Exam Preparation Tips

For many people, exam time is the most stressful part of the school year. With so much riding on the outcome, there can be a high degree of pressure to perform well. Here are some exam preparation tips to help you excel in school.

Getting Started

The earlier you start, the more time you will have to prepare for the exam. You don't have to wait until exam time approaches; try to set the stage from the beginning of the course by reviewing the material after each class. By starting early and studying on a regular basis, you will have a better opportunity to absorb the information and life will be a lot easier when it's time to put it all together for the exam.

Make sure all of your course material is well organized so you can find and fill any gaps. If you miss any classes, get the notes from your friends right away instead of scrambling at the last minute. Proper organization will help you to get a better picture of the material that has to be covered and improve the flow of the study process.

Creating a Study Plan

As the exam nears, you will need to create a plan to help you study effectively and minimize stress. The first step is to figure out how much time and effort you must dedicate to studying for the exam by asking the following questions:

• How much material do you need to cover?
• How difficult is the material?
• How much time is available?
• Do you have any other priorities during the study period?
• What is the format of the exam?
• How important is the exam?
• What is your performance target for the exam?

To prepare the study plan, map out all of the material that has to be covered and make a schedule showing what, when and how much you will study each day. If you have kept up with the course work, studying will involve revision of the material that you have already covered. If you are behind in the course, you will have to finish the readings and other uncompleted work before starting the revision (if there isn't enough time to go over everything, you must decide what is most important for the exam).

Here are some tips to follow in creating your study plan:

• budget your time realistically;
• allocate the study time into several manageable study sessions;
• divide the course material into small segments and assign them to the study sessions;
• set clear and specific goals for the study sessions;
• prioritize to ensure that material weighted more heavily in the exam gets sufficient study time;
• take into account your familiarity with the material and the difficulty level;
• don't make the study sessions too long;
• study sessions should have enough variety in terms of topics and activities to prevent boredom and loss of effectiveness;
• avoid cramming before the exam; and
• don't forget to include regular breaks.

Studying for the Exam

You are now armed with a plan and ready to start studying for the exam. Try to study in a location where you can concentrate and won't be interrupted. You can work with others or join a study group if you find it helpful, but be careful to keep it from turning into an inefficient use of your time. Some proven study tools and techniques are listed below - people respond to different learning styles, so use what works for you.

Revising with Summary Notes

Make a condensed version of your readings and class notes by creating summary notes. Pinpoint the key terms and concepts and make sure that you understand them. You can identify key terms and concepts by paying attention to what has been emphasized in your classes, textbooks and course syllabus. For example, if a particular topic has taken up a lot of time in the classroom, it is more likely to be on the exam and you should have a good understanding of it.

The process of making summary notes can help you to retain more information. By writing the information thoughtfully instead of just seeing it, you can develop a greater perception of the material. To take this further, activate your other senses: you can recite the summary notes aloud, and even record and listen to them.

Memorizing with Flashcards

Flashcards (or "index cards") are a good memorization tool. Reduce your summary notes into bullet points, keywords, lists, formulas and diagrams and place them onto a card for each topic. (Some people like to use flashcards to prepare their summary notes in the first place, while others find that it leads to information overload.)

The items on the flashcards act as memory triggers. By memorizing the flashcards you can enhance your ability to recall larger bits of information referenced by the triggers. You can carry the cards with you and review them even when you have only short bursts of time available.

Practicing under Exam Conditions

Knowing the course material is necessary but not sufficient to guarantee success on the exam - you also need to be able to communicate the answers effectively under exam conditions. Practice using sample questions in the same format as the exam and answer them in a simulated test environment. The sample questions can be sourced from old exams and assignments, which are often similar from year to year with small changes. Even though you are only practicing, it is better to write full answers to the questions so you can work through the entire thought process.

The practice session should serve as a feedback loop. Check the answers to the practice questions to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. If you are weak in an area, go back and study it further to address any gaps.

Taking Care of Yourself

Don't forget to take care of yourself during the exam preparation. It is very important to be in good mental and physical condition for the exam. A small amount of stress can get you psyched, but too much mental or physical strain can be detrimental to your performance. The last thing you want to do is to sabotage your efforts by ignoring your well-being.

After you finish studying, take some time to relax. Don't stay up too late if you can help it and try to get a good night's sleep. Eat before the exam to build your energy, but avoid heavy foods that can make you drowsy.

Keep a positive attitude about the exam. Think of it as a way to demonstrate your knowledge and not as some imposing challenge. Go to the exam focused and relaxed - you have done the work, now it's time to reap the rewards.

        

If you have procrastinated until the very last moment to study, then there are several things you can do to help "soak up" more information in a short amount of time.

First, you should study several sections of material at a time, taking breaks in between sections (several minutes) and skipping around instead of following the order. This will commit the various topics to memory much more effectively than reading through them again and again nonstop.

The Pearl
The person that I would like to emulate in “The Pearl” written by John Steinbeck is Juana. I find that Juana is a good and dutiful wife, a loving and a devoted woman and a very strong courageous woman.
First, as a wife, she gets up before Kino and prepares corn cakes for him. She only eats when Kino has eaten. She speaks only when she is spoken to. She does so because she respects him. She values what Kino has done for her. She is happy with her decent life. She is grateful to have a responsible husband and a healthy son.
Next, as a mother, Juana loves her baby, Coyotito. When Coyotito is stung by the scorpion, she quickly sucks the poison out and asks for a doctor to treat his son. She sucks out the poison without thinking of the risk. When the doctor refuses to treat Coyotito, she does not give up hope. She tries an alternative treatment that she knows. She applies a poultice of seaweed on Coyotito’s wound. She also chants and pray to God to save her son.
Juana also shows her devotion to both her husband and son. When Coyotito is stung by the scorpion, she asks for a doctor. Even though she knows that they cannot afford to pay him, she insists on getting treatment for her son. Similarly, when Kino decides to leave La Paz, she follows him without much arguement. She devotes herself to her husband even after Kino hits her for trying to throw away the pearl back into the sea.
Moreover, I admire Juana for her strength and courage. She is not a greedy person. When she senses that the pearl is evil, she asks Kino to throw it back into the sea. When Kino refuses, she takes matter in her own hands. She tries to throw it into the sea but is prevented by Kino. Then, when her husband accidentally killed an attacker, she gives her full support. She follows hiM to another city . When Kino asks her to leave first with Coyotito so that he can fight the trackers who are following them, Juana refuses him. She insists on staying by his side.
Again Juana shows her strength and courage when her son is killed by the trackers. Instead of giving up and living in regrets, she carries Coyotito’s dead body on her back and asks Kino to throw the pearl back into the sea. Returning the pearl to where it belongs implies that Kino is throwing away the evil that has ripped off their happiness. She hopes without the evil pearl, she will be able to begin a new life.
So, it is clear that Juana is a person I should emulate. Even though she is only a woman from low class background, she has so many wonderful values and great qualities that many women do not possess.

I might not be the top student in my class. But hey, I have done last minute study for several years now, and it worked! I never fail any of my papers. Well, I am just an average joe like you guys, I party a lot, I have a job, I spend most of my time with my friends and yes, girlfriends... you should imagine how much time that I have in a day... and how much time left for my study? NONE!

The first principle for effective last minute study is to leave everything behind and set your study as your only priority. You can leave your problems with your girl, family and even forget about you don't even have a penny in your pocket. Bear in mind, all the time left until you sit for the exam is crucial, and you have to effectively use all the time left for your study. By the way, you have spent the whole year for other things, why don't just sacrifice this little time for your future good? It won't hurt.

Next principle is you have to gear yourself with essential tools, accessories, equipments or anything else that relevance for your study before you start. These may include a cup of dark coffee, a Mentos and even a tooth paste (this is a practice by a friend; she puts a little of it near to her eyes to stay focus). It depends on you. You should know what you need. As for me, I am fine with my iPod to start reading.

Besides that, you can also get a study buddy, and study together. Preferably someone from your class who sits the same exam paper as you do. Work together. Study together. It will save loads of time when you ask him if you find any problem in your study than just read it again and again.

Lastly, stay calm. Do not stress yourself to turn over to next page every 10 seconds in order to finish reading that whole 1000 pages book. You should understand what you are reading. It is ok for you to forget what you are reading in previous page while you are still reading, because you will eventually remember them during exam. Trust me.

Now, what are you waiting for? Start study, my friend! No more time to waste!

How to Study Physics for SPM?

Although I scored an A1 in Physics for SPM, I am not exactly the right person to be asked, "how did you do it?" So, I posed the question to my friend, Jasmine, instead to see what she had to say. Jasmine and I have known each other for 5 years (yes, throughout my secondary school years) but, our fathers know each other longer than that! Anyway, here is what she had to say:
Firstly, Physics is very different compared to the other subjects. Physics is one of the toughest Science subjects for many people. Physics is more to the Maths side as it is mostly calculations, formulaes and principles.. Biology is 100% memorising, Chemistry is 50% calculation, 50% memorising, Physics on the other hand is 100% calculation and formulaes. The study of Physics is very deep and it involves a lot of techincal details: heat, electricity, electronics and so forth. Every minor detail is important and that makes the subject complex and sometimes even tedious. Nevertheless, once mastered, Physics is very useful for survival purposes in our daily life.
One very important thing in Physics is understannding. You must understand what you are learning, not just memorise for the sake of exam. Physics is actually an easy subject to study. All you must know are the formulaes and principles involved.. What usually happens is the teacher will twist the questions and asked them from different angles. That is when it becomes tough. What you must remember is the basic pronciples involved. No matter how tough the question is, in the end, it will always go back to the basic principles.
I would recommend a good revision book for this subject as the school textbook alone is not enough to score. Pay attention in class and ask questions whwnever you don't understand. Do not be scared or shy to question your teachers as it is necessary for you to know in detail about Physics. For eg:
Where did the formulaes come from, how are they derived, how are the variables involved connected to each other, conversion of units and many more.
Master your calculations and make sure you choose the right formulaes for each question. This can be a problem sometimes. Physics is not a mugging subject, you cannot simply study it by the book. You must attempt questions from workbooks and do a lot of exercises. Only then you will be exposed to a wide range of different ways questions can be asked. Hence, you will be able to answer various types oy questions no matter how tough they may seem.
Interest plays a vital role in scoring in this subject. You must show keen interest in studying Physics. Most people dislike the subject as it is far more complicating then the other Science subjects. Therefore, they make no effort to master the subject.
Finally, try attempting the past year questions for Physics. Analyse the questions and topics that have come out in the previous years. SPM questions are always very similar, so chances of the same type of questions coming out every year is very high. Please take note, same type of questions, not same questions. Make sure that you are able to do all the past year questions. If so, you will not have a problem during the actual exam.
It is very important for you to understand in Physics. You MUST know what you are studying. Only then will you be able to score in the subject. Physics is not a difficult subject. I feel that it is much easier than Biology and Chemistry, bur it requires a lot of patience, interest and understanding.
NEXT, I asked her what type of reference books she would recommend. Also asked why she was very interested in the subject.
I don't know what are the reference books they have nowadays for Physics but I would recommend either Success or Focus. I found both quite good. But you can also check out the others that are there now.
I was always interested in tools and mechanical stuff ever since I was small. I love playing with my father's gadgets even now and I suppose that's why I love Physics. This is something that has to come from within I guess.

So, there you have it. Feel free to add on to the above mentioned points. One question for all of you out there, how do you spark an interest in Physics?

Last-Minute Study Tips

SPM by the arrival, for students taking principles of accounting paper at this time make sure you have a question master source document as it is compulsory questions each year. My prediction question this year is:


1) incomplete records
2) realization account
3) bank statement adjustment

above are only predictions do not ignore other topics. secure successful

                   SPM just about 2 month to go. By now all students should covered all the subject already. but it’s not too late to recaps all the subject if you not covered it yet. by the way i wish you all good luck and all the best

old facts

 

As Malaysia is revolutionizing its education system, science and mathematics subjects are being tested in English. Other subjects are still being tested in Malay. Due to this, the SPM Papers for these science and mathematics subjects from 2003 up to 2006 have questions in both English and Malay. The first year to do the Science and Mathematics papers in English will be the students taking the November 2007 papers. In 2003, a new SPM subject, English for Science and Technology (EST)^[4] was introduced. It is an English test based on science and technology.^[5] Students set to take the English Science and Mathematics SPM papers in 2007 are still required to do this subject.

The minimum number of subjects that students have to sit for is 10. Students generally take 9 subjects, if they are in the Arts stream, or 10 subjects, if they are in the Science stream (after the introduction of EST in 2003). However, due to the competitive nature of receiving scholarships to further studies, there has been pressure to take as many subjects as possible. Previously, a maximum of 21 subjects was allowed to be taken, however, rules are now in place to make students pay for any sittings beyond the first 12 subjects of their choice.

EACH year we hear and read about issues and problems regarding the award of PSD scholarships to bright and deserving students.

The plight of many straight A1s students who were not successful are highlighted in the newspapers, much to the chagrin of public.

Political parties have fought to champion the rights of these students. Discussions and debates have been going on on how to select the best students fairly based on the limited financial resources the Government has in hand.

This whole issue is indeed being caught in a vicious cycle year after year, increasing public anger. I would like to put forward a very simple solution to this issue – transparency.

As a practicing educator, I know for a fact that the A1 can range from 60 to 100 marks, and that’s the reason many students find it so easy to score all A1s. During my time, if you got 5 As out of 9 subjects, you were considered exceptionally bright and you would find there were extremely few students scoring straight 9 As.

So are we saying that students nowadays are much brighter than students of yesteryears? Absolutely not. Teachers nowadays are very surprised that students who get 60 to 65 marks in a subject during the trial examination may end up getting an A1 in the SPM.

I would strongly recommend that the Education Ministry revamps the grading system of public examinations by reverting to absolute scores.

This has been implemented in many examinations overseas, such as GCSE, Australian Matriculation, ACCA, the Edexcel A-Levels, etc.

Release the absolute scores of each subject for every student in the public examinations as is done for the trial examinations in the schools.

In the awarding of PSD scholarships, I would like to propose that there be two schemes – one based totally on merit and one based on racial quotas. In the first scheme, I would propose that the 500 best students based on the average scores of the 10 best subjects be given scholarships to any top university in the world of their choice.

In order to force them to serve the country after they have graduated, they should be bonded for a number of years and if they break the bond, a penalty of RM2mil to RM3mil be imposed. This will prevent international companies from “buying” them out.

Of course, if the Government wishes to interview them in the selection process, it can do so, but I am very sure most of these students will pass the interview without any problems.

In the second scheme, with each racial group, the selection should be based on a combination of merit, social background, and other suitable criteria with weighted scores for each criteria.

To appease the public, the Government should release the list of successful candidates for the two schemes together with the weighted scores of the criteria used, and the total weighted scores.

Finally, I would also propose that students be still allowed to sit for as many subjects as they wish but for the purpose of scholarship selection, only the 10 best subjects be considered. Academic excellence must not be suppressed.

the star

Wednesday , 3th June 2009

 

PRACTISING EDUCATOR,

Petaling Jaya, Selangor.