Are you a new JC 1 student who is just beginning to settle into your new school? After the excitement of all the orientation activities, it’s finally time to get down to some serious work. You might not feel ready, and you might be even dreading it, although you have worked so hard to get to this point. It’s normal, and don’t worry – because we’ll be sharing some ways you can survive and even thrive in your two years at JC!
Studying well and getting good grades is a huge part of JC life, because – let’s face it – most people are there to get their results and go to university. As a result, this causes a pressure-cooker environment which is not healthy for everyone. Adding to that, both the A Level and IB syllabus are not easy to study for, especially if all you know is the O Level syllabus.
So, without further ado, here are some of our top tips on how to survive JC, especially with regard to keeping on top of your studies and doing well for your A Levels or IB exams
1. Review your learning regularly
The subject content at A Levels and IB is quite heavy, so you absolutely cannot leave studying until the last minute.
Ideally, you should find time after each day’s lessons to review what you have learnt and pick out any parts you are still uncertain about. If reviewing your lessons every day is too difficult, try doing a weekly review or at least after each topic.
For most subjects, there would also be quizzes every now and then to encourage you to study and review topics regularly. If you put in the regular work, you will find it much easier to study once the major exams like promos or the actual A Levels or IB exams are near.
2. Clarify doubts ASAP
A major feature of JC exams? Many topics are interrelated, and it is not as simple as answering textbook recall questions! To be able to tackle novel and higher-order thinking questions, having a basic understanding of the subject content is the minimum requirement.
As a result, it is dangerous to leave doubts and uncertainties lingering as you move on to another topic. You will find your gaps in knowledge slowly snowballing until you are unable to grasp the subsequent topic. By then, it may be too late to learn everything from the start!
At the JC level, it is extremely important to put your pride or shyness aside and be willing to consult your teachers or tutor, as it is for your own good. At Future Academy, we have tutors such as our JC Math tutors who are highly patient and will not judge you for asking questions! It is our utmost priority to help you and make sure you understand your subject content.
