cera's yr11-12 hsc journal !

hello everyone!! ive been seeing a lot of vce journals and thought documenting my hsc journey might be helpful/motivating for me. it is currently the beginning of term 3 right now, so yr 11 prelim exams are soon (end of the term) and then its off to yr 12 next term!

debrief on subjects:

1. biology: really enjoyable, my teacher is very engaging and good at explaining so i've been enjoying all the content so far. i've been keeping up with notes, and for my assessments so far i've gotten a B+ and A-!
2. korean beg: my favourite subject, i'm really passionate and managed to get (basically) full marks for both assessments! i enjoy making notes for it as well, even though it is starting to get harder.
3. visual arts: kind of chose this because i didn't know what else to choose, its not so bad and ive been in the A range, im not that skilled at pracs though but i enjoy the theory. would drop in yr 12 if i could.
4. maths advanced: really difficult and disappointing in results. i managed to get an A- last term but barely passed this term (52%). this was pretty humbling as its the lowest mark i've ever gotten in all of HS. a lot of people started to drop down to standard after the 2nd assessment and i'm also considering it. for now though, i think i'm going to try my hardest in prelims and see how i go -- if i don't achieve a B+ or higher i'll probably drop.
5. english advanced: haven't gotten term 2 results yet (will update later!!). i think this term i did better than last term (a narrative, which i scored a B- on, which i know wasn't bad at all but was still really disappointing as i used to get A's in my past year narratives). it is an okay subject, i'm confused on how i can prep for shakespeare.
6. english ext 1: a LOT more work than i expected. i never realised how independent study heavy it is, but the content we do is quite interesting. got away with a B in the 1st term, and i hope it's the same for term 2 (haven't gotten the results and don't think i did too well). i'm excited for this term's assesment, as its an independent project, with our own choice of focus texts!

my other 1 unit is a non-atar unit, which is well, a bludge. i originally picked it thinking i would be able to get into ext 2 in yr 10 (foolish, i know), but it's not looking so great so far compared to the other students in my ext class.

i'm quite grateful for my marks so far, just only a bit disappointed with them as ive gotten accustomed to the high standard i used to perform at in previous years. the transition was harsher than expected, and im scared im reaching burnout, but i hope i will do well for finals!!

goals:
atar: i'm hoping for an atar with 90+! i calculated my atar for each term with the matrix calculator and it went from 89 in term 1 to 81 in term 2... it's still good enough for the courses i'd like to do which require 80+ but for my own personal standards i'd like to reach a little higher lol.

career: i'm hoping to get a bachelor in design computing!! (if anyone does this rn please lmk how its been lol) i recently stumbled upon it and have fell in love with its prospects -- i used to do graphic design as an elective before yr 11 and loved every bit of it. this bachelor has coding, graphic design, and teaches photoshop, illustrator, indesign, ux design, etc. i find it would be really fun to learn or at least provide valuable skills for the future!!

i previously considered project management or dermatology because i wasn't sure of what i wanted to do, but they're probably second options for now!! (project management as i enjoy organisational roles, and dermatology as i'd love to help others with acne and know there's only a few spots rn... booking one can leave u on the waitlist for a year my mum says...)

i will hopefully update this more when i make progress in exam prep/get results back for term 2!! if anyone has advice about my math debacle, ext1 and ext2 english, or any general exam prep for prelims, it'd be greatly appreciated!!

hi guys!! currently we have gotten back our english advanced results, with ext still on the back burner. i managed to get an A-, so i've redeemed myself from term 1!

currently ive been focused on my extension independent project and making biology notes. ive also told myself to work more on math regularly day by day, but i honestly have no passion for it and am seriously considering dropping down because of this.

ive been struggling with procrastination as well, i get out of bed late on the weekends and go out a lot so my time management is pretty bad im trying to take smaller baby steps and do at least one thing a day rather than not do anything at all, but its not really working haha...

also considering not doing ext 2 (not that i think i would be recommended anyway), i feel like i would find visual arts more enjoyable than doing ext 2, but i would try my hardest if i were given the opportunity. i have no idea what i would do for the major works for either one, and if i keep art im kind of worried about having only 11 units (how would that calculate??).

anyways, anxiously waiting for ext 1 marks!! 3 A's and 1 C for this term, so quite balanced. good luck for everyones trials as well

hi everyone!! small update, turns out my A- mark for eng task 2 was actually equal second out of the whole advanced cohort. which is nice to know, considering i was beating myself up over my task 1 mark. anyways, here's my progress so far for prelim studying (the exams are in a month ish):

1. biology: kind of behind on notes?? we are still gonna take a few weeks to finish our last module 4, before doing another few weeks of just revision. i've only just started my module 4 notes, but so far not too much content so hopefully i can motivate myself. also im freaking out on how im gonna memorise everything, next year i for sure need to be revising content regularly!!
2. korean beg: so far caught up on notes, not my biggest worry atp!
3. visual arts: also not worried about it right now, but we still have our task 2 assessment due soon (very delayed, i know). i'm thinking of redoing my prac work but idk.
4. maths adv: UGH it genuinely makes me so bored and annoyed, but ive seen the content in standard math and it is so easy that i'm considering not dropping?? its like i feel like i have the potential to do well in adv, but my passion is at 0 so actually maybe i'll just drop. i feel like the relief and freedom to focus on other subjects would be very rewarding.
5. english adv: not really prepared? haven't really compiled my quotes yet. i've done some basic contextual research, i'm for sure gonna fall behind but i'm not bothered to do anything abt it!!!!!
6. english ext also slightly behind, but i think i'll be able to catch up by the end of this week. i haven't started my contextual research, and i'm gonna try and watch the films i need for my project by the end of next week!

i'll need to revise and study extra hard for bio and math, im hoping for the best by the end of the term!! can't wait for the total reset in syllabus next term.

i_need_mental_asylum TYSM!! u for sure can do it as well!!

Melona I KNOW im still freaked out abt it THANK YOUU

Random_Person_You_Happen_To_Be_Encountering_Now THANK YOUU

HI silly math update:

im like 90% sure now that i wanna drop to standard math like seeing how the content we are learning now will only get harder next year makes me want to cry!! its doable now (barely) but i think the relief i would get being able to not stress about it so much by dropping down would be so fulfilling.

its just kind of disappointing personally though because it feels like im taking the easy route out? i kind of am though, but i genuinely do not have the passion to study rigorously for content this tricky and would rather spend time on other subjects.

also the difference between maths advanced content and standard content goes CRAZY but ill take linear equations over calculus any day! i think by doing easier content i would feel more motivated to study for it since im getting the marks i want!!

bye bye for nowww

hi everyone!! its less than 2 weeks till prelims and ive barely revised!!! but here's my progress so far:

1. biology: eventually caught up with all my module 4 notes last week and now just need to add a few more worksheets!! i need to start memorising + doing practise papers. definitely need to figure out a plan on how to spread this out for the next week.
2. korean beg: pretty much up to date with notes, we are almost finished with the rest of our yr 11 content so i'll still need to be making notes on that.
3. visual arts: just need to complete some analyses on two artworks and get feedback from my teacher for next week, but it's probably gonna be one of my last exams so after that i wont study for it until the day bfr lol.
4. maths adv: kind of don't want to drop down anymore? i really am going to try harder for this exam (well i haven't really, so if i don't get the results i want i guess its on me) -- if i don't get at least 75% (or even above the cohort avg) i will most likely drop, but i kind of don't want to give up anymore. i should probably revise further functions and trig (i am SO screwed for trig). calculus is okay until it gets tricky (and i also can't do rate of change for my LIFE) and probability is also alright.
5. eng adv: welp im still not bothered to do anything! it's due in basically a week and ive done nothing xoxo it's honestly so sad how much i took yr 10 for granted, they'd practically tell us everything we'd need to do and give us scaffolds and everything and now we're just having to figure it out on our own. which is a given i guess as a senior, but i think i'm just stressed like this because i haven't started planning. i think once i start a plan, choose my arguments, themes, and evidence, i should feel more optimistic!
6. eng ext: kind of behind, but i've been working on it more than eng adv despite the fact its due after it LOL. regardless i'm aiming to finish the book and film by this wknd and start drafting next week! i'm 2/3 of the way through my book, and the film will be done within a day, so i got this!!!!!

im also thinking of getting a priv tutor for math if i keep it for next year! anyways, see u guys!