original123
*Original Convention*
I did find it necessary to include the words 'next week' =P.
This thread covers ESSENTIAL tips and pointers to remember before and during the exam; both basics and perhaps some you wouldn't have heard before.
$$ PRACTISE! How did we all know this would be the first point? But practise doesn't mean go 'random'. Do past papers. After going back and marking them, check which topics seem to be most common in the questions you got wrong. This time, go back through every single resource you have and practise the questions relating to those topics. You will find that you become more confident in the topic that you have had problems with.
$$ If you can't figure out the answers or are having problems understanding the question, simply go through your textbook/formulae etc, and summarise or learn the information pertaining to that topic.
$$ Practise the topic questions briefly. If it's a revision book, I'd do the easiest (first question) and the hardest (last one or two questions). This saves time and affirms your knowledge and the extent of it.
$$ It may be a little bit late, but still never too late. You'd be surprised at the help that a (SMALL) study group will bring you. We call it a 'knowledge pool'. Chances are that whatever problem you have, another person will know the answer, and whatever problem they have, another knows the answer, and so forth.
$$ As you are going through past papers and reading notes, summarizing etc, you should post notes and write small things you may forget that aren't included in the formula sheet.
E.g.: 1 knot = 1 nautical mile.
Make sure these are visible constantly so you remember them. If you have the HSC General Math Excel Study Guide, it has some fantastic tables that you may want to photocopy and post up on your walls.
$$ Ensure you have the correct equipment before entering the exam room, and MAKE SURE it is all in workable condition! My friend took her calculator to the trials and the battery died half-way through. The thing is, you can NOT, under any circumstances, apply for equipment failure or anything like that. So she lost plenty of marks.
$$ A piece of equipment you may want to consider is a Math Mate. If you don't already have one, consider buying it or borrowing it. It's a stencil with plenty of shapes, graphs etc which save ALOT of time. They're alot more practical than rulers in most cases. This does NOT mean that you don't need a ruler though! Math Mate's aren't always the best option for each and every question. You can find them in your local newsagents for about $20. Yes, they are pretty expensive, but you can sell them afterward to another student or just borrow one off a year 11 student.
$$ Markers advise that you use pens for working and pencils for diagrams. The diagrams should be neat, 7 lines high and show all significant features, including names of axes and values on sketches.
$$ Do NOT NOT NOT use liquid paper! This actually scraps marks! If you draw one single line through the original mistake, but the marker sees your working, you may STILL get a mark or two for it!
$$ Make an attempt for EVERY question and remember that marks are mostly awarded for the working out, even if you don't get the solution correct.
$$ Plan your time carefully. Start with section II and spend approximately 20 minutes on each of the qs 23-28. You should only be spending 30 minutes on multiple choice, and even though you may end up guessing some, this is saving valuable time that you could be using on 4 mark questions! Financial questions in multiple choice, as well as area/trig etc may require quite a few minutes. Remember these are only worth one mark! Don't ponder. Leave them, continue, then work them out IF YOU HAVE TIME.
$$ READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY!! Can't stress that enough. Underline the information given and the requirements of each question. Consider the best approach and don't just jump on formulae. Think about each question logically. If the answer is logical, chances are you'll get marks for it. Remember the simple things like units, decimal places etc.
$$ Use travelling time to revise any formulae still unknown or not completely learnt. You'd be surprised how much this may help.
$$ Practise writing NEATLY and fluently. Markers despise careless work, and let's face it, they won't bother trying to read chicken scrawl at 9pm on a weekday. Also remember that marks may be deducted for careless or messy work. Even if your neat handwriting is big, it doesn't matter how many booklets you use up because there is no limit imposed on you.
$$ TOP 10 ERRORS MADE BY HSC MATH STUDENTS:
- Errors in basic algebra.
- Not showing working.
- Using liquid paper.
- Not drawing a diagram.
- Rounding off too early (don't round off the answer until you have come to the FINAL solution).
- Not answering the question asked.
- Poor reasoning/proofs. (Think trig.)
- Not noticing key words.
- Errors in calculator use (type in the numbers properly and make sure that they are correctly in order!)
Only 3 days until we finish AOS! ARGH! Keep it together, we're departing hell soon!!!!
Good luck everyone. Study hard =D
This thread covers ESSENTIAL tips and pointers to remember before and during the exam; both basics and perhaps some you wouldn't have heard before.
$$ PRACTISE! How did we all know this would be the first point? But practise doesn't mean go 'random'. Do past papers. After going back and marking them, check which topics seem to be most common in the questions you got wrong. This time, go back through every single resource you have and practise the questions relating to those topics. You will find that you become more confident in the topic that you have had problems with.
$$ If you can't figure out the answers or are having problems understanding the question, simply go through your textbook/formulae etc, and summarise or learn the information pertaining to that topic.
$$ Practise the topic questions briefly. If it's a revision book, I'd do the easiest (first question) and the hardest (last one or two questions). This saves time and affirms your knowledge and the extent of it.
$$ It may be a little bit late, but still never too late. You'd be surprised at the help that a (SMALL) study group will bring you. We call it a 'knowledge pool'. Chances are that whatever problem you have, another person will know the answer, and whatever problem they have, another knows the answer, and so forth.
$$ As you are going through past papers and reading notes, summarizing etc, you should post notes and write small things you may forget that aren't included in the formula sheet.
E.g.: 1 knot = 1 nautical mile.
Make sure these are visible constantly so you remember them. If you have the HSC General Math Excel Study Guide, it has some fantastic tables that you may want to photocopy and post up on your walls.
$$ Ensure you have the correct equipment before entering the exam room, and MAKE SURE it is all in workable condition! My friend took her calculator to the trials and the battery died half-way through. The thing is, you can NOT, under any circumstances, apply for equipment failure or anything like that. So she lost plenty of marks.
$$ A piece of equipment you may want to consider is a Math Mate. If you don't already have one, consider buying it or borrowing it. It's a stencil with plenty of shapes, graphs etc which save ALOT of time. They're alot more practical than rulers in most cases. This does NOT mean that you don't need a ruler though! Math Mate's aren't always the best option for each and every question. You can find them in your local newsagents for about $20. Yes, they are pretty expensive, but you can sell them afterward to another student or just borrow one off a year 11 student.
$$ Markers advise that you use pens for working and pencils for diagrams. The diagrams should be neat, 7 lines high and show all significant features, including names of axes and values on sketches.
$$ Do NOT NOT NOT use liquid paper! This actually scraps marks! If you draw one single line through the original mistake, but the marker sees your working, you may STILL get a mark or two for it!
$$ Make an attempt for EVERY question and remember that marks are mostly awarded for the working out, even if you don't get the solution correct.
$$ Plan your time carefully. Start with section II and spend approximately 20 minutes on each of the qs 23-28. You should only be spending 30 minutes on multiple choice, and even though you may end up guessing some, this is saving valuable time that you could be using on 4 mark questions! Financial questions in multiple choice, as well as area/trig etc may require quite a few minutes. Remember these are only worth one mark! Don't ponder. Leave them, continue, then work them out IF YOU HAVE TIME.
$$ READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY!! Can't stress that enough. Underline the information given and the requirements of each question. Consider the best approach and don't just jump on formulae. Think about each question logically. If the answer is logical, chances are you'll get marks for it. Remember the simple things like units, decimal places etc.
$$ Use travelling time to revise any formulae still unknown or not completely learnt. You'd be surprised how much this may help.
$$ Practise writing NEATLY and fluently. Markers despise careless work, and let's face it, they won't bother trying to read chicken scrawl at 9pm on a weekday. Also remember that marks may be deducted for careless or messy work. Even if your neat handwriting is big, it doesn't matter how many booklets you use up because there is no limit imposed on you.
$$ TOP 10 ERRORS MADE BY HSC MATH STUDENTS:
- Errors in basic algebra.
- Not showing working.
- Using liquid paper.
- Not drawing a diagram.
- Rounding off too early (don't round off the answer until you have come to the FINAL solution).
- Not answering the question asked.
- Poor reasoning/proofs. (Think trig.)
- Not noticing key words.
- Errors in calculator use (type in the numbers properly and make sure that they are correctly in order!)
Only 3 days until we finish AOS! ARGH! Keep it together, we're departing hell soon!!!!
Good luck everyone. Study hard =D
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