This blog is the second in the “How I got a 50″ series, with blogs posted every Friday. If you got a 50 in a particular subject and would like to contribute, please email [email protected]
This particular blog features Heidi, who scored a 50 in HHD in 2014.
So Heidi, how many hours did you study a night?
Max 3 hours weekdays, and 8 hours total on the weekend; however, I really focused in class and my free periods.
What motivated you to get a 50? How did you stay motivated and stay so disciplined?
I constantly told myself that I enjoyed studying and loved learning, and it was a fun ‘game’ trying to get full marks on everything. Instead of looking at it as ‘I have to study, wahhhh’, I tried to see studying more positively as a choice I could make to help myself improve.
Honestly, as I found my 50 subject easier than all my others, it was easy to study because when I couldn’t face writing another essay, I just fell back on this subject. Try to build up your confidence and skills as soon as possible, because then it gets progressively easier.
What did you do differently to other people?
To be honest: less work.
Sounds ridiculous, I know. But here’s the thing: they didn’t focus on knowing what the subject required, from day 1. They didn’t know what they did need to know – so they missed stuff – but on the other hand, they didn’t know what they didn’t need to know, so they spent ages and ages learning unnecessary information. And then because they didn’t know where they were going right and wrong, they’d do a pile of trials without getting much out of it.
But I got ‘on top’ of the subject, by figuring out exactly what was required and making sure I learnt that: no more, no less. I didn’t smash out exams (only did one!); instead, I focused on ensuring I’d learnt all I needed and knew how to approach each type of question. I didn’t get bogged down in the details. I zoomed out, saw the big picture, and headed for the goal.
In your opinion, what is the “secret” to scoring a 50 that everyone seems to look for?
First, pick an easy subject. LOL. Jks, but I am serious that you won’t get a 50 if you don’t enjoy the subject and it doesn’t ‘click’ with your skills and style.
But, my ‘secret’: get into the mind of the examiner. Strive to reach the point where you’re like ‘Hell yeah, I could even write and mark the exam!’ Think about exactly what makes a good answer and what makes a bad answer. Where exactly would you give marks, and why? To do this, bug the teacher disgustingly often for feedback, and rigorously compare your work to high-scoring responses. Try writing your own possible questions before SACs and the exam, and volunteer to mark and give feedback on as much of your peers’ work as possible!
Did you have a social life… like… at all?
My family actually forced me to – most of the year, I was out at family and church events six nights a week, so I could basically study till 6pm and if I got more time in after that, I was lucky.
What did you have to compromise – what sacrifices did you have to make to achieve your score?
Reading novels curled up in bed and playing Monopoly, Scrabble and table tennis with my little brother and sister. Oh, and my scores in other subjects 😛
What advice would you give to people out there looking to score above 40, and maybe even up to a 50?
Don’t wait to be spoon-fed. Actively search out exactly what it takes to do well, and what skills and knowledge you need to develop for the subject. Read the study design and VCAA exams EARLY in the year so you know where you’re headed and what types of questions they ask and answers they require.
When you learn details, look for the significance and relevance, and try and see where it fits into the ‘big picture’ of the subject, linking to the rest. Don’t just rote learn.
Never passively read; instead always force yourself to summarise information in your own words (verbally or on paper).
Write your own personalised ultra-concise notes. Use clear headings and brief dot-points; keep refining them so they’re information-packed, but don’t get bogged down in massive explanations or unnecessary details that obscure the big picture.
As soon as you hit something you don’t get, don’t wait for it to iron itself out. Immediately ask your teacher and/or Google it, and if all else fails, ask on the ATAR Notes forums.
Never ever do practise questions or essays without correcting them/getting feedback, and then making sure you fix up mistakes. Don’t let a mistake slip under the bridge! It’s better to do one trial exam and ensure you thoroughly fill in your holes, than to smash out ten. Keep an Excel/Word log book of your errors or weaknesses, and use that to guide your study. Stay very aware of your knowledge/skill level by constantly testing yourself, closed book. Try and know exactly where you’re going right and wrong, by always talking to your teacher, recording all errors, and analysing the difference between your work and top-scoring work.
Practise being an exam writer and examiner. Before SACs or the exam, write possible questions they could ask you, and mark/correct/give feedback on work – your own, and your peers’.
Get internet blocking software (e.g. Cold Turkey) to block distracting sites like Facebook, YouTube, or even ATAR Notes, for a set period of time. Give your phone to your mum and pick a task to work on. Decide exactly what one task you want to achieve in a specific period of time and attack.
Balance, balance, balance. Chant this chant in your head. Don’t sacrifice your relationships, social life and non-academic skills for a number. Sacrifice Angry Birds and cat videos, yes; relationships, no.
Ultimately: try and get excited about the subject – don’t view it as a chore, but as an opportunity to learn and achieve. Give yourself accent star stickers or do a happy dance every time you fix something up that you did wrong last time!
If you could go back, would you change anything about how you did high-school?
Search out everything I didn’t get as soon as the problem came up
Ask more questions
Do more subjects
Spend more time on leadership, social and extracurricular stuff at school
Focus on one thing at a time, eliminating distractions (e.g. use internet blocking software and killing all other documents related to other subjects).
Do the hardest stuff first, straight away, rather than putting it off.
Remember to let us know if you’ve scored a 50 and would like to contribute to this blog series at [email protected]
