How To Study Effectively

In Singapore, after 6 years of primary and 4 years of secondary school education, students can choose to proceed to tertiary education such as 2 years of Junior College (JC) or 3 years of polytechnics, followed by university education. As such, in such a long academic journey, it is crucial that students know how to study effectively for their examinations. 

How To Study Effectively

Here are some tips to improve the results of your revision:

1) Set study goals

The first step to study effectively is to set study goals. This means knowing what you want to achieve from studying and setting a target grade or score that you want to hit. Having study goals gives you a sense of direction and motivation to study harder.

2) Create a study schedule

After setting your study goals, the next step is to create a study schedule. This helps to ensure that you have allocated enough time for each subject that you are revising for. A study schedule also allows you to better manage your time so that you do not end up feeling overwhelmed by the revision process.

Make sure you have a plan for the next week or so planning what you are going to revise on that day. Scientific research has found out your brain will absorb things more effectively if you go back to it once the next day, then again a week after. This is so you can keep refreshing your brain and make sure you get it.

By going back to something you’ve learnt in the past, you have a different understanding and it helps you interlink the knowledge to, maybe, something else from another chapter. By leaving a topic untouched, no matter how easy it is, will make you forget it.

3) Set some time aside every day to memorize

Firstly, memory work is inevitable for many subjects, so you need to devote a good amount of time doing so before your examinations. It would be wise to set aside specific times and sessions to memorise your content, long before your exam season. Memorising the content over a long period of time, as opposed to in short bursts days, or hours before your exams, is way more effective in the long run as your brain is able to better retain the information that you learnt.

There are many techniques of memorisation, so you should experiment with a few to see which works better for you. Some popular techniques are:

– Creating mnemonics: This involves creating short, catchy phrases or words to help you remember a certain concept or process. For example, the mnemonic H2O = H–O–H can be used to remember that water is a polar molecule because it contains a hydrogen bond.

– Writing out notes: This is a rather old-fashioned way of learning, but it definitely works for some people! Handwritten notes have been proven to be more effective in helping people remember information, as opposed to typing them out on a computer. If you’re someone who prefers this method, get a good quality notebook and start taking down notes!

– Drawing mind maps: Mind maps are a great tool for visualising complex concepts and organising information in an easily comprehensible manner. You can use them to break down the different topics in the particular subject, and map out the relationships between different concepts. This will make revising for your examinations a lot easier as you’ll be able to see the bigger picture and remember everything in the right context.

– Repeat, repeat, repeat: This is probably the most common way that students learn. Reading through your notes multiple times will help embed the information in your brain, and before you know it, you’ll be able to recite them in your sleep!

4) Find a suitable study environment

Another important factor in studying effectively is finding a suitable study environment. This means finding a place where you feel comfortable revising and where there are minimal distractions. For some people, this may mean studying in a quiet room by themselves. For others, they may prefer to study in a library or with music playing in the background.

Some people may prefer studying alone while others would rather study in groups. Group study sessions are a great way to learn and engage with your classmates in topic discussions. You can divide up the content among yourselves, and help each other out by clarifying any doubts or misconceptions you may have about the content. In addition, you can also help each other practice answering past year questions and test papers, so that you can be better prepared for your examinations.

Teaching your friend is also one of the most effective ways to help yourself understand the concepts even better. When you have to explain a concept to someone else, you will be forced to think about it in greater detail and really understand how it works. This will also help build your confidence in the lead up to your examinations as you’ll know that you can definitely handle any exam question that comes your way!

Of course, your circle of friends is also extremely important for providing emotional support for one another. The major examinations such as O Level and A Level can be a stressful period, so it’s crucial to have people you can rely on for a listening ear and words of encouragement!

5) Understand your learning style

Everyone learns differently and thus, it is important to understand your own learning style. This means finding out the methods of study that work best for you. Some people may prefer visual aids such as flashcards or mind maps while others may prefer listening to audio recordings of their revision notes. Experiment with different study methods and stick to the ones that work best for you.

6) Take breaks

Although it is important to put in the hours when revision, it is also crucial that you take breaks in between study sessions. This helps to refresh your mind and body so that you can continue revising with a clear head. Make sure to schedule in some time for relaxation and exercise into your study schedule so that you do not burn out from all the revision.

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to take care of your health if you want to do well in your examinations. After all, you won’t be able to focus on your studies if you’re feeling rundown and exhausted all the time. Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly will help to boost your energy levels and keep your mind sharp. 

Give yourself an ample amount of breaks! Having a good amount of rest and relaxation is pivotal to your mental health, and it also makes sure you have a refreshed mind for more learning!

Burnout is a serious problem that many students face, crippling them and stunting their potential moments before the major exams. To avoid this, portion your time well between study-time and rest-time. During your rest-time sessions, do anything that makes you feel energized and happy! Play a sport, hang out with friends, read a book, maybe even take a nap!

Time used for self-care is not time wasted at all!

By following these tips, you will be on your way to becoming a more effective learner and achieving the grades that you desire. Should you need extra guidance in your studies, fret not, Sophia Education is here to help!

With our tuition classes at Sophia Education, students are able to receive ample time for consultations to work through their doubts and misconceptions. The small class sizes for our small group tuition also ensure that our tutors can devote more attention to each student and provide personalised guidance, a feat that might not be possible for regular school teachers who are focusing on up to 40 students at a time. 

Sophia Education’s tuition provides our students with concise notes and resources every lesson so that they can have a better understanding of the topic and practice more effectively. Our top tutors will guide the students step-by-step and help them to overcome their weaknesses quickly. 

So, if you are looking for quality tuition, look no further than Sophia Education! Contact us now or visit our website to learn more about our personalised tuition services!

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