Ext 2 worth it? (1 Viewer)

[jpcg]

hi, i'm really confused on whether or not i should do ext 2 maths because i think that my workload would not make 4 unit worth it...

my subjects and ranks for yr 11 are:
English (advance) 8th
Maths 1st
Maths Ext 1 1st
Physics 1st
Chemistry 2nd
Economics 1st
catholic studies 1 unit (compulsory in my school)

so im not sure if doing ext 2 maths will benefit me because im scared that my other subjects would go down because of the amount of time i have to spend on 4 unit...so do i really need its scaling benefits if i can keep up with these ranks?

please help!

 

[insert-username]

Firstly, top results for Year 11. Well done!

The key thing to doing 4 unit Maths is that you must want to do it. You should have a strong interest and motivation for Maths to sustain yourself. If you're doing it simply for the scaling, then that's not good, because 4-unit is a very demanding course that will require a lot of study time. You can't avoid putting the time into 4-unit, because you won't do well at all, and that will negatively impact your UAI. If you are willing to make the time to do 4-unit, go for it. However, if you can't, then don't pick it. Also, if you feel that your other subjects will hold you in better steed for the HSC (i.e. you think you'll do well in Chem, Physics, Economics, etc), then you might want to continue putting the work into them, because very good marks in those subjects will still get you a high UAI.

As for the time, if you decide to take 4-unit, then Maths will count for 4 out of your 10 units needed for a UAI. That means you could also drop one out of Physics, Chemistry, or Economics to give yourself more time. No one else can make the decision for you: it's up to you. Just ask yourself: Am I willing to put in the time and effort required for 4-unit? Am I willing to drop a subject to accomodate 4-unit? The choice is up to you and you alone, and I hope I've given some help for that choice.


I_F

 

[jpcg]

yeah thanks for your advice...with the question of whether or not im motivated or love maths, i really love maths like maths is my favourite subject (probably cause i can do it) but when i started 4 unit last year i just dreaded going to every class...i found it an obligation...

if it wasn't for the scaling and everyone's expectations i would have dropped by now...

also, i don't see the difference between getting really well in 2 unit maths n doing average in 4 unit

 

[insert-username]

I'm in exactly the same predicament as you (I even have the same academic program). Maths if my favourite subject, but I found going to 4-unit so dreary (because I lost study periods). I'm still considering dropping it now, especially because my teacher's left, and I'm not sure who I'll get this year. For the moment, though, I'm going to strive to make it work, because if you are good at maths, 4-unit will reward you.

if it wasn't for the scaling and everyone's expectations i would have dropped by now...

Don't keep it for the scaling. End of story. Picking 4-unit just for scaling is a disaster waiting to happening. And who cares about everyone's expectations? This is your life, your HSC, and your decision. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks.

also, i don't see the difference between getting really well in 2 unit maths n doing average in 4 unit

If you're doing average in 4-unit, it's not worth it. By picking 4-unit, you need to have the motivation to do as well as you possibly can. Besides, what do you class as average? A friend of mine swears he only got 50% in the 4-unit exam, but when his HSC mark came back, he got 89/100 for 4-unit, as a result of aligning, moderating, and averaging. You have to do really, really, really well in 2-unit to best a decent 4-unit mark, both for the HSC mark and the UAI.


I_F

 

[jpcg]

*sighs* its so frustrating just because im scared of regret with whatever my decision is >< so far im leaning towards dropping because i'm pretty sure instead of spending my time in 4 unit i can spend all that time in 2 unit and do really really well

i really dont like the content in 4 unit and i think 4 unit is more interpretations rather than plain black and white like 2 and 3 unit

well thanks for all your advice! good luck to you and your decisions!

 

[insert-username]

Thank you. And just remember: whatever you choose, no regrets. You only sit the HSC once (well, probably, anyway), so stick by your decision, and work as hard as you can to make it come off. Good luck!


I_F

 

[Estel]

jpcg: The workload in 4U gets easier as the year progresses (I found the hardest topic to learn was complex numbers). Sometimes you need to back yourself and trust that you'll be good at what you enjoy.

 

[Mountain.Dew]

heres my 2 cents.

i suggest that you just keep on doing 4U maths. if u can get 1st in ur school for all 2U and 3U maths, then 4U is defintely the way 2 go.

give 4U another month or so, and see if you benefit from doing 4U, as in will u do well, do u enjoy the challenges set out by the questions, etc...from there, it is up 2 u to drop it or not.

another thing to take into consideration is that ur 3U will be extremely good. a lot of algebraic stuff + methods that u are more familiar with in 4U will become useful when doing 3U. Such an example is implicit differentiation. a lot of 3U questions that seem hard, will become easy because u have done more methods + more thinking + more logic involved in 4U to apply to 3U.

but, as everyone says, the decision is entirely up to you.

i give you my best regards and all of us in the BOS have every confidence you will do extremely well in the HSC, with or without 4U maths.