ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Science => Topic started by: breannaaa on September 10, 2018, 05:31:47 pm
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I need to pick up a subject next year in year 12 without completing units 1/2. I've heard that psych is good for this and not too difficult and I love everything about the brain, but I feel like I would be really interested in bio and this would relate to my career choice more, I have just heard it is more difficult to score well and pick up without units 1/2. I am science inclined so neither should be too much of an issue in terms of that. Thanks for any help!
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In units 3&4 of psych you don't really learn about the brain much - more about psychological processes and responses to the environment
Some of the topics in psych: basics of the nervous system, stress, memory and learning, sleep, mental health and wellbeing
Some of the topics in bio: components of the cell, how energy is used and stored, how reactions happen in the body, how cells communicate, the immune system, evolution
Psych is probably a bit easier to pick up, but both can be done without units 1&2
I'd highly recommend you look at both study designs before making your decision :)
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I've done psych units 1-4 and I can definitely say you'll be able to do 3&4 without the knowledge of 1&2.
At the beginning you'll be reviewing some content from 1&2 in relation to the nervous system and research methods, but that's about it - everything onwards is new and almost completely unrelated to the first two units.
Like miniturtle said, in 3&4 you look at the nervous system, stress as a psychobiological process, learning, memory, sleep and sleep disturbances, mental health and wellbeing, phobias, etc. The content is waaayyyy more interesting compared to 1&2 so you're not missing out on much :-p
That being said, research methods is definitely a fundamental part of all units of psych and I know a few people who went into the subject without 1&2 and struggled a little with that topic, so that's just something to keep in mind (but, again, everyone is different)
I have friends that did bio units 1-4 who swear that 1&2 is necessary, while others believe 3&4 can be picked up easily; this, again, just depends on the person I guess.
I hope you figure things out!
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I read your other post and you said that you are considering droping spesh... so I was wondering, have you considered picking up 3/4 physics? I'm only doing 1/2, but I've heard that the content in 3/4 is quite enjoyable and accessible, and as is my current experience with physics. I do 3/4 psych, and I don't believe that 1/2 is necessary (apart from research methods), but honestly It's quite content heavy, andI can't imagine doing it with a heavier workload. If you are more science/maths inclined, I recommend physics. The maths involved is year 9 level, and the content is really fun!
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I did both bio and psych without doing 1/2s and I think for both not doing the 1/2 is not a disadvantage at all. I'm pretty sure the only pre-knowledge you might want to have is how your body consists of cells for bio and you have neurons for psych. If you like bio more, then do bio, because I guess the easiest way to do well in a subject is to like (also I like bio a lot)