Yes, they show if the x amounts of school actually stuck. |
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51.3% (20) |
Possibly. I think some exam should be taken, but it shouldn't determine University placement. |
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33.3% (13) |
No. Final year exams are pointless and place too much stress on students. |
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15.4% (6) |
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Pulitzer Laureate  Posts: 721 Joined: 7 Nov 2006     | |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008     | What course do you wanna do? What subjects are you doing? |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 721 Joined: 7 Nov 2006 | I'm going to do Business/IT at UTS if I can. And unless I get a UAI of 97+, the 85 UAI course is the only one that appeals to me. I'm doing Sofware D&D, Advanced Maths, Advanced English, Chemistry, Physics, Legal studies, bring in 12 units, just incase I screwed one up, and it turns out the one I screwed up is the only one which HAS to count towards my UAI, so yeah, big fat help that was. |
Vault Legend  Posts: 2205 Joined: 30 Jul 2008     | The problem with Final tests, specifically those harped on constantly and alluded to by every precognitive notion is the fact that the stress and work can undo you just as easily as it can set you up to sit pretty and even tie a bow on. Here's the skinny. My roommate's an engineer, and is more worried about his GPA than he is his future career? Why? Because if your GPA suffers, then it's your future career. He's so wound up about his exams and grades he regularly snaps at me for sitting around in my free time, all stress-based. His GPA is tied to his scholarships, so he couldn't afford to attend college without them. All of this, detail-oriented mess because of a value somewhere between 0 and 4. That's a mind-numbing 4 integers, and it has the capability of screwing your future. In the butt. With a house. Regardless of any non-lubed domiciles being shoved where suns do not shine, it's a lot to pin onto someone. High-stress with little value, and only serves to act as a barrier between the individuals and the companies they may one day be employed with. As well as that, it can be misleading. Horribly misleading. Something could be different, but I'm far too tired to think of what. I voted "Possibly. I think some exam should be taken, but it shouldn't determine University placement." |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3664 Joined: 21 Jan 2008    |
Make that 2 years for me... As for the OP's question, I reckon you need some testing, but I'm not too sure on what should be tested. I suppose I'll have to go along with the HSC until something else rolls along. Anyways, this thing is already popping up for me. You know how bad it was in my group during the lead-up to the trials? Gah, I too had to participate in the MSN ritual the weekend before the trials... God only imagine the hubbub when the actual School Certificate comes along... As for all the subjects you guys picked... geez, I need to loosen up a bit. Lets see, Adv. English, Extention 1 Math, Economics, Legal Studies, Physics and Modern History... anyone got an idea on how scaling will apply to me? |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1870 Joined: 13 Oct 2008  | i've planned back ups just in case i totally n00bify in the face of the VCE Exams. but it involves an extra two years at a tafe and the accommodation wouldn't be available for the first year. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1870 Joined: 13 Oct 2008 |
i am even more fun |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3664 Joined: 21 Jan 2008 |
See, out of my selection, except for English, I like the subjects I've picked. Congrats on finishing psychology a year early... I didn't even know you could do that as a HSC/VCE subject. If you wouldn't mind, how does it work in your state? I think a PM would be best, since we don't want to derail the thread (well, more than its already derailed...). PS: Welcome to The Escapist. |
Pulitzer Laureate  Posts: 703 Joined: 10 Apr 2008     | Confusing.. Here in the US we really dont have this. In Texas we take pointless state based tests but pretty much just to make sure your not brain dead. They have no Effect on Your college stuff. Here its all about Your rank in your class and your Grade Point Avereage, and what you have done outside of school and with in school clubs and sports. High level schools also take into account what Highschool you went to. |
Copy Clerk  Posts: 56 Joined: 11 Sep 2008     | It's better to do the HSC rather than do what a few people I know did and: Besides, what could a 17-18 year old possibly have to do that's better at that time in their life? Sure there are back-doors, but time is money and back-doors take time. I have guys who did the back-door option in my course, they're 3-5 years older and not really the wiser for it. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 616 Joined: 15 Jul 2008    | I dunno, I think college and uni is a completely bullshit system. I don't agree with spending shittons of your money on a school where you have professors who just phone it in so they can keep tenure, or worse, force their viewpoints down your throat. Where you're forced to take classes that have no real bearing on your future career, and yeah, I could go on, but you guys get the point. If their goal was to make me a free thinker, then they certainly did a good job. I dropped out of college after spending my semester working on the old The Specialists mod and playing Natural Selection like it was my job. Then I became a pirate. Arrrrrr
Most of them find jobs in government! Fun fact: Trying to type when you don't have use of your left index finger is all sorts of annoying. |
Beat Writer  Posts: 183 Joined: 8 Jun 2008     |
It also all depends on the subjects you take and the lecturers for it. I've had a few terrible lecturers at university but I've also had a huge amount of great ones who engage with you and your ideas without trying to indoctrinate you. A large part of it also comes from choosing a degree and sujects which interest you. |
Infamous Scribbler Posts: 616 Joined: 15 Jul 2008 | Perhaps, but I think it just has a lot to do with my belief, that when I go to learn a subject, I just want to learn that. I don't want to waste my time learning ancillary crap just in the name of "making me more rounded." If I want to learn something extra I'll read about it on my own time. I don't want to pay money for the pleasure of taking 'extra-curricular' classes just so I can graduate. Oh well, I never claimed to be normal anyway. Good thing there's jobs like the Merchant Marines for guys like me. |
Pulitzer Laureate  Posts: 856 Joined: 2 Feb 2008  |
There are -Trial_ School certs? News to me. And I have my SC in a month's time. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008 |
I don't mind if it's derailed. It means we learn something new about the messed up education system. On another note, for those of you who are reading and did the English - Area of Study HSC paper, what did you think? |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 721 Joined: 7 Nov 2006 | Why was there a question worth 4 marks in the comprehension? That totally confused me, it thought the marking was supposed to go 1-2-3-1-3-5, not 1-2-3-4-5. The 4 mark in the comprehension was a horrific question, ended up going on about emotive language, really generalised stuff. Section III... well, I didn't do awfully, but I was so short on time I ended up writing a page in 3 minutes. My hand is still paining me. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008 |
What question was the comprehension? I wasn't paying too much attention. I told them what they wanted to hear. What did you think about the unseen texts? |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 721 Joined: 7 Nov 2006 | comprehension is section one in it's entirety. The unseen texts.. well. I suck at poetry, so I failed miserably there. The Cover was easy as they always are, the travel memoirs were a good text, full of good techniques to explain, and the short story was plain awful in terms of being able to use it well for english questions, it was a rather plain story. Thats my opinion of it anyway. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3587 Joined: 6 Aug 2008  | ...I just realized. I'm surrounded by people much, much smarter than me. Oh dear... On topic: Aren't they looking at ways to change the system so it's less focused on a single day's test results and actual ability? |
On the Record  Posts: 5175 Joined: 3 Mar 2008   | The HSC isn't the end of the world, it just makes you opportunities... slimmer. I still recommend that you study for it, because a bad one kills your CV. The School Certificate, however, is pathetic. I've just done the trial ones (which are the same thing), and they were so easy, it made all my studying look for naught. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008 |
What "quote" did you use for your creative writing? And what was your "journey"?
We're a bunch of stressed out teenagers :P They're "looking", but whether it actually does anything is complete different :P The system is very screwed up with no signs of changing. A lot of politicians say that they'll change it for the better, but don't understand that all this talk is really isn't helping the students who they're meant to convince to vote for them later. It's a pretty sucky time. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3664 Joined: 21 Jan 2008 |
Yes, though it depends on the school you go to. If you don't mind me asking, what high school do you go to? In Homebush Boys, we had them the last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (stupid PE, wanting to feel wanted...) of Term 3. |
Infamous Scribbler Posts: 501 Joined: 24 May 2008   | Hmm. People get stressed out by tests easily, I realize, but I've never had that feeling. I always go into a test relaxed. Awake, but relaxed. It makes it much easier on you. Also, NEVER stay up late right before a test, and make sure you wake up early enough that you can clear your head without caffeine. Whether the test is useful or not depends on its format. Fact-memorization tests are about as useful as a car with square wheels. Logic tests and writing tests can be very useful in determining the actual aptitude of a student, however. As we speak, I'm exactly 1 week away from taking the GRE general test. For those unfamiliar with it (as I am with the HSC... I took the ACT and SAT) it's basically the SAT on steroids. Am I worried? not one bit. As I said, go in relaxed; if you stress out you're just sabotaging yourself. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008 |
I'm actually quite proud of myself. I sat through most of my exam without feeling like the walls were closing in on me. Mind you, I left after an hour, but I all of section one(Blah) and a good portion of section two(more blah) done. I got the essay and couldn't do it. I think a little stress is healthy, but in the case of what I'm stressing, and what a lot of other people are stressing, I think if the education system is to improve, the school have to provide an ADEQUATE level of support for students. How do you not stress out? |
Infamous Scribbler Posts: 501 Joined: 24 May 2008 | I just don't. I never have. I start thinking about other things; not willfully, I just do. If I become afraid of something (such as a presentation, etc) I force it away on my own by focusing on something. Usually the work at hand, but if that's done I just move on. So I guess that's the technique, have something to focus on besides stress and fear. Something concrete, preferably, but if not, then make something up in your head. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3776 Joined: 18 Dec 2007   | I'll be sitting at home thinking about the English Exam I just did in exactly a years time. ...fuck.
I hope you did well. But if you don't do well, don't worry. Your school makes the Trials harder so that you will deliberately freak out over the SC and study harder. It seems that if you add 20% to your trial mark and you have a rought estimate of your SC mark. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008 |
Yeah, the trials are harder, but that doesn't mean you should totally flake out on your SC. I freaked out for that too! OKAY I KNOW I'M NEUROTIC! |
BANNED Posts: 7 Joined: 16 Oct 2008 | at least 80% of the students at my school got into university last year....i wouldn't stress too much. User was banned for: How to get free games. (Permanent) |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3776 Joined: 18 Dec 2007 | If you don't study for the SC but did study for the trials then you wont get the extra 20%. You have to maintain the same amount of study for that 20%. What I'm saying is not to worry about the marks you get in the earlier tests. Failing in the Trial doesn't mean failure in the real thing. Relax and you'll do 20% better. I guarantee it.* And Rad, good luck with your other tests. *Not a guarantee. EDIT: Spelling changes. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1464 Joined: 15 May 2008 |
Ta honey ^^ |
Copy Clerk  Posts: 73 Joined: 1 Sep 2008    | I did the HSC last year. I didn't study all year or do much of the class work (I used five pages of my English book through all of year 11 and 12, and most of those were drawings). Strangely enough, when I got my result back, I didn't do as well as I wanted to and regretted not studying for the exams. I didn't necessarily do badly, just "average." But, still, it felt quite a waste not to have bothered to try to do well, since it was a year of my life. That said, even if I went back with the knowledge I had now, I would have found it very hard to study, just because I was so sick of the HSC. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3664 Joined: 21 Jan 2008 |
Thanks for the vote of confidence Fire. You don't need to worry about good ol' Stompy though, I should be fine for the School Certificate, judging by my trial marks (Band 6 in both Science and Math... oh yeh!). Of course, between my parents and my friends, I'll definitely study for the actual one. Though, a bit of procrastinating here (The Escapist) and there won't hurt, eh? Oh, and Rad, sorry about not wishing you luck before. Good luck. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2113 Joined: 15 Jun 2008   | Damn you Raddie. That exam was far less shit than I expected. The Jap one though was a steaming pile of turd. Good thing Jap probably won't count for me. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3664 Joined: 21 Jan 2008 |
I apologise, I thought I had done this before... hmm, well, there's no time like the present: Good luck everyone! Do well in the HSC!Oh, and I heard, from someone in Year 12, that some schools didn't do the proper amount of texts or something for the English paper. Someone wanna shed some light on that? |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3776 Joined: 18 Dec 2007 | Today I had to go and get something from the English staff room and I found people doing the English Exam in our common room. The poor bastards where only a few metres from the music room and it sounded like someone had given a group of chimpanzees (year sevens) a drum kit. Also in a couple of weeks it will be my Birthday meaning in a year and a couple week it'll be my birthday and the HSC. Should I stress about any test I could have coming up or take the day off and go see a movie or something? Personally I like the movie option. |
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HSC finals are needed in my opinion, because while it certainly isn't a great indication of what a person can do in many cases, it's some indication, and there isn't a better way of doing it at the moment. Well that's my opinion anyway.
Having never studied in my life, and barely listening in class, I decided now I'm putting on a bit of study.
I have no idea where I could get, anywhere from 80-95 is what I think I will get, My guess after using SAM calculators and School rank estimates is around 88.
I'm hoping because I go to a school in the top 25 in NSW, my UAI might get bolstered, but then I'm in the bottom 50% at that school, so I don't know how much that'll help.
The irony in all this is, I only need a UAI of 85 for the course I want, and if I spent as much time studying as I do bitching/estimating my UAI/Staring at a wall, I could easily get that.
Despite all that stuff that you get told about your UAI being the culmination of 12-13 years schooling, and it giving you a headstart into high paying jobs, blah blah blah blah, I feel no qualms about watching yahtzee reviews, posting on the escapist, playing tf2, and the exam is tomorrow and I haven't studied.
Really, I'm just happy school is over, I never liked school, only a few subjects are useful for me (Software, Maths, Physics, Chemistry), and the only subject which I am totally crap at is a subject which was forced upon me (English). Basically, the only way my UAI will be totally screwed is because of a subject which, quite frankly, is totally useless.