Any tips on how to have a productive holiday?

TypicalGuy394 SG

JC1 student here. Just finished my promotional exams. Think I'm able to pass and promote but not at all satisfied with my Year 1 performance. Haven't gotta an A or a B for any subjects. I aim to finish at least 80% of the A Level syllabus in the Nov/Dec holidays as well as redo all tutorials. I also wanna work on my fitness to at least get a NAFTA Silver next year (I am quite weak) so that I don't have to book in early for NS.
But it's hard to maintain productivity and efficiency during the long break; holiday plans have never worked so far for me. But I think next year will be very crucial to deciding my future. So any tips on how to pace yourself in the holidays to prepare yourself for next year?

Cycloneeee SG

I i think you're being too ambitious. Finishing 80% o A level syllabus within a month? Really? When you havent gotten Aor B for any subjects? You should focus on brushing up your year 1 stuff because trust me at year 2 you will just forget most of it. And schools dont do recap until like the second half of the year. And if you didnt get As and Bs, forget about H3s.

M the name SG

IE Singapore's Young Talent Programme : http://www.iesingapore.com/ytp

AIESEC Global Internship Programme : http://www.global.aiesec.sg

TooFree SG

Have a planner calender ready and mark the relevant topics (By chapters) to study on each day. Do follow through but designate at least an off day for sports and games.

mantou89 SG

plan a realistic study schedule but do allow room for leisure and social time. I think the main problem with many is discipline & determination. Then again, based on experience i dont think its too late to start working hard after Second half of JC2. Some people work well under stress & pressure. For u, just b sure u are firm in your JC1 subject foundations before u go Jc2

a mugger SG

Hi,I am a fellow J1 with PCMH combination
I agree with you.Better to cover concepts of past chapters than to move on to new chapters. The furthest you should study ahead is the chapters covered by the post-promo lectures.If you didn't obtain a B so far(especially for maths,I suggest you re-do most of the tutorials and spend more time especially on Integration and Applications of Differentiation,which can be quite tedious.)

Pro tip:don't attempt chapter 1 and chapter 2 unless you are not very confident with the two.(saves time)

Chem/Physics:try TYS mcq and structured if you know the tutorial concepts at your fingertips.You can also look for additional assessment books.

With the timespan before the next exam *not test*(mine is on next year start of march),expect to cover 60% of the concepts in detail.

"It is not how much you finish,it is how much you learn."A three H2 A friend of mine,is focusing on leisure learning this holiday.That is,to study without any time constraints and pressure.When you feel like resting or playing,just let loose.

I suggest running as leisure.It is one sport that has multiple benefits.Not just Napfa,it also serves to destress you.While it is strenuous to go out to run,but you can be motivated with a running buddy.After the run,it helps in studies(maths),emotional release,physical development.

Peak at the right moment(Next year and not holidays)and jot down specific concepts you do not understand while studying during the holidays to clarify your doubts with teachers. Specific subjects like General Paper will require long-term development to progress.Reading helps but applying what you have read is 5x better.

"be optimistic and patient,success is at your doorstep."

TypicalGuy394 SG

@mugger. Thanks a lot bro. For the past exams, I usually finish all my tutorials & revise the concepts before exams. But I have always been getting just pass grades (E,D and C), any tips on why is this so? Do I lack practice or it is a problem with studying methods? Is external resources necessary to reach top grades in school?

a mugger SG

I scored D for my physics but will be moderated to a C. I did the necessary practices too. The concepts are application-based.This means that rote learning(memory-based) will only get you at most C if you are lucky. This also goes to show that completing tutorials is not the key to good grades. Understanding is more important than completing.Spending more time on a concept is important. There are two factors that tend to determine your exam results:Exam and study skills.

Exam skills:Time management,Data analysis,ability to keep calm in times of difficulty

Study skills:Intensive studying(without distraction)beats divided attention when studying. 1hr of complete focus beats 2.5hr of divided attention.Consistency>cramming.1hr for 365 days is better than 365hrs for 1 month

You may want to look into TYS and step-by-step egs assessment books.

If you want top grades(A),I suggest you achieve a B first.A to B is 10marks gap while B to C is 5 marks gap.It will be more difficult for B to A,even tougher for C to A.Don't give yourself undue pressure because of your targets.

I suggest tuition if 1:you want to be constantly ahead of lectures. 2.your tutor in class fails to explain tutorial concepts well enough, sadly it happens sometimes.3.Need more time practise and papers to do.(if your reason to attend tuition fits 3 the most,attend the tuition only 2 months before a major exam,it really helps.)

Jia you and all the Best!

Cycloneeee SG

Dont worry about not scoring well in J1. I didnt either, always scraping passes like Ds and Es for all. But when it comes to J2, just work smart. I ended up with ABCs for prelim although i thought i failed everything for prelim.