07 Dec 2020

The Alchemy Team Homework, HSC, Schooling, Students, Study Permalink

What are some study hacks every student should know?

The Alchemy Team 7 December 2020

Do you really know what effective studying is? Maybe not! This article will discuss some tips and tricks to help you to maximise your success when studying. It is important to remember that every student has different ways of studying that work for them, but here are some useful tips:

There are a lot of misconceptions about what “studying” really is. One of the most common misconceptions is that reading through notes is a good way of studying. This is not true! Reading is a passive activity, making it very difficult to retain information. Therefore, reading your notes is actually one of the most ineffective forms of study. Instead, working on practice questions and past papers is one of the best ways to go – at the end of the day, you will be sitting exams for the HSC!

Completing practice exams are not the only effective way to study. Most
people fall into two categories of learning styles – visual learners, who learn
best by seeing things, and auditory learners, who find it easier to learn by
hearing and listening. For visual learners, making flashcards, colour coding and drawing pictures are helpful. Auditory learners retain information better by reading out loud or recording themselves speak and then playing it back. I used this technique for speaking exams and found that the information had really sunk in! There is also another type of learner – a kinaesthetic learner prefers to learn through physical, “hands-on” activities. Moving around while studying, whether it be walking or dancing, can be useful for kinaesthetic learners.

But how can you ensure that you can remember everything when you are studying? When I was in my final year of school, I came across a StudyTuber called UnJaded Jade on YouTube, who spoke about a study technique known as blurting. Blurting is the process of setting a timer, writing everything you remember about a topic on a piece of paper, and filling in the blanks afterwards to determine where the knowledge gaps are. This method can be very useful when it comes to science and humanities subjects, which often require a lot of memorisation.

At school, especially in Years 11 and 12 when things get more serious, it is
crucial to maintain a work life balance. Keeping a balance often gets overlooked and is seen by some students as less important than their assignments and exams. This couldn’t be further from the truth! It is important to continue other activities outside of school to keep physically and mentally healthy, which in turn can improve overall performance at school. Studying should be planned around other activities, not vice versa. For some, it can be helpful to have a break between getting home from school and studying, whereas others find that they are in the “zone” for studying at this time. The same can be said for after dinner time, as some prefer to study at night, because that is when they are most focused, but many prefer to wind down in the evening. It is important to find the right time for you to study during the week. Also, if you’re a procrastinator, a helpful way to reduce this is to make a timetable for one week and write what you do on an hourly basis, excluding school hours if necessary, so that you can easily see where time is wasted through procrastinating.

Hopefully these tips can help you to work smarter, not harder!

By Emily Diamant, an Alchemy tutor

03 Dec 2020

The Alchemy Team Schooling, Students Permalink

How long should the average 7th grade essay be?

The Alchemy Team 3 December 2020

Just starting out year 7 and want to be the most prepared for your first high school English class? Confused about the expectations for your first essay assignment?

Look no further. This article will answer all the frequently asked questions on how to structure an essay.

How long should my essay be?

Essay assignments often have a word count guide you need to follow. But in the case of an in-class essay test, here is a rough guideline: within a standard 40-minute time frame, you should aim for an introduction, 2 TEEL body paragraphs and a conclusion.

What do I put in the introduction? How long should it be?

Your introduction should only be 3-4 sentences. Get straight to the point within your opening sentence. The best openings demonstrate you have clearly planned your arguments. So before starting to write, it is crucial you take 5 minutes to think of your argument and plan out how you will support them in the body paragraphs. Then, the first sentence just needs to offer your direct response to the question itself.

Tip: To make sure you are properly addressing the question, use synonyms or words directly from the question itself in your thesis statement.

How long should each body paragraph be?

Always think back to the TEEL structure as you are writing the body paragraphs. Each paragraph should have:

Topic sentence – clearly identify your argument. (1 sentence)
Example – quote at least one example from the text. Make sure this quote has been chosen strategically to best support your argument. Remember to use quotation marks. (1 sentence)
Elaboration – analyse the quote. Did the author use a certain technique? What can be extracted from this example to prove the argument you are trying to say? (2-3 sentences)
Link – connect the discussion back to the topic sentence to further emphasise the idea in this paragraph. (1 sentence)

What goes in the conclusion?

Your conclusion only needs to be 2-3 sentences long. It offers your final answer to the question. You can summarise the 2 main ideas you analysed in the 2 body paragraphs and offer your final judgement about your interpretation of the question.

I’ve followed these guidelines and finished early. What should I do?

Proofread – check there are no spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.
Check the style – did you avoid using conversational or slang words such as ‘like’?
Did you use speech marks to quote your examples?

Hopefully, essay writing now seems less intimidating. Remember, the best way to prepare is to just practise. Practise using these guidelines to structure your next essay and you will notice big improvement in no time.

By Brittanie Hsu, an Alchemy tutor

06 Nov 2020

The Alchemy Team Life, Parenting Permalink

How can I best support my child during exam period?

The Alchemy Team 6 November 2020

During this period of the term, students undoubtedly are trying their best to hold up against exam pressure. Both students and parents will be anxious and weary, and tensions definitely rise to new levels in the household.

Whilst parents’ attempts to boost competitive spirit, they must also be attentive and nurturing in these stressful times. Below are 4 tips for supporting your son or daughter:

Tip #1. Know their exam schedule

Have a copy of the exam timetable on your Outlook Calendar or diary and gently remind your son or daughter as the exam is approaching. It is this time that you can help your child create a study timetable to ensure there is sufficient time to revise and prepare for the subjects. Take into consideration that daily routines and roles can be temporarily forgo

Don’t persistently badger your child that they haven’t done their share of the chores or run the errands. Ease off the routine household duties and give them flexibility to manage their time.

Tip #2. Set up goals and realistic expectations

Gently encourage your son or daughter to open up to discuss about their goals and expectations for their exam? How are they feeling? What is their goal and how are they setting off to achieve it? Whilst this also allows your child to reflect on their progress, it also helps you get a general understanding of how much work needs to be put in to achieve their goals. Discuss with them how they’d like you to support them and figure out an action plan that could involve both of you.

Tip #3. Be there when your son or daughter needs someone to talk to.

At school or during their revision, your child may run into bumps with their work and may feel stressed and anxious about their progress. It is important to be a pillar of support. Do not be tempted to carefully review their mistakes in the practice papers or essays. Doing this only increases their frustration and stress levels. Instead, allow the time for your child to tell you their struggles and worries and provide them with emotional comfort.

Tip #4. Help them maintain a balanced daily routine

As important as studying is for your son and daughter during exam time, make sure that they have a proper balance between work and rest. After every strenuous study session, they need time to rest and recharge. Ensure your child has nutritious food and enough sleep. Encourage your child to go outside, breathe some fresh air and do some exercise together!

Remember, always be aware of any signs that could indicate that your child is suffering from exam stress including the inability to concentrate, little to no sleep, upset stomachs, headaches, expressions of hopelessness and anxiety. Being available for emotional support and encouraging your child to talk about their feelings is of particular importance.

You don’t need to do it alone! Having an Alchemy tutor will give your child all the support they need to perform at their best in and out of exam time. An Alchemy tutor is a partner, someone to work alongside you and your family to ensure your child’s academic progress – giving you less stress, more quality family time and a happier home. Learn more and book your child’s first lesson with an Alchemy tutor here.

By Katherine Bai, an Alchemy tutor

06 Oct 2020

The Alchemy Team Life, Students Permalink

Does exercise boost mental health?

The Alchemy Team 6 October 2020

In short, the answer is yes, exercise absolutely improves mental health.

This exercise does not have to mean serious heart-pumping, limbs aching sort of exercise, but can include aerobic exercises such as light jogging, swimming, cycling, walking and even gardening. All of these have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression and alleviates feelings of low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Those who exercise regularly will feel increased energy levels during the day, better sleep at night, heightened awareness of senses and moods, more relaxed and positive and a deep impact on their mental health. As per research done by Harvard’s School of Public Health, running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26%. Exercise promotes changes in the brain including reduced inflammation, neural growth and releases endorphins.

Exercise also can be a distraction to the very hard math problem that just cannot be solved or a densely complicated related text for English class. It allows for quiet time to break the cycle of unproductivity or negative thoughts of giving up. For students feeling stressed, burnt-out or unmotivated, give exercising a fair go! Starting can be tough and giving up for sure seems like a very appealing option at times.

Here are four tips for pushing through with a regular exercise routine:

Ask yourself “why am I doing this?” You are more likely to continue with an activity if it holds value and important in your life. Finding the reason for exercising that resonates with you will be a main source of motivation to get you back on track!
Start small. Setting small goals and slowly build as you feel more confident and motivated by your skills and accomplishments!
Do something you enjoy. Picking an exercise that’s enjoyable shows a higher chance of you to continue with it. Rather than dreading it, you’ll be looking forward to exercising and will reap more rewards with a positive mindset.
Set goals and monitor your progress. Each session is more purposeful when you’re moving with a purpose or goal. By tracking your progress, you will feel heightened senses of accomplishment, motivation and confidence as you tackle obstacles and smash personal bests!

Remember, the hardest part is starting. Don’t feel disheartened if your schedule for a particular week means you miss your exercise routine, pick it back up the next week and only look ahead!

By Katherine Bai, An Alchemy Tutor

05 Sep 2020

The Alchemy Team HSC, Schooling, Students Permalink

How to succeed in HSC Maths

The Alchemy Team 5 September 2020

Most students choose a math subject for their HSC, whether that be Mathematics Standard, Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1 or even Mathematics Extension 2! Regardless of the level of you decide to take, maths is a subject requiring constant practice and repetition of previous concepts.

The first step to succeeding in maths is to choose the right level for you.
Usually, this depends on two things: the level of math you completed in Years 9 and 10, and your future university or career plans.

Generally speaking, students who completed Mathematics 5.3 are suitable for Mathematics Advanced or Extension, whereas those who completed Mathematics 5.2 or below are more suited to Mathematics Standard. However, this is not always the case. For example, I studied Mathematics 5.3 in Years 9 and 10 and started off doing Mathematics Advanced in Year 11. Unfortunately, I began to experience a sharp decline in my marks throughout the year as a result of poor teaching as well as being unable to balance the workload with my other subjects and extra-curricular activities. Towards the end of Year 11, I decided it was best to change to Mathematics Standard, and it was definitely the right decision! I was able to spend an equal amount of time on all my subjects and found the content more manageable as it was familiar from previous years.

It also is important to consider your future plans when deciding which level of maths to take. For example, engineering courses at university would require Mathematics Extension 1, and most commerce courses would have Mathematics Advanced as a prerequisite.

Keeping up to date with homework is essential for succeeding in maths in the HSC. Even if you choose a maths course that you find straightforward, it is necessary to do your homework on a regular basis, preferably every day, to ensure that you don’t fall behind. The next most important part is to mark your own homework, because what is the point of doing homework if you have no idea where you went wrong? Check your work for common errors or mistakes, and redo those questions. If you still don’t know how to complete the difficult questions, ask a teacher or tutor for help!

At Alchemy, we specialise in one-on-one HSC Maths tutoring for students of all levels. Our tutors are the best at what they do and will partner with you to help you perform at your best in the HSC. Get in touch today to see how we can help you get the ATAR of your dreams.

By Emily Diamant, an Alchemy tutor

30 Aug 2020

The Alchemy Team HSC, Students Permalink

Guide To Writing A Band 6 HSC English Essay

The Alchemy Team 30 August 2020

There’s often a preconceived notion about succeeding in HSC English, with students believing that performing well in English is a result of being “naturally” good at English. This futility heightens when they receive a low mark for an English essay, convincing themselves that, “I’m just not good at English.”

This, however, is just not the case. Here’s a guide on how you can successfully write a band 6 HSC English essay.

How to structure your essay?

The generic essay structure – introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion – is the one to follow! As arbitrary as it may seem, this structure must be followed. Usually, there are 3 body paragraphs to an essay, with each body paragraph focusing on a different idea or theme; however, may vary depending on if you’ve been told to add a related text or have been instructed otherwise by your teacher.

Figure out your thesis – what argument are you trying to make? Do you want to agree or disagree with what the essay question is implying? Keep in mind that you are allowed to disagree; in fact, it helps you stand out if you do. However, you must do it effectively – ensuring that you do not get side tracked and are answering the question with sufficient evidence.

Writing an effective introduction – the first sentence of your introduction should be indicative of your thesis, e.g. if you are going to be agreeing with the stance presented by the essay question or disagreeing with it. Apart from the basics to include in the introduction – the name of the prescribed text and the author – it is also essential to present the ideas and themes that you will be presenting within the following body paragraphs. Context can also be useful to include within your introduction – indicating to the marker your deep understanding of the text, and the relevance of the text’s context to contemporary society.

Body paragraphs – an effective body paragraph follows the PEEL rule:

Point – your key point, i.e. an introductory sentence to present forward the key idea within your body paragraph. This is essentially your thesis, but linked to the specific idea explored within your body paragraph.
Evidence – the evidence to back up your claims! It’s typical to include at least three pieces of evidence within one body paragraph to support your argument; however, the specific number of quotations or other evidence isn’t super important as long as you provide sufficient evidence and analysis to support your thesis.
Elaboration – where you support your evidence with further explanation, i.e. analysis: what is the purpose of a specific technique being utilised? What effect does it have on the narrative? On the reader?
Link – This is the concluding sentence of your body paragraph, where it is essential to reiterate the key ideas of the body paragraph back to the thesis.

Apart from these four key aspects, it might also be useful to present any other information (apart from evidence and analysis) that is relevant in linking your thesis to the introductory statement of your body paragraph. This may be, for example, context or any key plot points of your prescribed text.

Conclusion – summarising the ideas you have presented within your three body paragraphs! No new ideas, themes or information is to be presented in your conclusion – everything you include must have already been discussed within your essay. Your conclusion doesn’t need to be lengthy – 2-3 lines is sufficient.

Whilst these tips may be helpful, you can’t master the art of HSC English essays overnight – practice, practice and practice is key!

04 Aug 2020

The Alchemy Team Schooling, Students, Tutors, Uncategorised Permalink

Engaging Students in Creative Writing

The Alchemy Team 4 August 2020

Re-igniting the creative spark

In our modern world, it can be increasingly difficult to conserve the innate creativity that we are born with. School curriculums all around the world continue to encourage more of a STEM focus, often neglecting the skills and instincts necessary within the arts and humanities. We now know that creativity can be developed, however it must be practised regularly. In teaching students creative writing, we must encourage them to use their imagination. Unfortunately, imagination often becomes less of a focus as students progress through their schooling. This can make creative writing very difficult, particularly as students mature.

The problem of writer’s block

Generating ideas is a key aspect of writing that many students find troublesome. The planning process is pivotal to successful creative writing. Giving students a step by step process to follow, even if only in the early stages, before they become more confident, can help to minimise writer’s block. Many students work better with structured, methodical style thinking, and this is often why they find creative writing so challenging. It can seem quite overwhelming having so much freedom with minimal guidelines. Whilst we should encourage students to enjoy this freedom, they may find some step-by-step rules reassuring to begin with. In this scenario, NAPLAN-style stimulus may be useful in the early stages.

Adapting to different learning styles

Every student will benefit from a different style of learning, whether with regards to creative writing or any other subject. As tutors, teachers or parents, if we can anticipate this in advance, we can individually tailor our approach to each child’s needs.

Many students are visual learners, meaning that they will have a better grasp of concepts when they see related written words, pictures or videos. In creative writing, we can have visual learners draw pictures to bring their ideas to life. These learners may also find the ‘mind map’ method to be useful. This will help to organise their thoughts, visualising their ideas and using their imagination, before the writing process even commences.

Contrastingly, some tutors may find their students achieve more clarity when they vocalise their ideas. Oral learners will gain confidence by conversing aloud, bridging the gap between their imagination and the page. Sometimes, these individuals in particular struggle with commencing the writing process. However, by simply expressing themselves aloud, sorting through their mental clutter, they can self-regulate and find the answers to their own questions.

Finally, kinesthetic learners will prefer to be left alone with their thoughts, pen and paper. This is the way they organise their thinking. In the same sense, their learning style is quite visual. By writing out all the chaotic thoughts and ideas running through their minds, they achieve clarity. It is often these kinds of learners who find writing to come more naturally, as they can avoid the detour of bridging steps that are necessary for other learning styles.

Encouraging creativity in older students

As students mature, particularly entering into their high school years, it can be difficult to preserve their enthusiasm towards creative writing. They are starting to leave behind the ‘make-believe’ world they have been living in, becoming more realistic, sometimes even cynical. Older students may begin to feel that fictional writing is pointless (realising that the short story about a dragon that they wrote in year three will probably never be published…). We really need to give them the opportunity to feel that they have a voice, that they are writing for a purpose. Similarly, the more we encourage reading, the more students will feel stimulated by thought-provoking material. Conversation is so important at this age; older students need to feel heard and respected aloud, in order to feel that their writing has value too.

Does your child love creative writing? Would you like to see them exercising their creative muscles more? Alchemy is a NSW Creative Kids provider, offering a one-on-one creative writing course FREE with the NSW Creative Kids Voucher. Learn more here.

By Gudrun Drake, an Alchemy tutor

25 Jul 2020

The Alchemy Team HSC, Students Permalink

HSC Survival Guide

The Alchemy Team 25 July 2020

We all place a lot of weight on the HSC – the importance of it being emphasised by everyone from teachers and tutors to friends and family. But it’s daunting – a big step from Year 11 and certainly a big jump up from what we’re previously been accustomed to in the junior years of high school. It’s no surprise that students often find themselves saying, “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Not to fear – these tips will help you out and ensure you make it to the finish line in one piece:

Stress management: A big part of keeping your stress under control is being prepared. Use a diary! It doesn’t even need to be a diary – track it on your phone’s calendar or download an organisational app on your phone. Whatever it is, just make sure you stay organised! This allows you to prioritise which tasks need to be done first – ultimately preventing yourself from being unnecessarily stressed out the night before an assessment is due, exclaiming, “I can’t finish this!”
Staying motivated: it’s easy to feel discouraged after receiving a bad mark or just feeling like there’s no end in sight. It’s only natural but just remember to always pick yourself after and carry on. There’s so many exciting events in your final year of high school – use those as motivation! Keep moving forward and before you know it, you’ll be at your Year 12 graduation or formal in no time. Or whilst you’re studying, motivate yourself by keeping in the mind the trip abroad you have lined up for post-HSC adventures. Whatever it is – whether it be your dream ATAR or dream university – that motivates you, always keep it at the back of your mind to push yourself through to the end.
Prepare yourself adequately for trial exams: Trials are super, super important! It’s emphasised heavily; but for a reason. It’s the only exam block you have in Year 12 prior to sitting your HSC exams and really sets you up for the HSC if you have prepared yourself wisely. For example, the trial exams allows you to get into the feel of sitting in an exam room for 3 hours straight as well as writing faster than you thought was possible for compulsory English or the writing-heavy subjects like Legal Studies.

REMEMBER: if you have adequately prepared for trial examinations, then you already know the majority of the content that will be examined in the HSC. All you need to do then is learn and understand the content not examined in your trial exams or content that you’ve covered in class after trials.

The HSC seems like a big deal and no doubt, it is; but by staying organised, motivated and having fun – you’ll make it through.

22 Jun 2020

The Alchemy Team HSC, Life, Students Permalink

HSC English – George Orwell’s ‘1984’

The Alchemy Team 22 June 2020

Navigating the HSC English syllabus can be tricky, especially when you’re tackling a prescribed text as complex as George Orwell’s ‘1984’. Not to fear, though! Here’s a basic rundown on the context, key ideas and some quotations that may be useful:

Context:

Orwell, having written ‘1984’ following WW2, was greatly influenced by having witnessed first-hand the rise of authoritarian figures such as Hitler in a post-war era.

Essentially, the world as Orwell knew it was changing. He witnessed authoritarian systems of government seeking to suppress the freedoms of citizens and become fixated on controlling the individual’s right to free speech, free thought and autonomy. His concerns within his own evolving society are reflected within ‘1984’ – prominent as he provides insight into oppressive nature of life in Oceania as dictated by the ruling Party in Oceania.

Context is super important when it comes to a text like ‘1984’, figuring out: Why did Orwell write this? What is the overarching message he is implying about a totalitarian society? Understanding the context of a text such as ‘1984’ can be extremely beneficial in an effective Common Module HSC English Essay, with your essays demonstrating a deep level of understanding and analysis that HSC markers will appreciate.

Key Ideas in ‘1984’

Oppression

Orwell’s concerns within his own evolving society are reflected in ‘1984’ – evident as he provides insight into the oppressive nature of life in Oceania as dictated by the ruling Party in Oceania. Some examples:

The Party’s initiation of Newspeak – a language designed to “diminish the range of thought” – has the main aim of making “…thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.” The Party is essentially assassinating words, thus, removing the capabilities of citizens to have any independent thought that would otherwise counter the Party’s accepted norms and standards.
The Party’s system of pervasive surveillance, in which, “To keep your face expressionless was not difficult…but you could not control the beating of your heart, and the telescreen was quite delicate enough to pick it up.” This demonstrates the invasive nature of the Party, driving citizens to live in constant fear – allowing the Party to maintain control.

Rebellion & its repercussions

In an environment so heavily restricted by government power, any act of self-expression is punishable by death; this lack of individuality ultimately driving main protagonist, Winston, to rebellion. Examples:

Winston’s self-expression – writing in a diary for, “…a time when thought is free…a time when truth exists.” Winston deliberately defies the social constraints placed by the Party in hope of individuality and autonomy.

The repercussions of Winston’s rebellion, however, becomes clear as Winston is subject to a range of punishments, Sometimes it was

fists, sometimes it was truncheon…boots.” This reiterates the extent to which the Party has control over its citizens.

George Orwell’s ‘1984’ is considered to be one of the greatest literary works of the 20^th century, renowned for its warning on the dangers of a totalitarian system. Analysis of a text as complex as this can be difficult, but it’s doable – and you’ll be able to ace HSC English by understanding exactly what Orwell is warning readers about.

22 May 2020

The Alchemy Team Life, Parenting, Schooling Permalink

3 tips to ready your child to go back to school

The Alchemy Team 22 May 2020

Is it just me or did that feel like a really, really long holiday break?

It has been a very strange start of the year – but as schools are poised to resume face-to-face classes, establishing proper habits and routines now will really make this transition so much easier for you and your child.

Here are three tips I recommend to all parents at the end of any large break from school – whether it be at the end of the Summer holidays or in an unexpected worldwide pandemic:

1. Normalise their sleeping patterns.

If you are anything like me, you’ve been far more lenient with bed times over the last 2 months. They didn’t have to be up at 7am to catch a bus to school, so letting them stay up for an extra episode of their favourite show didn’t seem to hurt anyone.

Children are all about patterns and habits – and regulating their sleeping routine is so important to making the transition back to early mornings and full days at school smooth. Research by The Sleep Council (UK) suggest that children aged 7-12 should get 10-11 hours of quality sleep per night, with those between 12-18 aiming for 8 to 9 hours. Knowing these goals and what time they will need to wake up for school, adjust their bed time accordingly – keeping in mind these are the numbers for quality, deep sleep – so allow enough time for them to read and unwind before bed.

We all sleep better when we get the right amount of sleep. I am sure there will be some tired students in classrooms for the next month – but prevent your child from being one of them by adjusting their sleeping patterns now.

2. Resume healthy routines from day one

We are expecting homework and assignments to kick off on the first day back – given the amount of valuable learning time students would have missed out on. Rather than letting them ease back in to things, we suggest establishing healthy and productive routines from the start. After school, set them up at their homework table and get them to do 30 minutes of self-paced study. Before bed, get them to lay out their uniform for the next day. Whatever your routine was that you had in place before CV-19; don’t wait to get this going again. Despite what they may express at times, kids love routine. They thrive on knowing what to do and what to expect – so make this transition easy for them by establishing those routines as standard from day one.

3. Give them more attention that you normally would

In times of uncertainty and change, children tend to seek the presence of their parents – a source of comfort and dependability. It is going to be very easy for us as parents to send the kids back to school and embrace the new-found freedom, however, I would suggest giving each of our children a little more quality time than we would normally do during the school term and ensure their emotional needs are being met.

For many young people, they may not have interacted with other students for a long time. They may not have left the security of home since this whole thing started. So suddenly sending them out in to the world again could be a significant event for them.

Best of luck as you make this transition back to school. I hope that despite the chaos of the last few months it becomes something that, one day in the future, we can look back on as a time of creating beautiful family memories.