Cathalio's 2014 Leaving Cert Study Log

cathalio11

Thank you for checking this log out.

My name is Cathal Brennan.
I feel that I am capable of getting 625 but due to how difficult it is, I don't think it's too likely. I also find it impossible to put down a reasonable amount of points that I would be happy with.

Currently, I do not know what I want to do in third level.

I feel that this log will help give me some more drive to study and prevent me from switching off for days at a time.

These are my subjects:

Maths
Applied Maths
Physics
Economics
Accounting
French
English
Irish

I currently take Higher Level in all of them but I will most likely sit Ordinary Level for Irish to concentrate on the other 7 more.

My strong points are Maths, Applied Maths and Accounting.
Economics is up there too.
Physics is a high B subject for me at the moment while French and English are low Bs for me.
Irish is a D subject at HL due to lack of effort.

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I've found myself bored and switching to tv at times when I'm at home so I've decided to use those times to brush up on areas in school that I struggle with.

I'd be delighted if people offer advice as well at times for any of the subjects or for studying in general.

Thank you again!

cathalio11

15th July 2013

Nothing really going on today. Not going out with friends and it will be a lazy Monday for everyone in the family.

I'll set my alarm early and get cracking on this new study plan. Will go for a run after my first stint and use the rest of the day to complete my following list:

Maths: 30-45 minutes on Coordinate Geometry (The Line).
Applied Maths: 1 hour on Acceleration.
Economics: 45 minutes on Factors of Production.
Physics: 30 minutes on Static Electricity
English: Yeats Poetry. This won't be forced as I enjoy it.
Accounting: I'll leave this out.
French: 1 hour on vocabulary.
Irish: Leaving this out too.

An alternative to all this is playing the Xbox and watching television. I'll spend the rest of the day exercising, reading books, working around the house and going for a walk.

I'll comment on how this went at night time and if I really am happy with the day and whether I am satisfied or not.

11Charlie11

cathalio11 wrote: »

15th July 2013

Nothing really going on today. Not going out with friends and it will be a lazy Monday for everyone in the family.

I'll set my alarm early and get cracking on this new study plan. Will go for a run after my first stint and use the rest of the day to complete my following list:

Maths: 30-45 minutes on Coordinate Geometry (The Line).
Applied Maths: 1 hour on Acceleration.
Economics: 45 minutes on Factors of Production.
Physics: 30 minutes on Static Electricity
English: Yeats Poetry. This won't be forced as I enjoy it.
Accounting: I'll leave this out.
French: 1 hour on vocabulary.
Irish: Leaving this out too.

An alternative to all this is playing the Xbox and watching television. I'll spend the rest of the day exercising, reading books, working around the house and going for a walk.

I'll comment on how this went at night time and if I really am happy with the day and whether I am satisfied or not.

Woah! :eek: Your going to be extremely burnt out by next June if you do that much study this early. Honestly I think the best thing to do would be relax for the summer but if you really want to do something maybe read a few novels as you said english was one of you low b subjects or even at the most learning a few words for french.

You should also try listening to some french music which definitely helped me and I wish I had started earlier! You will do really well if you start working in September and be consistent while also taking breaks etc.

You could also spend a bit of time this summer researching different college courses that interest you and have an idea of what you want to do. Have you got any ideas yet or even there is career guidance teachers that you can go to during the summer which would help.

That is one thing I regret was not knowing what I wanted to do in college. I was putting things down on my CAO just for the sake of putting something down and it wasnt till two days before the change of mind closed that I found the course I really want. So now im pretty certain that I wont get the points for the course I really want as I never pushed myself and am considering repeating next year for it.

cathalio11

I appreciate your reply.

I'm going to continue steadily for now and see how that goes.
As for the college courses, I will be taking time to check them out.

Above all, the French music stood out and I've certainly taken note of that. Sounds like a bearable way of studying French!

15/7/2013 review.

Have managed to complete everything to do on my list today and noticed the following:

I spent too many minutes on things I'm already familiar with and I'm really no better off the minutes of doing so.
Will make sure that I use the next few weeks on topics that I do actually struggle on. Before now, I was going to just go and revise everything but I feel that will waste too much time and become quite boring.

cathalio11

16th July 2013

After a long but slightly unproductive start today, I've decided to spend less time overall and concentrate on what I struggle on. These include parts of Physics, French, and English. I also need to focus on chapters that need more familiarity; almost all of Applied Maths and some Maths and Accounting.

No times given for tomorrow's work as setting 30 minutes doesn't really work for me.

---

Early start as usual. Get some static electricity done while my breakfast goes down, then go for a run. I plan on completing that chapter throughout tomorrow.

For French, I'll be printing off lyrics to some French songs by Raphael. Credit to the poster above. Still can't believe that I hadn't thought of it.

Currently enjoying a Yeats biography so that will fit into my Yeat's study and English as a whole.

Lastly, I will be starting study for Question 4 on the Applied Maths paper. First thing I need to learn is what the name of that chapter actually is.
---

That's just 4 subjects to try do something fun with. The alternative is sit around and do nothing 'til the evening where I'm actually doing something.

kingcobra

As mentioned before,I think you'd be a lot better off searching for college courses rather than studying, or at least spend the majority of time looking at college courses then a little time on study.

It's great that you have the initiative to study during the summer but I think you'd be better off putting in more of your serious study during the school rather than using that time up to find college courses, as when you get around to it you'll probably be studying for your mocks, or even your Leaving Cert, so you'll just be using up valuable study/revision time. I've seen too much people leaving their future career decision (what they'll possibly be doing for the next 40 years) until the 30th June, a day before the CAO application process closes. You're far better off putting in long-term thought into your course choice, so start NOW.

As for your actual study, I think you're handling it pretty well. If you can study and actually somewhat enjoy it, you're doing pretty well. You should keep reading English novels and maybe you could try read a French one too? Don't forget about Accounting study as well. I know you're only two days into your new study plan, and fair enough you won't, and probably shouldn't, be studying Accounting every day or two. But make sure you touch on it every so often.

For me this time last year, I thought I was pretty good at DCG, so I didn't focus on studying too much, and I had a DCG project to do anyway. Needless to say, it quickly turned around to be my worst subject by the time the mocks came around. A Leaving Cert course is never as easy as you think!

Good luck with the study anyway. I hope you're not one of those that puts in a huge effort in study for a couple of days and then gets burnt out and fed up and then doesn't study for the rest of the summer! :P

cathalio11

Thanks for your reply!

It looks more and more likely that I will be knuckling down and checking out different colleges and courses over the coming weeks. I guess I'm just scared off by how big a decision it is and the fact that it is so far away.

As for your advice on Accounting, I have to arrogantly say that "I knew that already". I certainly won't be getting ahead of myself but only because I learned from making that very mistake in Physics last year!

I also hope that I don't get burnt out. Now for some French music.

RedSeven7

Fairplay Cathalio, you seem really organised and determined :P I'd say you could get 625 with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck

I was just wondering, do you do applied maths in school or do you have to get separate classes? And how much of the course have you covered?
My school doesn't offer applied maths so during the school year I went to a 90 minute class once a week, and next year it'll be increased to 2 hours per week. But I don't think we've covered an awful lot...

Accelerated Linear Motion
Forces
Relative Motion
Projectiles

And that's it really, have you done much more or less than this?

Also, I think you need to stop avoiding the Gaeilge!! Rud iontach í An Ghaeilge agus ba choir duit a bheith ag cleachtadh!
You need a source of inspiration :P

Slán leat agus go raibh maith agat :pac:

petrichor

Thank you for inspiring me to start studying Cathal, good luck to you!

RedSeven7 wrote: »

I was just wondering, do you do applied maths in school or do you have to get separate classes? And how much of the course have you covered?
My school doesn't offer applied maths so during the school year I went to a 90 minute class once a week, and next year it'll be increased to 2 hours per week. But I don't think we've covered an awful lot...

Accelerated Linear Motion
Forces
Relative Motion
Projectiles

And that's it really, have you done much more or less than this?

I do applied maths in school and we have 4 topics covered too. Doing 4 more next year I believe as well, I think you're fine!

sunshine and showers

cathalio11 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply!

It looks more and more likely that I will be knuckling down and checking out different colleges and courses over the coming weeks. I guess I'm just scared off by how big a decision it is and the fact that it is so far away.

As for your advice on Accounting, I have to arrogantly say that "I knew that already". I certainly won't be getting ahead of myself but only because I learned from making that very mistake in Physics last year!

I also hope that I don't get burnt out. Now for some French music.

Also try reading Le Monde and watching TG4 (Seacht is actually a good show if you can find re-runs online) or listening to Raidió na Life - Irish language chat, but thankfully more mainstream music!

I really like Harry Potter and know the first book pretty much inside out, so that made reading it in Irish and French slightly easier and definitely more bearable. Improves vocab and gives you something to take about in the oral!

cathalio11

RedSeven7 wrote: »

Accelerated Linear Motion
Forces
Relative Motion
Projectiles

And that's it really, have you done much more or less than this?

Thanks for the best wishes! I have such little motivation to do Irish and unfortunately it does not look like changing.

As for Applied Maths, we have covered Accel', Forces and Projectiles as well. Although we have not done Relative Motion. Instead, we have done Impacts + Collisions.

petrichor wrote: »

Thank you for inspiring me to start studying Cathal, good luck to you!

I do applied maths in school and we have 4 topics covered too. Doing 4 more next year I believe as well, I think you're fine!

You are welcome. We have done 4 this year and will be doing a further 2 next year. When I say 4 this year, we haven't covered the hardest of all types of questions in those chapters so we will cover them next year too. Our teacher is working on 2 classes a week which ultimately totals to 70 minutes.

sunshine and showers wrote: »

Also try reading Le Monde and watching TG4 (Seacht is actually a good show if you can find re-runs online) or listening to Raidió na Life - Irish language chat, but thankfully more mainstream music!

I really like Harry Potter and know the first book pretty much inside out, so that made reading it in Irish and French slightly easier and definitely more bearable. Improves vocab and gives you something to take about in the oral!

Thank you for the suggestions. I will have a look at "Le Monde". As for TG4, it will take a lot of inspiration for me to turn it on. I have practically resigned in Irish and will most likely sit Ordinary Level. I don't see much benefit from trying to get an A1 as it would take 2-3 times longer than trying to get the same grade in French or English.

cathalio11

16/7/2013 review

I got up early and did around 40 minutes of Physics while I let my breakfast go down. Almost done with Static Electricity. I then did a 45 minute cycle (exercise bike) so I managed to sneak in an extra 10 minutes of Physics there too.

Started a biography on Yeats which I am enjoying while also studying one of his poems. Happy with that.

Managed to get the French songs printed out today. Found a site that prints the French "Paroles" beside the English lyrics. I didn't get going with them though as I had no time.

I also had no time to do Applied Maths as I was busy from 4 o' clock onwards.

Overall, I'm happy but if I counted the minutes I wasted today, it totaled to maybe an hour. That's better than normal but still needs to be improved on.

cathalio11

17/7/2013

I've found that doing a bit of Physics after my breakfast is working well. It's a subject that is far from boring because it needs a bit of working out and a lot of it relates to everyday life.
Therefore, I'll try my best to finish Static Electricity tomorrow but if I don't, that won't be a problem. After all, in 2 days it has gone from being a sticky and difficult chapter, to one I'm quite enjoying. I certainly feel more safe in the event of lightning.

French music. Didn't get to start this tomorrow so it's on priority today. Probably just sit out on the grass, listening to Raphael Haroche, with the lyrics and see how much it can benefit.

Applied Maths. Question 4 from Exam Papers. Experience tells me that once I get going on Applied Maths, there's no problem. But the sitting down part is tough so I will not be leaving it until last tomorrow. Solving problems is quite fun in a challenging way though.

English. Will read more of the Yeats biography and might do the poem about the swans. If I'm in the mood, I might do another so I can move on to another poet soon.
---

I'm happy with leaving it at that but I'll add another 2 subjects that must be done today or tomorrow.

Accounting. Control Accounts.

Economics. Factors of Production.

Should be able to go over these in some way today.

cathalio11

17/7/2013 review

Very poor start to the day. Regretting it. Managed to get Physics complete though but now it's almost 1 and Arsenal have a game until 3. Static Electricity not finished yet but I'm happy to spend another day or two on the Maths element on it. Happy with Physics but not with the morning. Will really have to knuckle down at 3. Editing throughout the day from here.

EDIT: Half 3 now. Still no improvement. Procrastination time: Start at 4 and continue for the day. Enough rests taken so far.

EDIT: Half 6 now. It's just a very unproductive day really. Managed to do a bit of Yeat's poem on swans. Got some French songs going too. Thought editing this would give me a tad bit of motivation. Off to do some French now.

EDIT:

Final Review:

I managed to do Physics, half of French and half of English.

Now, I'm just gonna relax for the night as I've spent all day either googling useful information or just cycling so sitting down and studying today will just not happen. I blame this on a late night last night and waking up at a very inefficient half 9.

I will be up early tomorrow to get started and put in a good day. I'll spend the next few hours planning what I could be doing for the next week and looking up college courses.

cathalio11

18/7/13 Plan

After a pretty poor day on the 17th, I say that I will have to make a few more alterations to my set-up again.

Luckily, I've found a gem in Physics working early in the morning so I'll focus on the maths of Static Electricity at 8 in the morning. I'll go for a run at 9 then and will leave until half 10 for that.

I'm going to focus on poetry. Read a bit of the Yeats biography, then study one or two of his poems. I'll also write a bit myself which is just a hobby.

I'll be working on French vocabulary and then a few songs for the fun of it.

I've also decided to spend 30 minutes a day on Economics as it can only really help. So I will start with the Factors of Production.

I've said it everyday that I need to start on Applied Maths but I haven't got into the swing of it yet so I will leave Applied Maths here as an optional one. As for the above, I must do all that.

---

I've also decided today that I'll be dropping down to Ordinary Level Irish for 6th year.

RedSeven7

cathalio11 wrote: »

I've also decided today that I'll be dropping down to Ordinary Level Irish for 6th year.

A dagger through my heart </3



:P

cathalio11

I shouldn't have revealed that so close to midnight. How will my passionate Irish followers sleep tonight?

RedSeven7

Hahaha, oh I'll nod off eventually...

Oíche mhaith

*cough*CROÍBRISTE*cough*

cathalio11

18/7/2013 Review

Did all the Physics I wanted to do. Went well and I feel that I have nailed a chapter that I struggled with up until now.

Did a bit of French but not as much as I would have liked.

Went off to town then and when I returned I was given pretty saddening news from a friend so that really sucked my concentration away.

I hope to try write a few poems tonight and then see what I can plan for tomorrow.

cathalio11

Okay, so it has been a decent start to the study log. I've maybe completed 60-70% of my goals which isn't great but it's better than posting twice and then loafing about for the rest of the Summer.

I've decided to write a list of what I plan to complete by the 26th of July which is exactly a week from tomorrow:

Physics: Chapters on "Static Electricity" and "Potential Difference and Capacitance".

Applied Maths: Exam Papers Q.4s.

English: 4-5 Yeats poems studied.

French: Vocabulary work everyday. Grammar sections.

Irish: None

Economics: Factors of Production.

Maths: Trigonometry 2.

Accounting: Service Firms.

cathalio11

19/7/2013 Plan

Physics: A few minutes to revise Static Electricity. And then a few more minutes to start the chapter on Potential Difference. Have a whole week to do that chapter then!

English: Wild Swans at Coole.

Applied Maths: Connected Particles.

French: An hour learning... French.

Then I'll spend 20-30 minutes on Economics and Accounting.

Vito Corleone

So the study log was a success then? :pac:

cathalio11

Well it's a shame I didn't get to post my reason before you came in

Was just sick for two days and after that, I decide to stop for a week until the 1st August because I was going to the concerts in Kilkenny.

Very willing to prove your slag wrong once that day comes

cathalio11

cathalio11 wrote: »

Okay, so it has been a decent start to the study log. I've maybe completed 60-70% of my goals which isn't great but it's better than posting twice and then loafing about for the rest of the Summer.

I've decided to write a list of what I plan to complete by the 26th of July which is exactly a week from tomorrow:

Physics: Chapters on "Static Electricity" and "Potential Difference and Capacitance".

Applied Maths: Exam Papers Q.4s.

English: 4-5 Yeats poems studied.

French: Vocabulary work everyday. Grammar sections.

Irish: None

Economics: Factors of Production.

Maths: Trigonometry 2.

Accounting: Service Firms.

Take this big list and the plan is to do all this between now, the 1st of August and this day next week, the 8th of August

damoPL

If I were you I'd use my time now to figure out what I would like to do at third level. List your hobbies and interests, you might be surprised to find out that what you want to do only requires around 400 points. Also read some of the pieces written by people who had already achieved the 'glorious' 600, their routines didn't seem to be that extreme.

cathalio11

I would hardly call a few spurts here and there during the Summer too extreme. As a direct reply to the post above, I'm not covering these topics during the Summer to guarantee maximum points; I'm doing them so that I don't have to struggle at them again come September. I won't have as much time to do the chapters that I struggle to understand.
---

Finally got the motivation to continue again anyways. From now until the start of the Premier League, on the 17th.

Today, I'll be:

Spending an hour or two looking at college courses.
Spending around 20 minutes on Potential Difference and Capacitance.
English: 5 minutes on "Lake Isle...". As much as I want for "Wild Swans...".
Intro to Factors of Production. Another 15 minute job really.
30 minutes on French grammar.
Do Applied Maths.

Will end up equating to 2-3 hours unless I get every minute of that done. Looking at college courses should be enjoyable anyways.

cathalio11

Did around half of the plan. Still a lot better than nothing and quite efficient. Wasn't expecting to go off for a large bulk of the day so that prevented any huge success.

Off for a lot of tomorrow too and then all of Wednesday so it makes things a bit difficult.

For tomorrow, I plan on continuing on what I set out to do today. Gonna give myself an hour or so now to prepare things which always gives me a drive in the morning.

RedSeven7

Fair play Cathalio... I really don't know how you do it! I can't even bear to think about 6th year at the moment I can just tell you're going to do amazingly well next year, and I hope your study log can give me some inspiration come september :P Maith Thú!!

cathalio11

Ha, thanks. Hope so, I've been doing bits everyday but not been as into posting it online as it's all spur of the moment things at the moment, but once I'm back to school; there will be posts.

cathalio11

Thought I'd update this. Been doing good study since returning to school.
3-4 hours during the weekdays but slacking a bit at the weekends.

Today/Wednesday morning plan is:

Physics - Waves & Waves Motion + Sound & Vibration (60 minutes) [ ]
Maths - Indices and Logarithms + Area & Volume (120 minutes) [ ]
English - Derek Mahon poem. (30 minutes) [ ]
Economics - Short Questions (30 minutes) [ ]
Accounting - Service Firms (60-120 minutes) [ ]

The Maths and Physics are in preparation for class tests.