6 Must Know Strategies to Score Straight As in SPM

SPM is just beyond the horizon, but are you prepared to face it? Here are 6 practical strategies to score the perfect grades for SPM.

1. Tailor a Slim Fit Schedule:
Time becomes a commodity as exams slowly appear from the distance, edging closer by the day. As such, now more than ever, you need to plan your schedule around the timetable you’ve been given, accommodating anything and everything you can, finding time to get those last-minute study sessions in, and somehow finding time to eat and, oh yes, sleep as well! It’s going to be tighter than Arsenal’s home jersey, which is why you need to ensure you have your timetable for the upcoming battle prepped.

Our tips for creating the best study timetable?

• Highlight the subjects that you’ll be taking and take note of the date and time to help you identify which subjects come first
• Set your academic goal, so that you can prepare sufficiently for the subjects (for instance, if you plan to score an A for Biology, it makes sense to add an extra slot for Biology in your timetable)
• Remember to schedule time each week to make your weekly study timetable, because following the same timetable for weeks can be very boring and might demotivate you
• Keep your timetable in a place that you will see or access every day - this way you don't have an excuse to not follow it!
• Don’t overload yourself. Do remember to schedule downtime to avoid burnout!

2. Mentally Prepare to Enter the Exam Hall: Exam Halls tend to break down even the steeliest of facades. Students who would appear brash and bold outside, scoffing at students who were on the verge of tears, are sometimes reduced to pulp the moment they step into the sweat-laden environment of the exam hall. Take deep breaths and pray before you even step in, remember that no good will come out of worrying now, and relaxing while focusing on doing your best is the best step you can take.

3. Know Your Game Plan During Exams:

Different students tackle papers differently, so figure out what strategy suits you best - kind of like a football manager going up against a team known for their attacking prowess, you need to set up accordingly. Some students answer questions from the last page first, others encircle questions they don’t know and come back to them later. Who cares if your strategy isn’t the most popular, as long as it works for you, and it produces results, stick to it! (Even if it means parking the bus).

4. Take A Break Every 30-40 Mins:

We know, the measuring stick for smartitude in school was always how long a student could sit still for a single study session. But research has shown that it’s much more effective to study in 20, 30-minute sessions compared to one 10-hour session. Essentially, studying in spurts helps your brain create synapses better, and would be a sure-fire way to get your study mode on! We know, weird, right?

5. Forget the Books: Sometimes, it’ll be almost impossible for you to scan through your textbooks efficiently any longer. It’ll take too long to find that single fact you were looking for. So, push them aside, and rely on your notes and/or flashcards. It’ll save you time, and redirect you straight to the point during a period where time is of the utmost importance.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice:

Almost any SPM student will tell you that arguably, the best method to prepare for the big day is by constantly completing past year and forecast papers. Equation after equation, essay after essay, the thirst of a model SPM student for more question can never truly be slaked. 

If you’re looking for any last-minute additions to your library of workbooks, why not download Afterschool’s SPM 2021 February Spot Questions right here for absolutely FREE! Covering subjects from Bahasa Malaysia and Additional Mathematics to Physics and Chemistry, these questions have been meticulously curated by dedicated teachers based on papers from previous years. The SPM 2021 February Spot Questions consists of spot questions based on a 10-year analysis of past year papers identified by teachers with 20+ years of experience.