Hardest LC Subject?

md99

Not including English, Irish, Maths or language... What's the hardest vocational subject? Apologies if I leave something out that should be there....

antSionnach

It would be a toss up between Physics and Chemistry for me. Loved both immensley, and have now ended up following that path in college, but chemistry can be very demanding. Even if you know the answer, answering quiestions in itself is another technical obstacle to getting an good grade.

md99

Having no experience of the LC science subjects, my vote goes to S&S. Some find the business subjects hard, but they come easy to me. I deeply regret not doing business studies!!!

Although I find it interesting I find S&S the hardest subject, because of its length and broadness... The course can be very inconsistent, and the papers in the first couple of years since they changed it were damn impossible... It's A1 rate was something like 2.6%. Compared to 10% in physics?! Blah!

md99

antSionnach wrote:

It would be a toss up between Physics and Chemistry for me. Loved both immensley, and have now ended up following that path in college, but chemistry can be very demanding. Even if you know the answer, answering quiestions in itself is another technical obstacle to getting an good grade.

From what I hear from my friends (mostly smart people), Chemistry and Biology are meant to have very long courses and some very difficult questions!

Naikon

History is the worst, I mean the subject rewards "parrot" students.
Some of the stuff in physics is a little hairy like circular motion for example.

dRNk SAnTA

physics for me. if you're not pretty good at maths, stay away.

Naikon

Well I do Ordinary maths and I dont find the maths that bad at all.
(cept for circular motion which is the only applied maths type question on the paper)
The Electricity calculations arent too bad if you practice them.
Still, everyone is different so dont take this literally.

Steve01

Naikon wrote:

History is the worst, I mean the subject rewards "parrot" students.
Some of the stuff in physics is a little hairy like circular motion for example.

'Parrot' students? Not familiar with this terminology. Explain please

Naikon

Students that for example learn essays by rote and expect to get awarded well by simply re-writing information from textbooks.
History is less about critical thinking than it is about learning off essays.

Steve01

Naikon wrote:

Students that for example learn essays by rote and expect to get awarded well by simply re-writing information from textbooks.
History is less about critical thinking than it is about learning off essays.

Yeah... disgraceful carry on *hides in shame*
Your absolutely right about history being less about critical thinking than learning off essays. As such I'm taking my chances and going the 'learning off essays' route. I see no other way around the course. Maybe instead of history they should call it 'applied memory'

Naikon

Tell me about It:D
Besides you will do pretty well I reckon by just learning essays off, thats the trick to History.
I would love to analyse the brain activity of someone whilst they "study" history.

PurpleFistMixer

I think, to do well in, (as in, get an A1), art is the hardest. History of art is a crazily big course, and the rest of the mark is completely subjective. However as a day-to-day subject it's grand! Spend all the classes drawing. : )

Music can be dodgy too. One second the questions are perfectly easy, fine, the next second there's some crazy hard dictation to do.

From what I gather from observing my friends, Home Ec is impossible. They seem to have almost an entire text book worth of additional notes. Pages upon pages about milk, or eggs, or stuff. Madness it is. I'd much rather deal with formulae, like applied maths or physics.

md99

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

I think, to do well in, (as in, get an A1), art is the hardest. History of art is a crazily big course, and the rest of the mark is completely subjective. However as a day-to-day subject it's grand! Spend all the classes drawing. : )

Music can be dodgy too. One second the questions are perfectly easy, fine, the next second there's some crazy hard dictation to do.

From what I gather from observing my friends, Home Ec is impossible. They seem to have almost an entire text book worth of additional notes. Pages upon pages about milk, or eggs, or stuff. Madness it is. I'd much rather deal with formulae, like applied maths or physics.

Indeed, the % rate for an A1 in Arts was 0.6% in 2005... the lowest of all subjects as far as I know.

S&S is VERY difficult but quite doable if it's not combined with many other 'textbook' subjects ie History, Biology, Chemistry - if you're combining it with one of those then you better have a hell of a lot of spare time.

Mushy

Steve01 wrote:

Your absolutely right about history being less about critical thinking than learning off essays. As such I'm taking my chances and going the 'learning off essays' route. I see no other way around the course. Maybe instead of history they should call it 'applied memory'

but when ya first do the essays, dont you have to some element of analysing in them? As in, not just tell the story, but give your thoughts on the question/essay title? I know what ya mean about learning off the essays though, you do it once, then thats it. I find my essays becoming more generic as time goes on now, last paragraph always has obligatory quote and statistic in it, so Im getting sick of it now.

I said physics in the poll BTW. Dont like the subject at all so thats why i find it hard

EDIT: just did a physics past paper question(OL), cathode ray gun things, quite easy. Iv also been doing some HL questions lately, albeit with a lot of help, and dont know what level to do. The points for higher would obviously be better. B**** subject for that a lot aswell for me

Nehpets

Physics - arrrrrrgh

nick23

Physics isnt actually that difficult once you get your head around the basic principles. Trust me im far from being an academic but physics sint all that difficult.

I'd take a guess at chemistry being the hardest but i dont do it so i cant really comment

ninebeanrows

Okay Physics may be difficult for some but like some people have said.. it's not the hardest exam to get an A1 in because your either right or wrong.

But with exams such as Geography/History you could sit a great paper, get a jurk of a corrector and get a B2

So i'd have to say History due to how difficult it must be to get full marks

Limerick Dude

Physics - husdbhcjuwfuoheruvfhurnvno

I hate it....

JC 2K3

md99 wrote:

Not including English, Irish, Maths or language...

Why?

English is by far the hardest.

I find Physics a piece of píss to be honest. I basically sleep in class, read the chapter, learn about 2 definitions and/or formulae and the rest is common sense. Although electricity etc. gets a bit tricky it's grand when you get your head around it. The experiments side of it is a bit trickier, but really I can't see any reason for people saying physics is the hardest subject. The maths in it is really basic too.

ninebeanrows

JC 2K3 wrote:

Why?

English is by far the hardest.

I find Physics a piece of píss to be honest. I basically sleep in class, read the chapter, learn about 2 definitions and/or formulae and the rest is common sense. Although electricity etc. gets a bit tricky it's grand when you get your head around it. The experiments side of it is a bit trickier, but really I can't see any reason for people saying physics is the hardest subject. The maths in it is really basic too.

To be honest thats a ridiculus thing to say, come back to me when you get an A1 in the leavin..

It isn't a piece of piss at all tbh, maybe it is to you i don't know.

But to say learning aroudn 200 definitions, 25 experiments, 100's of forumulae while learning how to answer the questions is a piece of piss is just incorrect..

I'm finding it tough because of my inept teacher, i basically have to go through the whole course myself now. And the difference between just reading the book and answering exam questions is very big.

PurpleFistMixer

Actually, I went through my physics book on friday and wrote down every equation I could find, and it only filled 9 A4 pages. Not THAT many! And that's including short explanations of what the letters stand for.

ninebeanrows

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

Actually, I went through my physics book on friday and wrote down every equation I could find, and it only filled 9 A4 pages. Not THAT many! And that's including short explanations of what the letters stand for.

Well i've had a rough ganter and i's say that might be right, but that is still 33x9 formulae = 239

That have to be learned off and be able to be used.

Add that to the definitions,experiments,derivations you have to learn and it ain't all that easy;)

PurpleFistMixer

Oh, not that many. Definitely not one per line. A fair number, yes, but doable I think! 9 pages makes it seem less terrifying.

JC 2K3

239?? ROFL, are you taking the piss.

Look at this and this, there's about 40 in total, and a few are even in the Maths Tables, AND many formulae ARE definitions in themselves. 200 my ass.

EDIT: 9*33 is 297.....

delta_bravo

Can anyone tell me what S&S stands for?

Not to be pedantic or anything but none of those subjects are not vocational subjects as far as i know. Is a vocational subject not a subject involving a skill eg, Engineering, Woodwork and perhaps technical drawing

xha1r

You're right. The word relates to a trade, therefore vocational subjects are those which further your skills in a specific trade.

The OP must have thought it meant optional.

md99

xha1r wrote:

You're right. The word relates to a trade, therefore vocational subjects are those which further your skills in a specific trade.

The OP must have thought it meant optional.

According to my S&S book, those subjects I've listed (ie NOT eng,ir,maths or language) are Vocational Subjects...

In the case of some ie. accounting, construction, woodwork, art etc... , don't they further your skills in the trade?

Either way, that's what the S&S book is calling them..... Education section of the Social Studies part if anyone wants to check

delta_bravo

md99 wrote:

According to my S&S book, those subjects I've listed (ie NOT eng,ir,maths or language) are Vocational Subjects...

In the case of some ie. accounting, construction, woodwork, art etc... , don't they further your skills in the trade?

Either way, that's what the S&S book is calling them..... Education section of the Social Studies part if anyone wants to check

Construction and woodwork yes but not necessarily the others. I went to a vocational school (v.e.c) and what made us different from other secondary schools wouldve been vocational subjects - engineering, woodwork etc.

ciaranajl

What is S&S?

delta_bravo

ciaranajl wrote:

What is S&S?

Just checked examinations.ie its Home Economics Social & Scientific.

I still find it quite funny that a poll on the hardest vocational subjects doesnt contain a single one

Rozabeez

I'd say Home Economics, which isn't there. Clever.

ninebeanrows

JC 2K3 wrote:

239?? ROFL, are you taking the piss.

Look at this and this, there's about 40 in total, and a few are even in the Maths Tables, AND many formulae ARE definitions in themselves. 200 my ass.

EDIT: 9*33 is 297.....

Here i wasnt actually literally saying there are 297 forumlae, i was saying what 9 a4 pages could list to..

Fair enough if you find physics a piece of piss and make sure you tell us all what you got come August.

But i can see why lots of people would find it difficult. The course is very broad and you don't know what could come up on the test.

Anyway it depends what your looking for and what you see as as a bad result.. I'm going to be looking for a good B in the LC and it's going to be tough

spudington16

How is Maths not listed here? I'm somewhat surprised that Physics is topping the poll, though...

Corruptedmorals

Biology. Ugh. I got screwed over by the subject blocks, so had to do it. Thought it wouldn't be so bad, found it's part in science for junior cert easy enough, and got my B. Shock of a lifetime in 5th year. I'm not a science person at all and the sheer amount of pointless stuff is so annoying. Who CARES how rhizopus (bread mould. wtf?) reproduces or what that NADP stuff stands for. Can't stand the terminology either ('attenuated' instead of weakened etc.) and the course is too long and too broad, even though it was recently revised.

Doesn't help that my teacher is absolutely useless. Classes for two years consisted of him reading out a chapter and us doing questions on it. A few bad 80's science documentaries, but we did do all the experiments. No notes. No advice on the timing or structure of the paper. Blahhhh. Need high points, and can't afford to get less than a C1 in Biology, which will be such a challenge, can only do 'average' in one subject. Automatically not counting pass maths, y'see.

I do History also, and it's not fun doing two really broad subjects. Geography's not so bad learning-wise, I find it simple.

Mushy

I'm not a science person at all

Im guessing thats why those of us who dont like Physics/Biology, picked that subject. I can only speak for physics, which I didnt really want to do, but thats one reason I dont like it. The formulae are easy enough once you know what they mean, doesnt matter how many there are

Haven't a Clue

I despise Physics with a passion. To be honest, I was ok for mechanics, I could handle it. But as soon as he started going on about cathode this alpha that, he lost me. Tried to drop out of it, but I couldn't if I was to continue to do LCVP. Gonna do the ordinary paper, doesn't seem quite as bad. Learn my definitions and a few of the experiments and I'd say I'll be grand...

Jay112

IMO accounting is the hardest! absolute gibberish to me, 5th yr was okay but now its a completely different language to me, havnt passed a test in ages! my teacher seems opposed to letting me drop to Ord level!! i might just drop it and focus on my other 6

JC 2K3

Corruptedmorals wrote:

Who CARES how rhizopus (bread mould. wtf?) reproduces or what that NADP stuff stands for.

Biologists.

Limerick Dude

Haven't a Clue wrote:

I despise Physics with a passion. To be honest, I was ok for mechanics, I could handle it. But as soon as he started going on about cathode this alpha that, he lost me. Tried to drop out of it, but I couldn't if I was to continue to do LCVP. Gonna do the ordinary paper, doesn't seem quite as bad. Learn my definitions and a few of the experiments and I'd say I'll be grand...

Electricity isnt too bad imo except for magnetism(hardest part of the course imo, left hand rule and all the crap!!! i hate it!). I hope a question on photo emission comes up. like threshold frequencys, work function, E=HF etc That stuff is so simple. Radioactivity is handy too. Not sure on the options, looked at both of them, probably go for particle physics. I suck at both light and sound. Heat is fine. Mechanics....havent really looked at it since 5th year....

Man i need to start revising!

Haven't a Clue

Limerick Dude wrote:

Electricity isnt too bad imo except for magnetism(hardest part of the course imo, left hand rule and all the crap!!! i hate it!). I hope a question on photo emission comes up. like threshold frequencys, work function, E=HF etc That stuff is so simple. Radioactivity is handy too. Not sure on the options, looked at both of them, probably go for particle physics. I suck at both light and sound. Heat is fine. Mechanics....havent really looked at it since 5th year....

Man i need to start revising!

Funny, magnetism'd be one of the strongest bits for me. We got the general gist of it in National School which I've found has helped me no end for the magnetism on the course. Bit daft, I know.

And a mate of mine does accounting and would've been really good at it for his junior cert. He can't pass an exam for love nor money now. Apparently leaving cert accountancy is meant to be very similar to first year college accountancy..

md99

Rozabeez wrote:

I'd say Home Economics, which isn't there. Clever.

Are you blind or did you never learn the title of the subject in your years of studying Social and Scientific?

Clever indeed!

Rozabeez

I've actually never heard it referred to as that in my life.

Spank

Neither have I....

History imo, very long, tedious, it's like learning a novel word for word.

PurpleFistMixer

Perhaps it's a less feminine version used in boys' schools? Have to say I've never seen it used in my school.

doonothing

applied maths
i know most people only do it because theyre good at maths but as a standalone its insanely difficult

delta_bravo

md99 wrote:

Are you blind or did you never learn the title of the subject in your years of studying Social and Scientific?

Clever indeed!

No need to get smart sunshine. Social and Scientific is just really an add on to the title of the subject. most people call it home ec/ home economics

Rozabeez

Checked today, that's no-where on my home ec book

JC 2K3

doonothing wrote:

applied maths
i know most people only do it because theyre good at maths but as a standalone its insanely difficult

Not really.

You only have to do 6/10 questions for a start.

And the "hard" maths only counts for 5-10 marks out of 50 in every question. You'd get a B simply knowing the formulae and how to resolve vectors.

md99

Rozabeez wrote:

Checked today, that's no-where on my home ec book

Your initial post ticked me off, I despise unnecessary malice.
*awaits a post on the real meaning of the word 'malice'*

Either way at least we're in agreement that it's some hard stuff. I think a lot of the difficulty is in the way the questions are asked... how specific some are, and the lack of options. Not to mention the fact that we've to answer the "short" questions, two 80 markers, and two 50 markers in 2 and a 1/2 hours. Ludicrous!

md99

Not forgetting that it's on the SAME day as Maths! Dear God!

InFront

Corruptedmorals wrote:

Who CARES how rhizopus (bread mould. wtf?) reproduces or what that NADP stuff stands for. Can't stand the terminology

I hope you didn't apply for biology/ medicine!
One of my courses for my first year in college was basically centred around the entire TCA Cycle/ Pentose Phosphate Pathway. If you don't think respiration is important, stop breathing and see if you change your mind:p

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