My Ranking of Today's Exam from hardest to easiest

[Albert Einstein]

Did anyone find themselves not colouring in the right bubble? I did, however i figured it out after like 4 questions and fixed it, but it took like 45 seconds to fix up. Sometimes you just don't see a question because it's too small.

[blackcocoa]

I hope I didn't get bubbles wrong. I would not know though.

One thing I do wish to say is, could future exam takers please talk your parents into not taking videos/pictures at the exit? It's a bit annoying walking out and seeing all those phones taking videos of all of us. Like, what for? Plus, I/we don't necessarily want strangers taking images of us.

[Albert Einstein]

I hope I didn't get bubbles wrong. I would not know though.

One thing I do wish to say is, could future exam takers please talk your parents into not taking videos/pictures at the exit? It's a bit annoying walking out and seeing all those phones taking videos of all of us. Like, what for? Plus, I/we don't necessarily want strangers taking images of us.

i agree, when i walking out i felt quite uneasy and confuse seeing many parents taking videos/photos. What's is the purpose of filming kids walking out of an exam? I didn't want to rant just in case one of the parents (who was filming) was my friend's parents. 

[Servillian]

Did anyone find themselves not colouring in the right bubble? I did, however i figured it out after like 4 questions and fixed it, but it took like 45 seconds to fix up. Sometimes you just don't see a question because it's too small.

Sometimes, but I realised it right away.
It DID say every 5 questions to check if you're on the right one

[Albert Einstein]

Sometimes, but I realised it right away.
It DID say every 5 questions to check if you're on the right one

yeah i noticed that, but mine happened like a couple questions after the warning(i thought it was like every 10 questions)

[Servillian]

Hi Servillian,

Can you please share some tips on how you could build a writing piece so fast? (you had 2 pages of content within 10 minutes - that's awesome!). Also, how did you come up with interesting plots? Thanks!

I'm a fast thinker.
I just go blank some times...
This time I didn't go blank at all.
Eh... write like a 3 word plan. Know what you're gonna do.
Don't write long paragraphs, know when to end it.
Build up.
For example:
Intro could be that you're just on a jog in the park.
Paragraph one could be a guy with a gun in the park.
Paragraph two could be him attacking you.
Paragraph three could be you fighting him.
Resolution/Conclusion could be you subduing him.

As for how I make interesting plots...
I read(past tense) lots of books and watch lots of anime..
I don't know any other reason besides that.

[Servillian]

Planning is key. Don’t over plan though. 30-1 minutes MUST be spent on planning. For persuasive look at all the factors of your argument. Eg, social, economic, environmental. If you look at it using these umbrella topics, it is quite possible to develop a coherent argument quickly in even 10 minutes. However, they have given you 15 fo a reason. Use it all wisely and don’t waste any. Always think about how you can make your piece better than it already is. Good luck!

10 seconds should be spent on planning.
So on the essay about self driving cars I did this.

- Safe
- Easy
- Expensive - CA(counter argument)- New
5 words.

I back it up while I'm writing it. It just so happens that I was pretty familiar with this topic so I added some stats in.

[S200]

How did you come up with interesting plots? Thanks!

Gonna throw in a random point here. If you want to have interesting (although mostly entirely fictitious) plots, read books by authors like Alistair MacLean, Agatha Christie etc. - Mystery thrillers. Although they are just fodder for vocabulary and language purposes, they really get you thinking about plot twists etc.

[blackcocoa]

Thanks guys!
10 seconds on planning !!! I don't think I can do that unfortunately.

[blackcocoa]

Anyone interested in commenting on how your commuting will change, feel free. It will probably help me to think it out.

Currently I get to walk to school, a clear convenience.

If I get into MacRob, I will need to take a train, then a tram, so maybe a bit over one hour.

Will your commuting time also change a lot? Will you not take up the offer because of this?

I have been putting this aside, thinking of only making a final decision once I am offered a place. What is your situation on this? My current school is not too bad.

[Albert Einstein]

Anyone interested in commenting on how your commuting will change, feel free. It will probably help me to think it out.

Currently I get to walk to school, a clear convenience.

If I get into MacRob, I will need to take a train, then a tram, so maybe a bit over one hour.

Will your commuting time also change a lot? Will you not take up the offer because of this?

I have been putting this aside, thinking of only making a final decision once I am offered a place. What is your situation on this? My current school is not too bad.

yeah it's always good to consider travel, however long travels to school can be quite beneficial. Many people who attended selective schools travelled 3-4 hours(both ways combined), they say that the long travel provided them with time to socialise with their friends so they didn't have to spend time on Facebook at home to socialise. I think it wouldn't be too bad taking train to school, apart from the cost (yearly pass is like ~$500) and you might have to wake up earlier than currently, but i'm sure it's worth it.

My current school is not that bad ever, but a couple things could change.

[appleandbee]

Anyone interested in commenting on how your commuting will change, feel free. It will probably help me to think it out.

Currently I get to walk to school, a clear convenience.

If I get into MacRob, I will need to take a train, then a tram, so maybe a bit over one hour.

Will your commuting time also change a lot? Will you not take up the offer because of this?

I have been putting this aside, thinking of only making a final decision once I am offered a place. What is your situation on this? My current school is not too bad.

Can't really relate to your situation because Macrob was slightly more convenient than my previous school (they are about the same distance ~10 km but Macrob was one tram from home while I had to change trams at least once for my old school, furthermore the traffic on one of the main roads on the way to my old school is one of the worst in Melbourne). Furthermore, I really needed to leave my old school as a result of various circumstances so distance didn't play a role in my decision making. I don't think a bit over an an hour is too bad but obviously going to a close by is really nice, especially if you participate in a lot of extra-curricular activities. A high proportion of people in Macrob/MHS travel around a hour to go to school. That said, I know a student that left in the middle of year 10 as a result of distance, she lived 60-70 km from the school. If you are one of those people that would think 'what if/ is the grass greener on the other side', I would recommend taking up the offer in spite of travel times.

[Servillian]

Anyone interested in commenting on how your commuting will change, feel free. It will probably help me to think it out.

Currently I get to walk to school, a clear convenience.

If I get into MacRob, I will need to take a train, then a tram, so maybe a bit over one hour.

Will your commuting time also change a lot? Will you not take up the offer because of this?

I have been putting this aside, thinking of only making a final decision once I am offered a place. What is your situation on this? My current school is not too bad.

At my current school, my parents drive me there and back. It's a 20 minute drive.
If I get into MHS, I will need to catch a train every morning but apparently it’s only a 10 minute ride.

[Albert Einstein]

At my current school, my parents drive me there and back. It's a 20 minute drive.
If I get into MHS, I will need to catch a train every morning which takes 45 min(+Walking to the station and to school would take another 20) and my parents will pick me up. It's a 19 minute drive to Melbourne High.

same man

[blackcocoa]

I am jealous of MHS' location. MacRob is not in the walking distance from train station, and peak time tram is just not something likeable.