- Managing stress
It is not foreign to anyone that JC life is tough. Not only do you have to juggle your academics, you have to balance your CCA along with your social life as well as personal life. Therefore, there is no doubt that you will feel stressed at one point of your JC life, especially with the large amount of things to prepare for A Levels in th short amount of time. Hence, it is important for you to learn ways to relieve stress.
- Exercise
As painful as exercise may be, it releases Endorphins, which is the “happy hormone”, that allows you to feel happier and improve your mood. Even a short brisk walk or yoga exercise would be sufficient to help you release your stress.
- Do things you like to do
Feel frustrated over the question that you are unable to solve? Put down your pen and do something that you enjoy. Since you may be unable to concentrate, taking a break could help you get your strength and concentration back . Your hobbies would be able to brighten up your mood and leave you feeling more energized to tackle difficult concepts.
- Deep Breathing
Taking deep breaths could help you relax and feel better. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Imagine yourself at a peaceful place and relax your body from slowly from head to toe, taking deep breaths regularly. Do this for a few minutes and you would be able to feel more relaxed.
- Eat regular meals
Having your meals regularly is important to improving your mood. After all, who doesn’t love to eat? Make sure to have balanced meals, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains and lean meat.
2. Preparing for H1 Project Work (PW)
H1 Project Work is a compulsory subject for JC1 students. It involves mainly a written report as well as an oral presentation.
As PW is a foreign subject to new JC1 students, many may feel afraid about what to expect and how to do well in this subject. Nonetheless, there are some tips that could help you achieve your desired grade. Firstly, you and your team members would have to discuss in detail which question to pick. The most important thing is to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Work out a schedule to ensure that your group can work on the project together, and schedule interviews or surveys as early as possible. Remember to always consult your teachers and keep practicing together.
3. Making the most out of lectures and tutorials
This style of leaning may be unfamiliar to new JC1 students, but fret not, there are many things you can do to help yourself grasp concepts easily.
A lecture involves a single lecturer teaching many classes at once, hence it is less interactive and engaging, and may be easier for students to doze off. However, you may not want to miss out on anything, as concepts taught by the lecturer are important, and you may be confused if you do not understand these important topics. What’s good about lectures is that they are recorded and can be viewed online if you miss out on anything. Nevertheless, it is of course more productive for you to listen during lectures so you do not need to waste time, especially since time is so important when A levels are nearing.
One tip would be to keep taking notes of what your lecturer is saying, in order to keep your brain active and prevent you from dozing off. Writing notes could also allow you to absorb information better.
If you are still not used to lectures and prefer learning in a smaller group, you could join tuition classes which will help you learn and understand concepts better. Of course, this has to be done as soon as possible.
Tutorials involve your civics tutor going through tutorial worksheets which you should have done beforehand. This will allow you to clarify any mistakes that you made. As it includes a smaller group of people, it could be more interactive and engaging, and you may need to answer questions in class. Be sure to take note of your mistakes and take down any notes that will help you understand the concepts better so that you will not make the same mistake again in the future. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions during tutorials.
4. How to not let things snowball
Students often face the problem of snowballing misconceptions and mistakes that causes them to not do well constantly and eventually hate the subject. However, this could be prevented if you begin your JC journey on the right foot. It is extremely important to clarify with your teachers as soon as you have any doubts, don’t wait until its close to your exam dates before you ask your teachers,as that would be very last minute, especially if you’re A Level examinations are coming. This could cause a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety for you. Another important tip is to manage your time wisely, plan out each day carefully and stick to your schedules, do not waste time on unnecessary things such as social media, or daydreaming,etc.. This is very essential as time is of the essence when you are nearing A Levels.
5. What subject combination should I take?
If you are unsure about what you want to do in the future, taking the science stream would be a safer option as it helps remain your options open. This is because many science subjects can qualify for most university courses. Students in the Arts stream may have too few science subjects to qualify for science related courses and careers, while students in the science stream will still be able to take many art-related courses.
Nevertheless, do not take subjects just because they are popular or seem easy.
Ultimately, your choice of subjects should be those that you are passionate in, there’s no point taking a subject that you feel bored and disinterested in. This could lead to poorer grades.