How to Score For Your JC Math Exams
Making the jump from Secondary school math to JC level mathematics can be a daunting task, even if you’ve tackled A Math during your O Levels! Besides a much wider curriculum, the way you approach math is going to change completely!
To help you as you prepare to take on this challenge, or even if you’re already on it, we’ve gathered some helpful tips you can use to help you score on your upcoming JC H2 Math exams!
Have a Strong Foundation
When it comes to H2 math, it’s extremely important to understand concepts and theories, so that you’ll know where, and when to use them. This will be more challenging to identify than before because you’ll be working with so many concepts that can be applied in different ways, as opposed to Secondary math equations where there is one definite route to getting your answer.
At New Dawn Learning Studio, our objective is to solidify math foundations from even the secondary school level, so that students that enter their JC math lectures are prepared from day 1, which brings us to our next point on the importance of A Math.
Taking A Math Seriously
Students who wish to take H2 math in JC must take A math seriously–after all, it’s the closest practice to H2 Math that they will be able to experience. That’s why students have to familiarise themselves with formulas and their application while gaining a thorough understanding of why and how these theories and concepts are as such.
An overall understanding of A Math is required across several aspects of mathematics including, indices, surds, trigonometry along with differentiation and integration, all crucial aspects of modern mathematics. During the early year part of the calendar year, January and February, while waiting for JC Math admission after the completion of ‘O’ Levels, students should start spending time reviewing and revising A Math topics that they have found more challenging. It will help to make the transition to JC Math far less daunting.
Making Sure You Get it Right
The JC H2 math syllabus kicks off in March and doesn’t slow down from there, meaning that the course is quite intensive and extremely fast-paced! During lectures and tutorials, it is essential to be accustomed to different learning styles, something that they will need to adapt to in JC life. During lectures, which may accommodate as many as 300 to 400 students, students will be pushed to study and learn rather independently as their teachers can’t provide them with the personal attention that they might require.
We strongly advise that you take as many notes as you can during lectures so you can refer back to them at a later date, and ensure that you understand and identify everything you need to. It is perfectly normal for your concentration to waver, especially if you are finding the content difficult to understand. If this applies to you, seeking academic help at the earliest opportunity through guided tuition is recommended to ensure that you don’t fall too far behind–the sooner the better!
At New Dawn, we are well aware of the challenges that students face and, as such, we always plan to be one step ahead. We encourage students to join us before the academic year starts so that they have sufficient background knowledge before their lectures and mean that they are best equipped to absorb the information that is being presented to them.
Revision
Once formal lectures have been completed, we suggest that students use this period to revise the subject topic by topic. Revision is an essential part of reinforcing a student’s knowledge, skill and most importantly, understanding–something many students struggle with when it comes to H2 math.
A strong foundation will breed confidence and will give students an advantage, putting them in a position to be able to attempt even the more difficult questions that may get presented to them. Skipping questions and not answering them at all will seriously affect the final result that the student can achieve and as a consequence, they will receive lower grades.
The mid-year exam which will be taken in July is an excellent gauge of students’ abilities. It will highlight areas of weakness as well as the student’s strengths. The average score is between 40 and 50, which is considered as a “sub-pass”. Anything lower than 40 would suggest that the student urgently require H2 math tuition to help them to achieve a better final grade.
Why Study by Topic?
The reason for studying by topic is due to the Law of Exposure. The human mind is naturally receptive, so every time we are exposed to something, it effectively leaves an imprint on our brain. That’s why it’s important for students to get experience in dealing with an array of structures and question types so that they won’t get surprised or caught off in their exams, and get intimidated on the day! We all tend to neglect the way our brain functions and, therefore, don’t expose ourselves to as many questions as we should.
Besides quantity, it’s also a question of quality. Here at New Dawn, we strive to give our students material that is up to date, so students have sufficient practice with materials that would greatly lend to their learning experience, and help them achieve the results they deserve!
Excel in H2 Math
There isn’t a shortcut to mastering H2 math. It takes time, effort and planning–but it’s definitely possible! With the right guidance and assistance, JC students can confidently take on their H2 Math exams when the time comes.
