MedVision ad

Prelim exams in comparison to HSC. (1 Viewer)

mikballs

New Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
23
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
I just finished my prelims, and lets just say I didn't do as well as I would have liked..but that seemed to be the case for most of my fellow students. I saw that I mostly bombed out when it came to essays *sigh*.
I wanted to ask 2 questions:

1. For everyone who's done their hsc, did this happen to you as well? Did you find that you didn't exactly 'ace' the Prelims but went a lot better for your hsc?

2. Any reccomendations on essay writing?

Any help would be wonderful.
Ty. =]
 
Joined
Dec 18, 2005
Messages
137
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2008
I have found that my ranks have improved quite significantly in my HSC year compared to prelim, but that's not to say that this happens for everyone (obviously for one person to go up another must go down?). But the reason that it is prelim is so that you have practice and now you know how to refine your study methods and techniques because you should know what's best for you.

Essay writing completely depends on the subject...I can't really say I have any tips but I know for example that the approach to English essays are very different to Ancient history essays, and you have to realise what markers are looking for.
 

kaz1

et tu
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
6,960
Location
Vespucci Beach
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2009
Uni Grad
2018
mikballs said:
I just finished my prelims, and lets just say I didn't do as well as I would have liked..but that seemed to be the case for most of my fellow students. I saw that I mostly bombed out when it came to essays *sigh*.
I wanted to ask 2 questions:

1. For everyone who's done their hsc, did this happen to you as well? Did you find that you didn't exactly 'ace' the Prelims but went a lot better for your hsc?

2. Any reccomendations on essay writing?

Any help would be wonderful.
Ty. =]
You need to practice for essays.
 

dolbinau

Active Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
1,334
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
Honestly, in year 11 I would only write sometimes 2-3 pages for some things (poetry) and get 4 max.

In year 12 my essays are now usually 6 pages long and get much better marks. My ranks are the best they've ever been!

Don't give up.
 

Aerath

Retired
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
10,169
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Don't worry, despite what people say, a year is enough time to get your act together. But you better start now.
 

62anoiF

New Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
12
Gender
Female
HSC
2008
I definitely didn't ace my prelims. I think I only just passed most of them. Went much better in HSC trials in every subject. I think it's because you don't study as much in prelims, well I didn't really study much but in trials you realise they're important so you put in more effort.

Essay writing...can't really help with that...just remember to link back to the question in all your paragraphs.
 

live.fast

Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
501
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
After all the initial preliminary assessments, I didn't do so well in the Prelim exams, but that was probably because by then, I'd figured out just how much they counted towards my HSC (i.e. ZERO, zilch, nada).

You have one year to change your attitude to study, to change how effective you are at studying, to change essay writing styles, complexity of exam responses, etc. I managed to change in a year, and I based my change around the writing styles/exam strategies of the best students in previous HSC years. It cost me alot to do so (in terms of finding them, replicating their strategies, exam response structures, study techniques etc), but I did it. You don't have to go about it that exact same way, but the point is, there IS an opportunity there to improve, always. So yeah - it's up to you now though.

And yes. Prelims mean shit all. (No offense to those who do good in them or whatever though).
 
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
2,110
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
Other way around for me, raped prelim, got raped by HSC.

:(
 

jellybelly59

Active Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
1,382
Location
where there is pho and sugar cane drinks
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
live.fast said:
After all the initial preliminary assessments, I didn't do so well in the Prelim exams, but that was probably because by then, I'd figured out just how much they counted towards my HSC (i.e. ZERO, zilch, nada).

You have one year to change your attitude to study, to change how effective you are at studying, to change essay writing styles, complexity of exam responses, etc. I managed to change in a year, and I based my change around the writing styles/exam strategies of the best students in previous HSC years. It cost me alot to do so (in terms of finding them, replicating their strategies, exam response structures, study techniques etc), but I did it. You don't have to go about it that exact same way, but the point is, there IS an opportunity there to improve, always. So yeah - it's up to you now though.

And yes. Prelims mean shit all. (No offense to those who do good in them or whatever though).
wow... :)
 

Joga Bonito

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Messages
58
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
i found just constantly practicing my essays in exam conditions helped me heaps, and also keeping the language simple and to the point.
 

The Spectre

New Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
8
Gender
Female
HSC
2009
I aced all of my prelims. What a shame they don't count towards anything. It took everything out of me and now that I've reached year 12 - I'm stressed and exhausted!

Here are some of my year 11 marks: (half yearlies)
Photography - 100% (first perfect score ever and it's not a UAI course :evilfire: )
Biology - 88%
Music - 88%
English - 84%
Visual Art - 80%
Legal Studies - 78%

...I have a lot to live up to. I really must push myself in the HSC course! I'm scared my results won't be half as good as those ones. I fell a bit behind due to hospitalisation due to appendicitis. I never really got back on my game after that!

Does anyone have any tips on getting energy and enthusiasm back?
(I'm hoping the holidays will do it for me!)
 
Last edited:

annabackwards

<3 Prophet 9
Joined
Jun 14, 2008
Messages
4,670
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2009
Just chill, really chill and do something fun.

I just did two exams today and i'm just relxing- the homework comes tomorrow :)

I should be right by tomorrow after this nice break ^^
 

jaaaaay

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
268
Gender
Female
HSC
2007
live.fast said:
After all the initial preliminary assessments, I didn't do so well in the Prelim exams, but that was probably because by then, I'd figured out just how much they counted towards my HSC (i.e. ZERO, zilch, nada).

You have one year to change your attitude to study, to change how effective you are at studying, to change essay writing styles, complexity of exam responses, etc. I managed to change in a year, and I based my change around the writing styles/exam strategies of the best students in previous HSC years. It cost me alot to do so (in terms of finding them, replicating their strategies, exam response structures, study techniques etc), but I did it. You don't have to go about it that exact same way, but the point is, there IS an opportunity there to improve, always. So yeah - it's up to you now though.

And yes. Prelims mean shit all. (No offense to those who do good in them or whatever though).
Listen to the expert... haha.

I did so shit in year 11 - doesn't count! Pick yourself up and you'll do fine!
 

-may-cat-

Tired Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
3,472
Gender
Female
HSC
2008
If you really have issues with essay writing, ask your school for information on essay writing workshops, there a few held over the year i think and apparently they are quite good.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top