SPM Studying Tips

[kelvinlym]

Three words... Past year papers.

End.

[taufiq]

2 words... study hard


some people say: study smart.. don't study hard..
but i think, study hard is in the definition of study smart..
the thing is that we must plan what to study first
and what next..
bu still we can't just sit down and relax till the exam day

[chenchow]

This is some sharing from me, on how I study, may be as a guidance to those who are looking for ways. There are many ways, and I think most importantly, it must suit yourself.

Personally, I like to pre-read what is going to be taught in the week, on the weekend, before the class is taught. So, that is round 1 reading. It could be 10-15 minutes per subject, just glancing through, to give you a better idea. (an hour or 2 per week on weekend)

Then round 2, will be on the night before class, or day of class, I would spend say 10 minutes each subject, to read through it. Know where you understand and where you don't understand. Make some marks about it and concentrate in class or ask in class in particular about those stuff. (I think you need to be consistent in doing this and not because I have exams tomorrow in that subject, so i am not doing it today...and you can keep on putting off). (not more than an hour a day)

Round 3, pay full attention in class and interact in class. Ask questions etc.

Round 4, on the same day after class, even in between class, read through what is taught. Jot down where you don't understand etc. (15-30 minutes per subject or so, an hour or two per day)

Round 5, get help from the teachers or friends on stuff you haven't understand.

Round 6, try your homework/assignments when your memory is still fresh. Try it yourself first and then yuo can discuss with your friends.

Round 7, revise it over the weekend. (say half an hour a subject per week).

Guess with these 7 rounds of preparations, you will be ready for exams. The time is just a guidance to show that you don't need whole lot of time to do it.

All those except homework could be done within 20 hours a week.

[deaf-knee]

Does that not make you feel like you're studying 24/7?

..I would like to request for tips on studying history.

Thanks.

[david_david]

i think most importantly you should enjoy your studies, the passion for knowledge and understanding in specific fields .............but i really hate exams.

So to score you should know how to work your way round the damn system.....:(

like popular questions/topics, and the right format of answering

However SPM has been revamped, SPM 2003 was the first batch......(maths,add maths,and the sciences)

This year( SPM 2004) , I think History,Accounts and a few other subjects will be tested on a new syllabus..they'll have English for Science and Technology which is separate from english.

I heard that History has structure questions :)

However for history, the teacher's used to "ramal" the questions.sometimes they told us NOT TO STUDY CERTAIN TOPICS.
I think the next batch has to give emphsis on the whole syllabus.

Funny right, they changed the system part by part, not completely.

anyway the 1990s SPM questions are still relevant although certain topics have been thrown out.Do try them.

[Sylvia]

for history, i never really memorise the whole thing.

the most important part is to remember the keywords.i like to use highlighter to colour code keywords and do some simple notes/summary of the topics.

trust me it really works

[zillion]

for me, i used to love reading and depending on the history text book only though many of them don't make use of it. I really think u cannot abandon the text book because the content of revision books are incomplete or there are too many extra but unimportant things.

Besides, learn the history like a story.... what happen , who is involve, approx when, why it occur etc.
LOve the story, put interest...don't be influenced when ppl says its boring.

Many ppl like to skipped Bab 3 form 5 last time, which is about the ISlam. However, this bab always come out in the exam. SO DON't BE LAZY!!!
Besides, i saw the new syllabus history book. More Islam is added so DON't skipped.
Hmmm...another thing, read all of the STORY consistently, don't depend solely on predicted questions which i think got many into trouble. Not everyone is lucky!!!


Last but not least
I LOVE HISTORY!!!!!!

[deaf-knee]

Thanks for the advice-s. :D

[oinkoink]

Originally Posted by zillion

for me, i used to love reading and depending on the history text book only though many of them don't make use of it. I really think u cannot abandon the text book because the content of revision books are incomplete or there are too many extra but unimportant things.

Besides, learn the history like a story.... what happen , who is involve, approx when, why it occur etc.
LOve the story, put interest...don't be influenced when ppl says its boring.

Many ppl like to skipped Bab 3 form 5 last time, which is about the ISlam. However, this bab always come out in the exam. SO DON't BE LAZY!!!
Besides, i saw the new syllabus history book. More Islam is added so DON't skipped.
Hmmm...another thing, read all of the STORY consistently, don't depend solely on predicted questions which i think got many into trouble. Not everyone is lucky!!!


Last but not least
I LOVE HISTORY!!!!!!

Yeah.. i believed in history text books too! Our teacher told us it's actually our "kitab suci". Besides, i found out by reading thru the text books, i can actually remember better and score in the essay, coz i find it hard to study point forms, can't go in my head!! Some ppl think studying the text books is like crazy, but it's not!

[chenchow]

Same here, I like go through textbook...Read it as if you are reading story books...In fact, I often put myself in their roles and whenever they do something, I always try to reflect why they so (at the situation/condition at that time), it gives you a whole lot more of understanding. Memorizing history is a no-no for me, and in fact, I never memorize for any subject.

Understand it, feel it and all will just come naturally when you need to write the essays... Yeah, read everything...and if you are interested in anything, no harm look for extra understanding on other materials...