How we teach: Headstart Mathematics
3 Unit and 4 Unit Mathematics are almost definitely the highest scaling subjects available to most students, and scoring moderately well will help boost your ATAR significantly.
Headstart Mathematics aims to help Year 10 students looking to do 3U and 4U Maths in Year 12. The course develops strong foundations in mathematics, and helping students develop mistake-free processes when setting out solutions.
The course develops the fundamental skills needed to perform well in mathematics and has a strong emphasis in ensuring students are able to properly set out equations - an essential pre-requisite in understanding and performing well in mathematics. It will cover the basic topics of mathematics at a more advanced level, and will importantly introduce students to differentiation and integration - the topics that most students find difficulty with and which separates students in the later years.
Our course helps students:
- Develop a solid first-principles understanding of mathematical principles that teaches student to understand formulae, rather than to memorize them
- Reviews the work they will cover in Year 10 (Algebra, Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry) and extends them to the Year 11 Level
- Familiarize students with the typical range of questions that are encountered in exams, so that they can select appropriate methods to solve them
- Breakdown typical question types into easy-to-follow steps that students are able to repeat and internalise
- Provides challenge questions akin to 'last questions' of exams to stimulate and advance students.
- Present solutions in a logical fashion, with the correct setting-out, so as to avoid careless mistakes.
Students of the weekly success program receive:
A Talent 100 Workbooklet that methodically covers the topic area, with clear explanations of the key theory and skills required in the syllabus. During the seminar , the teacher will explain the theory and introduce typical question types, showing students how to attack such questions in step-wise fashion. Students are then required to perform examples to re-enforce their understanding and to give them sufficient practice to internalize these methods. To view a sample of the Talent 100 Mathematicss Workbooks, click here < link to sample notes>
Talent 100 Headstart Homework that reinforces that helps students consolidate the theory and practice answer typical question types at home. Headstart Homework takes between 30-40 minutes each week.
Topic Tests, at the end of each topic, which students sit under exam conditions. This forces students to integrate their learning in an exam situation, and gives the student critical feedback on the type and variety of mistakes BEFORE they sit their tests at school
Please click here to view the timetable
How we teach: Headstart Phys&Chem
Headstart Phys&Chem aims to develop students' understanding of the core concepts behind Year 11 and 12 Physics and Chemistry. The course teaches the students the real physics and chemistry behind the Year 11 course, rather than the 'social science'/society aspects of the course. That is we concentrate on the fundamental numerical and conceptual components of the course, rather than the social science, environment and experiment aspects (which requires purely memorization). Our aim is to build the students understanding of the key concepts from first principles, and to start training students to develop perfect exam technique. By the end of the course, students should be able to do 70% of the theory and numerical based question of the current year 11 syllabus.
Of course, in order to score top marks in Physics and Chemistry, students will eventually have to learn the "softer" aspects of the course. However, we believe that can be learnt quite easily in later years, and it is more important to build the fundamentals now.
Headstart PhysandChem aims to extend students beyond "Year 10 Science" which is an inadequate mix of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geology that tends not to give the students a proper foundation in Science.
Our course helps students:
- Develop mastery of the 'real' physics and chemistry behind the Year 11 courses
- Develop mistake-free methods of solving scientific calculations so students do not drop easy marks.
- Covers 70% of the Year 11 Syllabus
- Gain practice in answering science questions to the standards that are required in Year 11 & 12.
Students of the weekly success program receive:
A Talent 100 Workbooklet that introduces and familiarizes the student with the key topic areas. The workbooks explain the key theory; introduce the key question types; and pro
Homework, a set of calculations and short answer questions to help the student reinforce what they have learnt in class. Homework should take the student no longer than 30-40 minutes to complete.
Topic Tests, at the end of each topic, which students sit under exam conditions. This forces students to integrate their learning in an exam situation, and gives the student critical feedback on the type and variety of mistakes BEFORE they sit their tests at school
Please click here to view the timetable
How we teach: Headstart English
English is the only compulsory subject in the HSC and must count for 20% of a students final ATAR.
Our Headstart English helps students score top marks in English by developing the fundamental reading and writing skills needed to succeed in HSC English.
The course aims to:
- Develop strong analysis of the basic literary forms, including fiction, poetry, drama, visual media and non-fiction. Students learn to identify the common techniques used in such media, identify their effect, and how it fits with the author's purpose
- Develop strong writing skills, so that students are able to respond to texts in well-reasoned essays and a range of different forms.
- Develop creative writing skills
- Develop strong verbal communication skills, by analysing and delivering good speeches
Students of the weekly success program receive:
Talent 100 Workbook, that will teach the students the key theory or techniques involved. These booklets contain texts and exercises, so that students have the opportunity to identify the techniques that are used and to practice writing and composing A-range responses
Homework , that reinforces what the students have learnt in class and give them an opportunity to integrate their abilities to interpret, and compose responses to the texts
Termly Exam, at the end of each term that tests the students understanding and ability to perform under examination conditions.
Please click here to view the timetable
