So starting with the topic, it was not a wise decision to ask me to talk about O levels but as y'all know have probably know that I did not score very well, at least not what I expected. So some of my tips do not work for you, you will have to find your very own best method of studying!!
So I was told that when you do O level, your work must be very consistent and you must always start early, it's not like N level (for those who have gone through that like I did). It is definitely not something you can start last minute and score very well.
So what I did was I started chionging in February to around June and yes, i was very consistent in my work, my attendance was 100% and I started my Ten year series and everything, to realise that I WAS WRONG.
yes of course, you should always start early but in the sense that you should only do your homework and consistently revise your work. definitely NOT CHIONGING. Why?
Because you will get tired by the time O level comes. Trust me, I have been there and done that. I refused to listen and my results prove me wrong, and I regret it. I will always remember what my principal told me (surprising, but yes, its the fact that i remember ok). He said "Preparing for O level is like being a pilot. When the plane first starts to prepare to take off, it doesn't take off with a full speed, it takes off at a constant speed so by the time it lands, there is still energy left in the plane."
I have done a lot of practices and definitely spent a huge amount of my secondary 5 life studying lifelessly for O level but I was wrong, very very wrong, I shouldn't started so early so I could at least study when O level comes. My grades started degrading and it was not pleasant, I no longer have the mindset to study for prelim 2 and definitely, O level. When its left with 1 week to O level, I am NOT studying, I only started "reading" through my notes when the subject is tested the next day. this is how much 'starting early' mindset got me into. So no, definitely don't chiong early. I would suggest chionging in June or so. Only revise your work and do your homework consistently in January ~ May, don't chiong. But of course, if you are weaker in a lot of earlier topics then you should brush up on them.
So I was the type of student where I need to clarify ASAP when I do not understand if not I will just leave it as it is. When you ask questions, you are actually clearing your doubts and also, helping your classmates or those who dare not to ask, be clear about the doubt. "It is good to be a fool for a few minutes than a fool for life," don't be afraid to ask because you think that your questions are dumb or stupid. The fact is you will not be the only one who is confused about the stupid questions. So ask. you may seem to be a fool, but that will last for a few minutes, it is better than to not ask and be a fool for life!
Scientific research has shown that over 80% of the scholars score well because of their devotion to the time they used to make notes. Yes, it will be tiring and stupid to make notes when you are already given notes by your lecturers or teachers. But think about it, when you are making notes, you are actually READING and THINKING about the content in the notes, it is also REVISING your work.
Firstly, you have to find out if you are the type to study with friends or alone. You can find out by observing yourself when you are out studying with friends. Do you use your phone a lot or talk to your friends most of the time? If so, you should try studying alone. For me, I study the best when I am alone. I will coop myself up in my study room, and I will just study. I would mute my phone as well because y'all know, phone is a major distraction!
Secondly, you also have to find out if you are the type to study with music playing in the background or not. I have many friends and teachers who told me not to study with music because the music will end up in your mind instead of the work and also, chances of you singing along with the music are also very high! For me, I study with music most of the time but nope, i don't sing along with it unless I got very bored. When I am memorising my work, I don't play music because it is disturbing my mind from memorising. BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS SO YA.
For this tip, it really depends because I have know friends who study the best when they don't take breaks. This is because when they take breaks, their mind will shut down for that day. For example, they give themselves a 5 minutes break so by the time 5 minutes end, their mind couldn't adjust back to study so they ended up giving themselves more and more time for break. P/S I belong to this category.
Another category will be taking a break. this is to relax their mind so that they are not stress or tense. During the break, it will be good to just stay away from books-related stuff. When they are studying, it should be 100% without distraction, just you yourself and the book for around an hour then give yourself maybe 20 minutes break.
MOST IMPORTANT TIP: HAVE GOAL, BE ORGANISED, STAY TO IT.
This tip is very very important! It is important to have a goal, really! Goals will help you to be motivated and stay focus. for me, I like to set individual goals for myself, for example, English I must get B3 and Math A2 or so. I once attend this study talk in my school, they said GOALS should be SMART.
Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-based.
Being specific means that what goals are you setting for yourself? What subjects? How are you going to achieve the goal?
Being measurable, achievable and realistic means that the goal is ought to be within reach, for example, don't expected yourself to jump from F9 to a A1 unless you are willing to spend 70% of time doing that subject. Set goals to be something you can foresee yourself getting to the target.
Time-based means you should give yourself a time to reach the goal, for example, by Prelim 2, I want to get a B3 for my English.
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So yep, that's it for my post today. Good luck for those who are doing their O levels this year!
Including myself. x_x
P/S: don't bother asking my aggregate, i won't disclose it on social media. If you want to know, then ask me personally or dm me on twitter.
And as always, thank you for reading!
Twitter/Instagram: minhuikoh