To answer Flywatchers question.
Firstly if the battery is suspected of being flat, indeed marginal for a start, then there is one switch you would not operate.
Sure load share as much as you can with the pre-start routine. Alternator and avionics master off.
Now this is where you need to know your aircraft... the one switch I would not be touching is the starter !
That can make life very difficult, indeed possibly a show stopper.
I will have to generalise as we can't cover all aircraft or engine types..
On something like a Lycoming O-320 and up to O-540's you may get a satisfactory swing start.
Once the starter has been operated a failed start will mean the Bendix will remain engaged.
Many Pilots have no idea how to swing start an engine safely, or correctly. Swinging a prop with the Bendix engaged makes the job so much more difficult, - indeed next to impossible on the bigger engines.
I am not even happy swinging a Tomahawk with the starter Bendix engaged.
So on certain aircraft and you think you may have a marginal battery the best thing to do would be to break out the cellphone and ring the LAME. Leave ALL switches in the aircraft off..
Don't even hit the starter, Alternator switched off or not.
Now back to the question about where to have the switches during a normal start..
I would be reading the POH and listening just a little to the instructor. If there is any difference then it would be time to quiz the instructor a little more about it.