English Problem (1 Viewer)

[sasquatch]

I'm currently in year 11 and doing - adv. english, maths, maths ext 1, industrial technology (mutlimedia), physics, software design and IT. Out of all of them i am doing reasonably well (especially well in mutlimedia, maths, software). The subject i am having the most trouble with is advanced english. I have been getting crappy marks, apart from the first assessment based on area of study (which im not sure i deserved as we had a teacher that was leaving....and everyone in our class did suprisingly well). I'm considering dropping from advanced to standard but im unsure of something...

I'd like to get above 90 for my UAI so i would be eligible for software engineering, but I have heard that by doing standard it is not possilbe to get above band 4, which means that it may pull my UAI down. The reason why i am so concerned is, term 3 of year 11 is comming to the end and i have to make the decision whether or not to remain in advanced or drop down to standard. Can anyone make any recommendations or clear anything that im not sure about?

Thanks.

 

[pLuvia]

umm, in Standard English it is very possible to get a band 6, but rarely ever, they usually pull it down to a band 5. Doing standard english does not mean you will not get above 90, but just that the maximum usually is that you'll only get a band 5, which isnt bad at all if you think about it.
But since you're doing advanced english right now, i recommend you stick with it unless you are doing so bad as in, failing or the 50s, then yeah maybe standard english would be the right choice

hope that cleared things up

good luck

 

[HamuTarou]

just hang in there dude!

i'm failing adv eng but still doin it for yr 12...just try harding in yr 12

 

[sasquatch]

yeah but i dont wanna fail...i need 90+ UAI

 

[pLuvia]

you won't fail english, trust me... by the looks of your high expectations, you won't fail any subject, its hard to fail english i reckon

 

[sasquatch]

hmm well this is why i feel so crap

first assessment: 14/15
second: 10/15
third: 11/20

and lately for essays i wrote i got 6/10, 3.5/5 and just recently 7/20....

my fourth and final assessment task is next monday..

 

[pLuvia]

hmm, maybe if you get a private english tutor, or you ask your teacher where you are going wrong. My marks arent that great, range from 60 - 100%, gotta shorten the range
i have tutor for english and i reckon it helps. The only way to get better is to practise practise and practise
but as HamuTaro said theres a chance to pick up the skill you have, year 11 isnt that important, like me , im not trying so hard in year 11 yet, but yeah, you'll improve in year 12

 

[sasquatch]

hmm but i dont wanna take any risks and yeah i dont really wanna get a tutor cuz i dunno, costly.

 

[Dreamerish*~]

I agree, get an english tutor. It's best that you have a private one, who can concentrate on your prescribed texts. Going to a coaching college isn't extremely helpful as everyone studies different texts - I learnt that the hard way.

Listen to your teacher in class and take notes, use as much of the notes as you can in your essays, and practise writing essays under a time limit.

Study guides can also help, although I've never used any. Don't leave exam preparations to the last minute, and don't rely on memorising essays - you have to actually know your stuff well enough to write up an essay on the spot.

 

[sasquatch]

tutor...........? would text books such as excel and whatever else they have do anything cuz yeah....

 

[Dreamerish*~]

tutor...........? would text books such as excel and whatever else they have do anything cuz yeah....

Well, how about you start spelling and punctuating properly on BOS for a start?

I find it's more effective to practise essays. Swap essays with your friends to find new ideas, but do not plagarise.

There are also helpful sites online, such as:

HSC Online

Sparknotes

 

[sasquatch]

the only thing i spelt wrong was "cuz" and its not like im writting a friggen essay here, thats the actual way i pronounce because -> 'cause -> cuz so yeah....... and well i see "wanna" again thats just the way say it when i talk.....

 

[Dreamerish*~]

the only thing i spelt wrong was "cuz" and its not like im writting a friggen essay here, thats the actual way i pronounce because -> 'cause -> cuz so yeah....... and well i see "wanna" again thats just the way say it when i talk.....

So sorry. Triple-ellipsis is so hot right now.

Anyway, I'm not here to argue with you. Get yourself a tutor, practise essays under time limit, read your friends' essays, use those websites, go go go.

 

[lourai*87]

Can i suggest you do not drop to standard!? I empathise with you completely. For my first assessment this year (yr 12) i did well..maybe 80%. My second assessment 6/20! Now that is shocking. So many times in Prelim i wanted to drop down..but my teacher told me to stick with it, that if i put my mind to it i would get through. It has caused me endless hours of grief..believe me, no exaggeration. Throughout year 12, my marks from home essays have been around the 14/20 mark. This is actually not that bad for Adv english.

Now i have just receved my trial back (most of the grade did very crap - blame dodgy marking of section one paper one). Essays again on average 13-14/20

I say this...and do not reccomend it...but most of the essays at home i have started the night before due. NOT RECOMMENDED!!! But all the same, i have come out alright. I would not say i have overly good natural ability with English, but honestly i have surprised myself.

I am sure you will be fine. Know your stuff, and you will be able to make it through the exams no worries. And have a look at the Student Assessment Modellerwith your prelim marks, or just chuck in marks you think you will get. That should give you an indication or what you need to improve on, or what to aim for.

 

[YBK]

Why don't u take up extension 1 and 2 English.

lol jks...

I really do not enjoy advanced since our teacher is REALLLY boring. Also, the teacher has some kind of marking criteria no-one knows about.

Maybe try taking notes in class; that may prove helpful, since seriously, i don't even think you have to be a talented english student to do well - really, some people who can't write do pretty well because they give the markers what they want. It's all a case of giving them what they want, which is usually a whole bunch of researched material and excessive referencing to the text.

Anyways, good luck...

P.S: I agree with Dreamerish*~, try using correct grammar wherever you are, that may actually help you...

 

[sasquatch]

well whats with your "lol jks" hahaha

 

[Dreamerish*~]

well whats with your "lol jks" hahaha

No, he was serious. He can really see your potential.

 

[sasquatch]

well thanks everyone....

 

[drewgcn]

You can still fairly easily get a UAI of 90 with a decent band 4 in standard english as long as your other subjects are proficient.

And at least you won't be struggling with a subject next year...

 

[sasquatch]

cool! ill have one more talk with my english teacher and make a decision, thanks again everyone for your help.