Otago HSFY chat - archive

[patkirtan]

So close. I want this to be over for a while. I want to go home.

[OFFTOPIC]If it all goes my way, this summer will be awesome I can't wait, it's the only thing that motivates me this year. [/OFFTOPIC]

Exams are a bitch, studying for them is boring. But the results are almost always rewarding.

 

[I'mOnABoat]

[OFFTOPIC]If it all goes my way, this summer will be awesome I can't wait, it's the only thing that motivates me this year. [/OFFTOPIC]

Exams are a bitch, studying for them is boring. But the results are almost always rewarding.

Really? Glad you feel this way. I still remember a time when I might have felt this way. Those days are gone. (n)

 

[patkirtan]

Really? Glad you feel this way. I still remember a time when I might have felt this way. Those days are gone. (n)

I'm thinking my years going to go like this -
-->^_^ --> :mellow: --->:blink: --->:bored: ---> :wacko:

 

[greenglacier]

I'm thinking my years going to go like this -
-->^_^ --> :mellow: --->:blink: --->:bored: ---> :wacko:

Interesting choice for first year... not many people would describe HSFY as ""

 

[patkirtan]

Interesting choice for first year... not many people would describe HSFY as ""

My bad, typo "my year is"

' ' was supposed to be O'week this year .... Lol

 

[ChickenPie]

I'm sure everyone knows but chem is out - I did shit. 26/30.

Average was low - 62% - much lower than last year from what I understand.

f*ck

 

[I'mOnABoat]

I'm sure everyone knows but chem is out - I did shit. 26/30.

Average was low - 62% - much lower than last year from what I understand.

f*ck

What do you mean?

That's a good 20% better than the average. That's pretty good. Well Done.

 

[SASOL]

I'm sure everyone knows but chem is out - I did shit. 26/30.

Average was low - 62% - much lower than last year from what I understand.

f*ck

Dont worry, I think I got the same as you last year......and its not even bad!

 

[rainbow_star]

I did okay in chemistry, but not really for cells<_<, hmm, anyone any tips for studying in cells? Do you guys tend to memorise(and understand) every lecture readings in textbook or do you guys focus more on the lecture materials and objectives? Any comments would be very appreciated, thanks =)

 

[I'mOnABoat]

I did okay in chemistry, but not really for cells<_<, hmm, anyone any tips for studying in cells? Do you guys tend to memorise(and understand) every lecture readings in textbook or do you guys focus more on the lecture materials and objectives? Any comments would be very appreciated, thanks =)

I focussed on understanding the lectures. As long as I understood what was said in the lectures, I felt like I was ready. I'm a big fan of knowing the big picture and then being able to weasel out the little details from first principles. I personally didn't do many of the readings for cells.

I hope this helped. I like to answer questions.

 

[patkirtan]

I focussed on understanding the lectures. As long as I understood what was said in the lectures, I felt like I was ready. I'm a big fan of knowing the big picture and then being able to weasel out the little details from first principles. I personally didn't do many of the readings for cells.

I hope this helped. I like to answer questions.

Lol, since you like to answer questions!!!

How do you study for Chem and Physics? =.=

 

[skyglow1]

I focussed on understanding the lectures. As long as I understood what was said in the lectures, I felt like I was ready. I'm a big fan of knowing the big picture and then being able to weasel out the little details from first principles. I personally didn't do many of the readings for cells.

I hope this helped. I like to answer questions.

Opposite for me lol. I tried to get the understanding part out of the way as soon as possible, preferably in the lecture, then just spend all my time memorising small details in CELS. I think there are a lot of little things which can't be worked out from first principles.

 

[patkirtan]

I did exactly what GreenGlacier told us to do.

Revise Lectures
Studygroup worksheets
Past year papers.

Also i podcasted rather than read the textbook. reading Campbell is zzZ

 

[I'mOnABoat]

Lol, since you like to answer questions!!!

How do you study for Chem and Physics? =.=

For Chem and Physics, I just did heaps of questions. I mean HEAPS of question. After doing them, I got a feel for the different types questions and how to go about them. I reckon most things can be reasoned if you know the theory.

 

[greenglacier]

For CELS and HUBS natural ability and intelligence can only take you so far... and that's nowhere near where you need to be to get into med. The people who do really well in CELS and HUBS are not necessarily the smartest people in the year (though intelligence does help) - they are the people who are prepared to put in the work and learn the material. Why? Because so much of the material cannot be reasoned out reliably, and even if it can the lecturer will mark any associated question harshly (such that you can only really get full marks if you memorise all the points they raise and remember to write them all down in the exam - not that memorising the points will on its own get you full marks - you also need to know how to write a decent answer to an exam question).

CHEM and PHSI are completely different - through understanding of the underlying concepts and principles you can reason your way to an answer to almost any question (the notable exceptions being the hot topic lecture questions for CHEM), and in fact you need that understanding to be successful (the fact that you are allowed a cheat sheet in PHSI suggests that the paper isn't about memorising facts) - hence the best way to prepare for these papers is practice questions - lots and lots of practice questions (thankfully there isn't a shortage of these).

 

[skyglow1]

A trap that some students fall into too is thinking that if they just do enough questions then they'll know how to do all the different questions. I've seen some students do this "bruteforce" approach. The problem with that is of course new types of questions that the examiner can throw at the students, and also variations on past questions.

If you truly understand a concept and can apply it well, then it should be possible to do any type of question, even if you have not seen anything like it before.

 

[Deleted member 4350]

For CELS and HUBS natural ability and intelligence can only take you so far... and that's nowhere near where you need to be to get into med. The people who do really well in CELS and HUBS are not necessarily the smartest people in the year (though intelligence does help) - they are the people who are prepared to put in the work and learn the material. Why? Because so much of the material cannot be reasoned out reliably, and even if it can the lecturer will mark any associated question harshly (such that you can only really get full marks if you memorise all the points they raise and remember to write them all down in the exam - not that memorising the points will on its own get you full marks - you also need to know how to write a decent answer to an exam question).

CHEM and PHSI are completely different - through understanding of the underlying concepts and principles you can reason your way to an answer to almost any question (the notable exceptions being the hot topic lecture questions for CHEM), and in fact you need that understanding to be successful (the fact that you are allowed a cheat sheet in PHSI suggests that the paper isn't about memorising facts) - hence the best way to prepare for these papers is practice questions - lots and lots of practice questions (thankfully there isn't a shortage of these).

A trap that some students fall into too is thinking that if they just do enough questions then they'll know how to do all the different questions. I've seen some students do this "bruteforce" approach. The problem with that is of course new types of questions that the examiner can throw at the students, and also variations on past questions.

If you truly understand a concept and can apply it well, then it should be possible to do any type of question, even if you have not seen anything like it before.

^ Gold

 

[rainbow_star]

Wow, heaps of comments already, hehe, looks like everyone goes on this site pretty often.. (i.e. daily). Yea thanks greenglacier, I'mOnABoat, skyglow1, and patkirtan for the advice.(yy)

Yea, I do pretty much the same as you, patkirtan.
Revise lectures + more podcasting as opposed to txtbk
plus practice questions. =)

hymph~, but every time when I go online, I get distracted by facebook. <_<, I really need to get rid of this bad habit, blaw~

 

[patkirtan]

Wow, heaps of comments already, hehe, looks like everyone goes on this site pretty often.. (i.e. daily). Yea thanks greenglacier, I'mOnABoat, skyglow1, and patkirtan for the advice.(yy)

Yea, I do pretty much the same as you, patkirtan.
Revise lectures + more podcasting as opposed to txtbk
plus practice questions. =)

hymph~, but every time when I go online, I get distracted by facebook. <_<, I really need to get rid of this bad habit, blaw~

Don't worry, i doubt there is anyone who doesn't get distracted online.

But yeah, i had to give up my Facebook account for Cells exam =(. Was worth it .... my friend gave my password back last week. Phew !!!

I think i've realized everyone studies differently, as long as we keep working hard it should work.

I also need to thank greenglacier for his advice for cels , IT WORKED !!!

Now i'll try to apply all other advice about chem and physics into practice.

 

[I'mOnABoat]

I really don't compare with the other guys on this site. They seem to know a whole lot more than me.

I don't really want to argue with them about their advice. What I did worked for me. I guess the key is to find something that works for you.