The transition from O Level to A Level chemistry is undoubtedly a daunting one for most students. With greater rigour and a compressed timeframe to learn and be familiar with the various topics, it can be easy for students to get disheartened early on in their academic journey. Here are some tips to help your child approach chemistry with confidence, with help from a qualified JC chemistry tuition centre in Singapore.
Set achievable goals.
Many O Level students may be accustomed to last-minute cramming and exhaustive practice of past Chemistry papers to score well. That said, the entirety of the H2 Chemistry syllabus is squeezed into 1.5 years of study, and it can be daunting for students having to balance other commitments. This can cause them to feel overwhelmed and lead to a downward spiral of poor grades and motivation.
One strategy is to set small and achievable goals that follow the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-Oriented, and Time-Based) framework. For example, students can set aside a few hours in the morning to focus on solving redox equations, before spending the entire afternoon and evening going through a more complex topic such as Organic Chemistry. At a reputable A Level Chemistry tuition centre in Singapore, tutors will help your child set realistic goals and follow up on their progress.
Clarify academic doubts.
The format of JC education closely follows that of university, utilising mass lectures to teach new concepts and classroom tutorials to go through assignments and homework. Students are no longer handheld in their learning, and are expected to arrange consultations on their own initiative. Some students may find themselves unused to this style of independent learning, which can lead to a growing pile of queries that cannot be easily rectified just before a major exam.
To best address this, students are encouraged to set aside time in their personal timetables to schedule regular consultations with their Chemistry teachers. They should also come prepared with a list of key concerns that can be addressed within the consultation timeframe. For additional clarity, A Level chemistry tuitions in Singapore help reinforce concepts as well as questions that students may not have had the time to address.
Compile personalised notes.
To save time during revision and practice, many students either use their peers’ notes or online ones for reference. While this may be somewhat effective in the short run, each student has their own individual topics that they are less familiar with, and generic study notes often fail to reinforce areas which they are weaker in, impacting their overall performance.
Many JC chemistry tuitions in Singapore provide comprehensive study notes for students, from which they should add their own notations to better internalise their knowledge. Students are also encouraged to adapt their notes to their own learning style; with some preferring a visual approach with colourful mind maps and concepts while others preferring hand-written notes with additional content for areas they are less confident in.
Revisit previous topics.
With students focusing on understanding and internalising the latest chemistry concepts taught in school, many of them forget to revise their understanding of earlier concepts and fundamentals, such as stoichiometry and reaction kinetics. Often, students focus on recognising previous topics at face value rather than recalling how to apply them to solve questions, which can lead them to blank out and lose precious marks in their exams.
A quality A Level chemistry tuition in Singapore revises previous topics through frequent quizzes and assessments. At Pamela’s Place, we offer intensive crash courses in June and Sept/Oct, complemented with concise summary notes and quality answering techniques to both reinforce concepts and provide students useful tips to excelling in their A Levels.
Looking to enroll your child in an A Level Chemistry tuition centre in Singapore? Contact us today to learn more about our rates and trial classes.
