Not doing any HSC maths?

[RachaelS]

I was wondering how much it would affect my grade to do absolutely no maths at all for the HSC. I'm not awful at it, in year ten I was third in my year (which has around one hundred people), but I'm not excellent either. I do really well in all of the humanities, decently in science and then comparatively awful in maths. It's my ultimate goal to be a humanitarian lawyer for the United Nations, I'm aiming for an ATAR of around 96-97. Would these marks be realistic with the following subjects:
English Adv.
English Ext. 1 & 2
(Modern History or Chemistry, undecided as of yet)
Legal Studies
French
Ext. French
Studies of Religion 2 (compulsory at my school)

Thanks for your help!

[Shadowdude]

1. Your subject choice doesn't affect your grade.
2. You can get 93+ with those subjects, but of course - you have to do well enough in your subjects.

If you want to get into Law, you may have to get a higher ATAR than 97 depending on where you want your Law degree.

[Aysce]

Of course. In year 12, choose what you are interested in and what you are good at.

If you don't enjoy maths but you're good at it, I don't think you should take it up since you'll have to contribute lots of time into a subject you hate. Having maths but not enjoying it will lead to an increased likelihood of not doing well, hence lowering your ATAR. As long as you do well in all your subjects, having no maths subjects will not affect your ATAR.

[iSplicer]

I was wondering how much it would affect my grade to do absolutely no maths at all for the HSC. I'm not awful at it, in year ten I was third in my year (which has around one hundred people), but I'm not excellent either. I don't mean to sound conceited but I'm quite smart. I do really well in all of the humanities, decently in science and then comparatively awful in maths. It's my ultimate goal to be a humanitarian lawyer for the United Nations, I'm aiming for an ATAR of around 96-97, but would be reasonably pleased with anything above 93. Would these marks be realistic with the following subjects:
English Adv.
English Ext. 1 & 2
(Modern History or Chemistry, undecided as of yet)
Legal Studies
French
Ext. French
Studies of Religion 2 (compulsory at my school)

Thanks for your help!

The general rule is, if you're half-decent at maths, you should DEFINITELY take it, and take the highest level possible at that. It helps your ATAR a LOT!

Good luck =]

[iSplicer]

1. Your subject choice doesn't affect your grade.

Of course it does.

[Shadowdude]

The general rule is, if you're half-decent at maths, you should DEFINITELY take it, and take the highest level possible at that. It helps your ATAR a LOT!

Good luck =]

She'll then have like... 15 units.

[Shadowdude]

Of course it does.

In what way...?

[iSplicer]

In what way...?

Some subjects scale better than others, and this will give you a higher ATAR. This is a fact, for better or for worse. Not this discussion again ==".

[Aysce]

Some subjects scale better than others, and this will give you a higher ATAR. This is a fact, for better or for worse. Not this discussion again ==".

This is sadly true, like my case.

[Shadowdude]

Some subjects scale better than others, and this will give you a higher ATAR. This is a fact, for better or for worse. Not this discussion again ==".

That's true, but you can get any ATAR with any combination though.

So technically, it wouldn't really affect it because you'd be able to get the ATAR with whatever subjects you pick anyway.

[LoveHateSchool]

^^^But OP sounds like they are boss at humanities and science, just not maths... And if they're great at French, French Ext scales very well, Chem scales well, and even Modern is a decent scaler. Legal is average, but if they like it and have a lot of interest they can get fantastic results. Ext. English scales well (yes, not as well as MXs, but still well).

OP I think your subject choices sound very good and rounded. To get a high ATAR requires effort and work, and doing subjects you are passionate about will only help give a step in the right direction. Your combo is good to get 99.95, (Refer to wendybird anyone that disagrees at this point) and is well set for your ATAR goal.

It's not like OP is picking Standard English, or Food Tech or something.

[RachaelS]

I'm hoping for the scaling on French Ext. to save me, I think I can do pretty well in it. What you have just said is pretty much affirming everything that I have been trying to tell myself over the past couple of months, thanks!

[barbernator]

if you're came 3rd/100 in mathematics, and you think comparatively that you are bad at mathematics, i think you should drop , but then again if you are capable it can help a lot. BTW, OP i know this doesnt have much of a correlation, but what did u get for SC maths?

[RachaelS]

I got a 96 for the school certificate, but I hated every second that I spent studying for it.

[Shadowdude]

I got a 96 for the school certificate, but I hated every second that I spent studying for it.

aha

don't take any maths for the HSC then

[barbernator]

aha

don't take any maths for the HSC then

agreed. you must be boss at humanities

[RachaelS]

aha

don't take any maths for the HSC then

Yeah, pretty much what I've been thinking. Maths is the one subject that makes me lose all will to live when I see it on my timetable.

[iSplicer]

OP I think your subject choices sound very good and rounded. To get a high ATAR requires effort and work, and doing subjects you are passionate about will only help give a step in the right direction. Your combo is good to get 99.95, (Refer to wendybird anyone that disagrees at this point) and is well set for your ATAR goal.

Eh, valid point, but wendybird was a one-off case I think. The other 47 people who get 99.95 every year do the 4u-maths-and-sciences combo.

But yes, agreed on the notion that OP isn't doing any ridiculous subjects, so if she's *very* passionate on the ones she's choosing, it should be okay.

[iSplicer]

Yeah, pretty much what I've been thinking. Maths is the one subject that makes me lose all will to live when I see it on my timetable.

It seems like you came on here just to hear people tell you not to do maths, seeing how you're agreeing with all such posts and ignoring those that suggest you to take maths (which you seem to be doing fine in). If you really hate it fair enough, but not taking it will make it harder for you to get a high ATAR. Note I said harder, not impossible.

[RachaelS]

Eh, valid point, but wendybird was a one-off case I think. The other 47 people who get 99.95 every year do the 4u-maths-and-sciences combo.

Sorry if this is stupid, but what/who is Wendybird?

[Shadowdude]

A user from BoS - here - who got 99.95 with no maths and sciences or something like that.

[RachaelS]

It seems like you came on here just to hear people tell you not to do maths, seeing how you're agreeing with all such posts and ignoring those that suggest you to take maths (which you seem to be doing fine in). If you really hate it fair enough, but not taking it will make it harder for you to get a high ATAR. Note I said harder, not impossible.

I'm not going to lie, you're not really wrong. All I ever get is people saying that it's a stupid move and I'm throwing away my ATAR, which is such a shame because I'm such a smart girl, etc. To have people support me for once is pretty good, though if someone can convince me that it's a bad idea I'm open to it.

[OzKo]

It seems like you came on here just to hear people tell you not to do maths, seeing how you're agreeing with all such posts and ignoring those that suggest you to take maths (which you seem to be doing fine in). If you really hate it fair enough, but not taking it will make it harder for you to get a high ATAR. Note I said harder, not impossible.

If it's such a chore to work through maths, it isn't going to be wise to choose maths. Playing to ones strengths will be beneficial in the long term.

[iSplicer]

Sorry if this is stupid, but what/who is Wendybird?

Some person who got 99.95 where the only subjects that counted were humanities. It's 100x easier to be 'just-the-next-99.95er-who-did-4u-maths-and-science' than wendybird.

The rubbish that she (and others) sprout about "do whatever you like, ahhhhh isn't life beautiful" is ridiculous. Doing humanities makes it insanely harder to get a high ATAR. This is a FACT. wendybird was an absolute genius in the humanities who happened to nail it (full credit and congratulations to her) but the other 99.99% of sheep who thought that a pure humanities combination would get then a .95 didn't. The girl in my grade who was an absolute legend in the humanities (well read, articulate, all-round beast), who also happened to top HSC English, didn't get into Law straight after school, whilst randoms who 'just' did 4u and did 'okay' in it happened to secure a place. This is tragic, it is. But it's how the HSC works and you unfortunately have to play the game.

But if you're aiming for 97, you have nothing to worry about. Good luck OP!

[RachaelS]

Oh, thanks. It's at least possible then!