Physics or Biology for Year 11?

lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 08:27

Hey, back after my math fiasco - I got 80% in the test, if you were in the other thread.

In regards to this post, i hopped into school today and my mates told me i need to hand in my subjects by today. I pretty much know what i want to pick, but since i got such great advice last time, i was looking to ask what you all thought. Should i pick Physics or Biology? What do you think based on your personal opinion. If it helps, i'm putting my subjects below:

  • Mathematics Extension 1 - 3 Units
  • English Extension 1 - 3 Units
  • Chemistry - 2 Units
  • Economics - 2 Units
  • Either Physics or Bilogy - 2 Units

Total Units: 12

Backup:

  • Business Studies
  • Modern History
  • Either Physics or Biology, depending on which goes in my main

I'd appreciate any advice, as i have to hand in my printed note by the end of the day (Gotta finesse the lack of parent signature on it somehow)

Education & Work

Comments

  • AusGP on 06/07/2018 - 08:47
    +3

    Hey Lolzdj - it depends on what you want to do with yourself after high school and also what you're good at.

    Physics will require some algebra but can complement maths nicely as studying physics sometimes has benefits for maths. (I remember sitting a specialist maths exam in Victoria where I spotted the trick question due to understanding forces in detail). Also Physics is very useful, if not essential, if you want to pursue fields like engineering, science, architecture, construction etc.

    Biology is useful for the health sciences and other biological sciences. However if you are good at learning things quickly I feel this can be caught up quicker if need be. I didn't do biology and completed a medical degree. It took all of 2 weeks for them to give me a crash course in relevant human biology. Physics is harder to catch up because like so much in math related fields - you have to practise over a long period of time to understand the principles.

    Having said that, you also have to consider the impact on your final score if you are better at one subject than another. In general though aim to learn for usefulness in later life.

    • lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 12:13

      Biology looks much easier for me, I've looked at HSC sample papers and worked solutions, and achieving that band 6 level is much more realistic than Physics, where im lost.

  • voiletmay on 06/07/2018 - 09:04

    I think it depends as to what you think you will do best in. My daughters both did physics and ended up in health realated uni degrees, not doing biology didn't matter at all. But for one of them, she needed to have physics for entry into her course.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2018 - 09:07
    +7

    Physics.

    It is the most important subject to learn in school. It is the foundation of everything that ever was and ever will be.

  • trustnoone on 06/07/2018 - 09:13
    +1

    I did both, I found physics to be slightly more difficult but more closely related to what I wanted to do (engineering) so had to power through it and helped knowing it when I studied it at uni. Biology i found interesting also but a lot of remembering as opposed to calculation, it also has a bit of overlap with chemistry which helped me for my final exam a little tiny bit.

    End of the day it all depends where you want to go after school and what job you want to get into in the future, but it doesn't matter a huge amount as you are likely still open to do whichever area you want to get into.

  • Randxyz123 on 06/07/2018 - 09:48

    Have a browse through a uni catalog and get a very rough idea of what you might need for your desired course.

    If you are planning on doing a general degree like science first it shouldn’t matter much because you’ll be able to get up to speed with both in 1st yr uni.

    At the end of the day do what YOU want to do.

    • lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 12:15

      I wish it was as easy as just browsing through a catalog - i look through and my mind get's lost thinking about what to do, where to do etc. etc. If i could do what i wanted to do, i'd pick Studies of Ozbargain, but unfortunately, that's not realistic.

  • alvian on 06/07/2018 - 09:49

    Are your teachers experienced in and comfortable with teaching physics? Many science teachers did not elect to study physics in uni (or they undertook a short bridging course) and they lack the insight in fundamental concepts. Biology on the other hand is an easier subject to teach well. Since you are undecided yourself, I'd say choose the subject your teachers excel at so as to maximise your uni entrance score.

    • lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 10:08

      Yes, my current science teacher will be teaching physics and she is very familiar with the course.

      • alvian on 06/07/2018 - 10:11

        Great. Since your teachers are comfortable with both physics and biology, ask them for the average scores achieved in the subjects in past years and pick the one your school performed better at.

  • carlJack on 06/07/2018 - 11:18

    You have to remember a lot in Biology. Physics is about understanding the concept and problem solving. It is tougher but more interesting.

    • lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 11:34
      +1

      I like solving a problem, but can also remember things pretty effectively; it's not as satisfying though.

  • iforgotmysocks on 06/07/2018 - 11:46
    +1

    Physics.

  • shanakatak on 06/07/2018 - 12:09

    I was in your position back in high school.
    In uni I ended up majoring in genetics, I didn't do bio in high school.

    Physics is more understanding the concept and problem solving. Biology at high School level is remembeering things.

    I would choose physics, I still use concepts learnt in high school regularly. A solid foundation in physics is good for a science pathway.

    You can catch up on High school bio fairly easily in one semester at uni. Meanwhile, in my friends experiences at Melbourne the students that didn't do physics had much more trouble getting up to speed and we're in there own class.

    • lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 12:20

      With biology, it scales similarly (93 mark in both becomes a 98.75 in bio and a 99.3 in physics) and i could achieve the goal easier, but im planning on taking Ext. 1 Mathematics - so it may line up better with my subjects than another content based. Statistically speaking, Math is my worst subject, but that's only because i've been gaming for the last few years. English is my best (90+), so i'm definitely taking Ext. 1 but i'm trying super hard to ramp it up in maths, which is why i'm debating picking Physics or not.

      My math has improved drastically in the areas i actually study. E.g:

      Last year i got under 60% on my yearly, but now i'm getting 80's and acing the areas im studying for in the tests. Currently, the holidays are coming up and im going to grind algebra to see where it takes me, and what level i can obtain. My school is being super annoying however, as i dont have the opportunity to see how I go because i pick my subjects today.

      • AusGP on 06/07/2018 - 12:22

        Good idea - algebra will be exceedingly important in almost all maths and sciences!

      • shanakatak on 06/07/2018 - 12:39

        The algebra at high School level is pretty basic. Getting 80s currently should mean you're well above the recommend min level for the quest.

        As a side note doing all content subjects can get kinda boring.

  • lolzdj on 06/07/2018 - 13:47

    Okay, so, I ended up picking both Biology and Physics as i needed a filler subject in case i didnt get into extension maths. I now have alot of time to look over the syllabus and course requirements but i really, really want to get good at physics - mostly because of the great feedback i got from this post, thanks!

  • Quantumcat on 06/07/2018 - 19:48

    Physics, because physics is a required subject if you want to major in physics for a bachelor of science but biology is not required if you want to major in biology.

  • MathNerd on 08/07/2018 - 12:20

    Physics or Biology for Year 11?

    Maths.

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