spec maths or physic or both

[Darci]

HI i have recently moved schools in the second semester of year 10 at my previous school I was in the highest math but the new school put me in their middle math. At parent teacher interviews, my math teacher, who is also my physic teacher, hinted that itd be better for me to do physics instead of spec because all the girls that will do spec are in their advanced math class and I'm in the one below- last test I got 100% but he still recommended physics instead, ( I am already doing methods) but I do not want to do all three sciences.
I'm looking at studying engineering

does any have any advice whether I should do spec or physic or both ( if I do both id have to drop geography which is my "easier" subject but I really enjoy geography) does anyone think they can help besides saying its up to me ?

thank you for reading it all

[PhoenixxFire]

I don’t do either of those subjects so I can’t comment on them specifically but do the subjects that you want to do.

Don’t do them because your teacher (or anyone else) tells you to. If you want to do specialist then do it. Try and get some of the advanced math classes tests and see if you can do them if you’re worried about not being able to keep up in spec (or get a year 11 specialist text book and have a look through it - your school library or math teachers probably have a copy)

From what you’ve said here I would say do spec and keep geography since they’re obviously the ones you enjoy more. There’s no point doing a subject you dislike. Even if you do struggle a bit initially in spec, there will be enough resources available to you (both from school and on the internet etc.) that with enough effort you will be able to do it - you will have to be prepared to put that extra effort in if it’s required though.

Also my brother is studying engineering and he said that he basically got taught specialist math in the second half of his first year, so doing specialist now may help you later.

[Sine]

HI i have recently moved schools in the second semester of year 10 at my previous school I was in the highest math but the new school put me in their middle math. At parent teacher interviews, my math teacher, who is also my physic teacher, hinted that itd be better for me to do physics instead of spec because all the girls that will do spec are in their advanced math class and I'm in the one below- last test I got 100% but he still recommended physics instead, ( I am already doing methods) but I do not want to do all three sciences.
I'm looking at studying engineering

does any have any advice whether I should do spec or physic or both ( if I do both id have to drop geography which is my "easier" subject but I really enjoy geography) does anyone think they can help besides saying its up to me ?

thank you for reading it all

Hey, Welcome to AN Darci

If you are looking to do engineering physics and specialist can be both helpful once you are uni. If you don't do specialist in high school you will end up doing it in uni for engineering. However, from memory neither is necessary as long as you do methods/chemistry you can still gain entry into engineering. If you are sure you want to do spec over physics I would continue to press the issue with your teachers - and if you can't get into specialist in year 11 you can always try to get into it for year 12. Year 11 specialist is a lot different to year 12 spec (depending on the school) and the real precursor to 3/4 spec is really methods 1/2 and concurrent enrolment in methods 3/4.

[S200]

So, I;'m gonna be the odd one out here and gonna tell you to do pysics...

As PF said already, if you pursue spec, you'll be good for Uni... But I think that physics is pretty fun and chill rn, so I'd say do that in Yr 12 and worry about spesh later... but that is  a pysics student talking...

[erinations]

I'm doing both and I completely recommend it due to how they can help each other (as a lot of maths and science subjects can overlap). My spesh class has only one kid who doesn't do physics and it's pretty tricky when we come around to kinematics (as there is a lot of presumed knowledge from physics that the spesh course won't go into detail in). They expect you to memorise the constant acceleration formulas. Obviously, it's possible to do 3/4 spesh without 3/4 physics, but if physics is something you're also interested in and it is necessary for your course (I always recommend to do at least one science and one maths to keep your options open) then doing both will be beneficial. However, physics should only be taken if you either need it or are really interested in it. Otherwise, you just may need to work a little harder when kinematics comes up during spesh

(that being said: don't do physics just because of kinematics in spesh, it has been beneficial but of course should be a subject you're really interested in as it is rather difficult)

[S_R_K]

I'm doing both and I completely recommend it due to how they can help each other (as a lot of maths and science subjects can overlap). My spesh class has only one kid who doesn't do physics and it's pretty tricky when we come around to kinematics (as there is a lot of presumed knowledge from physics that the spesh course won't go into detail in). They expect you to memorise the constant acceleration formulas. Obviously, it's possible to do 3/4 spesh without 3/4 physics, but if physics is something you're also interested in and it is necessary for your course (I always recommend to do at least one science and one maths to keep your options open) then doing both will be beneficial. However, physics should only be taken if you either need it or are really interested in it. Otherwise, you just may need to work a little harder when kinematics comes up during spesh

(that being said: don't do physics just because of kinematics in spesh, it has been beneficial but of course should be a subject you're really interested in as it is rather difficult)

VCAA has explicitly stated that the constant acceleration formulas (SUVAT) are not expected knowledge for Specialist, but may be used as appropriate. VCAA expects that all kinematics problems can be solved using calculus techniques. As long as Specialist students understand the relationship between position, velocity and acceleration, and understand the differences between these quantities and distance / speed, then they will be fine without physics.

On the other hand, it is useful for Specialist students to have some background in interpreting / labelling free body diagrams with their forces, since this is often an important first step when solving mechanics problems.

[Yertle the Turtle]

All the above answers are good, but I'll just put in my two cents.

Physics is probably better in your case. I say this because it is easier, it scales pretty nicely, a lot of people find it more fun than Specialist, and finally because, though you will need both in most types of engineering, Physics is probably the one that is harder to pick up later. I would say that the maths you will do in Uni would tend to build more off Physics than the other way round, and therefore it would probably be a better VCE option.

[exit]

All the above answers are good, but I'll just put in my two cents.

Physics is probably better in your case. I say this because it is easier, it scales pretty nicely, a lot of people find it more fun than Specialist, and finally because, though you will need both in most types of engineering, Physics is probably the one that is harder to pick up later. I would say that the maths you will do in Uni would tend to build more off Physics than the other way round, and therefore it would probably be a better VCE option.

Sorry but I’ve got to disagree with you there.

1) It’s a well known fact that Physics in uni is very different from what is covered in high school (which contains a lot of formula plugging in and cheat sheet reliance.

2) Most people find high school Physics very dry compared to Specialist, if they have the mathematical ability to do well in Spesh.

3) University maths which you will be doing in Engineering will extend upon Spesh. Physics on the other hand is not a prerequisite for Uni Physics.

4) Physics scaling is nothing compared to Spesh scaling and I don’t know how this is relevant?

5) Physics in uni is a lot more mathematical and objectively, uni physics builds more on spesh than uni maths builds on vce physics. I’ve done the hardest possible 1st year maths subjects available at UniMelb, and physics knowledge is not needed at all. Unless the newest study design somehow drastically changed the vce physics course which I doubt.

Have you learnt content in uni maths? Since you are in vce I am doubtful you know too much about how these subjects connect with uni subjects.

IMO doing both physics a
nd spec is good. Spec over physics for sure, if you’re set on Engineering. Engineering is a rigorous course with extremely high drop out rates at some
 unis. Spesh will prepare a lot better.

[S200]

Most people find high school Physics very dry compared to Specialist, if they have the mathematical ability to do well in Spesh.

Well, I actually find Physics quite interesting, and I deliberately chose it over Spesh.

Physics scaling is nothing compared to Spesh scaling and I don’t know how this is relevant?

Anyone that has the ability to do spesh, and choses Physics is most likely looking at a Raw 44-47, if not 50. The scaling will most likely take you into a 45+ in 9/10 situations.

5) Physics in uni is a lot more mathematical and objectively, uni physics builds more on spesh than uni maths builds on vce physics. I’ve done the hardest possible 1st year maths subjects available at UniMelb, and physics knowledge is not needed at all. Unless the newest study design somehow drastically changed the vce physics course which I doubt.

Actually, the latest study design has drastically changed the Physics course, throwing a lot into 1&2 and rehashing the 3/4, but I don't know if it's changed enough to have impacts on Pre-uni Physics knowledge.

If you're doing a B.Com, how much of the Uni Math have you done, and which units would lay over with engineering Degrees?

[exit]

Well, I actually find Physics quite interesting, and I deliberately chose it over Spesh.
Anyone that has the ability to do spesh, and choses Physics is most likely looking at a Raw 44-47, if not 50. The scaling will most likely take you into a 45+ in 9/10 situations.Actually, the latest study design has drastically changed the Physics course, throwing a lot into 1&2 and rehashing the 3/4, but I don't know if it's changed enough to have impacts on Pre-uni Physics knowledge.

If you're doing a B.Com, how much of the Uni Math have you done, and which units would lay over with engineering Degrees?

I've done Accelerated Maths 1, Calculus 2 and did a bit of Accelerated Maths 2 (but decided I didn't need it)

I disagree about the 'whoever does Spesh would get mid 45+ in physics. In my school, the people who accelerated physics 3/4 in year 11 and got respectable scores in year 12 Spesh, always got the higher scaled score in Spesh. The 3 i know that come into mind (1. raw 42 physics, raw 38 spesh 2. raw 43 physics raw 35 spesh. 3. raw 48 spesh, raw 45 physics). The first 2 people I mentioned got similar scores to me in 1/2 Physics.

Engineering is the most common degree from my year level. And all of the ones i've spoken to, regarding the eng course, often mention the maths you need to do in uni. In first year, you cover a lot of the things in Specialist maths, and if you've done Specialist before, it will be more relaxed as you can focus on doing another unit.

Just my 2 cents!