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PHYSICS IS A GAME!
PHYSICS IS A GAME!
In every game there are rules to follow and the more you play, the better you get. If you have a winner's mentality, you will be able to excel easily in this game.
In every game there are rules to follow and the more you play, the better you get. If you have a winner's mentality, you will be able to excel easily in this game.
- FORMULAE, DEFINITIONS, PREFIXES & SI UNITS
Physics is the war-game!
Physics is the war-game!
Imagine going to war. You hold a kitchen knife, while the opponent (Physics) has a machine gun. How do you think you will fare?
Imagine going to war. You hold a kitchen knife, while the opponent (Physics) has a machine gun. How do you think you will fare?
That is what you are doing if you step into a physics test without the necessary weapons (definitions, formulae, prefixes, template answers and SI Units)! You are going there to be an unsuspecting, hapless tribute.
That is what you are doing if you step into a physics test without the necessary weapons (definitions, formulae, prefixes, template answers and SI Units)! You are going there to be an unsuspecting, hapless tribute.
There is NO WAY you are going to win the war.
There is NO WAY you are going to win the war.
HACK #1: YOU NEED TO KNOW ALL FORMULAE, DEFINITIONS, FORMULAE, PREFIXES, TEMPLATE ANSWERS AND SI UNITS EXTREMELY WELL.
HACK #1: YOU NEED TO KNOW ALL FORMULAE, DEFINITIONS, FORMULAE, PREFIXES, TEMPLATE ANSWERS AND SI UNITS EXTREMELY WELL.
If you have to think to recall these formulae, you have not mastered them yet.
If you have to think to recall these formulae, you have not mastered them yet.
Once you mastered HACK#1, then the real game begins...
Once you mastered HACK#1, then the real game begins...
2. START PRACTISING QUESTIONS, ONE AT A TIME
2. START PRACTISING QUESTIONS, ONE AT A TIME
HACK #2: Do one question, check the answer, FInd out where you went wrong, before moving on to the next question!
HACK #2: Do one question, check the answer, FInd out where you went wrong, before moving on to the next question!
Here is the reason why: Compare 2 students, Jason and Sherlyn.
Here is the reason why: Compare 2 students, Jason and Sherlyn.
To prepare for their exams, Jason did 100 questions in a day. At the end of that practice, he was tired, and he went to rest. The next day, he repeated that cycle. Within 5 days, he completed the entire ten years' series. Sherlyn, on the other hand, did one question at a time. She checked the answer to each question, and found out where she went wrong immediately. She also ensured she knew how to redo that question before moving on. It was laborious and she could only do 30 questions a day. Who do you think learnt more?
To prepare for their exams, Jason did 100 questions in a day. At the end of that practice, he was tired, and he went to rest. The next day, he repeated that cycle. Within 5 days, he completed the entire ten years' series. Sherlyn, on the other hand, did one question at a time. She checked the answer to each question, and found out where she went wrong immediately. She also ensured she knew how to redo that question before moving on. It was laborious and she could only do 30 questions a day. Who do you think learnt more?
Sherlyn learnt much more! She ensured that she mastered at least 30 questions each day, whereas Jason learnt NOTHING! He couldn't even be sure if he mastered any of the 500 questions at the end of 5 days! After all, anyone can complete ten years' worth of papers by supplying all the wrong answers. And what that does, is to reinforce all the wrong concepts. It is a DISASTER because it becomes harder to re-learn or rewire wrong concepts that have been reinforced countless times.
Sherlyn learnt much more! She ensured that she mastered at least 30 questions each day, whereas Jason learnt NOTHING! He couldn't even be sure if he mastered any of the 500 questions at the end of 5 days! After all, anyone can complete ten years' worth of papers by supplying all the wrong answers. And what that does, is to reinforce all the wrong concepts. It is a DISASTER because it becomes harder to re-learn or rewire wrong concepts that have been reinforced countless times.
PRO TIP:
PRO TIP:
If your answer is correct, you have mastered a concept and you can congratulate yourself! It is a confidence booster.
If your answer is correct, you have mastered a concept and you can congratulate yourself! It is a confidence booster.
If your answer is wrong, do corrections! Commit the lesson learnt to memory. At the end of the day, revisit it, cover up answer and see if you can still do it correctly. If you can, it's a cause for celebration!
If your answer is wrong, do corrections! Commit the lesson learnt to memory. At the end of the day, revisit it, cover up answer and see if you can still do it correctly. If you can, it's a cause for celebration!
3. THE POWER OF CIRCLES
3. THE POWER OF CIRCLES
HACK #3: CIRCLE THE QUESTIONS YOU STRUGGLE WITH!
HACK #3: CIRCLE THE QUESTIONS YOU STRUGGLE WITH!
THIS IS AN UNDERRATED TRICK. But this easily raises your revision productivity by many times! Imagine you are left with only 5 hours to revise for your MCQ paper tomorrow.
THIS IS AN UNDERRATED TRICK. But this easily raises your revision productivity by many times! Imagine you are left with only 5 hours to revise for your MCQ paper tomorrow.
If you did not use the circle method, you will work through all the MCQs from cover to cover, wasting lots of time on questions that are too simple or questions that you already knew. You will also end up getting tired, and not be able to work through all the MCQs in that 5 hours.
If you did not use the circle method, you will work through all the MCQs from cover to cover, wasting lots of time on questions that are too simple or questions that you already knew. You will also end up getting tired, and not be able to work through all the MCQs in that 5 hours.
Conversely, if you used the power of circles, you just need to go through the questions you circled. If you circled 10 questions for every MCQ paper (40 questions), that is going to save you 4 x the revision time. And every question ensures you revise something you were weak at, ensuring maximum productivity!
Conversely, if you used the power of circles, you just need to go through the questions you circled. If you circled 10 questions for every MCQ paper (40 questions), that is going to save you 4 x the revision time. And every question ensures you revise something you were weak at, ensuring maximum productivity!
4. HOW TO REVISE FOR STRUCTURED QUESTIONS!?
4. HOW TO REVISE FOR STRUCTURED QUESTIONS!?
HACK #4: USE KEYWORDS/PHRASES AND ACRONYMS
HACK #4: USE KEYWORDS/PHRASES AND ACRONYMS
When revising structured questions, remove all the useless english words and focus on getting the skeletal key points right. Examiners mark based on key points! You can always add in some posh english words in by yourself if you enjoy looking at a polished answer, although it would give you no extra credit!
When revising structured questions, remove all the useless english words and focus on getting the skeletal key points right. Examiners mark based on key points! You can always add in some posh english words in by yourself if you enjoy looking at a polished answer, although it would give you no extra credit!
For example, "Describe, in terms of forces, how a falling object reaches terminal velocity."
For example, "Describe, in terms of forces, how a falling object reaches terminal velocity."
Watch how I write the key points:
Watch how I write the key points:
If you understood this clearly, so would the examiner!
If you understood this clearly, so would the examiner!
- Remembering the key points is much easier than remembering lengthy answers with useless english words.
- When revising, write in this language to save time.
DID YOU KNOW? You are allowed to use official short-forms and formulae to explain answers, even for structured explanation questions!
DID YOU KNOW? You are allowed to use official short-forms and formulae to explain answers, even for structured explanation questions!
5. Remember MODEL answers using HACK #4!
5. Remember MODEL answers using HACK #4!
Hack #5: MEMORISE AND PRACTISE TEMPLATE ANSWERS!
Hack #5: MEMORISE AND PRACTISE TEMPLATE ANSWERS!
Questions are packaged differently, but the concepts tested are the same.
Examiners are not allowed to test concepts beyond the syllabus. If they do, they have to provide the relevant background information. Hence, if you know your concepts, you will be able to answer ALL questions.
Examiners are not allowed to test concepts beyond the syllabus. If they do, they have to provide the relevant background information. Hence, if you know your concepts, you will be able to answer ALL questions.
What are MODEL answers? Examples include answers to "Why do objects topple?" "How does convection occurs?" or "Explain how the silver walls reduce heat loss from the hot liquid to surroundings" etc.
What are MODEL answers? Examples include answers to "Why do objects topple?" "How does convection occurs?" or "Explain how the silver walls reduce heat loss from the hot liquid to surroundings" etc.
Let's use a real example, "A toy is suspended by a string. When the string is cut, the toy falls, but it does not reach terminal velocity. Describe, in terms of forces, the motion of the toy."
Let's use a real example, "A toy is suspended by a string. When the string is cut, the toy falls, but it does not reach terminal velocity. Describe, in terms of forces, the motion of the toy."
Compare this to the answer in HACK #4. It is obvious that...
Compare this to the answer in HACK #4. It is obvious that...
- the FLOW is the same,
- the key points of forces and motion (ie. acceleration/ speed/ distance) are included.
The modifications (in blue) are made to suit the needs of the questions! This reduces memory work considerably. HENCE, there should be no reason why you can't memorise all the template answers!
The modifications (in blue) are made to suit the needs of the questions! This reduces memory work considerably. HENCE, there should be no reason why you can't memorise all the template answers!
Don't say BOJIO!
Don't say BOJIO!
Another example: Explain how sound from a dolphin is transmitted to a receiver in water.
Another example: Explain how sound from a dolphin is transmitted to a receiver in water.
Very Cute Ladies Eat With Men which really stands for vibrate, collide, longitudinal wave description, transferring energy without matter.
Dolphin's mouth VIBRATES neighbouring water particles and causes them to COLLIDE into neighbouring particles. This causes the water particles to vibrate parallel to direction of wave motion, in a series of compressions and rarefactions (DESCRIBING LONGITUDINAL WAVES). The wave propagates from dolphin mouth to receiver, transferring sound ENERGY WITHOUT MEDIUM.
6. Arm yourself with practice papers THAT HAVE answer keys!
6. Arm yourself with practice papers THAT HAVE answer keys!
HACK #6: Don't let yourself do questions without knowing if you got it right or wrong.
HACK #6: Don't let yourself do questions without knowing if you got it right or wrong.
If there is no answer key, don't bother doing the paper, unless your teacher is marking it for you, or going through the answers!
If there is no answer key, don't bother doing the paper, unless your teacher is marking it for you, or going through the answers!
Doing questions without knowing if you are right or wrong, is like finding your way to a postal code without google maps.
Doing questions without knowing if you are right or wrong, is like finding your way to a postal code without google maps.
7. Drill & Practice
7. Drill & Practice
HACK #7: Practice makes perfect!
HACK #7: Practice makes perfect!
Just like any musical instrument, new skill or dance routine, the only way to get better is to practise hard. Imagine seeing an examination question you have come across for the 5th time. It is going to be a brainless thing if you had already practised it correctly 5 times. So this helps u become a
Just like any musical instrument, new skill or dance routine, the only way to get better is to practise hard. Imagine seeing an examination question you have come across for the 5th time. It is going to be a brainless thing if you had already practised it correctly 5 times. So this helps u become a
speed monster.
speed monster.
Authored: Mr Andrew Seah
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