Starting JC1: A Quick Guide Of What To Expect And Prepare

It is an exciting time for new JC1 students who have just gotten their school posting results and are preparing to enter Junior College. While the first week of school will be mainly orientation activities, the real JC journey begins after that, when lessons and CCAs begin proper.

If you are entering JC this year, do you know what exactly to expect? JC is quite different from secondary school, and it can be a tough adjustment period for some. Some students find it helpful to join a class like JC Math Tuition to organise their revision time better. Let’s look at some of the things you can expect as a new JC1 student, as well as some things you may need to prepare at the start of your new school journey.

1. Orientation activities

The first few days of JC will be spent on orientation activities. This will be a mix of activities like academic talks as well as games. In most cases, you will be allocated an “OG” (Orientation Group) and do most of the activities with this group during the orientation period. This is a good chance to get to know people from other classes (as your classes will not have been allocated yet) and also ask seniors (the group leaders) about what JC life is like.

2. Selecting your subject combination

Part of the orientation activities typically include time to attend briefings about the academic programme in your school. Your school will let you know how to submit your subject combination choice, as well as open sign-ups for any subjects that require interviews or tests.

Different JCs may offer different subject combinations, although the main subject requirements are the same. If you need a refresher, we have posts explaining the A Level subject combination as well as the IB subject combination that you can refer to.

When selecting your subject combination, we suggest considering a variety of factors like your interest, aptitude, and future study plans. A good starting point is to read up on the subjects required for popular university courses and choose subjects that will help you reach your goals.

3. Selecting your CCA

An exciting part to look forward to is the CCA fair which showcases the various CCAs available in your school. You can make use of the session to catch a glimpse of what each CCA offers. It’s worth going around even if you already have a CCA in mind, because you don’t want to miss on the interactive booths and freebies that CCA groups give out to generate more buzz about their CCA!

Take note that CCA is compulsory in some JCs, but not in some schools. Not joining a CCA can offer you more time to study or take part in other activities (e.g. take up a H3, initiate a service learning project, join a research programme). However, joining a CCA can also be a boost to your portfolio, make your JC life more vibrant (it is more than just studies), and further your passions in a particular non-academic area.

4. Managing your own timetable

You will be allocated your class and timetable once the subject combinations are confirmed. Unlike primary and secondary school where everyone would start school and end school at the same time, everyone has different timetables in JC. Your friend may end at 12PM while you may have classes until 4PM, and sometimes you may have long hours of break in between.

No one is going to remind you or make sure you are at the right class. You have to get yourself organised and find ways to use your time wisely during long breaks.

5. Learning to prioritise

JC life can be incredibly busy. On top of the academic stuff like lectures, tutorials, and projects, most students also get involved in CCAs, leadership roles, service learning projects, and more. It can be easy to lose track of what is important and end up neglecting your studies, passions, or relationships when you get caught up in the busyness.

Case in point: There have been cases of students who focused too much on their CCA or leadership roles, that they failed their promos and had to repeat Year 1.

To avoid such a scenario, you have to recognise that you only have a finite amount of time and energy. Choose what is important to you and manage your time to do them well. Some students find that attending tuition like A Level Chemistry Tuition can help them optimise their time by clarifying doubts sooner and reducing the total revision time needed.

6. Developing efficient study habits

You essentially have about 1.5 years to learn the whole A Level syllabus and master the skills you need for the exams. Therefore, knowing how to study efficiently in a way that works for you is extremely crucial.

At our tuition centre, we often observe that the students who do well in JC are those who have developed effective study habits and exam skills. Many are JAE students who have trained up their skills from their experience studying for O Levels. Conversely, we have seen IP students have a harder time getting into an effective study routine because they did not have that experience.

So, a special note to IP students entering JC: It’s time to hunker down and study! If you don’t know how, tuition classes like ours at Future Academy can provide you with a routine along with advice from seasoned IP educators. With their expert guidance, countless IP students have seen vast improvements in their efficiency and academic performance, even in the rigorous JC environment.

Conclusion

JC is a challenging time for many students, but it can also be a very fulfilling time if you know how to use it well. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, because there is simply no time to waste! We run regular classes JC tuition classes for both A Level and IB subjects to help students like you keep up the pace with their studies, held in small group classes which are optimised for personalised learning. Get in touch with us today to schedule yours!

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