So here is an article in Bendigo Advertiser that tells students the key to VCE: preparation.
I couldn't agree more, except for the rest of the article.
The stuff that I can't agree with are some of the ten tips they listed in the article. And these aren't overly original either, being recycled from year to year, from one newspaper to another, from school to school and so on and so forth. Apart from being gross plagiarism these tips are rather rotten and can get you in trouble. So here's my input to each of the tips listed in the article, from 1 to 10:
1. Early organisation
They say "Set up a study schedule"; I say good, except I'd call it "labour schedule" since little useful studying is involved.
They say "study each subject regularly"; I say do that if you want to end up disappointed, otherwise study only 4 subjects, any more only if you have time.
2. Break tasks down
This suggestion was okay, except they used the word study again. Nonetheless, break your labour down into chunks of 3hr sessions (if you can't handle 3 hour labour sessions then you should be worried because a working day goes in 3 hr chunks in the best case, mostly in 4hr-chunks though)
3. Adjust to your strengths
Probably the best suggestion by itself in this article but with all the wrong follow up. Using charts, posters, fiddling with sound recorders (especially the ones on your phone, or computer) is going to leech an enormous amount of your time for little concepts learned. Stick to reading and writing and making posters and hypothetical situations in your head. As for the actual tip - yes, do adjust to your strengths - pick your easiest 3 subjects (English related being already picked) and engage in massacre of past exams. This Is Your Best Chance. Read VCE fails for more information.
4. Setup a priority table for your work
Finally! They used the word work, though I would've preferred labour because it sounds duller. Yes, do make priorities, I would say work most on the hardest of your 3 subjects (and same amount of time for English related) so that by the time exams are around you feel equally confident with digging your way through all 3 subjects equally as easily.
5. Use active learning (?)
They say "try summarising the key points in your own words"; I say: that sentence right there is the shortest and most accurate illustration of the failure of this educational system. If a student goes through 2 years of VCE studies and it comes down to "understanding" a concept of some sort at the time of exams then what was the point of 2 years of study? Even if we scratch that, say students are lazy and don't understand something when teachers specifically order them to understand it (baad students!), why would someone (i.e., everyone) suggest a summary in Your Own Words? I don't know about you but this sounds like a school for mentally challenged who have trouble putting things into their own words, hell I bet the real mentally challenged kids are smarter than most of VCE students anyway.
6. Know the format of the exam
Good suggestion, except... aren't you supposed to get familiar with the format after about 100 exams completed? Apparently not, so, after you finish those 100 exams be sure to take 1 on its own and stare at it for 2 hours, maybe it'll stick.
7. Stay connected
"Ask your parents to quiz you." ??? This better be a joke... who was this article written for again? Primary schools? Since when did they get VCE exams? Where have I been living in the past 10 years..?
8. Get early help
If only they said what they meant it would've been good. Do get early help - ask someone to explain concepts to you a year before the exams so that you don't have to go back to tip 5. That's if you have to ask, but remember, you won't always be able to ask someone to explain things to you...
9. Practice
They say: "Understanding the material is important, but you will also need to demonstrate your knowledge." I say; What!? I can't even comprehend this, why is demonstration of knowledge independent from understanding of material? Ah wait, I get it now, smart author of that tip! By demonstrating knowledge the author refers to the ability of students to "know" how to mechanically solve exam papers, without understanding, while understanding the material is seemingly more important, except of course, it has nothing to do with demonstrating the knowledge! If you want to know more about that please read VCE fails article.
10. Keep up the motivation and stay focussed
They say: "The exam period is a good time to focus on your goals."; I say: What goals are we talking about? When I had my exams I focussed on my goals too, I had a major goal to throw up before methods exam so that I'd avoid doing it in the exam room. It is a disgusting exam that one, especially all the word tricks. No wonder so many people who mastered maths methods exam ended up in Criminal Justice courses. But yes, do stay motivated, while you study for your biology always think of the engineering spot you're going to steal from specialist maths students, poor kids, but don't worry it's not your fault the system is crooked, you're just exploiting it so be excited!
