Freaking Out!!!

[Mini Mic]

OK so here's the deal, today was my final day of my final year of school and I'm freaking out. Why? Well (aside from the fact that I'm never going to see a lot of the people I've grown up with quite possibly ever again) I have exams coming up.

Now I don't know how the tertiary system works in the rest of the world but to get into University here in Australia into a good course is VERY hard. For example the course I want to do I need and ENTER (ranking score) of about 95 which means I have to be in the top 5 percent of the state. Of my 6 subjects I have gotten all A+'s in my SAC's (school assessed course work that counts for 50% of your study score) for 3 of my 6 subjects which I am pretty happy with.

Thing is that and enter of 95 requires you to pretty much get straight A+'s in at least 4 of your subjects in the exams as well as SAC's. I've been studying really hard but I have a tendency to freak out in exams and I'm not sure I can do it Also I have some really smart friends who want to do the same course as me and I'm sure they're going to get into it without any worries, I don't want to let them down by not getting in but I just don't know what to do apart from study study study!!!

The only thing keeping me going at the moment is the thought of getting a Wii with Prime 3 and Super Paper Marion as well as Crysis and The Orange Box when I finish exams as well as going out with this really cute girl after exams.

I just want to know if anyone else here has been going through the same sort of thing recently, it would help to know if I wasn't alone.

Thanks for you time

- Mic

 

[Blazey]

First of all, I need to know what subjects you're doing so I can determine whether or not you pose any threat to me or not.

 

[Mini Mic]

I do methods, english, eco, international politics, bio and revolutions

 

[Blazey]

See, this is why I really don't like the way the ENTER score is calculated. I was going to say "A average across those subjects? Enjoy your 99.95", but then I realised that we haven't done our exams yet which, as you've said count for AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT of our study scores. Most ridiculous thing ever.

Look, if you've been getting marks like that all year in those subjects and have/are studying up nicely for the exams then what I was going to stay should still ring true. Just do something stop yourself from distressing before you go into an exam. If that means a shot or 5 of scotch then do it. For me, I like to remind myself that in about 2 hours I'll be thinking "hey cool I just completed the final part of _______ unit 4".

But seriously, the way VCAA weigh everything together is ridiculous. The idea that a 3 hour English exam is worth the exact same as 6 other lengthy pieces of prose along with a 5 minute oral presentation is stupid. And that's one of the more balanced subjects: the two Maths exams at the end total to 66% of one's total study score, just like in Physics and Biology.

If they wanted students doing the best they can, they'd lessen the importance of the exams and spread them more evenly throughout the coursework so that students wouldn't be distressing and breaking down so much during the exams because they wouldn't matter so much in the first place!

 

[Mini Mic]

See, this is why I really don't like the way the ENTER score is calculated. I was going to say "A average across those subjects? Enjoy your 99.95", but then I realised that we haven't done our exams yet which, as you've said count for AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT of our study scores. Most ridiculous thing ever.

Look, if you've been getting marks like that all year in those subjects and have/are studying up nicely for the exams then what I was going to stay should still ring true. Just do something stop yourself from distressing before you go into an exam. If that means a shot or 5 of scotch then do it. For me, I like to remind myself that in about 2 hours I'll be thinking "hey cool I just completed the final part of _______ unit 4".

But seriously, the way VCAA weigh everything together is ridiculous. The idea that a 3 hour English exam is worth the exact same as 6 other lengthy pieces of prose along with a 5 minute oral presentation is stupid. And that's one of the more balanced subjects: the two Maths exams at the end total to 66% of one's total study score, just like in Physics and Biology.

If they wanted students doing the best they can, they'd lessen the importance of the exams and spread them more evenly throughout the coursework so that students wouldn't be distressing and breaking down so much during the exams because they wouldn't matter so much in the first place!

You my good sir have hit the nail on the head. A jihad on VCAA!!!!

 

[Crimson King]

The only thing keeping me going at the moment is the thought of getting a Wii with Prime 3 and Super Paper Marion as well as Crysis and The Orange Box when I finish exams as well as going out with this really cute girl after exams.

I just want to know if anyone else here has been going through the same sort of thing recently, it would help to know if I wasn't alone.

Thanks for you time

- Mic

Crysis isn't even close to being out and you need a new name.

Edit: WOW a month?!?! ****it. If Spore comes out, I am ****ed.

 

[Jammer]

I don't know if this will make you feel better, but you should know that you are not alone.

In fact, you have it very easy compared to people in Korea, China, and most other Asiatic nations. Americans and Canadians have it ridiculously easy compared to them.

I was talking to some Korean teachers. Did you know that in high school in South Korea, the school day lasts from 7:30 in the morning to 11:00 at night? There are a total of two hours of breaks (half an hour for breakfast and lunch, and an hour for dinner). The kids also get tons of homework. It's totally insane. The only thing the parents want to see their children do is study, study, study. If they're not studying constantly, they're not being good sons and daughters.

In America, we sometimes complain that tough nation-wide examinations force schools to teach to the exam, which is not the best thing for the children, who should be learning life skills. It's a million times worse in many Asian countries: children and teenagers are pressured to get good jobs to make their parents proud, and the only way to get that to happen is to get into a good college, and the only way to do that is to do well on the entrance examinations. All of primary and secondary school is aimed toward doing well on that exam.

I know that me telling you this is hypocritical, because I live in America, where kids don't really put much importance in education. I, especially, despise school; I'm a total underachiever.

Good luck on your exams.

 

[Mini Mic]

I don't know if this will make you feel better, but you should know that you are not alone.

In fact, you have it very easy compared to people in Korea, China, and most other Asiatic nations. Americans and Canadians have it ridiculously easy compared to them.

I was talking to some Korean teachers. Did you know that in high school in South Korea, the school day lasts from 7:30 in the morning to 11:00 at night? There are a total of two hours of breaks (half an hour for breakfast and lunch, and an hour for dinner). The kids also get tons of homework. It's totally insane. The only thing the parents want to see their children do is study, study, study. If they're not studying constantly, they're not being good sons and daughters.

In America, we sometimes complain that tough nation-wide examinations force schools to teach to the exam, which is not the best thing for the children, who should be learning life skills. It's a million times worse in many Asian countries: children and teenagers are pressured to get good jobs to make their parents proud, and the only way to get that to happen is to get into a good college, and the only way to do that is to do well on the entrance examinations. All of primary and secondary school is aimed toward doing well on that exam.

I know that me telling you this is hypocritical, because I live in America, where kids don't really put much importance in education. I, especially, despise school; I'm a total underachiever.

Good luck on your exams.

Thanks man, yeah I had a friend come here from South Korea and he said in his subjects he was averaging 99.4% and he was ranked 6th in his year level. It's totally insane over there.

Oh and Crimson King, sorry about the name thing when I joined I had no idea there was already another Mic, sorry about that.

 

[notftomearth7]

Americans and Canadians have it ridiculously easy compared to them.

*The American flag becomes my background but I realize that it's stained with beer and...shall we say...other substances because I was to lazy to clean it*



Anyway, if you've been studying like you SAY you have, then all I can suggest is take it easy and try not to get stressed. Like Jammer, I'm a total underachiever, so I'm happy if my grade isn't an F. Yeah, you seem well prepared Mic so...Good luck to you!



I hope the first paragraph made you laugh

 

[SkyeYuki]

Crysis isn't even close to being out and you need a new name.

Edit: WOW a month?!?! ****it. If Spore comes out, I am ****ed.

I think Spore is in like a year, possibly 2 or 3. :| I don't remember, I don't keep up with Spore news.

 

[Mini Mic]

I think Spore is in like a year, possibly 2 or 3. :| I don't remember, I don't keep up with Spore news.

I think Spores current release date is "when it's done", seriously they have been working on that game for ever!

 

[RMR]

Must be really scary, Try that the stress doesnt eat you. BY what you writed, those people must be some kind of elitist Jazzes.

If you dont pass, you can always come to America, I dont think you dont have any family outside of Australia.

Me and my stupid comments.

 

[Mini Mic]

Must be really scary, Try that the stress doesnt eat you. BY what you writed, those people must be some kind of elitist Jazzes.

If you dont pass, you can always come to America, I dont think you dont have any family outside of Australia.

Me and my stupid comments.

Ha ha ha thanks for that, I'm actually going to America after I finish my exams on holidays so I may take you up on that offer

 

[Mic_128]

I hears Spore was late 2008?

I'm too old aprently to go on my TEE points (which is good because I didn't do TEE) so I sat the STAT test a month and a bit ago. Not too bad, 2 short essays in 1 hour and a pile of multiple choice in 2 hours (Only used an hour)

Got a letter yesterday saying I've got enough points, so just need the Uni to decide if it wants me.

Here's hoping both Mic's get into Uni next year

 

[Mini Mic]

Thanks for being so cool with the whole same name thing Mic. I hope you get to do what you want next year! Speaking of which what does everyone here study/want to study, for me it's commerce.

 

[Mic_128]

Thanks for being so cool with the whole same name thing Mic.

Hey, you got there before I concidered getting a name change

I'm aiming to do Primary Teaching.

 

[Crimson King]

I hears Spore was late 2008?

I'm too old aprently to go on my TEE points (which is good because I didn't do TEE) so I sat the STAT test a month and a bit ago. Not too bad, 2 short essays in 1 hour and a pile of multiple choice in 2 hours (Only used an hour)

Got a letter yesterday saying I've got enough points, so just need the Uni to decide if it wants me.

Here's hoping both Mic's get into Uni next year

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=174312
God ****it. I have 6 months before my life is taken over by Spore or shattered by disappointment.

 

[Jammer]

When are you taking the exams, Mic (the non-128 kind)?

Tell us how you think you did after you do, okay?

 

[Crimson King]

I think Spores current release date is "when it's done", seriously they have been working on that game for ever!

EA said recently Q1 2008, which Will Wright also mentioned. I hope it's not coming out for a while, too busy.

 

[Mini Mic]

When are you taking the exams, Mic (the non-128 kind)?

Tell us how you think you did after you do, okay?

Ugh! They start tomorrow and under the Australian system English has to be one of my top four scores! Good thing English is one of my favorite subjects.

 

[Mini Mic]

Woo English is over! Did anyone else here do the exam?

 

[Blazey]

MIGOOUURRRR. I hate the English exam. Not because I did bad in it (I didn't exactly do well, either, but I still did better than most), but because we're supposed to write 4 essays in 3 hours. Not just that, but these 4 essays we write are worth the exact same as every other piece of writing I have done in the past 9 months put together. Basically, 3 hour exam = 9 months worth of SACS in terms of the study score. Epic BS.

 

[Jammer]

Congrats on finishing the English exam, Mic. How'd you do?

I'm so excited about taking the SATs tomorrow.... Do you Aussies have SATs? Wish me luck!

 

[Eor]

Aye, I'm taking the SAT's again tomorrow as well.

 

[Crimson King]

Wait. Both Mics are from Australia?

hmm...

 

[Jammer]

Aye, I'm taking the SAT's again tomorrow as well.

Heh, this will actually be my first time taking them because I sort of missed them when you normally take them (in junior year, usually).

My dad got a 1520 when they were out of 1600. He expects me to do better than that. I'm not sure if I can, because I really haven't studied at all, but I'll try.

Wait. Both Mics are from Australia?

"Mic" is an extremely common name in Australia, second only to "Bruce". I thought everyone knew that.

 

[Mini Mic]

Congrats on finishing the English exam, Mic. How'd you do?

I'm so excited about taking the SATs tomorrow.... Do you Aussies have SATs? Wish me luck!

Yeah it went really well, the Quiet American topic was really good and I had plenty of time to do the issue analysis and argumentative, the Hamlet question was a bit different from what I expected but I think I did ok on it. We don't have SAT's but best of luck with yours!

I have Bio on Monday so I should probably go study now.

 

[CAOTIC]

Mic, where do you want to do commerce? I assume Melbourne or Monash with that 95 you wanted

 

[Mini Mic]

Mic, where do you want to do commerce? I assume Melbourne or Monash with that 95 you wanted

Yeah if not then Arts and failing that Arts/Eco at La Trobe.

 

[voittaa711]

I only read half your post but

This is my last year of high school too and to be honest...I'm more happy than ever

I can't wait to get out there into college and then start my own life. I am SOOOO READY WOOO!!!!

 

[CAOTIC]

LOL i got A+'s in all my english coursework then did the exam and got an A. 40 = fail LOL

**** victorians are just too schmart

 

[Mini Mic]

LOL i got A+'s in all my english coursework then did the exam and got an A. 40 = fail LOL

**** victorians are just too schmart

Same thing happened to my sister except she got 39. I got all A+'s in the course work so i hope i don't follow in your and her footsteps with the exam.

Oh and bio today sucked.

 

[Blazey]

Oh and bio today sucked.

My answer for the question on snakes and their lengthened jaws about stages of speciation:

Stage 1: Divergent evolution
stage 2: ????
stage 3: Profit!

I didn't know how to answer the question properly so I thought I'd just write something dumb. One of my friends thought it was easy and another thought it was hard. I thought it was appropriate in difficulty for the amount I studied for it..... which was zero. I studied for my maths exam heaps though and I did really well in that.

 

[Mini Mic]

My answer for the question on snakes and their lengthened jaws about stages of speciation:

Stage 1: Divergent evolution
stage 2: ????
stage 3: Profit!

I didn't know how to answer the question properly so I thought I'd just write something dumb. One of my friends thought it was easy and another thought it was hard. I thought it was appropriate in difficulty for the amount I studied for it..... which was zero. I studied for my maths exam heaps though and I did really well in that.

I think it was like:

1. They become geographically separated.
2. They face different selective pressures and so allele frequencies change based on those with traits that are more suited for their environment.
3. Two groups are no longer to interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

 

[Blazey]

****. That answer would've sounded leet on an exam. Oh well. I should have done well enough over the year to get over 25 as a study score which is what I think would be nice to get seeing as I don't need a bio study score or an enter score at all for that matter.

 

[Mini Mic]

****. That answer would've sounded leet on an exam. Oh well. I should have done well enough over the year to get over 25 as a study score which is what I think would be nice to get seeing as I don't need a bio study score or an enter score at all for that matter.

Really? Have you got an apprenticeship or something next year? Ugh it's the worst wanting to do a course with a high enter especially when you're friend wants to do the same one and is REALLY smart.

 

[Jammer]

So, did you get your scores yet, Mic?

I got my SAT scores today, and it reminded me of this thread.

 

[Blazey]

Nah we don't get our ENTER scores for another month or so, but I did finish my last exam yesterday =D. It was Italian and I managed to mention things like Skeleton Armies and Bear Cavalries shooting lightning out of their mouths. Even Kool-Aid. Along with all the other things I wrote about I think it was good of me to do that because when the assessor reads it s/he won't be bored.

 

[GoldShadow]

So, did you get your scores yet, Mic?

I got my SAT scores today, and it reminded me of this thread.

I read earlier that you didn't study for them at all...

hopefully you did well enough that you don't have to take them again! I studied a bunch when I took it so I wouldn't have to take it a second time. That would have been a pain to do it twice.

 

[GoldShadow]

Nah we don't get our ENTER scores for another month or so, but I did finish my last exam yesterday =D. It was Italian and I managed to mention things like Skeleton Armies and Bear Cavalries shooting lightning out of their mouths. Even Kool-Aid. Along with all the other things I wrote about I think it was good of me to do that because when the assessor reads it s/he won't be bored.

If I were the one reading your essay I would scan it for the bolded key words and give it a perfect score.