Subject Selections - Is Extension Math for me? (1 Viewer)

[R4diance]

Well, it's the time of the year for Subject selections. Lately I've been wondering whether Extension Maths (3 unit) will be too much work for me.
I do love Maths, and it's currently my strongest subject - I've been averaging around 90% for the 5.3 curriculum. But then again I've heard that the difficulty of Extension Maths is great.

My other subjects are:
- English (A)
- Mathematics (2 Unit)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mod. Hist.
- IPT

Will 3 unit be too much for me to handle? Any insights into the workload of 3 unit Math and my other subjects would be really helpful

 

[LoveHateSchool]

With your 5.3 marks, you should definitely do 3U maths. They are very good, Ext Maths is made as a nice carry on from decent-good candidature in 5.3!

Also even without that, I'd always encourage taking the highest level of the subject you are considering cause you can always drop down, but are stuck with regret if you pick a too easy level. Also 3U gives you an edge on the straight 2U candidates.

I did a few of your subjects in the HSC, Advanced English, 2 Unit Maths, Chemistry and Modern History-what would you like to know about them?

 

[R4diance]

With your 5.3 marks, you should definitely do 3U maths. They are very good, Ext Maths is made as a nice carry on from decent-good candidature in 5.3!

Also even without that, I'd always encourage taking the highest level of the subject you are considering cause you can always drop down, but are stuck with regret if you pick a too easy level. Also 3U gives you an edge on the straight 2U candidates.

I did a few of your subjects in the HSC, Advanced English, 2 Unit Maths, Chemistry and Modern History-what would you like to know about them?

That's really reassuring, thanks
What is the workload of Modern History like? Is it more memorization or application based?

Thanks again

 

[LoveHateSchool]

That's really reassuring, thanks
What is the workload of Modern History like? Is it more memorization or application based?

Thanks again

Oh modern is definitely not a memorisation subject.I see so many students downfall when they try and cram every fact and date in their head, instead of what the core of the subject is...which is structuring methodical and supported arguments in the essays, so it is definitely more application based. Source work is application based, and in the personalities section, the quote you can get for Part B can be very varying so you really have to apply your knowledge.

I've very happy I took Modern in my HSC, it was my second best subject.

What topics are you doing? I find whether you enjoy Modern is greatly enhanced if your school is doing Prelim and HSC topics you like historically. Like for instance I loved, loved Russia in Yr 12.

 

[lilcutetricker]

IPT and Modern History? Damn, what are you aiming to be?

 

[R4diance]

Oh modern is definitely not a memorisation subject.I see so many students downfall when they try and cram every fact and date in their head, instead of what the core of the subject is...which is structuring methodical and supported arguments in the essays, so it is definitely more application based. Source work is application based, and in the personalities section, the quote you can get for Part B can be very varying so you really have to apply your knowledge.

I've very happy I took Modern in my HSC, it was my second best subject.

What topics are you doing? I find whether you enjoy Modern is greatly enhanced if your school is doing Prelim and HSC topics you like historically. Like for instance I loved, loved Russia in Yr 12.

I'm not sure of which topics our school will be taking in year 12, but its great to know that it's not a memorization subject. (man, I hate those kinds of subjects)
Thanks for all your help! Can't wait till next year! (6 months :c)

 

[R4diance]

IPT and Modern History? Damn, what are you aiming to be?

Hope to study Engineering/Science, taking those 2 subjects purely because of interest and grades

 

[enoilgam]

Oh modern is definitely not a memorisation subject.I see so many students downfall when they try and cram every fact and date in their head, instead of what the core of the subject is...which is structuring methodical and supported arguments in the essays, so it is definitely more application based. Source work is application based, and in the personalities section, the quote you can get for Part B can be very varying so you really have to apply your knowledge.

I've very happy I took Modern in my HSC, it was my second best subject.

What topics are you doing? I find whether you enjoy Modern is greatly enhanced if your school is doing Prelim and HSC topics you like historically. Like for instance I loved, loved Russia in Yr 12.

Definitely agree with this. Modern is very much a skills type topic, you need to have strong analytical skills and writing skills in order to excel. Having a memorised knowledge of the content in Modern wont get you far if you lack those skills.

Back to your original question, I think you should definitely give 3 unit a go. It is pretty challenging and it isnt for everyone, but with marks like yours, I think it would be a mistake not giving it a try.

 

[jnney]

I think you will handle 3U just fine. Do it!

 

[R4diance]

I really hope I can do well next year, particularly in 3U and Mod. History. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[BLIT2014]

Yeah definitely should do 3U maths if getting 80% in 5.3

 

[Verify]

I guarantee you will do well purely because of your concern for your academics in Year 11 and being on this forum ;P
But yeah, like everyone else said, do 3U.

 

[Drongoski]

Hope to study Engineering/Science, taking those 2 subjects purely because of interest and grades

Drop History and do 3U Maths. History, one can always pursue one's interest in it, yourself - after your HSC - i.e. unless you plan to do a History-related course at uni.

 

[D94]

IPT and Modern History? Damn, what are you aiming to be?

The subjects you do for the HSC do not determine your career pathway. If it gives you the best ATAR and it interests you, then there's no reason why you shouldn't choose the subject, even if it has no relation to your desired university course.

I do engineering, but in hindsight, I would have dropped HSC Physics as it turned out to be the shittest course from my selection, and it has basically zero relevance to uni Physics. Maths on the other hand, has a lot of relevance to uni maths, which is why I would recommend the OP to select 3U maths, and see which of Physics, Chem, Modern or IPT he feels is the least interesting or the course which won't get him the marks.

 

[R4diance]

Drop History and do 3U Maths. History, one can always pursue one's interest in it, yourself - after your HSC - i.e. unless you plan to do a History-related course at uni.

I'll be doing 13 units, actually (for the Prelims only). I'll drop History/IPT in year 12 (and hopefully enter the 4U Maths course), but I'll see how I go next year.
Thanks for the encouragement guys

 

[Makematics]

yeah if you wanna do 4 unit you literally have to do 3 unit. but yeah, you shouldnt even have to think twice if you like maths and are good at it. do 3 unit, and if for some strange reason you are strugling, you can then consult the forums for advice

 

[R4diance]

yeah if you wanna do 4 unit you literally have to do 3 unit. but yeah, you shouldnt even have to think twice if you like maths and are good at it. do 3 unit, and if for some strange reason you are strugling, you can then consult the forums for advice

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. It's great to have such a supportive community here

 

[titaniumwithin]

Do it! Extension maths isn't really hard if you grasp onto the 2u content well. It's basically a few exercises extra from the 2u content so you're not learning from scratch if you get what I mean. I definitely think you should do it and if you put in the hard work it would pay off.

 

[lilcutetricker]

90%?! there are people in my grade who are in bottom 5.3 course + accelerated that failed all their tests including commons, prelims and half yearlies, averaging at ~50% and they still have ambitions of taking ext 1. You can already do ext 1, don't need anyone's advice because you're probably topping it.

 

[D94]

90%?! there are people in my grade who are in bottom 5.3 course + accelerated that failed all their tests including commons, prelims and half yearlies, averaging at ~50% and they still have ambitions of taking ext 1. You can already do ext 1, don't need anyone's advice because you're probably topping it.

I's hard to tell if a student is actually doing well since each school sets their own assessments which have different levels of difficulty. A 50% at your school might be as good as a 90% in another school, simply because your assessments were significantly harder than theirs. Maybe not, but case in point - it's hard to tell if they are actually good at maths until they sit the HSC exams.