What are the benefits of doing 4 unit maths? (1 Viewer)

[lilcutetricker]

Why is it that only a few people actually choose to do 4 unit maths?

At my school there's only a handful amount of people who do extension 2 maths but my mate in year 12 said, "i COULD'VE chosen to study ext 2 but i chose not to"

Is it too hard for most people? I mean I hear it scales really well since its the hardest subject offered in high school... why is it that more people choose not to do it to do it in their hscs? Wouldn't it give them a higher chance to get a higher atar even if they were to get about 50-70%?

 

[SuperMike96]

The reason being that 4 Unit maths is a very high standard of maths. Only the top (i'm not sure what per cent of students do it) students will do it. Scaling can only benefit you if you actually get any marks. If every student attempted 4 Unit maths, a high percentage would score lower than 20%. Many would score 0. It is better to spend time on easier subjects and do well than rely on scaling on a harder subject.

 

[madharris]

It takes a lot of time and effort to do well, which some people would rather spend on their other subjects

It just depends on the person really, many people (me for example) are not maths inclined, but some others may love the subject and decide to do 4u

 

[hayabusaboston]

extension 2 is seriously exaggerated in terms of difficulty, the concepts are not at all mysterious and magical things u will never understand, since term 4 last year ive been waiting for a concept to completely blow me away in complexity but im just finishing my final topic in class (curve sketching) and id have to say having done the whole course, there is nothing at all that will be completely shocking to even the average 3u student, I didnt encounter anything which I couldnt grasp in the same lesson it was introduced to me in. it is just a lot of extra concepts, but they're not hard to the point of like "OMFG EXT 2 IS LYK HARDEST SHIT OUT M8", its understandable by most people who put in a reasonable amount of effort into it. IN ext 2, I found I got to class, learnt something new, and already was able to do all the homework. Its just lots of concepts adding onto ext 1

benefits of ext 2 are incredible for your ATAR, anyone who finds themselves able to cope quite well with 3u should definitely try 4u.

 

[Drongoski]

Not everyone has the ability to do 4U Maths. It has nothing to do with putting in the efforts. Some people just don't have the aptitude for maths - not even 2U Maths.

Your friend said he could've but chose not to. May well be the case. But those who can usually would.

 

[enoilgam]

Not everyone has the ability to do 4U Maths. It has nothing to do with putting in the efforts. Some people just don't have the aptitude for maths - not even 2U Maths.

Your friend said he could've but chose not to. May well be the case. But those who can usually would.

This pretty much sums up my view. I tutor 7 - 10 and I mainly specialise in struggling/borderline students and many would be way out of their league in 4 unit even with a huge amount of effort.

 

[kwu1]

I'd say the majority of the state would not copy particularly well with 4 unit maths. Generally, people choose this subject purely for its scaling potential, however, they bear the risk of compromising their other subject marks in the pursuit of a specialised mathematics mark. To get a solid atar, you need all round performance not just a spectacular maths mark.

 

[Makematics]

also i find that loving maths makes the whole job a lot easier. if you hate maths and choose 4U you are not gonna want to go home and pull out your cambridge and smash out a few questions, and you're just gonna have a bad time come october.

 

[lilcutetricker]

It never hurts to suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion ! but in all seriousness, i don't mind maths. I don't mind any subject in fact.

I believe that everyone can be an all-rounder but some people just put more effort in than others. But extension 2 is quite difficult... but my girlfriend is doing 4 unit maths in the near future and damn... can't go all soft just because it's difficulty is ... yeah pretty hard HAHAHAHA she's kinda my motivation since shes sooo smart so, fingers crossed i get to choose it

 

[madharris]

It never hurts to suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion ! but in all seriousness, i don't mind maths. I don't mind any subject in fact.

I believe that everyone can be an all-rounder but some people just put more effort in than others. But extension 2 is quite difficult... but my girlfriend is doing 4 unit maths in the near future and damn... can't go all soft just because it's difficulty is ... yeah pretty hard HAHAHAHA she's kinda my motivation since shes sooo smart so, fingers crossed i get to choose it

You can always try it, and if it's too difficult or too much work then just drop it

 

[nerdasdasd]

Regret is the worst feeling....

 

[lilcutetricker]

Well lets hope future me can deal with that crap.

 

[Drongoski]

also i find that loving maths makes the whole job a lot easier. if you hate maths and choose 4U you are not gonna want to go home and pull out your cambridge and smash out a few questions, and you're just gonna have a bad time come october.

But that begs the question - you're highly unlikely to love maths if you are hopeless in it.

 

[enoilgam]

But that begs the question - you cannot love maths if you are hopeless in it.

Again, definitely agree with this. It's easy to stay motivated in a subject if you are good at it, but it is quite another thing to be motivated doing something which you are bad at.

 

[lilcutetricker]

Only a handful actually love maths from what i know... you either started studying from a young age and starting topping everyone when you were like 10 or you only realised the importance of education and actually started studying ...

 

[hayabusaboston]

Only a handful actually love maths from what i know... you either started studying from a young age and starting topping everyone when you were like 10 or you only realised the importance of education and actually started studying ...

I learnt my times tables up to 12 at age 5 lolol, that was my one awesome skill as a kid

 

[Shadowless]

I learnt my times tables up to 12 at age 5 lolol, that was my one awesome skill as a kid

I've always thought that was a pre-requisite for asians...

 

[EpikHigh]

I've always thought that was a pre-requisite for asians...

He's white.

 

[er15]

My friends did 4 Unit maths for their HSC last year. They hated it and only 1 person in their class was passing the exams. He would get around 80-90% while my friends would only get around 30-50%. However, they stuck with it and for the HSC itself worked well in regards to their ATAR as they got a decent mark which ultimately boosted their ATAR.

I don't think it's a subject you should go in to gain better marks due to the scaling. As it mentioned above requires heaps of effort and time.

 

[Charlotte00]

Not everyone has the ability to do 4U Maths. It has nothing to do with putting in the efforts. Some people just don't have the aptitude for maths - not even 2U Maths.

Your friend said he could've but chose not to. May well be the case. But those who can usually would.

Even lots of people in my general class really struggle with the concepts. Lots of people just aren't cut out for it.