Matric Exams

[Banlam]

Remember having a thread like this on previous forum.

So who all is writing exams atm. I know the IEB guys only start in a few weeks time. I write the WCED exams.
I started today with Computer Studies HG Practical.

Went quite well, one or two Access queries I didn't quite get right, and spent a hell of a long time removing the vowels from the province names in the second last question.

[UntouchableOne]

I'm in pta. I wrote computer studies HG practical last week wednesday. It went well despite one utterly stupid mistake I made. I don't know why but I can't forgive myself for it. I wrote computer studies HG theory today. It wend ok but there's always problems with the memos and specifics(I concluded this after looking through the part exams) so it makes it almost impossible to achieve in the 90% region which I needed to make up for the mistake in the practical. I'm speaking too much...good luck to all the guys writing exams. Just this last stretch to go.

[Tr00jg]

Yeah, Banlam. Also wrote it today. It was quite easy... I could actually for the 1st time do all the Access queries. yay...

As for "removing the vowels", I used StringBuffer, which helped a lot.

[Nduimiso]

Yeah i guess i should start studying for maths and english..................nah tomorrow :)

[Banlam]

@Troojg: Yeah, i switched the word to a char array, then checked if letters were vowels moved everything on. to be frank, it was "SHOCKING" code, but it worked :)

[Domanskip]

I'm IEB so the 24th for me for CS HG Prac....damn database stuff...I miss the old text document methods haha

[GeometriX]

Wow, didn't realise it was that time of the year already. I have (generally crap) memories of my matric exams - so good luck to everyone writing this year. Stay off the gaming for a bit and study hard :)

[Darkmag]

Yeah good luck with the exams everyone. also you might want to lock your pc away. My varsity exams are still coming up.

[Tr00jg]

I am having trouble reading Things Fall Apart again... Okonkwo is SOO EMO.

[LazyDemoni]

You guys do Access in CS now?
Good luck to all writing matric exams. I hated them, I was banned from games, anime, manga even other books :(
I was meant to write a test at uni today but when I got there I found out it wasn't to be because of the protesting students.

[Banlam]

I am having trouble reading Things Fall Apart again... Okonkwo is SOO EMO.

Spark Notes ftw! (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/)

[Paradox]

Spark Notes ftw! (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/)

You are my new hero.

[Banlam]

:)
They got hamlet and just about any other prescribed book you could ever ask for. except afrikaans ones.

[Paradox]

We did Othello this year, apparently both are in the exam, and we must choose one. :(
Would have preffered Hamlet actually.

[hell_rising1]

I start with English Paper 1 tomorrow, got 33 days off altogether during finals and 2 weeks between Science and History at the end.. What a waste of time, I'd rather finish 2 weeks earlier! :(

[Banlam]

i write science on 5 November and have almost 3 weeks till my next and last exam, computer theory :(

[UntouchableOne]

That site doesn't have the novel I was forced to read(Maru) :( I didn't read the book so I'm gonna have to trust macbeth to earn me most of the marks with lit.

[PloPshoP]

That site doesn't have the novel I was forced to read(Maru) :( I didn't read the book so I'm gonna have to trust macbeth to earn me most of the marks with lit.

You play a dangerous game. Good luck!

[Nduimiso]

I finish all my exams on 31 October so im pretty stoked about that, only 3 weeks left!

[Tr00jg]

Yeah, I have used SparkNotes quite extensively! It is awesome...

[Boggle24]

Even if those sites don't have the books you had to read, read the books anyway.

I'm assuming you have like 1 day left, that should be more than enough to go through it.
I left allmost all my books to the last day and then read through them before the test.

Don't be intimidated by a book, unless you havn't done any studying whatsoever, then I suggest you concentrate on that and leave the book alone.

The problem really comes when you have to read a book like MacBeth a day before hand, since it's really a book you have to study instead of read.

[.dB]

OTHELLO IN A NUTSHELL PRESENTED TO YOU BY DB, EBONICS AND CAPS LOCK ENTERPRISES.

a nigga is ballin and picks up a white girl like brian habana lul so all the white ppl are liek playa hatin on the nigga, cuz he's ****ing this young thang beast with two backs etc. so they set up an elaborate ploy cuz their a bunch of juntoes and hatin and he goes and pulls out his 9mm and pops his girl and himself cuz she wasn't wearing her crip flag on the left side.

The end.

[Domanskip]

hah, im lucky for English! The portfolio counts 50% of our final mark and I got 88% for it so I just need 72% for finals to get my A and the books are easy....Wuthering Heights and Antony and Cleopatra. Maths on the other hand...

[KNiVeS]

Yeah, Banlam. Also wrote it today. It was quite easy... I could actually for the 1st time do all the Access queries. yay...

As for "removing the vowels", I used StringBuffer, which helped a lot.

I just skipped that. <3 I'll make it up in theory. :P

Just started reading the English books again... *sigh*

[UntouchableOne]

Thanks plopshop. The luck helped I found a summary of the book on the net so I will have some idea about whats going on. I finish on 5th nov so thats pretty sweet.

[Banlam]

Can anyone say "Really Easy English Exam"?

[KNiVeS]

: /

Tht questoin whair we add to break-up the words" at thar "volws" thingys (I fink cats how u spell et) was weally hard. ><

Can't wait to write a 500 word essay on Hamlet tomorrow! Quickly! Stop me from hanging myself.

[RazoR89]

I write and live in PTA . Wrote Computer studies HG (PRAKTIES & Teorie) and wrote English 1st Language today HG , I am Afrikaans though . Good luck to all

[Tr00jg]

Can anyone say "Really Easy English Exam"?

Woot, hi^5!

Now to study, or not to study...

[Banlam]

whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of...
sorry...

[Boggle24]

Can anyone say "Really Easy English Exam"?

Has there ever been a hard one ?
:/

[KNiVeS]

I remember one back in Grade 11 where 70&#37; of the paper consisted of questions like: "The pronoun in this sentence is placed in the wrong position. Find this pronoun, correct the placing within the sentence and describe why it is in the wrong position."

Yeah... I didn't do to well in that one.

[RazoR89]

Tis tomorrow the death of Macbeth . Indeed , atlast , though filthy blood - washed away in neptunes seas...

[KNiVeS]

Okay, I'm 50 pages into When things fall apart, haven't started Hamlet and I JUST discovered that there are a bunch of poems to know as well.

Little sleep tonight - indeed.

[Nduimiso]

Okay, I'm 50 pages into When things fall apart, haven't started Hamlet and I JUST discovered that there are a bunch of poems to know as well.

Little sleep tonight - indeed.

well u could use sparknotes, and the poems are contectual so i dont even study for them (mostly cause i never listened in class :) boring as hell)

[KNiVeS]

I've read the books before, just looking for any small details I've missed. As for the poems... I'm still lost as hell.

[Azimuth]

I'm reasonably certain the title is Things Fall Apart. If you've not gotten to grips with the title, I'd suggest simply abandoning it altogether. Literature is clearly wasted on you.

[KNiVeS]

I'm reasonably certain the title is Things Fall Apart. If you've not gotten to grips with the title, I'd suggest simply abandoning it altogether. Literature is clearly wasted on you.

You know what... your right! Now if only the department of education could share the same view maybe I wouldn't have to be writing an exam on ANOTHER depressing and suicidal book.

A correction like that is something I would expect from Q-Man...

[Paradox]

I've always found that odd. Suicide is already high among teens, but litterally *all* of my setwork in my school years have had a character kill themselves. (Except Julius Ceaser, he was murdered)

I'm sure it has no actuall effect on the suicide rates, but still, most teens don't (or can't) really appreciate Shakespeare anyway.

[KNiVeS]

..and then there are the Afrikaans books.

[UntouchableOne]

Lets not drag afrikaans into this. I really suck at it. Both of my math exams are happening next week so I gotta worry about doing well in that for now. How's everyone else finding the exams in general?

[Tr00jg]

So far it was quite easy-ish. Today's literature was Oookayy. I think everyone interpreted the compulsory poem a bit differently.

Yes, next week is Maths. I got an A in September, so I am not too fussed.

[Banlam]

That poem was veri ambiguous, I couldn't make out if it was two people, or if it was a person and a TV or what was going on.

[Tr00jg]

That poem was veri ambiguous, I couldn't make out if it was two people, or if it was a person and a TV or what was going on.

Exactly... When I read it the 1st time, TV came to mind, and then I saw the questions and I was like "WTF? Relationships. Where does that shizzle come from?".

[Banlam]

Agreed.
I just googled the poem. It doesn't exist. hmmm...
---
Edit:THe author (Helen Segal) doesn't even have a wikipedia entry. Although she seemed to be married to a famous sculptor: George Segal. The poem is:


Let's do away
with the show -
the smart slick
spectacle
of the
twentyieth-century
living room

cultivate
a little shyness
and a little dust -
the shabbiness
of well-used
chairs
that understand
anatomy

face each other
if we can

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what it's about?

[KNiVeS]

A person and their TV. Nothing else came to mind.


twentyieth-century
living room

Unless someone got a pole installed in their living room I think its a TV.

[RazoR89]

what paper did you guys right ? first or 2nd language , cos I cant rmember such a poem ? (I wrote 1st lang.)

[Banlam]

WCED Senior Certificate Examination English Primary Language Second Paper.
It was the compulsory poem. The first page.

[Boggle24]

:/

I don't know about you, but I can't see anything to do with a TV in that poem ?

It seems to be about 2 people who either have feelings for each other and don't know how to show them or 2 people who don't really get along.

I might be way off though, I'm not sure if my analytical prowess are all that great.

[hell_rising1]

Introduction to poetry

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want then to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with a rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.


Billy Collins

That's the poem we got here in KZN. Quite simple actually, along with the other poems.

[RazoR89]

Hah , the papers differ , I forgot , I wrote inGauteng duh , cos thats where I live duh . Anyway , ours was about a blue watchguard or something , really easy though :)

[RazoR89]

please delete

[Nduimiso]

Agreed.
I just googled the poem. It doesn't exist. hmmm...
---
Edit:THe author (Helen Segal) doesn't even have a wikipedia entry. Although she seemed to be married to a famous sculptor: George Segal. The poem is:



Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what it's about?
I reckon its about a shallow relationship, thats what some other people at my school said as well.

[Tr00jg]

I interpreted that their relationship is the paradigm of your 20th century everything-works-perfectly relationship. She does not want it that way. She wants it to be non-fake. She wants it to be real.

[PloPshoP]

I think she is describing the regression of human interaction/society brought about by television and the "no-brain" entertainment that started in the 20th century.

First stanza is the fresh, exciting possibilities brought about by T.V. and the like. Progressing to how the TV loses its charm after a while.

Second stanza is the current state of things. How we are bound in front of the TV. How we stagnate (dust) and become inseperable (chairs knowing anatomy) with the TV.

Third stanza is the future of things. How we can't communicate, we can't face each other. We can only face the TV.

I could be wrong, but I doubt it ;)

[UntouchableOne]

I wrote the same paper as Razo. The watchman's blues. Really easy. I'm not looking forward to the non-algebraic geometry part of math paper 2. I can never see those angles and stuff.

[Darkmag]

You know what I think, I think poets write stuff to confuse us in to thinking that there's something there that isn`t there. It funny that a poem will be interpreted differently depending on the person yet there's a set of model answer.

[Boggle24]

I think she is describing the regression of human interaction/society brought about by television and the "no-brain" entertainment that started in the 20th century.

First stanza is the fresh, exciting possibilities brought about by T.V. and the like. Progressing to how the TV loses its charm after a while.

Second stanza is the current state of things. How we are bound in front of the TV. How we stagnate (dust) and become inseperable (chairs knowing anatomy) with the TV.

Third stanza is the future of things. How we can't communicate, we can't face each other. We can only face the TV.

I could be wrong, but I doubt it ;)

That sound about right.

Hell that sounds just about perfect really.

[UntouchableOne]

Your answer could still be correct as long as you have valid proof from the poem to back it up(well that's what the english teacher says)

[Tr00jg]

@Plopshop: Can you then answer the following?

1.1) How does the use of the word "show" (line 2) help to suggest the relationship between the speaker and the one being addressed?

1.2) How does the description in lines 3-7 help to emphasise the speaker's feelings about their relationship?

1.4) Explain why the personas in the poem do not face each other?

Alas, I think I see now that it COULD be a relationship with the TV... Heck, who knows?

[Oeaks]

Good luck to you all.

[PloPshoP]

@Plopshop: Can you then answer the following?

1.1) How does the use of the word "show" (line 2) help to suggest the relationship between the speaker and the one being addressed?

1.2) How does the description in lines 3-7 help to emphasise the speaker's feelings about their relationship?

1.4) Explain why the personas in the poem do not face each other?

Alas, I think I see now that it COULD be a relationship with the TV... Heck, who knows?


1.1) At the end

1.2) Of matric

1.4) Drink beer

Those questions are whack! 1.1 especially, how can a noun suggest a relationship? But if "show" had to 'suggest' a relationship, I'm guessing it would be a false one. A superficial one with no lasting taste.

1.2 I think the watcher is beseeching the TV to desist in putting forth its glamarous facade. In other words, the watcher wants to break free from the TV, but can't.

1.4 I'm guessing they don't face each other, because the watcher has become too ashamed to do so, in the same way that the vanquished can't face the victor. The TV has won. Subserviance, humility.

This time, I'm pretty sure I'm wrong!

[Tr00jg]

Hehe... Oh well. Lets see what my marks say at the end.

Good luck studying maths to those in the Western Cape.

[Zen]

Well, I live in JHB, so English and CS OVER!!!!!

....
....
....

Now it Maths HG on Monday and Wednesday. Then geography on Thursday, I unlike many refuse to take that bore of a subject they call accounting. Then a 4 day break WHOO!

[Banlam]

boring? accounting?
*scoff*
Rather do accounting than Geography :)
The Western Cape timetable seems similar to you Gautengers though. Cause we've also done English and Computers, and have maths on monday and wednesday.

[hell_rising1]

It's the same in KZN, it's a national timetable for public schools I think.

[.dB]

I stayed up until 2AM playing NetBattle the day before Bio. **** yeah.

[dammit]

Uh, what did you guys DO the whole year at school? In fact, what have you been doing for the last twelve years? School is simple regurgatation...no thinking required. And also, don't worry, I've found my first yr exams (thus far) easier than matric :P

[PloPshoP]

^ Yeah that's first year champ. That's a false sense of security. Once you stop doing intro subjects and start doing specialist courses, it gets a whole lot tougher! Just a friendly heads up.

[dammit]

Oh I'm sure of it Plop...but until then i'm leaving the big easy.

[Tr00jg]

I read in "Die Burger" today that SACS handed out the English Literature papers a day early. lol.

[Banlam]

Woohoo! 1 maths test done, only geometry left!
I didn't think it was too bad. Anyone else's thoughts.

[UntouchableOne]

I think it was ok. I just made some stupid errors and I totally forgot about a small rule that I could have applied to get the correct answer for some of the equations. I have many regrets with regards to the exams..."sigh"

[Tr00jg]

It was a pretty decent Maths paper. Nothing too weird. I just forgot the LOG law. D'oh.

Now Geometry. Gosh, after 3 hours of Maths this morning, my brain is fried. I've tried to do some geometry, but only passively. I call it the "ooooh" method. Look at the question and then immediately look at the answer. :P

[UntouchableOne]

I also 4got that damn log law.

[Banlam]

Trigonometry is not a nice subject. Made 2 biggish mistakes there. The rest of the paper was pretty reasonable.

[Tr00jg]

Yeah. The trig bowled me slightly over. I don't know if I was "right". Hopefully it is. Yeah, the rest of the paper was quite reasonable. I finished just in time.

[kolle_hond]

*cough*
Today's paper was really really hard :(
the people at the department are really out to punish us (and this after a lot of kids missed a lot of classes because of the strike!)
At least no paper can be worse than today so yay!

[Nduimiso]

Yeah the trig was a bitch, and yeah i heard about that sacs leak as well, someone im my school knew the questions beforehand.

[X-Gamer]

Well,.....Mathematics......Yaah, Well, I wish it was as easy as you make it sound.

"Yeah, the rest of the paper was quite reasonable. I finished just in time. " -Tr00jg

You actually FINISHED the paper! I cant even recall ONCE finishing a geometry paper,
-Not that we finished the syllabus either-

But then again, We still did Gr11 physics(inorganic chem,actually) just before the trial exam. Ah well , thats the State of Affairs.

Better get down to accounting, I dont want to be posting the same thing again next week.

[Tr00jg]

Better get down to accounting, I dont want to be posting the same thing again next week.

Yep. But our teacher works like super-fast zombies from 28 days later is chasing him. We were finished with the syllabus mid 3rd-term. So all we then did was revision... YAWN.

[Banlam]

Accounting is an evil subject...
It was an ok exam. Wasn't my best ever but we will have to wait to see the results.

[UntouchableOne]

I won't lie. Accounting sucked.

[Tr00jg]

Accounting is an evil subject...
It was an ok exam. Wasn't my best ever but we will have to wait to see the results.

Yeah, I have written better accounting exams, ie September and June. But, you always do better than you expect (in accounting that is).

[kolle_hond]

I think it went rather well, I only skipped about 29 marks (out of 400) so now to start preparing for afrikaans...

[Miktar]

http://forums.tidemedia.co.za/nag/image.php?u=359&dateline=1192634532

What... is the dog doing? Are those joysticks?

[Nferno]

http://forums.tidemedia.co.za/nag/image.php?u=359&dateline=1192634532

What... is the dog doing? Are those joysticks?

I sure hope so...

[UntouchableOne]

If those aint joysticks, there's something seriously wrong.

[kolle_hond]

it's a control panel of a sort of space ship

[Banlam]

Anyone else take AddMaths? Wrote that this afternoon. Not too bad. I did Stats and Finances. Finances was good, had a problem with the first Stats question.

Sterkte vir almal wat Afrikaans more skryf. :P

[Darkmag]

Anyone else take AddMaths?


isn`t that suppose to prepare you for varsity maths?

[Zen]

isn`t that suppose to prepare you for varsity maths?

Sort of, you take that subject if you are either:

a) Bored with your life, or

b) You are too smart for you own good. (j/k)

[Tr00jg]

I wrote technical drawing today. It was easy and actually fun, especially the helix.

I'm preparing for Afrikaans Literature on Monday... I always seem to interpret everything differently. The poems, the books. Gosh it makes me mad (stupid school system).

Ah well, Toorberg is certainly one of the better Afrikaans prescribed books.

[Darkmag]

Technical Drawing was nice, just watch out for the next one, the machine drawing they gave us last year was a complete ****. I don`t have to tell you to start with the machine drawing right?

[Tr00jg]

Technical Drawing was nice, just watch out for the next one, the machine drawing they gave us last year was a complete ****. I don`t have to tell you to start with the machine drawing right?

No. :P

And I don't have to tell you that the 10 minutes they give us to read the paper, you must "piece" the machine drawing together? ;)

[Domanskip]

I'm preparing for Afrikaans Literature on Monday... I always seem to interpret everything differently.

Your problem is that you interpret IEB Afrikaans literature. Its pure learning work. Our teacher is one of the examiners and the whole thing is that there is not interpretation. You learn the questions and the answers, you write them down in the exam and you get a distinction. Your teacher should be giving you the accepted view of the book and all you do is learn it.
I personally hate this system and am always chastised for arguing my perspective in class.

Anyways, who wrote Computers HG Prac? I found the paper well balanced and, dare I say it, enjoyable! How did you guys do the question which made you generate 5 quiz questions without getting the same question twice? I used recursion to do it and it worked well.

Next up, English Literature! Time to grind "The Socio Economic Circumstances in Wuthering Heights" and the damn "Jungian Perspective of Wuthering Heights" notes....

[Banlam]

isn`t that suppose to prepare you for varsity maths?

Not really, some of the stuff like Integration does come up in first year varsity maths, and stats. But I took it as a 7th subject so in case I screw up one of my other exams I have AddMaths to fall back on.


Ah well, Toorberg is certainly one of the better Afrikaans prescribed books.

I laugh at you with your First Language Afrikaans :D
I'm a second language type of guy. The poems are easy. Mina Afrika is our prescribed book.



Anyways, who wrote Computers HG Prac? I found the paper well balanced and, dare I say it, enjoyable! How did you guys do the question which made you generate 5 quiz questions without getting the same question twice? I used recursion to do it and it worked well.

Next up, English Literature! Time to grind "The Socio Economic Circumstances in Wuthering Heights" and the damn "Jungian Perspective of Wuthering Heights" notes....

Most of us have already written both of those. Are you IEB or what province exams do you write?

[Banlam]

The Western Cape Afrikaans 2nd Language Paper 1 was the easiest exam I have ever written!

[Tr00jg]

The Afrikaans 1st language was the same usual. Pretty boring really.

[Zen]

3 more and freedom! Afr Lit on Monday, then Physics on Friday and Chemistry on the following Monday!

[Banlam]

2nd Language Afrikaans Lit was an average paper, not too tricky.
2 Science exams and then the wait till Computer's Theory.
*sigh*

[Banlam]

I'm not usually one to swear. but F**K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All English First Language Higher Grade pupils in the Western Cape have to rewrite the second paper ( linky (http://wced.wcape.gov.za/comms/press/2007/110_rewrite.html)) on the 23rd of November
]
F**K!!!!!
I now despise SACS.

[Tr00jg]

****... SACS you idiots!! If I write worse I will castrate the idiots who leaked it. On the positive side, at least we will get a better prescribed poem than the tv/relationship nonsense.

[Tr00jg]

Well, technical drawing 2 was great. Nothing too difficult. The assembly was pretty straight forward.

[Banlam]

Physics was an average paper, it went well, only one stupid mistake in the multiple choice that i know of.
Now for the dreaded Chemistry of Doom! *sigh*

[Zen]

Blah, Chemistry doom? WTF? Physics is the killer. Though I actually found it pretty good today. Though Q6, was the tricky one, we all wrote the same exam today if I am correct.

[Tr00jg]

Physics was pretty decent, but I kept making stupid mistakes. In 2 questions the following happened:

1) Do the question, doesn't seem right

2) Redo it another way

3) Gawd, I read wrong! It was frikken right.

So I wasted a lot of time and couldn't manage to check everything.

Yes, Chemistry. I am SO not in the mood for it. :(

[Banlam]

Chemistry wasn't fun...
It went ok, I should've studied more but hey...
The organic chemistry section was easy.

[Domanskip]

IEB History HG Paper 1 was good but my essays didn't come up (out of 3 that I learnt!) but I managed to do the Black Resistance essay easily enough. Anyone else writing IEB here?

[Banlam]

Computer Theory this morning, it was a nice paper, very different to what our school sets though.
And the rewrite of English Lit tomrrow :(

[Tr00jg]

Computer Theory this morning, it was a nice paper, very different to what our school sets though.
And the rewrite of English Lit tomrrow :(

Meh, to me it was quite easy. And yeah, tomorrow the rewrite. I just went through the names of the people in Things Fall Apart. Their names escape me very quickly.

[Banlam]

:D I'm FINISHED SCHOOL!

English was easier than the previous paper. The unseen poem was basic and straightforward, The poem selection was nice (I did "Out, Out-" and "Grave of unknown whiteman") The Hamlet essay was easy, i just wasn't sure about one or two of the Okonkwo contextual questions.

Anyway, I'm off now, see you guys in a week's time :D