Preparing For O-Levels - Last Minute Edition

For a candidate, the 28th of February is probably one of the most stress-filled days he (or she) will have to face before their exams - what with the rapid approach of O and A Levels in May and the realization that March is already here, tensions are bound to run a little high. Dear O -Level candidates, I wrote this post while thinking of you; having gone through this nerve-wracking phase myself, I remember exactly how troubling it can be.

Hopefully, listening to how I dealt with it will not only help you calm down but will also give you the confidence you need to push through and ace those exams that are coming up. If you have any questions or need help, feel free to comment at the end of the article.

Some wise words from a girl who’s been through it all (and survived):

• Organize – I cannot stress this point enough. You are worried and nervous because you still don’t know exactly how much you have left. For each subject, jot down the syllabus points which are remaining or those you’re still confused about. How much of each question paper is left? Do you need to revise everything? Be honest with yourself and record everything.
• Manage your time – Once you’ve made your list, internally order your task in terms of importance. The one that’s in the worst condition is the one you should study now. Don’t get stuck on any one subject. Rotate your study pattern – if you’ve been studying Physics all morning, fit in hours of Math or Chemistry at night.

• Question Papers and Mark Schemes – Your single most useful asset while preparing are question papers and mark schemes. The more you practice these the better you'll get and in the case of O-Levels, the greater the chance of finding similar questions in your main exam paper. In the last two months, my advice would be that you practice these as much as possible, repetitively if you can. Mark schemes help a great deal especially when dealing with subjects like Biology - by reading the extra points you find there, you have a better understanding of the keywords you need to write in your answer.
• Mistake lists, formula sheets and noting – When I was preparing for my exams, I found that these three things offer a tremendous amount of help. Now, what are mistake lists exactly? Every time I finished giving a model test (mock), while checking my answers I would always note down the questions I got wrong and their correct answers on a sheet of paper. Doing this for each subject, not only helps you identify your weakness, but also makes sure that you never make the same mistake twice. Formula sheets apply specifically for Physics and Math. By making a neat, handwritten list of all the formula's you will need, you will not only remember them but will also create a valuable revision list which you can use again and again before exams. Later in this post, I will explain noting.
• Finally, don’t panic. Worrying about exams never, ever helps.

How To Conquer Each Subject:

The Sciences: When I was sitting for my O-Levels, at this point in time I admit that I hadn't completely finished each and every point from all of my syllabuses. If you are in the same place, then make it your priority to a first complete everything. Understand every syllabus point, and then go on to tackle the questions.

You can use noting to help you out - pick out the concepts you find difficult to understand and write them down on a separate piece of paper. Eg. If you are struggling to remember photosynthesis, open your coursebook and make a detailed outline of the process into your workbook. You'll find it easier to remember now.

Additional Math and Maths-D: Formula sheets. Spend an hour making them right now. In the case of math, the more you practice the better you will become. I've found that the books that have a list of questions from all years by topic are extremely useful. If you haven't already, you might want to consider buying a copy - you can use it to focus on the topics you are facing difficulties on.

The Languages - Personally I think that English and Bengali Language are the two most neglected subjects among the students of Bangladesh. You think that you will pass without studying - you're wrong. Whenever you feel like slacking off, sit down with an essay or some grammar - during March I did this and ended up writing 20 separate essays while I didn't feel like studying in general: my marks improved from and 18 to a 27 (out of 30) in a month.

Here's a little-known secret in the case of Bengali: the examiners want you to do well. For the grammar, record all the short answer question that have appeared in the last ten years or so and chances are one of them will appear in your exam. Also, practice writing in simple, legible Bengali. As long as it's mistake-free and fits within the word limit you'll be fine.

I hope this article has helped you in some way to prepare for your exams; let me know in the comments section if it has  Also, if you have any questions include them, and I will be happy to answer. Don’t be shy to leave a like and a follow!

Thanks,

Suha