need info about scalings and subject choice (1 Viewer)

[amunroe]

Hi everyone. I am very mistified as to what all these weightings and scalings are, and they are confusing me as to which subjects i should take. I am currently in year 11, and am doing Maths ext1, English ext1, chemistry, biology, and photography and ceramics. I need help on deciding whether the extensions will get me higher marks. Generally, which is better, 80-90% in mathematics, or 70-80% in 3 unit maths? Same for english.the other option i have, is to do the optional pathway to my school, which is splitting the hsc over 2 years. If i fif this, i would probably do physics prelim next term and continue it into the hsc, and maybey drop the extensions. The main issue is whether the weighting and scaling make that much of a difference.

Thanks, Freya

 

[Dreamerish*~]

Math extention 1 and english extention 1 will scale up, as will chemistry. I'm not entirely sure about biology, photography or ceramics, but I daresay the latter two will either not scale, or scale down a little.

My advice is, never pick subjects based on scaling. Scaling is important to some extent (for example, if you do general maths instead of 2U, even if you get 100%, you'll be scaled down), but it makes no sense to choose a subject that you're not completely interested in, because that means you won't do well in it.

Pick your best subjects, or the ones you take most interest in.

 

[amunroe]

Thanks for your reply. I am not doing photography and ceramics for my hsc because it's not a uai subject. As for interest, i am interested in all of them, its just i am torn whether to do the extensions or not. Does anyone know how much the before said extension percentages will be likely to get scaled up? and is the overall result likely to be higher than the non-extensions?


Freya

 

[Dreamerish*~]

Thanks for your reply. I am not doing photography and ceramics for my hsc because it's not a uai subject. As for interest, i am interested in all of them, its just i am torn whether to do the extensions or not. Does anyone know how much the before said extension percentages will be likely to get scaled up? and is the overall result likely to be higher than the non-extensions?


Freya

Oh, they're not? My bad.

Okay, put the scaling aside for a second. Are you doing well in the extension subjects? If you're confident that you have the ability to choose them, then choose them. If you're not sure, choose them anyway, because you can drop them later in year 12 if you change your mind. I'm not sure on the details, but I think the scaling's pretty good. English extension 1 can be really boring though.

 

[amunroe]

well i am doing ok... i need to get my act together, but i think i am capable of getting around 75-80% in 3 unit, and the same for english. In the 2 units i would probably get a little more, but i have heard that the extensions are scaled up heaps, and u can actually do better than the normal subjects, evern if u get a worse mark. In the scaling part on the website, the average for maths ext is around 15 i think, but is that marks or percent? English ext is around 12.

 

[Dreamerish*~]

well i am doing ok... i need to get my act together, but i think i am capable of getting around 75-80% in 3 unit, and the same for english. In the 2 units i would probably get a little more, but i have heard that the extensions are scaled up heaps, and u can actually do better than the normal subjects, evern if u get a worse mark. In the scaling part on the website, the average for maths ext is around 15 i think, but is that marks or percent? English ext is around 12.

Hey, then you should have no problems doing them in year 12.

I say choose them. You don't have anything to lose, especially when you are allowed to change your mind. How many units are you doing, counting the extension subjects?

Methinks it's percentage, but don't take my word for it.

 

[amunroe]

see thats the only worry i have...i have exactly 10 units including the extensions, so i cant really drop them, but hey i can always come back the year after or go to tafe...


thanks once again for your advice

 

[Dreamerish*~]

see thats the only worry i have...i have exactly 10 units including the extensions, so i cant really drop them, but hey i can always come back the year after or go to tafe...


thanks once again for your advice

Don't worry, it doesn't sound like you'll be struggling too much. However, it is always safer to have a back-up subject, at least at the beginning of the year.

Maybe this will motivate you to study harder, because you really have no other choice. Good luck!

 

[A l]

Generally, which is better, 80-90% in mathematics, or 70-80% in 3 unit maths?

Both. You complete both the Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1 exams and assessments in the HSC course.