It's true that grades don't define you but when you belong to an education system that follows merit-based standards, you might want to think again.

Today is the best time not to slack off for the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) exams (while you still have time). Scoring As (or at least decent marks) can help you secure the course and university you want (especially in government universities that have limited seats), and win highly-coveted scholarships such as the government bursary which automatically sponsors students for pre-university studies.

In this quick feature, we share with you the top secrets of students who have aced the SPM exams.

1. You are not a machine

It's a mistake to think that straight A students spend an obscene amount of hours to study and memorize facts. They are, in fact, just like any normal student who get stressed and only have 24 hours in a day to ram in all the responsibilities and activities.

The secret is this: prioritize your work. Spend at least an hour on homework and another hour revising the subjects you learned in school. The rest of the time, you spend on entertainment and relaxation. The key to success is having a work-life balance.

2. Make your teachers your allies

In reel life, teachers are always pictured as the worse nightmares in class but in real life, they are your gems.

We're not saying that you should suck-up to get your teacher to like you. What we're saying is that you should treat them with respect and see them as your source of knowledge. If there's anything about the subject that's unclear to you, always seek their guidance. This helps you learn better. Moreover, teachers admire and like this kind of treatment.

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 3. Please don't stop the music!

Don't you notice? The words to a pop song bubble up to the surface so easily even years since you last heard the tune while recalling a password can make your brain cells die?

Neuroscientists have proven that information set to music is among the easiest to remember. It is a powerful mnemonic device. So in application, it's best you choose and listen to music that can help you relax and keep your mind focused. Some students prefer classical music or even trance when reviewing heavy subjects such as maths and accounts and sometimes complete silence when reviewing biology and history.

4. Better to die now than later

Let's be honest. The thought of going through all your lessons can make you feel so overwhelmed and leave you with a bunch of excuses to bail out. But it's best you start early than do all your reviewing last minute. Although cramming for an exam is a time-honored practice, students who perform well in exams usually do not cram.

Give 100% of your attention when doing homework, reviewing notes and  doing some extra reading. After classes, take time to reorganize that information in a way that supports long-term memorization. By the time exam season starts, you'll be just reviewing the lessons with ease ’cause  you have already understood the subject so well. You will end up having enough sleep before the exams.

5. Highlighters are not magic

Your head won't absorb knowledge because you highlighted every important statement. If you find yourself doing this, drop the highlighter and simply take a deep breath. The highlighter pens won't do the work for you. Instead of  highlighting your notebook into a grade school colouring book, why not  write down key statements on a flash card. By doing piecemeal, you'd be able to focus each important detail.

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.