A little question with subject choices... (1 Viewer)

[sassquach]

So I did accelerated Modern History and did awfully (low-80), and this year I'm doing 4 Unit english and Music 1...

Now I'm deciding between D&T and Ancient History...
I think I might like Ancient, and with DT i can get a band 6 pretty easily...

But since I struggled with modern, do you think I should pick up ancient? I mean, although I got a horrible mark I did come 1st in my class with a course mark of 87 (which was scaled down considerably)...

Help me decidee

 

[Dragonmaster262]

I suggest Design and Technology.

 

[sassquach]

But wouldnt Design and Technology scale me down, whereas if I do quite well in Ancient, it will help my ATAR?

I'm actually much more confident in history essays now that Modern is over, and I now know how to actually revise and study a history topic...

Plus I want to concentrate most of my efforts on 4 unit english, and with that giant major work for DT constantly being in the way (although there is that giant Ancient syllabus...)

 

[Dragonmaster262]

Well pick whatever you fell comfortable with but please make sure you're not soelly picking a subject for the scaling.

 

[x.Exhaust.x]

Well pick whatever you fell comfortable with but please make sure you're not soelly picking a subject for the scaling.

Exactly what Dragonmaster said. I did most of my subjects solely for scaling, and now I regret it. If I chose a few humanities I was initially good at, such as Economics and Modern History, my ATAR would've inflated dramatically.

So stick with what you enjoy. All the best .

 

[nutcracker]

Why not give Modern a go again? (Are you allowed to repeat a subject?)
Considering you're familiar with the content and skills and all.
If not, I'd suggest Ancient. Because, as you've said, you know the way things work with histories now. Although I don't know whether there are any differences between Ancient & Mod (apart from content that is).

 

[Shadowdude]

What ATAR are you aiming for sassquach?

If it's less than 85 by all means pick the one in which you think you'll do better at. If it's post-85, you should give a little heed to scaling. Why? 4u Maths, Physics, Chemistry, and all those render a 93-ish ATAR even if you get state average in all of them (P50). Meanwhile, do General and all those low scaling subjects and get 55-ish ATAR at state average.

I call it: "Playing the ATAR Game". Unless you are super super super confident that you will ace low scaling subjects you like, you can go for it - just don't bet on a 99.95 or anywhere near 99. It's possible, but don't put your money on it.

 

[sinophile]

Pick the one you'll like more.

Do you know the reason for scaling? Its to compensate for the difficulty of the course. So no, don't pick D&T just for the Band 6. I can assure you, four times out of five, you won't get that band six if you hate the subject.

 

[sassquach]

well I'm aiming for 90+ for my ATAR
looking through the ancient syllabus, it looks pretty interesting so I dont know
I might go with ancient...

 

[Shadowdude]

Okay, go with Ancient then - although you sure you don't want to do any Maths?

 

[annabackwards]

well I'm aiming for 90+ for my ATAR
looking through the ancient syllabus, it looks pretty interesting so I dont know
I might go with ancient...

Do ancient then - do the subject you aremost ineterested in as you'll most likely do better in it

 

[kyokaku92]

Ignore scaling and pick your favourite, you will still get a decent ATAR if you do well and enjoy it. Good luck!!

 

[Tofuu]

if you like ancient, do it, since you have already done it, doing it again will just be revision and hence your knowledge in the subject will grow