Timing in the MX2 exam (2 Viewers)

[~ ReNcH ~]

Practising a few papers, I've just been trying to work out a time plan for the MX2 exam. What do you think is a reasonable break-down for the amount of time that should be spent on each question? Personally I've set a target of around 60 minutes for Q1-4, though I'm not sure whether that leaves sufficient time for the more difficult questions or worse still, if rushing it will lead to unnecessary careless errors (which I seem to suffer from when doing practice papers)

 

[KFunk]

That seems pretty similar to what I'm trying to do. Where possible I'm trying to do Q1-4 in about an hour because you need to leave time for the harder stuff but you need enough time to earn marks where you can get them. I then give about 40 mins - 60 mins to Q5-6 and the rest of the time to 7 and 8. Ideally a lot of people would want more time for the last questions but they're not the ones that you earn your big marks from. Completing a question 8 may set you apart from the rest of the pack but only if you have put enough time into the earlier stuff so as not to have lost 15 marks in careless errors. So basically, what I'm trying to go for is:

Q 1-4 in approx 60 mins

Q 5 & 6 in approx 40-60 mins

Q 7 & 8 in the rest of the time

 

[Antwan23q]

Yeah, I was having a question about 7 & 8... Why are they so abstract and difficult. Like I have been doing all these past papers and 7 and 8 are like "what the fark?". Do they really expect the majority of people to answer these?

 

[richz]

lol, i agree, i have no idea wat sum of the questions are asking

 

[Stefano]

lol, i agree, i have no idea wat sum of the questions are asking

Then, perhaps, you should spend more time on the easier questions. This way you might maximise your marks. Just a suggestion.

 

[richz]

yeah, lol, i make so many silly mistakes with the first few questions

 

[KFunk]

Do they really expect the majority of people to answer these?

Nope ... well, maybe, but I don't think they expect them to be right.

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

2004 Q8 was ok - I haven't really worked through the others. I wonder if many people actually get 10+/15 for Q8 in general.

 

[Antwan23q]

Yeah, I've been looking at some of them, like the 2001, I think it is, the prove e is irrational ones, they are total bitches.

 

[Slidey]

I was reading the markers comments for 1998.

It asked you to prove the general case of the AM-GM inequality (for n numbers) by induction.

I believe it said 3 people in the state could do it. On the same paper there was another question only 1 person could do.

Hopefully our paper isn't like that.

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

hmmm i use the reading time to read Q7-8
then try to quickly start on Q1-4

MUST do 1-4..
5-6 is definately attempt..
7-8.. is look.. and do if u have time.. but some times they are decievingly easy!!

worked for me

 

[Stefano]

I was reading the markers comments for 1998.

It asked you to prove the general case of the AM-GM inequality (for n numbers) by induction.

I believe it said 3 people in the state could do it. On the same paper there was another question only 1 person could do.

Hopefully our paper isn't like that.

Yowzaa! I hope not. Unless I'm that one guy. But what are the chances of that? Don't answer that question.

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

Yeah, I've been looking at some of them, like the 2001, I think it is, the prove e is irrational ones, they are total bitches.

I think the 2001 Q8 overall was ok. The 7 marks for a) were doable. b) stumped me though - I got one mark for setting up the induction

 

[~ ReNcH ~]

Last year's paper was ok, though for some reason I did better in the 2001 paper than the 2004 HSC exam.

Out of curiosity, what raw marks would you guys be content with? Not necessarily overjoyed, but just satisfied...

 

[KFunk]

Something around 80-90 out of 120 would leave me contented.

 

[Antwan23q]

would that scale to around like 95+ kfunk?
im goin for maybe 70-85

 

[tempco]

according to my teacher, the average mark of question 1 is roughly 15/15, and 1/15 for question 8.

so yeh.

 

[Antwan23q]

well i believe they should make the hsc harder... (just kiddin, im makin fun of justchillen)

 

[dawso]

according to my teacher, the average mark of question 1 is roughly 15/15, and 1/15 for question 8.

so yeh.

no way, id say the average for question 1 is about 12-13, and if u actually beleived that the "average" is 15 wen the maximum is 15, then maybe u shudnt do 4unit....

 

[dawso]

Practising a few papers, I've just been trying to work out a time plan for the MX2 exam. What do you think is a reasonable break-down for the amount of time that should be spent on each question? Personally I've set a target of around 60 minutes for Q1-4, though I'm not sure whether that leaves sufficient time for the more difficult questions or worse still, if rushing it will lead to unnecessary careless errors (which I seem to suffer from when doing practice papers)

my name is justchillin, i am aiming for 120/120, and if ur aiming for anythin less than 115 then u are a failure to society!