Some q's from a Yr11er. (1 Viewer)

[Guage]

Asking a few q's in the Yr12 forum, as I'd prefer answers from peeps with experience and hindsight.

1) What the heck should I do these holidays? I'm considering knocking over some Yr12 2U math these holidays, OR practice heaps of essays (English my weakest subject). Wise, or should I spend my time revising what I've done so far this year in Prelim?

2) What was the most effective study book for Physics / Chemistry you used in Yr11?

3) My class uses the Surfing Series textbooks for Physics. We get printouts of pages rather than actually owning copies. I'm considering buying it so I can study better / work ahead, but my teacher said it's one bloody textbook for each chapter at ~$20 each, meaning $80! Crikey...can I spend better spend $80?

4) Did anyone purchase any books with pre-made study cards in them? I've seen an Excel 3U Math book like so but didn't buy it... Were / are they useful?

Cheers, gl with trials.

 

[cassieagill]

WAIT TILL YEAR 12 TO DO THE WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! enjoy yourself as much as possible before the stress sets in

 

[lyounamu]

Asking a few q's in the Yr12 forum, as I'd prefer answers from peeps with experience and hindsight.

1) What the heck should I do these holidays? I'm considering knocking over some Yr12 2U math these holidays, OR practice heaps of essays (English my weakest subject). Wise, or should I spend my time revising what I've done so far this year in Prelim?

2) What was the most effective study book for Physics / Chemistry you used in Yr11?

3) My class uses the Surfing Series textbooks for Physics. We get printouts of pages rather than actually owning copies. I'm considering buying it so I can study better / work ahead, but my teacher said it's one bloody textbook for each chapter at ~$20 each, meaning $80! Crikey...can I spend better spend $80?

4) Did anyone purchase any books with pre-made study cards in them? I've seen an Excel 3U Math book like so but didn't buy it... Were / are they useful?

Cheers, gl with trials.

Studying/working ahead doesn't work...well at least for me.

But if you do decide to work/study ahead, seriously get someone to support you throughout the course. It's quite difficult you know.

 

[spazamataz]

Just chillax for year 11, and seeing as you already thinking about this sort of stuff you seem like the kind of kid that will go pretty well.

 

[khorne]

don't completely stop studying, or it will be hard to get into gear at the start of term. But also take a break. So really, balance is important.

 

[missanonymous7]

Honestly, for now, holidays are for holidays (and set assessments/assignments if you have them). If you have a good work ethic (which you obviously do) during term, don't be afraid to have time off to just relax. Otherwise you'll burn yourself out too early and be useless for the HSC.

As for the study cards, I had some which came with Excel Biology, and they weren't really that helpful. I think I used a couple of them, but ultimately I just made my own, and that ended up being a much better strategy, since they were tailored towards the stuff I had more trouble remembering.

(And omg. You can definitely spend $80 somewhere better if you're getting photocopies for free, trust me!)

 

[Guage]

(And omg. You can definitely spend $80 somewhere better if you're getting photocopies for free, trust me!)

Lol, problem is, we don't get every sheet, just the ones which we go through in coming lesson. Plus we don't get too many of the revision tests printed out, nor any answers for the general sheets. Also, my class plods along and I'm sitting there going 'Darn, wish I had a textbook on me. :mad1:'

So $80 well spent for me considering its a subject I really wanna nail. But I've heard the Physics Prelim content ain't so relevant in HSC as, say, Math or English Prelim, where its all just cumulative knowledge and skills. So if there are better uses for my cash, jus' say.

edit: Also I'll add that the sheets from the Surfing book are clear as crystal to me...haven't seen any other Physics texts but Surfing's really effective IMO

 

[youngminii]

1. In my opinion, holidays are better spent for relaxing and cooling off (in Year 11 anyways, still applies to me for Year 12 ). If you DO end up studying, try learning how to structure your essays better and other englishy stuff - read a book! And/or go revise basic algebra if you really want to do maths.. But still, just have fun.

2. I don't know about Chem, but DO NOT BOTHER LEARNING YEAR 11 PHYSICS. It's just a HUGE waste of time and you'd be better off going to Year 12 Physics straight away. Buy a textbook (Jacaranda/Dot Point) and get the syllabus and off you go. Year 12 physics is like a completely different subject to Year 11.

3. Printouts are fine, but if you really want them, you can get scanned versions online if you look for them hard enough (I had a few of the physics ones, never really used them). To be honest, Jacaranda/Dot Point is much more useful, and the Surfing books have a lot of irrelevant information.

4. No. Nor would I buy them. If you were to make notes/cards/pages of the formulas or whatever by yourself, I'm sure you'd remember them better.

 

[jules.09]

Chillax in year 11.

Otherwise, you'd be spent when it actually counts. It would be good for you to consolidate your math at the moment; it would be very wise in fact, because the math only gets harder and you need to remember it all, which comes through practice.

Heaps of essay writing practice for english doesn't really help imo. What would help though, is for you to review the module that you are studying, and then brainstorm about what it is about. I don't mean it in the sense of narration, I mean to analyse and evaluate what the prescribed texts are trying to convey, and find a means to word it succinctly. It really clears up your train of thought. You are acquiring invaluable skills through this process.

The best 3u math textbook you could possibly invest in is Cambridge. If you are in need of extra practice, then Fitzpatrick.

Spotlight Physics and Chemistry are also very good textbooks for preliminary. You will need to remember aspects of physics and chemistry for the HSC, such as vector resolution, basic electricity, different types of bonding etc.

Moving About in physics is quite helpful in Mechanics (4u math) if you are considering it for next year.

 

[youngminii]

Spotlight Physics and Chemistry are also very good textbooks for preliminary. You will need to remember aspects of physics and chemistry for the HSC, such as vector resolution, basic electricity, different types of bonding etc.

Whereas I agree with everything else this person said, Year 11 physics is nothing. I can't even stress that enough.
How can they call that piece of trash the syllabus? It's so in need of revision, might as well just spread the Year 12 syllabus over the two years and making everyone learn all the options.

 

[timw7845]

Heaps of essay writing practice for english doesn't really help imo.

can you teach my english class....

my teacher doesnt realise that this does nothing except turn her students against her

 

[annabackwards]

I'd enjoy my year 11 holidays if i were you. They're the last few guilt free ones you'll have for a while....

1/ But since you suck at english, work to polish up your essay writing skills. Do some math so that you don't forget (note that i said SOME) and don't even bother revising anything for physics and chem unless you want good prelim ranks - they pretty much skim over everything from year 11 you need in year 12 when you start year 12 again anyway.

2/ For physics it was Jacaranda, for chemistry it was Conquering Chemistry by Smith or something rather.

3/ Don't waste $80 on those surfing books which aren't even for the HSC. Use your money on a game or concert or something.

4/ Yeah i ahve some, but for year 12. Don't waste your money on them in yaer 11, make your own. I haven't even used mine yet but i didn't get the books for that reason anyway xD

 

[Uncle]

Asking a few q's in the Yr12 forum, as I'd prefer answers from peeps with experience and hindsight.

I finished the HSC I can provide more reliable advice.

1) What the heck should I do these holidays? I'm considering knocking over some Yr12 2U math these holidays, OR practice heaps of essays (English my weakest subject). Wise, or should I spend my time revising what I've done so far this year in Prelim?

Obviously the English department CAN be sneaky and require you to respond specifically in an extended response question in the form of a speech, interview script or even a feature article (That's how many people got screwed over and I was unaffected because I don't memorise essays).
Also, maths is not a rote learning subject and the more questions you have a crack at the better you will be.
Otherwise take a break now and then.

2) What was the most effective study book for Physics / Chemistry you used in Yr11?

I found Excel HSC Physics very good for Physics and you may also consider SuccessOne past papers for Physics and Chemistry.
I had limited resources and didn't require tutoring and I did fine.

3) My class uses the Surfing Series textbooks for Physics. We get printouts of pages rather than actually owning copies. I'm considering buying it so I can study better / work ahead, but my teacher said it's one bloody textbook for each chapter at ~$20 each, meaning $80! Crikey...can I spend better spend $80?

Not Applicable.
Also, don't spend more than you need in the HSC.
As I said I had limited resources because the HSC was easy.
Why shell out $1000 for the HSC?
Could buy 2 or 3 semester's worth of textbooks in UNSW which you may need.

4) Did anyone purchase any books with pre-made study cards in them? I've seen an Excel 3U Math book like so but didn't buy it... Were / are they useful?

They could, for revising basic concepts and are not to be used as replacement to your current learning.
They came in handy 1 hour before the Physics trials.

Cheers, gl with trials.

I finished the HSC thanks.

Whereas I agree with everything else this person said, Year 11 physics is nothing. I can't even stress that enough.
How can they call that piece of trash the syllabus? It's so in need of revision, might as well just spread the Year 12 syllabus over the two years and making everyone learn all the options.

i found myself revising year 11 physics on waves on some course named ELEC1111 (Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications) in UNSW.
i.e. sound waves and analysing circuit diagrams.
Year 11 physics is something i can tell you that.

 

[hollaholla]

I personally hate surfing books. Terrible. Year 11 holidays?? Omg partayy!!!!. Try the

Books===phyiscs---jacaranda or whatever that is....
chemistry====Conquering chem 4th edition!! it is AWESOME. coloured too .

 

[jules.09]

Whereas I agree with everything else this person said, Year 11 physics is nothing. I can't even stress that enough.
How can they call that piece of trash the syllabus? It's so in need of revision, might as well just spread the Year 12 syllabus over the two years and making everyone learn all the options.

Year 11 physics is highly relevant imo. You need a solid understanding of it before you can proceed with year 12, because the basic concepts and skills you've acquired come into play then.

The syllabus is trashy, but we can't do much about it . I hate society questions in HSC physics, they are so convoluted and somewhat irrelevant.

can you teach my english class....

my teacher doesnt realise that this does nothing except turn her students against her

Haha, well it's true. If you know your texts genuinely back to front, have some interesting, coherent critique to add and express it succinctly and powerfully, arrange it clearly and logically before the exam, I don't see why you can't do well.

 

[possessionless]

WAIT TILL YEAR 12 TO DO THE WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! enjoy yourself as much as possible before the stress sets in

this.

 

[chingyloke]

Surfing Physics is woeful, half the answers are wrong and a lot of the questions are completely irrelevant to the syllabus.

Personally, i find Jacaranda Physics the best of the bunch.

 

[jules.09]

Surfing Physics is woeful, half the answers are wrong and a lot of the questions are completely irrelevant to the syllabus.

Personally, i find Jacaranda Physics the best of the bunch.

I agree, but do you ever feel Jacaranda Physics doesn't cover the syllabus requirements to the required depth?

 

[Guage]

What versions of Jacaranda are there? Is it one book that covers both Yr11 & 12, or 2 seperate books, or one that that covers Yr12 only?

Also, how much does it generally cost?

Also, is Jacaranda Chemistry > Conquering?

 

[kurt.physics]

What versions of Jacaranda are there? Is it one book that covers both Yr11 & 12, or 2 seperate books, or one that that covers Yr12 only?

Also, how much does it generally cost?

Also, is Jacaranda Chemistry > Conquering?

It is 2 separate books.

I think the inequality you mentioned would be debatable, both have pros and both have cons.