Post-mortem starting from Monday

I thought Maths P2 (OL) was really nice=D No surprises! No tricks! Nothing out of the ordinary! The only complaint I heard was that the Q sin2θ wasn’t actually on the course, but it was in the tables… (I had it drilled into my head by my honours maths teacher “sin2A=2sinAcosA”)

Irish P1 (HL):The titles were quite specific and left little room for regurgitating essays! I don’t understand the thinking behind the course at all! One minute they’re telling us we need an in-depth knowledge of the language, its literary content, and its history. The next were given a paper which “encourages spontaneity!” Bhuel, ar mhiste libh insint dom conas gur feidir dalta A1 i nGaeilge a fháil gan aistí nó píosaí eile a bheith ar eolas acu de ghlan mheabhair?? Hummmph!! Despite all my griping, I was quite happy with my paper. I found the comprehensions tough, especially the first, and the end of the second.

The tape was tricky in places…and I thought they played the first section three times… but otherwise twas ok!! EXCEPT the 2nd section (I think) kinda confused me!! Was it just me or did Síle say they had good facilities at Oxygen?? Clean toilets?? A wide range of shops (unless the choice between Bud and Bulmers is what she meant??) A BATHROOM??? Lol!

Paper 2 was another story altogether…. mainly because of that horror of an An Trial question….. Ok, So I did the Stair first – seemed to go ok – then the pros. Clare sa Spéir had a lovely Q, I just ran out of time a little though!! F.B.F was fine too, just didn’t leave the time for it! Then the fun began: I opened An Trial and automatically looked to the 2nd part to see what characters had come up…. dramatic effects?? What?? That was out since I hadn’t the slightest idea of what it included…. I started reading question 1 and, about half way through, the panic set in…. grow?…main conflicts?…blame?… seemingness of love??? WTF??? Still haven’t a clue what it means.

With that note of panic firming in my mind, I started scribbling down whatever I knew on the first poem I saw – Jack – realised after half a page (sound familiar) that I couldn’t answer any more =( so I started Níl aon Ní which had a lovely question!!

So that was fine, eventually, and so was An Chéad Dráma. I then had 30mins to decipher and tackle An trial. I got 2 and a half pages about not very much. Absolutely gutted because it was my best question in the mocks – I wrote 4 pages and got 38/40!! Ah well shit happens…

French (HL) yesterday was nice. I found the second comprehension quite difficult but otherwise grand. I wrote about a driving test in a car that made a funny noise when it stopped, and wouldn’t go into reverse!! Then I did the e-mail because I knew all the words so hopefully I’ll have scored well on that…. then the question on male/female fashion…. after the exam my friend told me she had pretended to be a boy and just used all her oral material, saying how important fashion was to her /him!! GENIUS!! I found the aural grand, a little tricky in places, but overall fine…

Our biology paper was a beaut!! Couldn’t have asked for anything nicer really… Most predictions made an appearance and there wasn’t anything too awkward. Q12 and 14 were really nice… I didn’t answer very well on protein synthesis, but did an extra Q in case.

8 down, 2 to go.

Accounting and chemistry next Monday and Tuesday so we’ll see how that goes =D

Congrats to anyone already finished… have one for me this weekend =P

Good Luck
Ta ta
Katie

Two weeks ago I came across something incredibly worrying. The Marshall Lerner Condition. According to our book, it states ”That a devaluation will only improve  a countries balance of trade if the sum of the elasticities for exports and imports is greater than one in absolute terms’. After pondering about that in a class test, I though to myself ’wow that means that they could both be inelastic and improve the BOT’, but then it hit me, that’s rubbish. How could it work for two that are inelastic. So instead of sum I wrote down average. And lost marks. I questioned my teacher about it (an absolute genius) and even he was baffled. I tried a few examples with the PED at -0.6 for both, (which are greater than one in absolute terms) and predictably, they dis-improved the balance of trade. Marshall and Lerner, you pair of gimps. That fact that I’ve thought this probably means there is a logical explanation, but I dare any Economics student to try it, the results are quite shocking….

All Ireland Senior B Colleges Semi-Final. Last Saturday. Two points. Two bloody points off a schools All-Ireland. Beaten by a team from Tipperary no less. Tipperary? I didn’t even think they knew what a size 5 was down there. Seven points up at one stage, and thrown away. Their Machiavellian approach to sport is comparable to that of Edmund in King Lear, les grosse legumes (had to keep it educational)! Imagine getting to an All-Ireland final in football, it would have been a class way to end school. But hey, I still have a Dublin and Leinster medal in my pocket. Anyway, that was my crappy start to the Easter break. I probably should start with an apology for the damage I inflicted upon our belle langue, Gaelique. Even reading over it I felt like throwing up. What it did make me realise is that my Irish grammar is like that of Shakespeare, utterly non existent. So I did a bit of research. Apparently this guy, Da Animfhocail, is going around making lots of extraneous rules about when two nouns come together. Fourteen years I have studied Irish. Not once has this guy ever been taught to me. For fourteen years, I have been convinced I was rubbish at Irish. Don’t get me wrong, I probably have the best Irish teacher in the country. But if you saw one of my Aistí, you would understand. There must be a good litre of red ink used per page with corrections, lots of slight spelling changes, sheimius and úrús. I took it upon myself to actually find out when to use these grammar points, but the use of an úrú after ’na’ was never mention. Baffled so I was by things like ’fadhb na ndrugaí’ yet ’na bhpaistí’ was mícheart. Me being Mr. Logical and all that. Baffled that is until today. Fourteen years this T.G guy has escaped me, until I accidentally stumbled across him today. I’ll admit, we touched on it in the Gaeltacht last year, but like Organic Chemistry, you’re not going to get it the first time around. So fun times ahead over Easter getting to know this T.G guy…

Time is quite literally flying out the window. This time two weeks, my scrúdubhéil (imagine, prime example of the T.G, I mean, wtf is a bhéil?) will be thart. Three weeks et mon francais oral sera fini. Eight weeks and I graduate. Imagine, no more school? Ten weeks, English Paper 1 will be completed. Twelve weeks and I’ll be re-capping on my last Economics paper. Not. I shall be getting rather merry with a few friends!
It really does seem like only yesterday I was going in to help the incoming first years acclimatise to secondary school life, and the day before that, as if I were a diminutive first year with my oversized bag. Funny how the bag condition has reappeared in sixth year. My current one could probably hold a decent sized first year. Discontent with getting a bottom locker this year, all my books remain in the bag. Couple that with a few days without shaving, and my friends claim I could pass as a suicide bomber, a disguise to go with my explosive personality. Ok, awful pun I know, but sixth year really does drain all humour from you.

As for the whole study situation, it’s going ok I guess. I haven’t really started killing myself just yet. We’ve had great weather of late. Great weather for study that is. I’ve been getting the Exam Brief supplements in the Irish Independent of late, and while I admit their useful, all I have managed to read so far is the student profiles. One girl claimed that recording all of the Chemistry definitions onto her iPod helped her remember them all on the day. So me being me, I copied her style for Chem. Biology and Economics too. And sure hey, if they are going to work for those, I may as well try it for my oral work. I’m not sure how successful it has been so far hearing myself ream off notes about A l’étranger, but it can only help! One thing I’ve noticed from doing masses of exam papers in Maths is that the exam is getting bloody harder each year. Algebra for example. Take any of the questions from the past three years. Easy? I shall think not! Now have a look at 1998 Q2. 5 minutes it took me to do the entire question and get the 50 marks. So to all of you who claim the Leaving Cert is getting easier and think ‘oh how hard it was back in the day,’ f!@# you! Your A1 in 1998 wouldn’t get you a C3 now!

Now that the hype of the mocks is dead and buried, it’s time for post mortems. English my best result? It’s probably evident from reading my blogs that it’s not my thing. Still, 78 left me over the moon. If I got a B2 in the real thing, I would be rather satisfied! My B3 in French is another thing I laughed at when I saw the result. Albeit a four year old mute could answer the comprehensions and get full marks, I was still pleased. Again, a subject I expect to see a C beside in August. As for the other four. I know in my heart and soul I am capable of getting A1’s in Chemistry, Economics, Biology and Maths, but a serious amount of work needs to be done. A serious amount of work = time, and well time, it’s something we’re all running out of. I got 460 in the mocks. I set that exact aim last October and thankfully I reached it. Looking around and seeing some people not even reaching triple digits is worrying, I have a friend who improved by 250 points from his mocks, albeit he 90 in them. But I really have to break 500. It’s not like I’ve a choice. Actuary was 530 in UCD last year and 485 in DCU. With applications up by 10%, it’s going to rise. Being honest, I’m not sure if I would be happy doing Primary Education or Economics and Finance in NUIM. It’s not that I think they are below me, but I love a challenge. I like to think of myself as a bit of a workhorse, and frankly, those courses are quite laid back. So how fitting, I’ve to work my socks off to work my socks off for the next four years, or I can take it easy, and take the next four years easy! Some reward eh?
Anyway, I shall wrap up, I’ve a date with this Tuiseal Guinideach guy, I’d hate to be late!
Enjoy your Easter, well except for those in sixth year, as that would be awful advice! As a learned man once told me,
‘Avoid present pleasures for future happiness’
Bon(ne) chance

Hello =)

I hope everyone is well, and not over stressing

The realisation hit me yesterday (I know, I know, only yesterday :O) that in 5 months time it’s all going to be over!! Every last paper finished and sent on its merry way……. scary thoughts, I know. For now though I’ve plenty of more important things to be thinking about; mocks, orals, 18th’s, and 21st’s!

We were given our oral dates last week (that was when the realisation dawned!). French is the first week after, and I will be on the Friday if it goes in alphabetical order (Weldon!!). So that’s not really too bad. Dare I say it, but I’m kind of looking forward to my Irish oral the following week!! Oh and I would like to say a huge “Thank You” to Ally for recommending Foinse =) It helps so much! I was always afraid to pick it up in case I wouldn’t be able to understand any of it, and would be totally disheartened, but I found that even if there’s a word I don’t understand, in the context of the sentence I could figure it out =D

Our mocks have been moved back a week, which is a major relief. At least now they run straight up the mid-term and we won’t be dragged back in for a week after them. The thought of sitting two three hour papers in one school day really isn’t going down all that well. It’s going to mean one very short lunch break! As for the subjects? Well the one I am dreading most is chemistry!! I just haven’t had time to revise everything! Hopefully, I will have enough done to get me through 6 questions. I’ll probably do the Q5 (periodic table and the atom), the question on rates of reaction (if we have it finished), both organic questions, environmental chemistry and hopefully something else I know will come up!!

With regard to the 18th’s and 21st’s, well that’s more of an “I wish” story =P I was at probably the best 21st ever last week, and then wasn’t let out for my friends 18th this week =/ Yes, I am sure I will be glad when I get a groggy phone call asking about our homework tomorrow evening @ 9. Maybe everyone has gone back to college and Kells would be deserted once again. And I know it would have been such an anti-climax to last week – the road trip was epic (it took us 2 and a half hours to get to Oldcastle from Trim – A forty minute journey :L. We tried to do a U-turn and got stuck in a ditch!! The guards pulled us out. And some poor-unfortunate mass goer will probably have found their car without a wing mirror on return!!! :O). Meh, I suppose once in a while it’s ok to use “I’m not allowed….” as a cover up excuse??

I was just wondering, what poets are you guys studying and how are you finding them? At the moment I’m working my way through Longley – and he is definitely my favourite!! I love the way he brings in the ancient legends and myths and makes them his own . Their stories do all the telling. What way do you write your poetry essays?? Do you start on one poem and dissect it, then lead into one of the same theme…. or do you mix around with all the different poems? I’ve already covered Boland, Kavanagh, Yeats, Keats, and am almost finished Longley. My teacher is only going to cover those five poets, but armed with Mr. Kelly’s notes, I think I’ll do Elliot too, and maybe leave Keats out in my revision. He did come up last year after all =D

Other than that exciting road trip, Trim has been graced with my presence (ha!) on a number of occasions recently as I try to put those New Year’s resolutions into action. I suppose throwing a ball around in a swimming pool is exercise right?? My goal is to be able to beat my brother (16) in a swimming race…. this could take some time!! I used to be a good swimmer, really I did. Then I discovered how boring swimming up and down racing the clock is compared to galloping across fields!! The only thing is you don’t get fit enough to compete at horse riding by horse riding – unless you do it all day!!

Just thought I’d pick your (considerably more intelligent) brains for a few minutes…… Yes, it is back to the chemistry, but what method of studying it works for you guys?? I was on the Allhonours website earlier and studying for chemistry seems to be a big topic for discussion!! Mostly it was just people who found it difficult to understand looking for help, but does just reading through your notes work for anyone?? It certainly doesn’t help me!!! Just curious that’s all =P

Oh yea, I knew there was something else I wanted to say :L I had my first day of HPAT practise last Saturday, and yes, you were right Ally, – the guy is a genius. I really put me at ease to know that I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t make sense of those puzzles!! I found the extra questions he gave out (the mock 2) much more difficult than the ACER ones though!! I did the whole section one this morning and that was tiring. It’s probably my second favourite section but I got a way lower score in it than I had form the ACER one =( I think I’ll put it down to needing practise though so I don’t get too disheartened!!
Anyways I had better go do some proper study instead of just pretending to =S

Have a good week…… oh and make sure those cao applications are in!!

Toodles

Katie xxx

Hey my fellow leaving certs.

I haven’t blogged in ages! I have honestly been so busy. These Christmas exams can be really time consuming. All week I’ve had tests and today was my dreaded Irish oral. I ‘ve never had an actual oral test in Irish,so I didn’t know what to expect. I mean, I rock at the French oral, ask me anything…no nerves at all. However, today was different. I was sick to the stomach thinking about the possible questions and if I was even prepared enough..but thankfully it was pretty good. It took me a while to get into it and loosen up but I got a good result. The teacher said I would get a high enough mark and if I added the odd seanfhocail I nGaeilge I’d be sorted. So you can guess that I was really proud of myself after that. I honestly sickened the teacher. Her face when I started talking about the sharp economic crisis and racism. It was like she didn’t know I could speak Irish at all, she just smiled at me and widened her eyes unknowingly… I was laughing on the inside, I really was.

I had a great experience today. Great i tell you…it was of course the much (or so I thought) anticipated event that is non other than crazy sock day. Oh yes, students are entitled to wear any socks of their choice, be it primitive, casual or wild’ ou! Any..all for a great cause. Saint Vincent de Paul of course! We raised €715 which I think is an amazing accomplishment…I felt great, wearing my old pink tights with purple polka-dots,blue ski-socks with navy polka-dots and a white and pink snowflake pattern pair of socks over those. I surely got enough attention anyway! Is it my fault for going all out in my last year? No. So there I was, a passionate young 6th year trotting around wearing three layers of brightly coloured socks, her green plaid skirt contrasting totally,yet I was smiling happily, not having a care in the world of what boring,mediocre,plain,simple,people with regular bottle green socks and tights thought. It was great…:D

I have so much homework to do this weekend and I have a french oral to prepare for now too..Monday morning I have to talk my way through the basics in French whilst also having prepared my document. My bowling trip with the french students should help doubt it. I got a surprise (as in I didn’t know about it) Art test again today, this time on early renaissance paintings. so I failed that,,or so I think at the moment..

I have also, oddly enough, been sticking to my HPAT study plan, every morning I do 3 questions from each section. Sundays, I do 10, after school study I do as much as I feel like at the time:) it may or may not help, but I’m not taking any chances. A lovely Chemistry test awaits me on Monday morning too, naming organic compounds…easy enough.

Strange, this week I’m actually positive for a change…I like that feeling.

My friends are going to the Paramore concert Saturday,,jelous much? yes:( This Saturday is the last week I’ll be in Leeson street until after Christmas,then it’s the RCSI open (so excited!!) and then I’m back to the institute:)I hope Olly (murs…walls…sorry I’m such a nerd when it comes to french ) wins I honestly think joe might,,but he’s great too ^__^..Which reminds me, my teacher asked me in the oral, do I watch TG4? Sure didn’t I say yes..so now I’m like the number one ‘an jig gig’ fan out there…love it !

Anyway, I’ve wasted enough of your study time…ha:)

Bonne chance !! XD