Web Extra Article

Aces go places
The artful way to straight A’s

by Jeannie Chua

Another academic year has started. Your kids are all set to start school with their “hardware ”: new school supplies, clothing and shoes, and a computer and other gadgets in an organized study area. But wait a minute, have you equipped them with the necessary “software”?

The “software” every student needs is the art of studying the smart way – the study skills that will enable him or her to learn more effectively and perform better on tests. This is the tool that enables the intelligent to remain effortlessly on the Distinction list, and the average ones to achieve Honours without undue struggling.

Below is a list of pointers that could help your children (or you, if you are taking courses) to study more effectively:

During lessons
The path to achieving A's at the finals is first paved during the day-to-day lessons.

! Attention
Paying attention during class is the first step to success. It is foolish to dream away when the teacher is talking and then try to understand everything from the textbook by yourself when doing homework or studying for tests. If you do not pay attention in class, you end up having to study twice as hard. As soon as the teacher says something important, open up your memory box and store it in. Make this a habit and very soon, you will find that studying for tests is a breeze because you do not have to cram a lot of facts into your head at the last minute.

If your child is having difficulty paying attention in class, determine the nature of the problem – whether it is physical (eyesight, hearing) or psychological/emotional – and take necessary corrective actions or seek professional help.

! Ask
Assure your child that the only stupid question is the one that never gets asked. Students who ask questions gain a better understanding of the subject and also score higher in terms of participation in class. If your child is uneasy about asking questions in class, encourage him to write them down and approach the teacher on a one-on-one basis.

! Studying for tests
Some people have a photographic memory that can absorb facts instantly and efficiently; for the rest of us there are tips and techniques to facilitate memorizing.

! Acronym
When handling a large body of information (such as on a website), we need a site map to lead us to the relevant parts. Similarly, it is easier for us to recall facts if we create pointers that lead to them. A lot more information can be stored in our brains if we create acronyms and phrases that encapsulate it. You can use established ones or invent your own.

For example, remembering the order of the planets takes a fair amount of effort if we do not rely on any system, but with the phrase “My very efficient memory just stores up nine planets” we can easily recall the planets in order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. A well-known acronym for remembering the sequence of mathematical operations is PEMDAS (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction).

! Association
It's often hard to remember abstract facts such as dates of historical events or the meaning of unfamiliar words. However if we create some associations around the facts, they become instantly easier to remember. For example, in learning the meaning of ‘decimate’, you might imagine putting a decimal point on ‘100 people’ (between the two zeroes), thus reducing them to ten. This could help you remember that “decimate” means to destroy a large part of a group of people or animals.

Writing exams
As you move to higher levels of study, tests and examinations become increasingly important in determining grades, so your performance at these big events becomes crucial.

! Appearance
One should not judge a book by its cover, but you cannot really blame the examiner who lets the appearance of a test paper influence grading. Conceivably, a paper with untidy handwriting, bad spelling and lots of crossed-out words and phrases could be mentally tossed aside as “not A material” by the examiner even before reading it. Therefore, it is a good idea to develop neat handwriting and good writing skills from a young age, and to make an effort to write legibly during an examination.

! Accuracy
Where mathematics and science are concerned, accuracy is vital, so make sure that your answers are as precise as possible. For open-ended questions, provide as much relevant detail as time allows. Always check and recheck answers if you have extra time.

! The Art of Persuasion
There can often be various possible answers to one question, especially for arts subjects. The important thing is to be able to justify your answers and persuade the examiner that you deserve high marks, regardless of whether he agrees with your point of view. Always give examples to substantiate your points.

The major secret to success
Finally, the art of getting straight A's can only be mastered with hard work and a responsible attitude. There is a host of quotations from thinkers and writers throughout history that laud the virtue of hard work and condemn idleness. I have coined one that reflects my own belief: “Dodgers, no matter how artful, never prosper.”