juiceboys *2524
1 week ago
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Modies, Media and Biology Exams : The Full Sha-bang
Oooooooh, what a couple of days it has been indeed!
3 exams in 3 days and i haven't suffered some sort of mental breakdown :P (I feel sorry for the guys that have 4 next week)
I only have one next week but yes, this week i sat 3 exams.
So here's how they went :
Modern Studies on Tuesday morning, i was a bit nervous beforehand to tell the truth. But as i've found with most exams, once you get in and settled, you're fine. That was the case, particularly after looking at the question sheet.
No problems really apart from 1 question somewhere, so i may lose a few marks but if i was to predict right now i would honestly say i got a an A, or definetely a B. Also, the paper could have a been a lot tougher so a stroke of good luck there!
Media yesterday was quite a pain in the ass. The first part was actually not bad. An essay on the film The Untouchables, which we have been watching for almost a full year :P
So i was quite happy with that essay but the 2nd essay is the tricky one.
You are given a statement and are asked to sketch a quick poster justifying your reasons for the inclusion of say, clothes colours, lighting, what camera angle etc.
It's difficult coz you have to make it up on the spot pretty much and i was kinda rushing to get it finished, but hopefully my 1st essay will see me through safely.
...And now....the big one....
Biology, this morning.
I was up till 1am last night reading over notes (maybe not the smartest thing to do, but i did it anyway)
Now, for this exam, i was pretty nervous, as i expected to be. But the same story as usual - once you get settled you're fine.
I forgot my water bottle tho which was bad coz it's always good to have some with you.
Anyhoo, i opened the paper and the first page (multiple choice) was nothing too challenging, but it got a little harder after tht. I answered everything in section B and gave the two five-mark, essay-like questions a good shot.
On the whole tho, i found that the paper could definetely have been a lot worse. I finished it, answered all questions and did a quick prediction of what i thought i got and that turned out to be around 60%. I can't complain about it.
But what re-assured me is this :
My mum works as an invigilator (someone who watches over pupils sitting exams) in a different school nearby. She was in on the biology today and was able to bring me the exam paper home afterwards so i could have another look.
In a slightly calmer state i identified some things i did wrong but actually i think i may well have surprised myself!
Don't wanna get carried away but it's looking pretty good :D
But now it's time for some relaxation. I have a week until my Spanish exam which is next Friday and it's nothing i really have to study for. I think i've earned a few days off now and i am going to take full advantage of them.
I'm not out of the woods yet, but i'm very close, and soon you wont have to read anymore posts about exams! I know you must be getting a litte tired hearing about exams and i'm tired of sitting them but it will all be over next Friday afternoon and exams will be finished....for this year.
Hugs,
Rowan
Ever heard of MGMT?
Well, if not, it's time to introduce them to you.
You may or may not have have heard this song somehwhere, it's called Time to Pretend and it's trippy as hell, but so is the rest of the 1st album (Oracular Spectacular), highly recommended!
(Note : You can probably feel high simply from watching this video. Also note: A few guys with no shirts on thrown in for good measure :P)
Also try "Kids" "Electric Feel" and "The Handshake". Simply awesome :D
3 exams in 3 days and i haven't suffered some sort of mental breakdown :P (I feel sorry for the guys that have 4 next week)
I only have one next week but yes, this week i sat 3 exams.
So here's how they went :
Modern Studies on Tuesday morning, i was a bit nervous beforehand to tell the truth. But as i've found with most exams, once you get in and settled, you're fine. That was the case, particularly after looking at the question sheet.
No problems really apart from 1 question somewhere, so i may lose a few marks but if i was to predict right now i would honestly say i got a an A, or definetely a B. Also, the paper could have a been a lot tougher so a stroke of good luck there!
Media yesterday was quite a pain in the ass. The first part was actually not bad. An essay on the film The Untouchables, which we have been watching for almost a full year :P
So i was quite happy with that essay but the 2nd essay is the tricky one.
You are given a statement and are asked to sketch a quick poster justifying your reasons for the inclusion of say, clothes colours, lighting, what camera angle etc.
It's difficult coz you have to make it up on the spot pretty much and i was kinda rushing to get it finished, but hopefully my 1st essay will see me through safely.
...And now....the big one....
Biology, this morning.
I was up till 1am last night reading over notes (maybe not the smartest thing to do, but i did it anyway)
Now, for this exam, i was pretty nervous, as i expected to be. But the same story as usual - once you get settled you're fine.
I forgot my water bottle tho which was bad coz it's always good to have some with you.
Anyhoo, i opened the paper and the first page (multiple choice) was nothing too challenging, but it got a little harder after tht. I answered everything in section B and gave the two five-mark, essay-like questions a good shot.
On the whole tho, i found that the paper could definetely have been a lot worse. I finished it, answered all questions and did a quick prediction of what i thought i got and that turned out to be around 60%. I can't complain about it.
But what re-assured me is this :
My mum works as an invigilator (someone who watches over pupils sitting exams) in a different school nearby. She was in on the biology today and was able to bring me the exam paper home afterwards so i could have another look.
In a slightly calmer state i identified some things i did wrong but actually i think i may well have surprised myself!
Don't wanna get carried away but it's looking pretty good :D
But now it's time for some relaxation. I have a week until my Spanish exam which is next Friday and it's nothing i really have to study for. I think i've earned a few days off now and i am going to take full advantage of them.
I'm not out of the woods yet, but i'm very close, and soon you wont have to read anymore posts about exams! I know you must be getting a litte tired hearing about exams and i'm tired of sitting them but it will all be over next Friday afternoon and exams will be finished....for this year.
Hugs,
Rowan
Ever heard of MGMT?
Well, if not, it's time to introduce them to you.
You may or may not have have heard this song somehwhere, it's called Time to Pretend and it's trippy as hell, but so is the rest of the 1st album (Oracular Spectacular), highly recommended!
(Note : You can probably feel high simply from watching this video. Also note: A few guys with no shirts on thrown in for good measure :P)
Also try "Kids" "Electric Feel" and "The Handshake". Simply awesome :D
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Louis' House
Today was another scorching day, just like yesterday. It has been really sunny here recently, makes a change for once.
I went to Louis' house today, had planned to for ages but the main aim of my visit was actually for studying.
I haven't ever actually properly studied like that before with another person but i found that it worked quite well. Must have done at least three hours of modern studies in the time i was there and that's quite something i think coz Louis has quite a lot of distractions in his house (pool table, PS3, Mac, loads of garden space....a grand piano lol)
He might have a lot of stuff in his house but not in his room. No tv for one thing so that's good. Also, you might think on a sunny day, being stuck inside would be awful but it wasn't. He has like slanted windows which open way out so you can still sit inside and study and it does kinda feel like you're outside.
Yeh, i love his house :P
It wasn't all work tho, we took a good 30 min break twice probably. Played some football, went on the trampoline, had dinner outside in the sun (2nd night in a row :D) so yes, i suppose you could say i enjoyed studying!
Louis must love it, he's got a perfect study room lol.
Today was good preparation for next week though. Modern studies, media studies and biology this week, the week i have been dreading ever since the timetablee were issued.
I need to work my ass off tomorrow studying so i'm hoping it rains like hell.
Got 3 subjects to revise, probably need to spend at least 2 hours on each :-/
Ho hum, it'll be over soon i suppose. Come Friday, i'll only have one exam left, and a week until it is upon me as well so there are a few positives i can take, can't just contemplate the negatives.
This all means i might not be able to post this week, might have to wait until Friday and it'll just be one big post. Who knows, i might be able to squeeze a little post in each night. We'll see....
Hugs,
Rowan
I went to Louis' house today, had planned to for ages but the main aim of my visit was actually for studying.
I haven't ever actually properly studied like that before with another person but i found that it worked quite well. Must have done at least three hours of modern studies in the time i was there and that's quite something i think coz Louis has quite a lot of distractions in his house (pool table, PS3, Mac, loads of garden space....a grand piano lol)
He might have a lot of stuff in his house but not in his room. No tv for one thing so that's good. Also, you might think on a sunny day, being stuck inside would be awful but it wasn't. He has like slanted windows which open way out so you can still sit inside and study and it does kinda feel like you're outside.
Yeh, i love his house :P
It wasn't all work tho, we took a good 30 min break twice probably. Played some football, went on the trampoline, had dinner outside in the sun (2nd night in a row :D) so yes, i suppose you could say i enjoyed studying!
Louis must love it, he's got a perfect study room lol.
Today was good preparation for next week though. Modern studies, media studies and biology this week, the week i have been dreading ever since the timetablee were issued.
I need to work my ass off tomorrow studying so i'm hoping it rains like hell.
Got 3 subjects to revise, probably need to spend at least 2 hours on each :-/
Ho hum, it'll be over soon i suppose. Come Friday, i'll only have one exam left, and a week until it is upon me as well so there are a few positives i can take, can't just contemplate the negatives.
This all means i might not be able to post this week, might have to wait until Friday and it'll just be one big post. Who knows, i might be able to squeeze a little post in each night. We'll see....
Hugs,
Rowan
Friday, 21 May 2010
Par contre, l'examen de maths....was n0t v3ry easy.
Well to start with, at least it's over.
It was tough.
We had two parts to do. Paper 1 - non calculator and paper 2 - calculator.
Paper 1 was only 45 minutes, i finished it in enough time but some of the questions were pretty difficult, for me anyway.
After it, at the break, i congregated with a group of friends and discussed it, loads of them said it was ok but i didn't think so.
And the calculator paper....
Well, the first page was ok, answered the first 2 or 3 questions, got some marks under my belt. Then i turned the page and just wanted to cry.
What awaited me was a double page full of the most pressing and complicated....stuff i have ever seen. There were still two other pages after that as well, but i didn't look at them, i had enough to contend with.
Paper 2 lasts an hour and half, and for good reason, i needed all of it.
Which is funny coz i do recall agreeing with Louis that 90 minutes was too much (shut up Rowan)
Anyway, i slogged through the next dozen or so questions and only just got the paper finished.
Now remember, this is after all the extra classes i went to. I don't want to imagine what might have happened if i didn't go.
The extremely warm and stuffy room didn't help matters, it's been very humid lately.
Here i go complaining about humidity lol but i'm sure it affected most pupils sitting an exam today, and also, like most curious pupils who sit exams, i made a rough guess at what my score might have been. Few marks above a pass is what i predicted but who knows?
Will find out on the dreaded August 4th.
But if this is how difficult i found maths, biology on Thursday is going to be hell.
I held some hope with maths and i might have passed but with biology, i do not hold much hope.
This is where things are going to get quite stressing now, 3 exams in 3 days next week and the maths today just upped the game.
Maybe it's balancing out now coz of how easy and care-free french was on Tuesday.
I want a break but i can't really afford one....
Hugs,
Rowan
It was tough.
We had two parts to do. Paper 1 - non calculator and paper 2 - calculator.
Paper 1 was only 45 minutes, i finished it in enough time but some of the questions were pretty difficult, for me anyway.
After it, at the break, i congregated with a group of friends and discussed it, loads of them said it was ok but i didn't think so.
And the calculator paper....
Well, the first page was ok, answered the first 2 or 3 questions, got some marks under my belt. Then i turned the page and just wanted to cry.
What awaited me was a double page full of the most pressing and complicated....stuff i have ever seen. There were still two other pages after that as well, but i didn't look at them, i had enough to contend with.
Paper 2 lasts an hour and half, and for good reason, i needed all of it.
Which is funny coz i do recall agreeing with Louis that 90 minutes was too much (shut up Rowan)
Anyway, i slogged through the next dozen or so questions and only just got the paper finished.
Now remember, this is after all the extra classes i went to. I don't want to imagine what might have happened if i didn't go.
The extremely warm and stuffy room didn't help matters, it's been very humid lately.
Here i go complaining about humidity lol but i'm sure it affected most pupils sitting an exam today, and also, like most curious pupils who sit exams, i made a rough guess at what my score might have been. Few marks above a pass is what i predicted but who knows?
Will find out on the dreaded August 4th.
But if this is how difficult i found maths, biology on Thursday is going to be hell.
I held some hope with maths and i might have passed but with biology, i do not hold much hope.
This is where things are going to get quite stressing now, 3 exams in 3 days next week and the maths today just upped the game.
Maybe it's balancing out now coz of how easy and care-free french was on Tuesday.
I want a break but i can't really afford one....
Hugs,
Rowan
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
L'examen français....pah! Trop facile : P
The French exam....pah! Too easy :P
I knew it would be in all honesty, was never really worried.
Kicked off at 9am and i was in the same seat in the same class as i was for the english exam as the list is in alphabetical order, so it looks like i will be there for most of my exams (so will the cute guy a desk away from me)
:D
But anyway, the reading paper was the first thing that we had to do, and it was pretty much the easiest paper i have ever sat. I must say, i think i will be disappointed if i don't get full marks!
Honestly, extremely easy.
The listening, after a 15 minute break, was a little more challenging witha few tough questions but on the whole it went good too.
Lastly, the writing, just gotta write an 120-150 word essay for a "job application" (a script we have been learning for several months now) so again, very easy, probably the easiest and most relaxed exam i will ever sit....
Out invigilator was a cow tho! Everyone in our classroom finished the papers early and she could clearly see we had but didn't let us leave early when all other classes in the corridor were allowed to do so.
Almost made me late for the train back home, but i made it in time and a group of friends including Louis and Alex were waiting for me.
I didn't even head straight back home after the train tho, weather was good so we just kinda walked around a bit talking and having a laugh. Good stuff.
When i did eventually get home, mum told me she finally got me some blank cd's!
I have a lot of stuff i need to clear off my computer and i have been waiting ages to get it onto a cd.
(No, not *that* stuff, i know what you're thinking :P)
So overall, a good day, didn't expect anything less but now i have maths to look forward to on Friday (joy!) and that is something i will be stressing about.
Let's just hope it goes smoothly enough.
Cheers guys,
Rowan
Very cheesy new Muse song and i'm still undecided over it, it is far from their best work. From 1:11 it is very Queen inspired, i can't place a name on which song although i was thinking like a faster version of Radio Ga Ga or I Want to Break Free, any other suggestions?
*waits for bad comments about new Muse song* :P
I knew it would be in all honesty, was never really worried.
Kicked off at 9am and i was in the same seat in the same class as i was for the english exam as the list is in alphabetical order, so it looks like i will be there for most of my exams (so will the cute guy a desk away from me)
:D
But anyway, the reading paper was the first thing that we had to do, and it was pretty much the easiest paper i have ever sat. I must say, i think i will be disappointed if i don't get full marks!
Honestly, extremely easy.
The listening, after a 15 minute break, was a little more challenging witha few tough questions but on the whole it went good too.
Lastly, the writing, just gotta write an 120-150 word essay for a "job application" (a script we have been learning for several months now) so again, very easy, probably the easiest and most relaxed exam i will ever sit....
Out invigilator was a cow tho! Everyone in our classroom finished the papers early and she could clearly see we had but didn't let us leave early when all other classes in the corridor were allowed to do so.
Almost made me late for the train back home, but i made it in time and a group of friends including Louis and Alex were waiting for me.
I didn't even head straight back home after the train tho, weather was good so we just kinda walked around a bit talking and having a laugh. Good stuff.
When i did eventually get home, mum told me she finally got me some blank cd's!
I have a lot of stuff i need to clear off my computer and i have been waiting ages to get it onto a cd.
(No, not *that* stuff, i know what you're thinking :P)
So overall, a good day, didn't expect anything less but now i have maths to look forward to on Friday (joy!) and that is something i will be stressing about.
Let's just hope it goes smoothly enough.
Cheers guys,
Rowan
Very cheesy new Muse song and i'm still undecided over it, it is far from their best work. From 1:11 it is very Queen inspired, i can't place a name on which song although i was thinking like a faster version of Radio Ga Ga or I Want to Break Free, any other suggestions?
*waits for bad comments about new Muse song* :P
Monday, 17 May 2010
IDAHO
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
(There's no "T" in IDAHO....)
:P
Anyhoo, yeh, i was looking through an app on my ipod called iFacts which just lists important events/births/deaths on each day and i found out today is not one, but two events significant in in the LGBT community.
Firstly, (and i've never heard of it until today) it is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Which, i have a feeling is tied in with two important events that have taken place over the past eighteen years it will be now.
That is, in 1992 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. 18 years on from that, i struggle to see how it was even there in the first place.
I do happen to know that Britain and the USA removed it off their own lists back in the 60's i think but don't quote me.
Also, in 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first US states to legalise same sex marriage (Go Massachusetts!)
Just doing a bit of research to see how many states it is legal in now....
Jeez i thought there would be more than that - there are only 6 states it is legal in (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and only last month on March 1st was it made legal in Washington DC)
This map explains it better -
P.S I've came across a new blogger in the past day or so, or rather, he came across me and i then found his blog.
His name is Gabriel/Gabe/Gabey.... :D
He is 15 and lives in the States, so why not go check out his blog, i'm sure he'd love it.
Gabe's Journal - http://gabeys.blogspot.com/
(There's no "T" in IDAHO....)
:P
Anyhoo, yeh, i was looking through an app on my ipod called iFacts which just lists important events/births/deaths on each day and i found out today is not one, but two events significant in in the LGBT community.
Firstly, (and i've never heard of it until today) it is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Which, i have a feeling is tied in with two important events that have taken place over the past eighteen years it will be now.
That is, in 1992 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. 18 years on from that, i struggle to see how it was even there in the first place.
I do happen to know that Britain and the USA removed it off their own lists back in the 60's i think but don't quote me.
Also, in 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first US states to legalise same sex marriage (Go Massachusetts!)
Just doing a bit of research to see how many states it is legal in now....
Jeez i thought there would be more than that - there are only 6 states it is legal in (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and only last month on March 1st was it made legal in Washington DC)
This map explains it better -
All shades of read is where it isn't permitted because of constitution or something like that.
Blue is permitted.
Grey is no prohibition or recognisition
And i'm not sure what multi-coloured ones are.
Maybe it means there's debate or something coz i know California used to allow same-sex marriage but then Arnie stepped in or something, not too sure.
But yes, i think IDAHO takes place on 17th May for those two reasons, probably for the WHO's removal of homosexuality from their list more than Massachusetts legalising same-sex marriage.
Being called IDAHO, i would have thought it might be legal in the state of the same name, unfortunately not it appears as according to the map.
I'm sure gradually, in time, more states will legalise it although it could be a long process and even though i don't live in the States i still find it quite an interesting topic. Only days such as this can help that process so here's to IDAHO!
Have a good day everyone.
Hugs,
Rowan
lol, there's no video in english but you still get the song :D
P.S I've came across a new blogger in the past day or so, or rather, he came across me and i then found his blog.
His name is Gabriel/Gabe/Gabey.... :D
He is 15 and lives in the States, so why not go check out his blog, i'm sure he'd love it.
Gabe's Journal - http://gabeys.blogspot.com/
Friday, 14 May 2010
English Exam
I was gonna post this yessterday but i just wanted to relax after it all, it was quite a tiring ordeal.
I woke up feeling ok, did an hour or two of revision coz the exam didn't start until 1pm, but as the hours wound down i grew more steadily nervous. After all, it was my first proper, big exam in a way. (Music was only 45 minutes)
My dad gave me a lift into school and wished me good luck, i went in and met everyone at our usual table in the cafeteria.
Get this, Alan's birthday was yesterday, the day of the exam!
Unlucky.
My nerves were really building by about 30 mins before so i opened some fruit pastilles and chewed away and then loads were asking for some lol.
I shared and gave one to a few people (two for Alan :P)
Then we were told to make our way to the english rooms (where all exams are to be held) Everyone just kinda fell silent and entered their designated rooms.
The first part was a close reading, basically, you study a passage of an article taken from somewhere and answer questions on it.
Our passage was about an ancient Chinese emperor named Qin, not the most fascinating topic but i at least managed to answer all the questions in time. It was fair, some parts were tough and some were easy.
The close reading is regarded as easy coz it settles you in for what is in store after the 15 minute break, the essays.
During the break i just chewed on some more pastilles and went back into the room, feeeling neither confident nor nervous this time.
I had three texts prepared to write an essay on but you only write two in the exam, the third is a back-up.
The questions you need to base the essay on are all unseen so i was hoping for some luck with the questions and i got them. Nearly all questions suited Sailmaker (drama) and Jekyll and Hyde (prose) so i didn't need to worry about writing on To a Mouse (poetry)
I started with Sailmaker and got tht finished in about 40 minutes, leaving me a full 50 for Jekyll and Hyde, so i took it a bit slower coz i was getting tired and my right arm was killing me!
Again, i finished both essays so i was quite happy with that. Just need to hope that what i wrote made sense, it did at the time but i can't really say whether i feel confident or not about the results. I have no idea, just need to wait until August 5th....
But on the whole, i think it went well tho. I answered everything i needed to and at the end of the day, you can't really do much more than that, i gave it my best and im having a day off today.
Next week i have french on Tuesday and maths on Friday. French is something you can't (and i dont really need to) study for. So this next week i will be focusing hard on maths, which is a bit of a strange one to study for too.
2 exams down, 6 to go....
Cheers,
Rowan
P.S I've never been a big fan of Red Hot Chilli Peppers but my friend, Louis, showed me this song called Readymade and i thought it was pretty good so there's the vid below.
Awesome bass line :D
I woke up feeling ok, did an hour or two of revision coz the exam didn't start until 1pm, but as the hours wound down i grew more steadily nervous. After all, it was my first proper, big exam in a way. (Music was only 45 minutes)
My dad gave me a lift into school and wished me good luck, i went in and met everyone at our usual table in the cafeteria.
Get this, Alan's birthday was yesterday, the day of the exam!
Unlucky.
My nerves were really building by about 30 mins before so i opened some fruit pastilles and chewed away and then loads were asking for some lol.
I shared and gave one to a few people (two for Alan :P)
Then we were told to make our way to the english rooms (where all exams are to be held) Everyone just kinda fell silent and entered their designated rooms.
The first part was a close reading, basically, you study a passage of an article taken from somewhere and answer questions on it.
Our passage was about an ancient Chinese emperor named Qin, not the most fascinating topic but i at least managed to answer all the questions in time. It was fair, some parts were tough and some were easy.
The close reading is regarded as easy coz it settles you in for what is in store after the 15 minute break, the essays.
During the break i just chewed on some more pastilles and went back into the room, feeeling neither confident nor nervous this time.
I had three texts prepared to write an essay on but you only write two in the exam, the third is a back-up.
The questions you need to base the essay on are all unseen so i was hoping for some luck with the questions and i got them. Nearly all questions suited Sailmaker (drama) and Jekyll and Hyde (prose) so i didn't need to worry about writing on To a Mouse (poetry)
I started with Sailmaker and got tht finished in about 40 minutes, leaving me a full 50 for Jekyll and Hyde, so i took it a bit slower coz i was getting tired and my right arm was killing me!
Again, i finished both essays so i was quite happy with that. Just need to hope that what i wrote made sense, it did at the time but i can't really say whether i feel confident or not about the results. I have no idea, just need to wait until August 5th....
But on the whole, i think it went well tho. I answered everything i needed to and at the end of the day, you can't really do much more than that, i gave it my best and im having a day off today.
Next week i have french on Tuesday and maths on Friday. French is something you can't (and i dont really need to) study for. So this next week i will be focusing hard on maths, which is a bit of a strange one to study for too.
2 exams down, 6 to go....
Cheers,
Rowan
P.S I've never been a big fan of Red Hot Chilli Peppers but my friend, Louis, showed me this song called Readymade and i thought it was pretty good so there's the vid below.
Awesome bass line :D
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