt. While I've been told by many that for a subject like biology I should only do the most recent vcaa exams and forget about company exams, however as I read through forums a lot of people vouch to do as many company exams as possible. I can see that for a subject like chem it would be beneficial to do company exams, but for bio would it be a better use of time to stick to revising notes and completing only vcaa exams?

Thanks (don't mind my pre-exam buckle)

You should try and do every exam you can get your hands on to expose yourself to all the different types of questions and to apply your knowledge to specific scenarios. Lisachem and Neap both produce very good quality papers that are well worth your time. You should aim to do every VCAA exam between 2006 and 2014 also so you get used to VCAA style questions. Be harsh on yourself when marking your own papers and mark from the point of view from the examiner. If you feel your answer doesn't convey an adequate understanding and/or you left out some key information you don't give yourself full marks. Redo every question that you didn't get full marks for and make notes about it (and possibly revise it if it's a hole in your knowledge) then review these notes over the next few days so you will never make the same mistake again.
I find that notes are useful but only to an extent. I tend to forgot the large masses of info in my notes unless I directly apply it to a question. You don't just have to do VCAA and commercial papers, you can make and design your own questions targeting specific knowledge you've learnt. Not only does this help you remember it, but you get a better understanding of how questions are structured and how to best answer them.

[JaidynM]

As Bruzzi said above, do all the past VCAA exams from 2006 onwards. NEAP and Lisachem also make pretty good exams so they're definitely worth, as are STAV papers. Be careful though when you're doing company exams, a lot of them (including NEAP, Lisachem and STAV) have questions that are irrelevant and aren't on the study design so don't stress if you don't get those. Good luck!

[heids]

It's about finding what works for you.  Personally, I only did VCAA 2006+ (and some company exams in Unit 3, which I then abandoned later in the year).  It rather worked for me to do notes-study and asking and answering questions about the content (a primitive version of Biology Theory Revision Questions).  As Bruzzix said, you can make your own questions (hopefully better than those in the link), both theory related and application - really helpful.

If redoing it, I'd probably mix these theory-revision methods with more company exams, but in a time-saving way.  I'd go through each question really fast in your head. Map out quickly how you’d answer it; if you’re confident that you know it, check the answers and move on to the next one. When you hit one you’re not so sure of, circle it and come back later to do it properly.  Make sure you're brutally honest with yourself!  This method means that you might get through a 2-hr trial in 45 min, and only physically answer five questions, the five that you really needed practice on.  (This is the method I used for HHD, and it works like a charm).

Don't know about other subjects

[bae]

Thanks guys! That was really good advice, gonna incorporate it into my studies 

[Orb]

I thought it was only 2008 onwards that are 90% relevant and 2013 onwards that is 100% relevant?

Correct me if I'm wrong haha

[Bruzzix]

I thought it was only 2008 onwards that are 90% relevant and 2013 onwards that is 100% relevant?

Correct me if I'm wrong haha

Most of the questions from 2006 to 2009 (when the study design changed) are still relevant and I'd say pretty much every question from 2009 to now is relevant to our current study design. You can just skip the questions that you know aren't part of the course anyway

[BakedDwarf]

Most of the questions from 2006 to 2009 (when the study design changed) are still relevant and I'd say pretty much every question from 2009 to now is relevant to our current study design. You can just skip the questions that you know aren't part of the course anyway

Hold on, i'm confused.

I thought the previous study design was from 2006-2012 and then changed to what it is now. Were there two study designs between the period 2006-2012?

[Bruzzix]

Hold on, i'm confused.

I thought the previous study design was from 2006-2012 and then changed to what it is now. Were there two study designs between the period 2006-2012?

Eh I just quickly googled when the study design was changed and the first thing google spat out was 2006-2009. I could be wrong.

[JaidynM]

Eh I just quickly googled when the study design was changed and the first thing google spat out was 2006-2009. I could be wrong.

Nope, you're right. The 2006-2009 study design is two study designs ago and there was one more between then and the current one. As you said earlier though most things are still relevant, even in the 2006 exams.

[wobblywobbly]

Biology specific info below:

Do company exams first then VCAA (separate exams then combined exams) -- if you really don't have time, just do VCAA. To be honest, I did really, really poorly (compared to how I did at the end of year) on those company exam ones, especially the combined ones where I'd get maybe 70/80ish out of 110, but once you start VCAA, they are a lot more easier. Do those ones last to build your confidence.

I really don't get the obsession with doing dozens of practise exams to be honest. I find it a bit pointless.. but those are just my thoughts