1. GET A SYLLABUS AND USE IT
– the syllabus is a course outline given by your
teacher at the start of the school year or semester.
The syllabus helps you understand how your teacher is
gonna attack the lesson and which topics are given emphasis.
Concentrate on these topics and allot smaller time to
topics that are less important.
2. EXAMINE YOUR TEXTBOOKS
- It is important to know the textbook you are using.
Does it have answer keys at the back? Does it have chapter
summaries? Does the table of contents look like your
teacher’s syllabus? Etc. Also, read the preface and
the introduction. It gives you tips on how to maximize
the use of the textbook. Usually, the author discusses
the importance of the subject to our daily lives in
the introductions. So give the little details a few
seconds and you will be greatly rewarded.
3. KNOW YOUR TEACHER BETTER
- The syllabus will tell you the style of the teacher
on the lesson but it does not say much about the mentor’s
personality. Is she fond of giving high grades or is
she a terror? What is she sensitive about? What does
she like? You have to know all of these to make sure
that you do the things she wants and avoid the things
she doesn’t want. Ask the upper class men or those who
have been their students. Do your research. This is
very useful since some teachers usually give the same
requirements, use the same type of exams,
and even ask the same questions for their exams year
after year.
4. WRITE A GOOD NOTEBOOK
– A good notebook is very important because it records
the highlights of your class’ discussion. Use your notes
and the chapter summary discussed above as your
major reviewers for any exam. Remember, you don’t need
to write everything the teacher says or writes. Choose
what you think is important and be on the look out for
teacher’s clues.
*** If your teacher is good, use
your notebook more than the chapter summary. If not,
rely more on your summary.
5. COMPARE NOTES – When
reviewing, exchange notes with your classmates. You
could have missed some details or maybe you could
have been absent. If possible, borrow the notes of your
intelligent classmates. You will not only study their
notes, you might even discover their secret for success.
Also, if your school implements a unified or departmental
exam and there are several teachers handling different
sections. Try and exchange notebooks with other
sections.
6. BUY A SUBJECT SUMMARY or REVIEWER
- The Subject Summary or Reviewer is a synopsis of the
whole course or subject. It is somewhat like the syllabus.
But while the Syllabus is used to know your teacher’s
style of teaching, the subject summary is a like mini
textbook. Most of the important terms, concepts and
ideas are briefly discussed. In a sense, it is the summary
of the whole subject. It is available in most bookstores
and is bundled with the periodic table of elements.
7. SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE - Don’t
read your textbooks and notebooks over and over. Read
it once but understand it well. Make a summary
of what you’ve read and understood. You will also be
able to check if you’ve understood what you’ve read.
If your book has chapter summaries, use it. Also, you
can use encyclopedia in your school library. Encyclopedias
have most of the information in your textbook in a condensed
and summarized form. Use the encyclopedia to grasp the
whole concept but remember to read your textbook once
and look for important ideas because teachers base the
exam largely on the textbook.
*** The chapter summary is different
from the subject summary. You can buy a subject summary
from the bookstore . The chapter summary, on the other
hand, is home made. You have to do it yourself
after reading through your textbooks.
8. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROJECTS AND OTHER
HOMEWORKS - This is the easiest way to increase
your grades. Projects like term papers, research works
or class presentations usually have big
impact on your grades. Besides the fact that it is really
part of the grade, projects create impressions on the
teachers. It shows your enthusiasm and dedication to
your studies. It is this impression that can boost
your grades several notches up. In addition, projects
are done at home where you can get help from others.
9. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REVIEW CLASSES
- Most teachers give review classes before every
major exam. Take these classes very seriously. Usually
these sessions are based on the exam itself. You will
not only get a feel of the exam but some exam questions
might also be discussed. If your teacher does not conduct
review classes, ask her. Persuade her. Plead!!!
10. SHOW YOUR DESIRE – Teachers
don’t expect all their student to get a grade of 95.
They have different expectations for different students
- A “grade range”. The teacher measures not how much
you know but how much you learned from them and how
much more you are willing to learn. Show them you are
eager to learn more. You can do this by consulting often.
Ask her sensible questions related to the subject. Try
to impress them. And when it’s time to make the grades,
your teacher will remember your effort and give you
a higher grade than you actually deserve. |
