How to study without matric :)

[Quentin Legend]

Glad for you, your self confidence will get a massive boost once you completed it. I'm now busy with 2nd semester LLB via Unisa.

Edit

Did the course material change much compared to what I gave you?

Sent you a PM

See below for the 2014 changes to the GED:

The GED® Test has changed significantly for 2014. The most obvious is that it is administered only on computers and includes several new types of questions, including short answer and drag-and-drop questions. There are two Extended Response items on the exam.

The most notable change, however, is the greater emphasis on reasoning skills in mathematics and argumentative writing. Because the new GED Test is designed to provide equivalency for a high school diploma as well as higher level college and career readiness, it is aligned with the Common Core State Standards used in today’s high school programs.

As a test-taker, you need to demonstrate your ability to read and comprehend more complex passages and make logical inferences that are supported by textual evidence. In short, the 2014 GED Test requires you to show readiness for higher level thinking required for college and careers.

Mathematical Reasoning Test
The 2014 GED math test emphasizes more algebra and reasoning skills compared to the 2002 series GED Test. The 2014 test includes 55% algebra test items. To do well on the new test, you need to understand the reason why a word problem is set up the way it is. Instead of merely memorizing algorithms and formulas, you need to communicate your awareness of how they apply to real-world situations.

Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) Test
The RLA test requires a higher level of thinking complexity than the 2002 series test.
You will need to analyze information and evaluate complex argumentative texts in both the reading and writing sections. There is also a new essay requirement called Extended Response, which requires you to analyze one or more source texts and produce an argumentative essay.

The RLA Extended Response presents two written arguments. You are given 45 minutes to read and evaluate them, then develop your own argumentative essay in response. Your response should draw on relevant and sufficient evidence from the passages to support your claim that one passage is a more effective argument.

Science Test
The GED® Science Test focuses on the fundamentals of science reasoning through eight science practices that are interwoven into science concepts. You are tested on your ability to glean information from scientific texts, reason with data representations, and apply key scientific models, theories, and processes. Answering these questions does not require specific science knowledge, but rather the ability to think like a scientist to evaluate science passages, charts, and tables. The science questions center around on health and living systems as well as energy systems.

Social Studies Test
The new Social Studies test will draw from four content areas: Civics and Government (50%), United States History (20%), Geography and the World (15%), and Economics (15%). As in the Science test, the broad domains are broken down into subtopics to narrow the scope of what is assessed. You are expected to be broadly familiar with the concepts in each content topic, but you are not expected to have in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of each subtopic. The GED® Social Studies Test assesses your reasoning skills in the fundamentals of social studies, striking a balance of deeper conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and the ability to apply these fundamentals in realistic situations.

The 2014 Social Studies Extended Response presents the you with two engaging passages on a similar topic. You are given 25 minutes to evaluate both and respond with conclusions about their meaning and relationship.

Computer-Based Testing
The 2014 test is a computer-based test requiring sufficient computer and keyboarding skills. To demonstrate your writing skills in Extended Response and Short Answer items, you need to be able to type at least 20 words per minute. You will need to use the following computer skills:
Using the mouse and cursor
Using buttons, icons, menus, and links
Opening, closing, and scrolling in windows
Keyboarding
Recognizing and finding help areas
Answering multiple choice questions
Using forms and form elements, such as drop-down menus
Clicking on a “hot spot”
Performing drag-and-drop activities
Typing short and long answers, including using cut, copy, paste, undo, and redo

How GED Test Practice Can Help You Prepare for The GED Test.
The best way to prepare for the new GED Test is to determine exactly what you need to study. This is where GED Test Practice excels. Not only does this program, available from GED Academy, predict your readiness for the GED Test using the same type of questions found on the actual GED test, but it pinpoints precisely what you need to study. Each of the twelve practice tests identifies the exact skills you need to brush up on, then tells you where to study those in the GED Academy and Essential Skills Workbooks.

 

[HavocXphere]

Hey guys,

Sorry for another Necro, I have finally decided to go ahead and get a GED, and then enrol for a Bcompt in Accounting through UNISA (might move to Tukkies after 1ste year, depending on if I can get funding). Main goal is to become a qualified CA (my GF is also going to be studying to become a CA, starting in 2016).

I enrolled with GED Academy 3 days ago and I've already finished 1 subject and half way done with the second subject (there are 5 in total).

Planning on writing my exams in 5-6 weeks.

Will post updates on the whole process as "Alternatives to Matric" seems to be a big blind spot in South Africa.

Sounds like a good plan. How old are you at the moment?

You'll need to scrap the part about transferring to Tuks though...its not going to happen (actually I've never heard of a transfer in from *any* university). The end result is CTA either way though so its not going to prevent you from reaching your goal.

 

[Quentin Legend]

Sounds like a good plan. How old are you at the moment?

You'll need to scrap the part about transferring to Tuks though...its not going to happen (actually I've never heard of a transfer in from *any* university). The end result is CTA either way though so its not going to prevent you from reaching your goal.

I am 19, turning 20 in October.

Only reason I'm considering UNISA is due to funding, I need to find the finances for Varsity, and Tukkies costing +- R100k a year (inc residence & books) is very expensive.

I'm not exactly sure what my options are regarding funding, one of my friends got a NSFAS bursary but it took months to get approved.

I do not mind waiting until the second semester if that means I can get a bursary and go to Tuks.

Any advice?

 

[Y'all Qaeda]

I am 19, turning 20 in October.

Only reason I'm considering UNISA is due to funding, I need to find the finances for Varsity, and Tukkies costing +- R100k a year (inc residence & books) is very expensive.

I'm not exactly sure what my options are regarding funding, one of my friends got a NSFAS bursary but it took months to get approved.

I do not mind waiting until the second semester if that means I can get a bursary and go to Tuks.

Any advice?

Pretty sure Tuks doesn't take new students in the second semester.

 

[Quentin Legend]

Pretty sure Tuks doesn't take new students in the second semester.

Damn, okay if that's the case I'll either have to get funding sorted before the 30th of September or just go with UNISA.

Could anyone please explain what the best options would be regarding funding? I know a student loan is not exactly the best idea.

Or could I get a student loan to use until I get a bursary? (I always make sure I get good marks).

 

[Y'all Qaeda]

Damn, okay if that's the case I'll either have to get funding sorted before the 30th of September or just go with UNISA.

Could anyone please explain what the best options would be regarding funding? I know a student loan is not exactly the best idea.

Or could I get a student loan to use until I get a bursary? (I always make sure I get good marks).

Hate to be the bubble burster here, but Unisa has closed applications for second semester already, was open from 7 April to 25th April this year. If you've applied earlier for your degree you're probably golden, if you haven't, bad news.

This is year is going to be a write-off for you - perhaps start planning on next year, focus on getting your stuff sorted out and getting to know the ins and outs and importantly the dates at the institution you want to go to.

 

[HavocXphere]

100k? Damn then prices must have gone up dramatically...

The best funding option would be a bursary from one of the accounting firms...best shot at that will be with your 1st year results. Once 2nd year starts the marks tank for everyone...at Tuks at least not sure how it goes UNISA side.

So for the 1st year NSFAS is your best bet.

 

[Quentin Legend]

Hate to be the bubble burster here, but Unisa has closed applications for second semester already, was open from 7 April to 25th April this year. If you've applied earlier for your degree you're probably golden, if you haven't, bad news.

This is year is going to be a write-off for you - perhaps start planning on next year, focus on getting your stuff sorted out and getting to know the ins and outs and importantly the dates at the institution you want to go to.

No, what I meant was: if I'm too late for the 30 September 2014 registrations, could I still apply for 2015's second semester?

100k? Damn then prices must have gone up dramatically...

The best funding option would be a bursary from one of the accounting firms...best shot at that will be with your 1st year results. Once 2nd year starts the marks tank for everyone...at Tuks at least not sure how it goes UNISA side.

So for the 1st year NSFAS is your best bet.

R100k is hectic! I used the cost calculator on UP's website. It does include tuition, residence, books and meals though.

Skipping the meals, it's probably around R60-70k.

I'll try my best to sort out everything before September and then also funding, even if it means that I would have to get a student loan for my first year.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Pretty sure Tuks doesn't take new students in the second semester.

Any varsity will take new students in the second semester... I did that at UND when I started my degree... Quit my job in June, started in July ... If there are spaces they will take the student.

 

[HavocXphere]

I'll try my best to sort out everything before September and then also funding, even if it means that I would have to get a student loan for my first year.

Thats why I'm saying NSFAS - then you could possibly still partially convert it to a bursary.

Any varsity will take new students in the second semester... I did that at UND when I started my degree... Quit my job in June, started in July ... If there are spaces they will take the student.

Not in this case. This course contains year long modules & you've got no chance in hell of joining one of those half-way through even if they let you try (they won't).

 

[Bluefinllama]

I fully agree with your sentiment of matric not being of any interest to you, went through school (including matric) without once studying, was able to pass everything, but as soon as I started doing things after school (stuff I was interested in) I started getting upwards of 90% for everything - not bad for someone who barely managed to pass matric.

 

[TheGuy]

I'm 30 and writing my last 2 Matric subjects this year Afrikaans and English. Then I would also like to study through Unisa

 

[semblance]

An alternative way to get university entrance or a 'matric' is to write A or AS levels via Cambridge.

The A level is compared to a first year's course of university grade learning.

The AS level is under the A level (AS < A), but is better than the South African matric equivalent.

You can even get a HESA (Higher Education SA) endorsement if you take a certain combination of subjects.

Please peruse the following links for more information:

CIE (Cambridge International Exams)
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-an...ridge-international-as-and-a-levels/subjects/

Exam booking/writing (In May/June and Oct/Nov):
http://www.britishcouncil.org.za/exam/school/register/private

HESA Endorsement Guide:
http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/file/33/7305/HESA_Cambridge brochure.pdf

You'll buy the textbooks yourself (via Kalahari, Loot or Takealot) and learn by yourself. E-book versions are also available if you buy from Cambridge Press on-line.

You could hire a tutor for additional help if needed. Other than that you're pretty much on your own.

This is a really high level way of doing matric because the Cambridge syllabus is of a much higher quality. To elaborate, to get a matric 'A' equivalent you would need to score a 'D' if attempting A-level or a 'B' if attempting AS-level.

Thanks to ponder for suggesting to put this up here.

 

[ponder]

Thanks to ponder for suggesting to put this up here.

Had a quick look at the course content for math/science related subjects and it looks really good. If I was in a similar situation I would seriously consider this route. I know some local private scools where the kids write both the a level & local matric exams.

This also offers exams twice a year which is cool.

 

[ice_cubes]

Damn, okay if that's the case I'll either have to get funding sorted before the 30th of September or just go with UNISA.

Could anyone please explain what the best options would be regarding funding? I know a student loan is not exactly the best idea.

Or could I get a student loan to use until I get a bursary? (I always make sure I get good marks).

You can apply to TUKS and apply for NSFAS at the same time. If you pass all your subjects, 40% is converted into a bursary and you only owe them 60%.

The CA program only takes students once a year (in Jan) because there's so much competition for space, its always full anyway.

 

[DA-LION-619]

A bit OT, how hard is it to get NSFAS funding? I've got no feed back yet.

 

[ice_cubes]

A bit OT, how hard is it to get NSFAS funding? I've got no feed back yet.

NSFAS is easy to get.
The hard part is getting feedback because there's so many people applying from all the tertiary institutions in SA. Tts literally hundreds of thousands of applications all flooding in at the same time each year, and they need to go through each application and verify the supporting documents of each applicant. Some people send incomplete documents or send documents more than once - which further delays the whole process.

 

[ichigo]

If I want to study accounting or IT for a degree is Science/Maths enough or do I have to pass all 6 since I only wrote those 2 in Matric.

 

[Packer]

I decided I want to do a degree in information technology - purely because I have no other formal qualification, and because it'll keep me entertained and out of trouble.

The problem is most places, like Unisa, require matric, or some other qualification, what are alternatives in getting round this? There's no ways I'm interested in doing matric and I some how don't think they'll believe me if I tell them I'll do extremely well because its what I do daily, and have been doing daily for the last 10 years....

I also like the idea of doing it through an international university, but the same problem applies...

Degrees are a waste of time (I have an inside track on academia and the curriculum development process will make your toes curl – and parents pay for this). If the paperwork is not important, do what I did (I dropped-out of 2 degrees before I devised a better scheme).

Redundant in my scheme.
1. Register for a degree (if you can) which includes your subjects of interest. Get the course material and obtain the text books. Do as much as you want – then drop-out.

2. Even cheaper. Check-out a friends course material and obtain the required text books. Do only what you want.

3. My scheme (even less hassle). Browse a 2nd hand university bookshop. Pick up what you want cheaply. CAUTION: There are stacks of extremely interesting books from other disciplines. You could get carried away. The medical texts are especially interesting.

The key here is that all these books have been vetted for suitability by academics for their courses. The crap quotient is very low.

 

[Packer]

Hi Gravyface

sorry for the highjack , just wanna confirm is a N3 certificate not a Senior Certificate ?
I have N3 with Maths, Eng Science, Industrial Electronics, Instrument Trade Theory, Electrical Trade Theory and English and Afrikaans all on HG but apparently it means **** , and nowhere on my cert does it mention University Exemption so i cant enroll at Unisa for a BSc IT

Ive sent numerous mails asking for help but nothing even used the stupid contact us tab on the website

can someone maybe give me some info about these access courses i tried the link that Korn posted doe snot work have also searched UNISA website still nothing

thanks peeps

I had the same (I also had Applied Mechanics). The infuriating irony is that it is way harder than a commercial Senior Certificate yet it is not recognised.