Study Hack #1

"How to study more effectively 😭😭?"

If I could earn a dollar each time I get asked this question, I would be able to retire tomorrow.

Hear from your seniors who have been there and done that.

Let’s face it. As students, we are faced with an insurmountable pressure to do well in our academic pursuit. Yet, many times, we have no clue how to effectively study to ace our tests. What works for others, might not necessarily work for us.

No, the solution to our troubles should not to pick out a specific method of studying from Sgexams reddit and use it throughout our schooling journey. Rather, we should experiment with different studying methods and then formulate a method that best fits us.

From my experience, I realised that in order to formulate a method that best fit me, what was required was a mix of reflection, open mindedness and risk management.

Reflection, or the willingness to ask yourself what the hell is going wrong is crucial. Indeed, it is daunting; no one wants to put the blame of having shitty grades on themselves. Yet, purposefully seeking discomfort through analysing your previous study method, and in what ways it worked or did not work for you, is necessary. For example, if you are failing terribly in Math because you have been plainly scanning through your worked examples in the notes, then perhaps it is time for you to do your TYS.

After determining the flaws in your studying method, it is crucial to be open minded. Try out new methods: Revise your notes more frequently? Copy out the answers to your TYS? No one, not even yourself, knows what works best until you try it out yourself.

Therefore, it is crucial that you take your time to experiment (as long as the next paper you are taking is not the A levels). It is okay to fail.

Repeat after me: IT IS OKAY TO FAIL.

What is tragic is if you fail countless times because you fail to change your methods. I have failed Economics many times, because I tried many different ways of studying. Wrote the notes out, memorised essays word for word, pulled an all nighter, read through piles of ‘model essays’. You name it, I've tried it. Yes, I felt disheartened to see my efforts go to waste. But, at least I tried and never regretted. I finally found what worked for me.

Experimenting with new methods require some degree of risk taking. It might or might not fare well for you. In order to manage your risk, it is also important to consider the consequence of failing. If the paper you are taking will affect your subject combination, then perhaps it is not so wise to try new methods. However, if the paper takes up only a mere 10% of your entire year, then go full steam ahead. Worst thing you will need to do is study even harder for the next 3 terms to make up for your mistakes.

The only paper that matters at the end of your 6 year journey is the A levels. So, before then, feel free to try all sorts of whacky methods to find out what works for you!

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This post is proudly contributed by Ian Lee (RVHS Class of 2019).

Ian is currently quite free in the evenings because of phase 1 post-circuit breaker and asks for anyone who needs more targeted advice to feel free to reach out to him.