Reply 1
•
Triage. Identify which topics are weakest and also show up the most frequently in papers/yield the most marks. Focus on these. Don't start from the first topic in your unit then go through all your topics chronologically for the sake of completion. You'll likely end up running out of time to tackle what you're actually bad at. Start with your worst topics.
•
Maths is the simplest subject to revise for. Compile as many practice questions and past papers as possible. Maths is pretty universal so you can use questions from other exam boards too. There's plenty to do. Work through the questions and when you come across a topic you don't understand, watch YouTube videos explaining the topic and doing examples. My favourite channel is TL Maths. If you still don't understand the answer, you can try asking AI. Make sure to challenge yourself when practicing. Don't waste time on comfortable, easy questions. If you're stuck on something for a very long time though, at this point it might be best to cut your losses and move on to the next question.
•
Do not make notes, summary sheets, or flashcards. You have no time. This is not an effective way to improve your performance in your exam. If you follow all these steps and still have time before your exam, you can consider making a cheat sheet for key things to remember, and look at it before you go into the exam. Otherwise, don't.
•
Some methods I use to study for Biology and Chemistry are:
•
Active reading/watching videos: scribble things down before and after learning new information, talk things out, identify key terms, test your understanding as you read/watch videos.
•
SQ3R: survey, question, read, recite, review.
•
Feynman technique: explain what you learnt as simply as you can, in your own words, without looking at your notes. Identify gaps in your understanding and review those topics.
•
Learning in layers: learn the basics, then the general concepts, and finally the details.
•
Make some mnemonics for remembering key information, e.g. SAMO (Strong Acid, use Methyl Orange). Please Send Charlies Monkeys... (reactivity series; Potassium, Sodium, Calcium...).
•
Blurting: set a timer and write down everything you can remember about a specific topic. Really push yourself. Then check your notes and fill in the gaps.
•
Mind-mapping: this is not a form of note taking. This is like an alternative form of blurting that places focus on identifying links between information. Set a timer and write down what you can remember, and while you do this try to link the information on the page with lines and arrows. Go back to your notes once the timer is up, then try to make an even better mind-map.
•
Most importantly, do practice questions and past papers. Try to do at least one past paper in exam conditions before your exam. The others, you can sift through them to find the questions you're worst at and just pick out what you need to work on. But it is so important to practice answering questions. This is what actually prepares you to take the exam.
•
Bonus: every day visualize doing well in the exam. Visualize sitting in the exam hall with the paper in front of you, being calm, working methodically, paying attention to the time, and acing it. Visualize as you go into the exam hall. Practice box breathing. When you feel stuck in your revision, meditate. Khan Academy has a great 10 minute guided meditation for students. It is really effective to clear your mind and improve your focus. Alternatively, go on a walk, or get some exercise. If you struggle to make yourself study, just open your books. Identify what is making you procrastinate and eliminate it. Use pomodoro technique if you struggle to study for long hours. If you need to get a lot of studying done in a day, I suggest doing up to 8x90 minute study sessions divided by 30 minute breaks. I have studied 10 hours in a day before my exam doing this. However keep in mind it's not sustainable and a last resort.
Reply 2
•
Triage. Identify which topics are weakest and also show up the most frequently in papers/yield the most marks. Focus on these. Don't start from the first topic in your unit then go through all your topics chronologically for the sake of completion. You'll likely end up running out of time to tackle what you're actually bad at. Start with your worst topics.
•
Maths is the simplest subject to revise for. Compile as many practice questions and past papers as possible. Maths is pretty universal so you can use questions from other exam boards too. There's plenty to do. Work through the questions and when you come across a topic you don't understand, watch YouTube videos explaining the topic and doing examples. My favourite channel is TL Maths. If you still don't understand the answer, you can try asking AI. Make sure to challenge yourself when practicing. Don't waste time on comfortable, easy questions. If you're stuck on something for a very long time though, at this point it might be best to cut your losses and move on to the next question.
•
Do not make notes, summary sheets, or flashcards. You have no time. This is not an effective way to improve your performance in your exam. If you follow all these steps and still have time before your exam, you can consider making a cheat sheet for key things to remember, and look at it before you go into the exam. Otherwise, don't.
•
Some methods I use to study for Biology and Chemistry are:
•
Active reading/watching videos: scribble things down before and after learning new information, talk things out, identify key terms, test your understanding as you read/watch videos.
•
SQ3R: survey, question, read, recite, review.
•
Feynman technique: explain what you learnt as simply as you can, in your own words, without looking at your notes. Identify gaps in your understanding and review those topics.
•
Learning in layers: learn the basics, then the general concepts, and finally the details.
•
Make some mnemonics for remembering key information, e.g. SAMO (Strong Acid, use Methyl Orange). Please Send Charlies Monkeys... (reactivity series; Potassium, Sodium, Calcium...).
•
Blurting: set a timer and write down everything you can remember about a specific topic. Really push yourself. Then check your notes and fill in the gaps.
•
Mind-mapping: this is not a form of note taking. This is like an alternative form of blurting that places focus on identifying links between information. Set a timer and write down what you can remember, and while you do this try to link the information on the page with lines and arrows. Go back to your notes once the timer is up, then try to make an even better mind-map.
•
Most importantly, do practice questions and past papers. Try to do at least one past paper in exam conditions before your exam. The others, you can sift through them to find the questions you're worst at and just pick out what you need to work on. But it is so important to practice answering questions. This is what actually prepares you to take the exam.
•
Bonus: every day visualize doing well in the exam. Visualize sitting in the exam hall with the paper in front of you, being calm, working methodically, paying attention to the time, and acing it. Visualize as you go into the exam hall. Practice box breathing. When you feel stuck in your revision, meditate. Khan Academy has a great 10 minute guided meditation for students. It is really effective to clear your mind and improve your focus. Alternatively, go on a walk, or get some exercise. If you struggle to make yourself study, just open your books. Identify what is making you procrastinate and eliminate it. Use pomodoro technique if you struggle to study for long hours. If you need to get a lot of studying done in a day, I suggest doing up to 8x90 minute study sessions divided by 30 minute breaks. I have studied 10 hours in a day before my exam doing this. However keep in mind it's not sustainable and a last resort.
Reply 3
•
Triage. Identify which topics are weakest and also show up the most frequently in papers/yield the most marks. Focus on these. Don't start from the first topic in your unit then go through all your topics chronologically for the sake of completion. You'll likely end up running out of time to tackle what you're actually bad at. Start with your worst topics.
•
Maths is the simplest subject to revise for. Compile as many practice questions and past papers as possible. Maths is pretty universal so you can use questions from other exam boards too. There's plenty to do. Work through the questions and when you come across a topic you don't understand, watch YouTube videos explaining the topic and doing examples. My favourite channel is TL Maths. If you still don't understand the answer, you can try asking AI. Make sure to challenge yourself when practicing. Don't waste time on comfortable, easy questions. If you're stuck on something for a very long time though, at this point it might be best to cut your losses and move on to the next question.
•
Do not make notes, summary sheets, or flashcards. You have no time. This is not an effective way to improve your performance in your exam. If you follow all these steps and still have time before your exam, you can consider making a cheat sheet for key things to remember, and look at it before you go into the exam. Otherwise, don't.
•
Some methods I use to study for Biology and Chemistry are:
•
Active reading/watching videos: scribble things down before and after learning new information, talk things out, identify key terms, test your understanding as you read/watch videos.
•
SQ3R: survey, question, read, recite, review.
•
Feynman technique: explain what you learnt as simply as you can, in your own words, without looking at your notes. Identify gaps in your understanding and review those topics.
•
Learning in layers: learn the basics, then the general concepts, and finally the details.
•
Make some mnemonics for remembering key information, e.g. SAMO (Strong Acid, use Methyl Orange). Please Send Charlies Monkeys... (reactivity series; Potassium, Sodium, Calcium...).
•
Blurting: set a timer and write down everything you can remember about a specific topic. Really push yourself. Then check your notes and fill in the gaps.
•
Mind-mapping: this is not a form of note taking. This is like an alternative form of blurting that places focus on identifying links between information. Set a timer and write down what you can remember, and while you do this try to link the information on the page with lines and arrows. Go back to your notes once the timer is up, then try to make an even better mind-map.
•
Most importantly, do practice questions and past papers. Try to do at least one past paper in exam conditions before your exam. The others, you can sift through them to find the questions you're worst at and just pick out what you need to work on. But it is so important to practice answering questions. This is what actually prepares you to take the exam.
•
Bonus: every day visualize doing well in the exam. Visualize sitting in the exam hall with the paper in front of you, being calm, working methodically, paying attention to the time, and acing it. Visualize as you go into the exam hall. Practice box breathing. When you feel stuck in your revision, meditate. Khan Academy has a great 10 minute guided meditation for students. It is really effective to clear your mind and improve your focus. Alternatively, go on a walk, or get some exercise. If you struggle to make yourself study, just open your books. Identify what is making you procrastinate and eliminate it. Use pomodoro technique if you struggle to study for long hours. If you need to get a lot of studying done in a day, I suggest doing up to 8x90 minute study sessions divided by 30 minute breaks. I have studied 10 hours in a day before my exam doing this. However keep in mind it's not sustainable and a last resort.
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