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Some notes for Year 11/12 students on Physics (1 Viewer)

iJimmy

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Familiarity with the Syllabus for being prepared:

Column 1: summaries a section for a topic. there are about 4 - 5 subtopics per topic.
Column 2: this list the things you need to know and consists of individual dot points that must be covered in each topic. each dot point begins with a specific verb.
Column 3: this lists the activities you should do and incorporates skills to develop.

Hsc questions will be based on the dot points in columns 2 and 3.
students who succeed write summaries to help them understand key concepts. in physics, you should summarize each dot point in your own words to reflect your understanding. this is best done when you first thoroughly cover the dot points.
excellent summaries are provided in the DOT point HSC physics multiple choice books.
an important thing to remember is that the current course concentrates on your ability to express yourself and to explain the concepts in physics. only about 15-20% of the marks will relate to mathematical based questions - the other 80-85% require written answers.

How to get band 6

- show all working out in calculations, the appropriate equation or substitution. correct units be given,. For vector quantities both the magnitude and direction be stated.
- draw diagrams clearly in pencil so you can erase mistakes. larger, labelled diagrams are best. diagram may also assist in questions involving an explanation. together with the written answer, diagrams help the marker understand your explanation.
-label graph axes clearly with the dependent variable on the y-axis and the indepenednet variable on the x-axis. units are also important and symbols for each axis at the ends. show data points clearly with an X. draw a line or curve of best fit between data points so that the number of data points above and below the line is roughly equal. a line of best fit can clarly identify erroneous data and is a preferred method to evaluating values dependent on gradient.
- structure written answers around the verb in the questions. write down a few points related to the questions. points can be expanded and scaffolds for correct answers can be used.
- ABOVE ALL KNOW YOUR SYLLABUS THOROUGHLY

Best Tips to achieve

- do lots of past papers to familiarize yourself with questions and their answers. if you do one a week between now and the HSC (2014) chances are you will have done a version of most questions of the 2014 paper.
- however it is not enough to do past papers. you must mark them properly and this is difficult for a student to do. i recommend a tutor or teacher. 80% of your exam is written and 20% is mathematical so communication of the answer is required to be judged by professionals.
- keep an ongoing list of the stupid mistakes you make in the area of physics. these should then become your study topics for a week until they are cleared. it is essential to revise further than you know. most students find an interest in one topic and then want to continue on learning more in depth. never the less this is excellent as it shows self determination, it hinders the participation in other crucial topics that may be more vital in the HSC for students.
- start past papers know and you should be able to finish at least 20 with detailed marking. this will have you clear with all topics and will leave you confident making the HSC physics just another test.
- only make your own summaries while you are first learning work in class. do not make your own summaries as a study strategy. it is better to read through several good summaries several times than to spend lots of time writing poorer ones from now on.

DONT SLACK OFF! SMALL DAILY CONSISTENT BLOCKS OF WORK BEAT PRE-EXAM CRAMMING ANY DAY. THERE IS NO NEED TO STRESS DURING THE HSC. LEAVING STUDY FOR EXAMS OR ASSIGNMENTS TO THE LAST MINUTE ONLY MAKES THINGS HARD FOR YOURSELF. ALWAYS STRIVE TO REMAIN ONE STEP AHEAD AND YOU WILL FIND THE HSC EASY. IN PHYSICS THIS ESPECIALLY HELPS AS IT ENSURES PERSISTENT PRACTICE. AS THE SAYING GOES, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

Study Routine

- around 5hrs a week - aiming at an hour a day of revision or homework.
- in addition, try to make detailed notes about syllabus topics alongside homework.
- tutoring for physics, (this includes homework, revision, and exams)
- aim at doing a past paper twice a week and getting it marked by a professional.
- one month before HSC focus entire days to 'mastering' topics of the syllabus you find difficulty in.
- don't dedicate excess time to physics alone and spread time evenly amongst your subjects so that your overall performance is good.

Understanding
- Physics is generalized as one of the hardest HSC courses available and so a strong foundation has to be laid early on so that later work does not slip by leaving space for error. in class, take notes a teacher may write on the board or type them on laptop. then, elaborate on these and generate focus questions that may occur in exam situations according to the notes. Then complete any set homework and read further on into the chapter so you are ahead of the class.

Exams

when studying for a physics exam make elaborate notes on topics at least 2 weeks prior to examination. as time comes closer, narrow the notes down to key terms so that all areas are covered with space of memorizing. also the last 30 minutes of study before sleep are what you will remember most so use that time wisely.

Final Note

physics balances a combination of rote learning with conceptual insight. make sure you dont fall behind and get help on those things that you do not understand 100% because it will only affect you later on. Stick to the syllabus religiously. know the meanings and definitions of phrases such as identify or discuss. from there you can make notes on every dot points in the syllabus. the physics is course has become theory based with 80% written answers and 20% mathematical answers so it is vital that your English skills are also excellent.

GL with yr 12 Physics
 
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