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How To Study O Level Physics like Pro: Super Tutor’s Advices from Sophia Education
Learning physics may seem daunting at first, especially with the many formulas and calculations needed. Excelling in Physics academically, is often perceived to be based purely on talent – either you possess the ability to, or you don’t. The latter party usually finds topics, such as forces and dynamics, mind boggling, as they are not able to wrap their head around the invisible forces in action when they encounter hypothetical situations. Most students find the subject tough, but with the right approach and guidance, it can be manageable. This article shall discuss some tips for students to do well in this subject.
How To Study O Level Physics like Pro
Firstly, let’s take a look at the O Level Physics syllabus. There will be 3 papers that students will sit for.
| Assessment | Content | Marks | Weighting / % |
| Paper 1 (1 h) | 40 compulsory multiple choice questions (MCQs), each MCQ will have 4 options to choose from. | 40 | 30 |
| Paper 2 (1 h 45 min) | Section A (50 marks) – A variable number of compulsory structured questions Section B (30 marks) – First 2 compulsory questions, one of which will be a data-based question carrying 8-12 marks. Last question will be presented in an either / or form and will carry 10 marks. | 80 | 50 |
| Paper 3 (1 h 50 min) Practical | Section A (20 marks) – 1 to 2 compulsory practical experiment questions with a total duration of 55 min Section B (20 marks) – One compulsory 55 min practical experiment question Areas of assessment:
| 40 | 20 |
Here are some tips on how to study O Level Physics like a pro, from our very own Super Tutors at Sophia Education:
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Understand the concepts and characteristics of each chapter
One of the most important things in studying O Level Physics is to ensure that you understand the concepts taught in class. Zoning out or dozing off in class may not be the best thing to do, no matter how boring the teacher is. Before attending the class, try to squeeze some time out to read through the notes and textbook and have a basic understanding of the chapter and content that will be taught. This will help to reinforce your knowledge and better equip you to handle any questions that may come up during class.
Every chapter is different. For example, forces require a lot of drawing and visualisation in 3D space, while Transfer of Thermal Energy is more about understanding how heat is transferred. Familiarise yourself with the key concepts in each chapter, so that you can study each one more effectively.
Some topics test the same questions all the time, and require you to just regurgitate the same formula each time. Others are different every time you see them, and requires you to fully understand the technique, and apply them to the question. Make sure you know what kind of skill set and information you need to understand the topic!
If you find yourself struggling to understand the concepts taught in class, it is advisable to seek help from your teachers or a physics tutor. Oftentimes, all you need is a little extra guidance to get you on the right track. For those who need an extra push, our super tutors at Sophia Education are more than prepared to help you improve and build a strong foundation!
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Make use of all available resources
In addition to paying attention in class, there are many other resources available that can help you study O Level Physics more effectively. These include assessment books, notes, past year papers, prelim papers and online resources.
On our Sophia Education website, we provide both concise notes for every chapter and examination papers from many different schools. These resources can serve as a great reference for you to go over content and practice problems before your O Level Physics exam. After all, practice makes perfect. Mastering all the topics along the way will eventually allow you to be more than prepared for the final O Level examination.
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Set some time aside everyday to memorise
Memory work is inevitable. There’s a lot to memorise for Physics, such as the theory and formulas, 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 physics 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.
– 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 physics, and map out the relationships between different concepts, such as the big topics like Thermal Physics and Waves, where there are many sub-topics under them. 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!
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Get plenty of practice.
Practice makes perfect! Do not shy away from practice questions – in fact, embrace them! The more questions you attempt, the better you will get at solving them. Many students make the mistake of only completing a question if they know how to answer it correctly. However, this is not the right approach – even if you get the answer wrong, you would have at least learnt how NOT to solve the question, and even know your misconceptions in order to correct them.
By practicing questions regularly, you will be able to familiarise yourself with the various question types and learn how to effectively tackle them. This is especially important for paper 2, where you will need to show your application and manipulation skills. Apart from practicing questions from your school’s Physics assessment books, you can also attempt past year papers or prelim papers from other schools. These are readily available online, even on our Sophia Education website, and provide a good source of extra practice.
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Understand, don’t just memorise.
Many students make the mistake of simply memorising the content without understanding it first. While rote learning has its place, understanding the Physics concepts is much more important as it will allow you to apply your knowledge to unfamiliar situations. A good way to test your understanding is to try and explain the Physics concepts to someone else, such as a friend or family member. If you’re able to do so without difficulty, then it means that you really understand the content.
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Manage your stress levels
Another important thing to remember during examinations is to manage your stress levels. While a certain amount of stress is necessary to keep you motivated and focused, too much of it will only serve to hinder your performance. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the examination, take a few deep breaths and try to relax. Remember that you have prepared for this and that you can do it.
One way to manage your stress levels is to have a study plan and stick to it. By knowing what you need to do and when you need to do it, you will feel more in control of the situation and less stressed about the examination. Furthermore, make sure to take some time out for yourself to relax and de-stress. This can be in the form of reading, listening to music or even going for a walk.
Burnout is a serious problem that many secondary school 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, we are confident that you will be able to do your best for the O Level Physics examination. If you are looking for physics tuition in Singapore, look no further than Sophia Education!
With our physics 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 physics 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.
With our personalised guidance and concise notes, your child will have a much better understanding of the concepts and be able to score higher grades in their exams. Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your academic goals!
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