Aspiring's LC 2014 Study Log

Aspiring

Well applied maths still isn't back and won't be till after chritmas so I'll just post the other 7 christmas results:
English - A2
Irish - C1
Maths - B1
French - C2
Physics - A2
Accounting - B1
Business - A1

Total of 545 out of the best 6 so far if this was the real thing, but it's not unfortunately and the real thing will be a lot harder so, study study study !

But I'm very happy especially surpassing some of my goals (page 2), also disappointed especially with accounting and french, but I'll get them in the mocks

cathalio11

Doing the same subjects as you except for the fact you're doing Business instead of me doing Economics. Pretty cool.

With the Mocks coming up, I'm pretty confident that an A1 can be achieved in Accounting and Physics. Accounting, especially. Just seems like a subject where if you can find the hours to put in, it's very doable.

Aspiring

cathalio11 wrote: »

Doing the same subjects as you except for the fact you're doing Business instead of me doing Economics. Pretty cool.

With the Mocks coming up, I'm pretty confident that an A1 can be achieved in Accounting and Physics. Accounting, especially. Just seems like a subject where if you can find the hours to put in, it's very doable.

Same, really confident in those 2. Hoping for 3 or 4 A1/A2's in the mocks even though I know that'll be hard with the amount of work I've put in (not a lot)

Aspiring

Well mocks start tomorrow, poop.

I really need to start posting in this again I've spent the last two days filling my head up with stuff that could've easily been learned one day at a time.

I realise the error of my ways

New me after the mocks

Aspiring

I am the man with the plan. This is my dramatic entrance. Dun dun dunnnn.

A study plan is on the way. Not a IRISH ENGLISH MATHS ETC ETC study timetable, oh no, an effective topic specific study timetable in which I will draw in my strong points to create a plane of study never before embarked upon.

Coming spring 2014: The Study Plan

Well in a few days really.
This study plan will change weekly to keep up with the flow of material.

It will NOT be during my after school study sessions, a prospect which upsets me deeply as I will lose many hours of my week but honestly, desire to get THAT course > desire to sit around.

Cue motivational music of your choice

Aspiring

Well here is next week's study plan, you'll notice a lot of free time but I've learned trying to go from 0 to 100% effort off the bat just doesn't work. Also those rest periods include homework and the like and I've left out training in some parts but anyway it's start.

If you want the excel file just let me know



Notice the two things in black, they are the 1hr 30min blocks as the key below the table indicates, these are the things I really need to tackle and so am doing so head on

Aspiring

Haven't posted in a while but have been studying of course.

Today:

Accounting: did questions 2,3 and 4 on 2013 paper.
Irish: studied two sraith pictiur.

Saturday study tomorrow in school, hope to get a good bit done.

I almost have all of my results back, will post them when I have them all.

Bassfacewhy

why so little time dedicated to french oral? and for irish you seem to be only doing sraiths

Aspiring

Bassfacewhy wrote: »

why so little time dedicated to french oral? and for irish you seem to be only doing sraiths

French is my goal for the next few weeks i have done very little oral work. For Irish for paper 1 I am constantly learning vocab for the aiste we do it mostly in class that's why I haven't mentioned it here. I was focusing on the sraiths because I had a mock oral coming up and I hadn't been studying the sraiths at all, so I had to focus on them. I ended up getting 70/80 for my Sraith Pictiur in the mock oral and 75% overall in it so I'm focusing more on getting my grammar in check now. Haven't done anything for paper 2 yet either so that's something I'll focus moreso on after the oral.

Bassfacewhy

Aspiring wrote: »

French is my goal for the next few weeks i have done very little oral work. For Irish for paper 1 I am constantly learning vocab for the aiste we do it mostly in class that's why I haven't mentioned it here. I was focusing on the sraiths because I had a mock oral coming up and I hadn't been studying the sraiths at all, so I had to focus on them. I ended up getting 70/80 for my Sraith Pictiur in the mock oral and 75% overall in it so I'm focusing more on getting my grammar in check now. Haven't done anything for paper 2 yet either so that's something I'll focus moreso on after the oral.

Alright, good on ya, was just wondering

Aspiring

Been doing 2 accounting questions a night since I last posted, almost at that A1 standard consistently (just need to learn off the theory - easier said than done)

Also started focusing on French, finally. I've written out 2 pages of notes on my family and what each does/personalities etc. Plan on tackling everything about myself over the weekend i.e. personality, past times, star sign (why is there so much about this in the book, so random haha), school subjects, strengths, what I want to do in the future and so on.

Will also be studying the ol sraith pics like a mad man. Have 10 fully known and ten half known, small gaps to fill is all. Next week each night I hope to spend a bit of time on my grammar, I'm not too comfortable in the aimsir fháistineach/ modh chinníollach (excuse horrible spelling), need to work on these as my comhrá is often what let's me down most.

I am just waiting on one exam back now but should be at around 500 points give or take 10. Pretty happy with that, still a lot of work to do tho!

Aspiring

Suppose I should start posting again now that I have the time over Easter

Today:

Accounting: 2 60 mark questions
Physics: 1 full paper (2013)
Business: studied all things relating to data protection (one of my weaker areas)


This weather really doesn't help, should have gotten so much more done today!

Still, about 6 hours all in all so not too bad. My plan over Easter is to iron out the things I'm not 100% on in business and physics. To learn as much theory as I can for accounting. To do as many full maths papers as I can. To write a earth shattering English essay . To relearn french grammar, used to know it so well. To do my Irish homework for Easter, not sure what else I could do for Irish, and finally to focus on my top 6 questions for applied maths. Sounds a bit like the ten commandments :pac:

Forgot to post my mock results, but I got 500 points overall. Very happy as you can imagine and this would get me over the line in August I'd say, just need to reproduce it or perhaps better it some of the results I know I can improve on so hopefully that will be the case!

Thanks for taking the time for reading, hope all of you have an Easter in which you reap the many benefits of hours of study, and you also enjoy many many Easter eggs amidst your studies. I shall be posting here almost every day I imagine over Easter (there'll be a few break days), so if you want to read along I'll see ya soon

Aspiring

Didn't get much done today, studied Macbeth and comparative notes, basically my learned off material which consists of quotes for each text. Hope to get a lot more done tomorrow.

Aspiring

Did 15 maths questions, studied maths all day.

Aspiring

Been studying a good bit, just haven't been posting here

-I've tackled the theory of 4 questions for accounting so far, theory is pretty much all I'm missing atm so I'm pretty happy to keep learning this stuff off.

-Ironed out any gaps in knowledge for business, pretty confident there.

-Been doing as many 56 mark physics questions (think it's 56) and am pretty confident just need to learn off my quarks, mesons, baryons and all that jazz and should be almost ready bar the experiments.

-I've been mathsing (it's a word) my arse off and am getting more confident there by the day. Sometimes the odd financial maths question will get the better me, just need to work on using the right formulas.

-For English I'm pretty happy with my progress, I know my Yeats and Dickinson poetry off by heart and quotes for the rest, so should be able to handle whatever comes up. Comparative will be a revise a few days before the exam type situation. Need to do a bit on Macbeth.

-In french I'm just trying to keep a C1 standard. Not going to pretend I'm doing any work really here... Just maintaining what I have. Won't be counting it come August.

-My Irish is grand for paper 1. Paper 2 just need to prepare more for everything bar the comprehensions.

-Applied maths. Not doing much. Ready for anything in Q1 and Q2. Will have a serious cramming session for the other 4 q's the 4 days before the exam (worked out nicely). Obviously I'll be doing work on it before then also .


My only regret is not focusing on a 6th subject more. I'm strong in 5 subjects then I have 3 average subjects. Would've been a better idea to have just focused on one of these 3 and put the other two to the side. No point complaining now though, can only focus on getting the best results possible with what I have

Aspiring

Been studying every day. About to revise my comparative notes tonight, should be the last time before the day before the exam. Pretty confident on poetry atm. I know Dickinson, Yeats and Plath (I know there's little chance of the latter coming up, but still) inside out. Just need to revise the two others a bit. Not really sure what to study for Macbeth, will figure something out tomorrow. That's pretty much all I can do for English.. I suppose I'll revise some paper 1 material but as long as there's a nice personal essay/speech/descriptive essay on the day I should be grand.

Not really nervous yet, probably should be by now. Hopefully I'll get a good week's study done. Once maths paper 1 is out of the way the weekend arrives and I can cram a bit for Irish and French. Not going to be counting either I'd say so I'm not too worried about them. Business then, really the one I'm most looking forward to, hope to get the A1. Then the weekend to do a bit of cramming once again for Physics and Accounting (Same day). Have been doing well in both over the 2 years and mocks so anything is possible really. Then I have a full 3 days before Applied Maths. These will be the most intense 3 days of my life. I hope to get many, many questions done and try get a decent mark out of it.

And that's my leaving cert. Seems strange to put it into perspective like that, it'll happen so quickly. My success/failure will come down to my top 5 subjects (English, Maths, Business, Accounting, Physics) with the 6th one hopefully being a C or B hopefully.

When I say cramming up above I don't meaning learning new info by the way, just revision

I'm just gonna post the points I hope I get just to motivate me and have something to dream about between June and August! : 535

535 has just been a number I've dreamed about since I started fifth year, and would be a 35 point improvement on my mocks.

If any fifth years/ TY's are reading this, please start working now. I've gotten by on a clear understanding of, and interest in my subjects, with a little study. Most of my improvements are due to simply doing homework, always do your homework. I didn't for 3 years, and my JC results reflected this. If I had studied more I know I could have gotten a seriously good result, I mean 600+. I'm not being cocky I'm just saying I have been gifted with a powerful memory and interest in my subjects, which goes a loooong way. Now I sit here thinking IF I had studied more I could get what I'm capable of. Don't be me. Study, do your homework and participate in class as much as you can. I'm glad I have improved as much as I have across all of my subjects, but I will have that regret of not reaching my potential for the rest of my life. I know if I don't get my Number 1 course (god forbid), it'll be because of lack of effort, not bad luck or any ****e, my fault only. Well I'm finished being an old man now, will be posting here throughout the week I'd imagine

Aspiring

600th post, nice.

Had quite a productive day. Decided to take a break from the English, will continue tomorrow.

Did a lot of maths, tried to find tricky questions and do them. Did a good bit of statistics because it's probably my weakest area, no interest in it unfortunately Confident in most areas of maths now, feels great. Just need to get the theorems learned off but I'm in no rush to do that.

Got a lot of physics done that I've been meaning to do for a long time. There was five experiments I hadn't done, I learned them off there today so that's a big worry gone. Also got 20 pages worth of definitions learned, well revised really. Had a lot of "oh yeah I remember that" moments, which is good, as I know it'll stick in for the LC. Have another 25 or so pages to do still, should get them done tomorrow or Friday. God bless thephysicsteacher.ie, that's where I got the 45 pages of definitions if anybody's looking.

I'm actually a little bit nervous about Eng. Paper 1 now, haven't done a comprehension part b in a long time. Will revise my old stuff and talk to my teacher about it, should be fine. Looking forward to the Composing though, hopefully an interesting personal essay comes up. Failing that, a descriptive or speech will do

MikeSD

Aspiring wrote: »

Been studying every day. About to revise my comparative notes tonight, should be the last time before the day before the exam. Pretty confident on poetry atm. I know Dickinson, Yeats and Plath (I know there's little chance of the latter coming up, but still) inside out. Just need to revise the two others a bit. Not really sure what to study for Macbeth, will figure something out tomorrow. That's pretty much all I can do for English.. I suppose I'll revise some paper 1 material but as long as there's a nice personal essay/speech/descriptive essay on the day I should be grand.

Not really nervous yet, probably should be by now. Hopefully I'll get a good week's study done. Once maths paper 1 is out of the way the weekend arrives and I can cram a bit for Irish and French. Not going to be counting either I'd say so I'm not too worried about them. Business then, really the one I'm most looking forward to, hope to get the A1. Then the weekend to do a bit of cramming once again for Physics and Accounting (Same day). Have been doing well in both over the 2 years and mocks so anything is possible really. Then I have a full 3 days before Applied Maths. These will be the most intense 3 days of my life. I hope to get many, many questions done and try get a decent mark out of it.

And that's my leaving cert. Seems strange to put it into perspective like that, it'll happen so quickly. My success/failure will come down to my top 5 subjects (English, Maths, Business, Accounting, Physics) with the 6th one hopefully being a C or B hopefully.

When I say cramming up above I don't meaning learning new info by the way, just revision

I'm just gonna post the points I hope I get just to motivate me and have something to dream about between June and August! : 535

535 has just been a number I've dreamed about since I started fifth year, and would be a 35 point improvement on my mocks.

If any fifth years/ TY's are reading this, please start working now. I've gotten by on a clear understanding of, and interest in my subjects, with a little study. Most of my improvements are due to simply doing homework, always do your homework. I didn't for 3 years, and my JC results reflected this. If I had studied more I know I could have gotten a seriously good result, I mean 600+. I'm not being cocky I'm just saying I have been gifted with a powerful memory and interest in my subjects, which goes a loooong way. Now I sit here thinking IF I had studied more I could get what I'm capable of. Don't be me. Study, do your homework and participate in class as much as you can. I'm glad I have improved as much as I have across all of my subjects, but I will have that regret of not reaching my potential for the rest of my life. I know if I don't get my Number 1 course (god forbid), it'll be because of lack of effort, not bad luck or any ****e, my fault only. Well I'm finished being an old man now, will be posting here throughout the week I'd imagine

Yeah I would definitely encourage people to start in 5th year. It's only 2 years of your life for a better life. I let depression take over, but this year I have worked harder than ever to get back to best, so I feel good about that.

Aspiring

Good for you Mike, glad to hear you're back on track Good luck in the exams!

Today:

-Physics: experiments and another 10 pages of definitions. They seem to be staying in my head word for word quite nicely which is great. Well covered for section B of the paper, in the mocks I only lost marks on definitions, which has now been resolved. Section A I'm still working on. I know most of my experiments by heart, except a few. Those are the few I'll be working on in the coming days.

-English: Studied Macbeth. If Macbeth or LM come up for character q. I'll be grand. Just have the fear in the back of my mind somebody else will come up, so today I studied the other possibilities. Just have a few more quotes to learn off for Banquo and I'll be grand for him, same with Macduff. Tomorrow evening I want to do some comparative work again, don't want to end up cramming 30 pages of notes the night before the exam (again). Need to study Heaney. If somebody else comes up that I've done I won't answer on him but just to be sure. Also need to fill some gaps in knowledge on Bishop, then I'm ready for poetry. Read some notes on leavingcertenglish.net on paper 1. Some good stuff, I think I'll do a Question B from a comprehension either tomorrow or Saturday, and a comp. if I've time. Not to worried about the comprehension, has never been a problem

-Accounting: I decided to take a look at the syllabus just to see what exactly can be asked. I have almost every base covered which is good. I need to do some Published and Tabular questions over the weekend. Also a 100mk Suspense. Everything else is grand I think. Think I have almost all of my theory known, something I thought I'd never say

Well that's today's lot, think that's everything. Strange to think this day next week I'll be preparing for Maths Paper 1.

Aspiring

Afternoon today:

Business: prepared about 10 question 3's and any EU stuff that comes up. Probably end up doing it, fairly confident with all that jazz. Same kind of thing every year anyway.

Physics: finished the 45 pages of definitions and tested myself. Got almost all of them spot on. Nice. Can put them away now for a while. Head is melted from doing them all at once

Taking a little break, will have an evening update later, stay tuned

AtomicKoala

Aspiring wrote: »

Taking a little break, will have an evening update later, stay tuned

An evening update :eek: I haven't worked past 8 for days :pac:

Aspiring

AtomicKoala wrote: »

An evening update :eek: I haven't worked past 8 for days :pac:

Yes. I'm doing to give this thread a schedule like RTE news, once at 1 in the afternoon, then at 6 pm, then at 9, then finally at 11

Ah but on a serious note some people just study better throughout the daytime. I study best in the evening so that's why I do it, you could be the complete opposite!

Aspiring

Evening update : (as promised )

Well, I didn't end up doing that much. I went for a run actually really cleared my head Went through the physics papers answering questions in my head then checking anything online that I needed to. Thankfully there wasn't much to check! Physics should be grand, can answer 2 more questions than I'll need to, just have to hope nothing comes up in said questions that I don't know :P Think I'll put away the physics for a while now.

I have last years mock for each of my choice subjects so I'll have them to do over the course of the LC as practice.

Aspiring

Unfortunately didn't do much today. Was nice to have a rest day though, feel quite refreshed now. Did do a bit of research for physics tho. Mainly on nuclear/particle physics type stuff. Have a feeling tomorrow will be quite a hectic day. First goal: get up early

Aspiring

Studied English for most of the day then decided to do some maths for a change of scenery.

Did last years maths examcraft mock P1. Was gong perfectly up until the long questions. Messed up on a financial maths q and forgot what asymptotes were. Still got a B3 which I'd be delighted with. That paper was riddled with mistakes tho.


Going back to doing some comparative now.

Aspiring

700th post.

Well, this is it (almost).

Just did an aul' comprehension to get the brain into that mode. It was formulaic as fúck, but still good.
A bit worried about the Question B tomorrow, hoping something normal like a letter, talk or article comes up. Nothing strange like a book introduction hopefully.
Should be interesting to see the theme of the paper and the composing titles, I'd be hoping to do a personal essay but if not I'll do either the speech, article or descriptive essay.

Looking forward to it overall

Aspiring

English paper 1 went really well to be honest. The comprehension was grand (text 1), the question B was broad and doable (text 2 I think, the talk). The composing was soooo nice there was 4 questions I could have done a decent job on. Decided to go with the personal essay about the strange and interesting people I've met and their impact on me. Was super predictable but I churned out a decent piece of writing. Feel I managed a strong B grade at least which I'm delighted with!

And now to tackle the monster that is P2. Ready for comparative, just need to study Heaney and Bishop, then a bit of Macbeth and I'm good to go

Aspiring

Ready for comparative, ready for poetry, almost ready for Macbeth. Lots of time to study in the morning

Aspiring

Macbeth was different to anything I had seen. It was like a vague character question. Just linked in Macbeth's relationship with Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff and the witches and kept referring back to the title. Quite happy with it tbh.

The comparative (cultural context) part a looked a bit nasty, so I did the split one. I was worried it was going to take up too much time as it's usually about 2 pages longer. Got it done in the time thankfully. Happy enough there too.

The unseen was a lovely poem. Just took it and interpreted it at face value. Got a few decent points in over two pages ( did the 2 part thing). Fairly happy with that.

And now the poetry, oh the poetry. I had to answer Plath. I was going to go for Dickinson but I thought no, I prefer Plath and I'll give the examiner something different :pac: I answered fairly well, but it was hard to find love in some poems like Poppies in July so I just used the art of bullshít to make something plausible up. So happy she came up. Could've answered it a bit better I think but it was still decent.

Overall, fairly happy. No more quotes, ever possibly the most difficult exam out of the way

Aspiring

Just did a few maths questions there this evening, hard to know what to practice. I'll learn off the stuff I need to tomorrow. Fairly confident on P1, should go well