The IGCSE exam has its own significance and its preparation can lead to a lot of stress among the students. The key to performing well in these exams is to study smart and properly so that your efforts essentially convert into impressive performances.
Learning how to learn is an important technique that one needs to follow in order to study smart and effectively which helps you to understand how to learn faster while retaining the previously learned information for longer which many students might find difficult.
The below study tips will help students to stay focused and score good marks in the exams conducted by an IGCSE School:
Create a Mind Map
If you are having trouble summarising a topic or remembering a lot of new study notes, Mind Maps might be a great tool that will help you to remember it. The important themes are summarised in Mind Maps, which provide a comprehensive overview of all the topics with clear headers.
Mind Mapping assists you in explanation by allowing you to connect concepts through associations, allowing you to organise information in a comprehensible and logical manner. This makes it easy to memorise or retain the information.
Understand Your Learning Style
Every student has his/ her own learning approach that they find most beneficial or comfortable. Some students prefer studying by themselves, while others prefer to study with an expert or by forming a group with their peers in International Schools. It may take a lot of trial and error to figure out what your learning style is. The most successful technique to study could be either using the most appropriate studying schedule or taking guidance from an expert in the particular field.
Besides knowing which studying atmosphere is ideal for you, it’s also beneficial to identify which studying equipment would be ideal for you. You will be able to remember and recollect new material faster and better once you have determined whether you are a visual, reading/writing, or kinaesthetic learner.
Build a Revision Timetable
Before your examinations in a IGCSE School start, make a revision timetable two or three months earlier. Consider making a list of all the IGCSE subjects and topics that will be covered in the exam. Make sure to schedule enough time for each of the subjects, especially the ones that you believe need more attention.
Having a revision timetable will help you in determining which subjects should be prioritised. You can also use daily or weekly study calendars to help you stay focused and organised during the revision session.
There are going to be certain subjects in which you are very good and some in which you struggle to understand concepts and remember things. In this case, you must devote more time and effort to your weaker areas so that you get a grasp of the subject.
Planning what to study and how to study will help you in determining your study session’s goals and objectives.
Take Study Notes
We often believe that we don’t need to write down the study material as we will be able to recall them later. Of course, we may retain information at the moment, but if you do not reinforce your memory by writing down the notes, you will most likely forget it.
Note-taking does not imply that you must write down each and everything that your teacher says; rather, it means that you should pay attention and note down whatever you feel is important or you might forget later. Make a list of the major and important concepts, equations, and even instances that your teacher discusses in class.
Make an effort to review the concepts at home and connect them to your textbooks. You can evaluate your knowledge of the principles being taught in school by going over your notes at home. Also, you can write down any doubts or concerns that you may have about the ideas and bring them up with your teacher in the following lesson.
Practise Previous Papers
Many past scorers of IGCSE International Schools advise practicing old question papers as it will help you in knowing which concept has more weightage and needs more of your time. This might be one of the greatest approaches toward IGCSE preparation.
Tip: Try to solve the last five years question papers as they are the trending ones with the current syllabus. This will help you a lot in IGCSE exam preparation. Also, exam question paper structure and style and the exam format can be learned by practising past papers.
Once you are done with practicing everything at least thrice before the exam, you will feel confident and more at ease dealing with time constraints. Also, this will help you in improving your general ability to answer questions during the IGCSE exam.
As a final tip
In order to achieve your desired score or rank proper long-term planning is required. You need to be consistent and focused in your preparation. While small study breaks and some refreshing moments are allowed, a major portion of your day should go into the IGCSE preparation.