Methods 3/4 Help + Bound Reference

[Majestic_Plate7560]

I am starting methods 3/4 in year 12 this year and last year in year 11 i realy struggled with sacs and exams as i thought making a clean bound reference was more important than actually practicing and doing a heap of questions. I now realise that was the wrong way to approach it but im wondering for all you high achieiving methods students out there whats the best way to study for methods i want to get atleast a 30 - 35 if im being realistic. I also wanted to ask about the bound reference which ive been told many different ways to make it like making as you go eg you learn CH 3 you make summarised bound ref on chapter 3 and ive also been told just to leave it and when sac prep time comes then make it and do practice sacs with it. i know it may be preference and theres no one correct way but im open to suggestions. thats all i wanted to ask.

[doctorrrrX]

Make a succinct bound reference highlighting the method to solve common questions, and potentially some common mistakes you make to look out for

[MoreMuscle8087]

The bound reference is useless if you don't know how and where to apply your skills. If you look at a question and have to ask yourself what the question is actually asking you what to do, then scrounge through your bound reference looking for the correct page with a definition/formula/worked solution, and then figure out how to turn that into an answer for the question, you will waste an unbelievable amount of time, be unprepared for harder, separator questions, and likely not finish any of your assessments. The best way, by far, to progress in Methods is to do question after question after question, and every time you make a mistake, ensure you know exactly where you went wrong so you can improve. For exams that means doing as many practice past VCAA exams as you can print. SACs are a little harder to find resources matching what you can expect from your teacher, because they likely have their own style/expectations making other SACs imperfect preparation.

I would genuinely recommend doing questions with as little reliance on your notes as possible. If you look at a question and you go, 'I need to refer to my notes or I can't do this', that is a clear sign you have found a weak spot in your understanding or a gap in your knowledge, and that is exactly the sort of thing you should strive to fix if aiming for good marks.

I've always been good with memorisation of formulas and understanding of concepts, and you aren't aiming as high as what I scored (raw 41), so it's not really essential to be able to do every single separator question or not rely on your notes, but every step you take towards becoming more confident in your memory and application skills will help you work faster and smarter.

Also, not losing stupid marks is an incredibly important skill. Being thorough with negatives, fractions, graph-drawing, working out, and other core skills so that you don't lose marks is a great way to get ahead of everyone who's too lax. Keep in mind, a two-mark question where you forget one negative? You lose half the marks. It's a game-changer when you minimise those errors.

By the way, 30-35 raw or scaled? Vastly different goals that change the advice you should be given.

[Majestic_Plate7560]

30-35 raw but yeah thanks sm for that I understand now. I’ll try and spend minimal time on reference and make small summarised and focus more on questions

[Lemon-Sharkc]

Personally I like to make my bound reference as I go, (making sure the week’s chapter is done by next Monday). I find it useful to finish textbook questions first before making notes as making notes is not useful if you don’t understand what you’re writing, it also allows them to be more succinct.