Can i get 99.95 with business studies? (1 Viewer)

[interesting]

Assuming i get really good in everything else like 95 and with business being 93. would that drag my atar down or something because of that scaling shit?

 

[michaeljennings]

Assuming i get really good in everything else like 95 and with business being 93. would that drag my atar down or something because of that scaling shit?

You do 12 units, so then it wouldn't count.

But yeah, although most people on this site say 'don't worry about scaling', 'you can get any atar with any subject' etc, if you want to get in the high 99s, that's when it becomes harder with poor scaling subjects.

The highest mark someone who did business studies got was 99.85, so take what you will from that.

 

[powlmao]

Can we just standardise this already?

(Foolish) Q: Can I get X ATAR with Y subject combination?

(Obvious) A:YES! You can get ANY ATAR with ANY subject combination!


----

Young Grasshoppers,

Whether you're in Yr 11 or Yr 12, the question always comes up of subject choices. I should know - I was in the same boat, plus my sister is currently in Yr 11, and my mother is like nagging me to offer "wise counsel" (ha!).

The advice I want to give is this:

1. Choose the subjects that you enjoy and that you are good at. You've heard this ad nauseum, but the advice still holds true. Your teachers are RIGHT.

Follow your own desires and interests, not your parent's, not your friend's, not because your favourite teacher is teaching that subject (for all you know he/she might LEAVE! - happened to me), and NOT because of the scaling.

Often the subjects you like WILL be the subject you're good at. Excellent, well that's a no brainer. Choose it!

Sometimes you might be good/great! at a subject but not love, love it. For year 11s - I'd say do it anyway - you might find it useful and you might develop a love for it. But if you're good at something, then you really should consider doing it. For year 12s, keep it if it's one of your top subjects and if it doesn't take too much time from other subjects. You might just want to do it anyway, especially if you find it no sweat to do well in it.

But if you hate it, but are good at it (seriously, this situation doesn't really arise that often tbh. We do tend to like the things we're really good at) then I'd advise you to look at the costs and benefits of doing that subject. If you're really loathing it then maybe its time to say kthxbye.

So why choose the subjects you like?

Well the logic is pretty obvious. If you like something, then working for it won't feel like work (hence your HSC life will feel easier). Also, you'll actually WANT to do the work (hence you will be more productive). And the more you work, the better you will be at that subject. It's a self perpetuating cycle of positive results all round.

2. Keep your options OPEN.

This advice is particularly relevant to Yr 11s. You realise that ALL subjects (except for subjects that you can only pick up in Yr 12 such as 4U maths, 4U English, History X, languages X. etc) REQUIRE that you do the Preliminary course right?

So. If you suddenly decide during the Yr 11/12 summer holidays that you're really, REALLY into Geography and would love to sit that particular 3 hr exam for the HSC, even if you haven't done the prelim course - well sorry buddy, but no cigar. It ain't happening.

I reccommend using Yr 11 to broaden the scope of what you can do in Yr 12.

- Take on as many units during Yr 11 as you can. Because Yr 11 results don't influence Yr 12 ones, you can AFFORD to take the risk.

- Taking more units (ie. more subjects) mean that you can better figure out what you like or don't like, you're good at or not good at. Yr 11 as an exploration period, and a time where you can start figuring out your Yr 12 set of tailored subjects is so helpful. Yr 11 is the time to try new things, because they might just pay off.

- Cover a broad range of subject areas in Yr 11. I don't personally think that Yr 11 is the ideal time to "specialise" right away. Yes, of course do what you love. Hence, if you KNOW that you don't like/are not cut out for a particular subject then just don't do it.

(ie. me and Latin, nuh-uh. It was never meant to be.)

But DO keep in mind the future. I made sure I had a science, I had the highest level of maths, highest level of english, and some social sciences in Yr 11.

I didn't have a specific use for either Maths or Science (Chem as the case was) but I did them "just in case" I changed my mind about my university degree and did something where 3U maths was a pre-requisite.

You might even be applying for scholarships or overseas universities - in which case often you WILL need to have covered a certain range of subject areas (usually English, Maths, Science, Social science).

You might change from your ambitions of playing in a rock band to wanting to be a Med student.

Basically, keep your options open, keep all doors open and bridges intact.

The strategy then is to have your bases covered, and then, in Yr 12, to drop as need be, or as you start finalising your Uni plans, or start really strongly getting a sense of what you feel would "count" or not count for the ATAR.

3. Specialising.

This point applies more to Yr 12s then. So I said to choose what you like and are good at and also to keep your options open in Yr 11.

That means you'll probably head into Yr 12 with more units that you actually need.

That means (YAY!) you'll probably have the awesome experience of dropping your units one by one, and seeing your free periods increase bit by bit. (Trust me, it's an awesome feeling). Unless of course you're much more workaholic than me and actually enjoy doing 16 units. (Yes I had that many at one point between Yr 11 and 12).

Now keeping in mind that you only need 10 units, if you have more than that then be cognizant of what you think will count or not count.

If you only have 10 units then I hope you've thought carefully about WHAT those 10 units are (please refer to points 1 and 2 in that regard).

Specialising means to really refine your subject choices. You probably don't want to do 16 units. And if you've accelerated subjects like me, you're feeling even more chilled about the amount of units you want to do. I think 11 is a good workload. But hey, I know 99.95ers with 13 or even 14 Unit workloads for Yr 12. (Note - I said workload, not overall amount of units. As in they were doing 14Units at the same time - no acceleration. Whereas I was lucky to have spread out a bit with acceleration).

The process of specialising is like this.

- You should have ditched what you actually hate or are not good at by Yr 11.
- You should have a pretty good idea of what you're great at and love by Yr 12.
- In Yr 12, you first ditch what your worst subject is (ie. it's NOT a subject that you're good at, there are no prospects of you liking the subject any more or getting that much better at it, and you know that it just won't count because its so far behind your other units).
- This will free up time for you to concentrate on other subjects and you should see an improvement in the others.
- Then you might want to ditch what is irrelevant or "won't count". You might be pretty good at it, but you might be SO much better at everything else that it's kind of pointless - AND you know you won't need this subject (because you should have a pretty good idea of degrees by Yr 12).

For example, I began by ditching Economics - I was good at it, but I didn't see the point in 16 units. I then ditched Chemistry (in Yr 12, Term 1) because it was my worst subject (though I was still ranked highly and was getting great marks), and I knew that a 93 (my average I think) in Chem was not going to hold up against a 98 (my average) in English or Modern History. Also I knew for a fact I had no interest in Med.

4. But what about my ATAR?!

What I recommend you do, is to go to SAM (personal favourite, use whichever other one you prefer) put in:

1. Your subjects and CURRENT marks (be realistic if not pessimistic here).
--> So that you can see what kind of ATAR you're looking at given your CURRENT assessment situation. (You do know to put /100 for 2U subjects and /50 for 1U subjets right? So if you're averaging 70% per assessment, I'd put 70/100 for a 2U subject.)

That will tell you if you're ALREADY meeting your ATAR aims. Observe carefully what subjects given the current situation will or won't count, and consider that. Perhaps a subject that does not and probably WILL not count is simply wasting your time - in which case you might want to drop it.

2. Your subjects and the mark you NEED (this is where you might want to be optimistic, and this is where if in the first senario your current marks aren't going to get you to your desired ATAR).

--> Here you can see exactly WHAT effort in what subject is required to get you what ATAR. Fiddle around, change numbers around, etc.

The question of your ATAR also concerns your specialised set of subjects. You should have specialised so that your best 10 units are the 10 units you have (if you're a 10 unit person), or at least you're 100% aware of what your best 10 units are.

I cannot say it enough:

Check. Out. SAM.

Figure out what might or might not count, try out numbers.

5. Now ABOUT scaling.

Look, it's true. You CAN get any ATAR with any subject combination.
I covered my bases and did maths and science (and a language for that matter). But I KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt that my strengths lay in the humanities. Therefore I did the maximum units of humanities I could.

What happened for me was that my humanities were so strong that NO Maths or Science (well I dropped Chem so obviously it wasn't going to count), was calculated in my ATAR AT ALL.

What counted for me was:
Business Studies (98)
4 Units of English ( 97 and 49s I think)
Modern History and History Extension (98, 49)
Philosophy Distinction course (HD, though I think it scaled to a 97/98 this year).

So humanities kids, you're fine. Maths kids/science ppl, you're fine too. Honestly, the combination DOES NOT MATTER.

It's HOW YOU DO that matters.

A 98 in Business Studies will probably outweigh a 90 in Physics. No amount of insane scaling is going to change that.

ALSO think about the amount of EFFORT that you might have to put into Physics if you weren't naturally gifted at Physics. It entirely counterbalances any "scaling" benefits it might have.

Once again, do what you like and are good at. It will pay off if you end up doing your BEST in those subjects.

The whole point of scaling is NOT to trip ppl up or to invent a crazy system of rules. It's to allow FREEDOM of CHOICE. To make ALL and ANY subject selection equitable, so that a particular strategy does not confer advantages or disadvantages.

Let scaling take care of itself. Choose your subjects not according to scaling, but to your idea of how well you can perform in a given subject.

Please read this

 

[interesting]

fuck so i got to aim for a 98 then to not get scaled down

 

[powlmao]

fuck so i got to aim for a 98 then to not get scaled down

Where did you get 98?

 

[interesting]

Where did you get 98?

like in the marks he got but its just that right now im trying to choose:
Do business studies and work with 11 units or
Do extension 2 and drop business studies

i don't know which one to choose since i want to aim for 99.95
i reckon i can do well in business if i dont have mx2 and vice versa

 

[michaeljennings]

Please read this

This isn't actually completely true.
Put a bunch of popular, but extremely poor scaling subjects in an atar calculator, put maximum marks ie. 100 for each one, and chances are it might not even get 99+ (and atar calculators are accurate for the top mark of each course)

At OP, it would be extremely hard to get 99.95 doing business studies, but its not impossible. You'd probably have to state rank, and then also do very well in all your other subjects.

But looking at your subjects you could get 99.95 as long as you do well at all your other subjects

 

[isenseven]

like in the marks he got but its just that right now im trying to choose:
Do business studies and work with 11 units or
Do extension 2 and drop business studies

i don't know which one to choose since i want to aim for 99.95
i reckon i can do well in business if i dont have mx2 and vice versa

Buisness would be alot less stressful then picking up mx2 and a 96 in business should be fine if you want .95, and if you are really smart it would be quite easy for you.

 

[D94]

Well, you're going to have to almost top every subject in order to get 99.95. It wouldn't make any difference if you do Business or another subject that you mentioned; you would still have to work very hard.

 

[enoilgam]

The person who wrote the thread posted by powlmao got 99.95 with business. There might be a few subject combinations which would be unable to give a person 99.95, like maybe a person doing General maths, standard english, business services, food technology and drama. But a person doing this subject combination probably wouldnt be aiming for a perfect ATAR or even 90 for that matter. So the idea of "you can get any ATAR with any combination of subjects" might be untrue in this sense, but with the vast majority of subject combinations, 99.95 is possible and reasonably achievable. Just look at wendybird, she had no sciences or maths subjects and she managed to get a perfect ATAR.

 

[powlmao]

This isn't actually completely true.
Put a bunch of popular, but extremely poor scaling subjects in an atar calculator, put maximum marks ie. 100 for each one, and chances are it might not even get 99+ (and atar calculators are accurate for the top mark of each course)

At OP, it would be extremely hard to get 99.95 doing business studies, but its not impossible. You'd probably have to state rank, and then also do very well in all your other subjects.

But looking at your subjects you could get 99.95 as long as you do well at all your other subjects

Somewhat true.

However the post I posted was meant to say almost any subject choices your ATAR possibilities are endless.

 

[michaeljennings]

Somewhat true.

However the post I posted was meant to say almost any subject choices your ATAR possibilities are endless.

It is all true! But yeah just do your best =)

 

[enoilgam]

Look, its better to do what your best at. If your strong in humaities subjects, then your better off doing them as opposed to all high scaling maths and science subjects.

 

[someth1ng]

Yeah, there's also a possibility that Business Studies will scale better than MX2 but I wouldn't count on it xD.

Business Studies is an average scaling subject, it's by far not the worst but definately not classed as "good". There's alot worse such as Drama, Aboriginal Studies...etc so it is very possible to 99.95 with Business Studies but it won't be easy.

 

[interesting]

hmm then maybe i won't take mx2 and try hard in business THANKS EVERYONE!

 

[powlmao]

hmm then maybe i won't take mx2 and try hard in business THANKS EVERYONE!

i would recommend take MX2 and see how you go and if you can't manage drop it

 

[aphorae]

Assuming i get really good in everything else like 95 and with business being 93. would that drag my atar down or something because of that scaling shit?

... do you mean 93 HSC mark or 93%? If you get a 93 mark as in your HSC mark, it would be equivalent to a 77 in MX2. You would need to be in the top 3% of the state in business studies to get a 93 and top ~80% to get the equivalent in MX2. Oh, and the ATAR equivalent to either would be <98.

If you are doing only 11 units, you would need to get at least 95 (possibly 94 if you ace a couple of your other subjects, or 93 if you ace all your other subjects -> and when I mean ace I mean like 96-97 in all of your other ones i.e. pretty much state ranking sciences and relatively close to state ranking in english unless you get 99-100 in another subject) to get a 99.95.

It's not impossible of course, especially if you think you can get 96+, but again if you think you're going to get less, or that you can do MX2 more easily, or are less confident with business studies (seeing as you yourself estimated for yourself a lower mark than your other subjects), then try out MX2. Unless you actually sincerely do not like math. In that case maybe stick with bus.

 

[LoveHateSchool]

I think what people are neglecting to note is that it is VERY HARD to get a 99.95. Like I can't be bothered wrangling the exact number, but only 40 something get it out of thousands and thousands of students.

But on that note, sure the majority of kids getting 99.95 do go the 4U maths/chem/phys way, probably because those subjects attract a high percentage of academic students. However, many humanities kids do get 99.95 too. And getting a 99.95 or any ATAR for that matter, will be easier with the subjects you are INCLINED to-so if you are humanities inclined, it will be easier to 99.95 with business, eco, 4u english etc. and vice versa, a maths/science person would find getting 99.95 with 4u maths/phys etc. easier than humanities. I dare say that if they did not pick subjects to their strengths a 99.95 would be out of the question.

So if you are good at business, keep it.

 

[interesting]

yes i know it will be hard but im just curious
well i do good in business but i don't really have an interest for it , maths i have a genuine interest for it but im just worried that i won't be able to cope later on so yeahh

 

[powlmao]

yes i know it will be hard but im just curious
well i do good in business but i don't really have an interest for it , maths i have a genuine interest for it but im just worried that i won't be able to cope later on so yeahh

If you haev no interest in business it will just get worse. Business is a very dry subject.

Since you like maths you may as well do ext 2