Leaving Cert and A Levels tips
Your Word: The absolutely water-tight, fool proof guide!
Article by : SpunOut.ie - Rating :
Now let's get one thing clear, the Leaving Cert (or A Levels if you’re in the North) is not the horrific, traumatic, absolutely God-awful event that it is hyped up to be.
To be exact, it's about 90% hype, the remaining 10% consisting of pressure from teachers and parents and genuine hard work. Providing you follow these tips, it should be a stroll in the examination hall. Good luck!
- Slowly, Slowly Catchy Pointies: Study for the Leaving Cert and A Levels should begin as soon as you start the year. That doesn't mean mad cramming sessions first day out (that's a sure fire way to burn out quickly) but go through your stuff in wee bits throughout the year. In a 40 minute session of study, you only retain 20% of the info, so 15 minutes a pop should be okay. Come the few weeks before the exams when everyone else is climbing up the walls, the foundation work you did in mid-November will be invaluable.
- Go to Class: The best way to prepare for exams is to go to class, listen while there and do your homework.
- Paddy says Relax: Studying doesn't necessarily make you a prisoner of your own room. By all means, play a bit of football, watch a bit of telly, go out a night or two every so often. The way you relax and enjoy yourself is as important as the way you study. Just don't make a bad habit of it.
- Ignore Intricate Study Plans: Some people think it's a good idea to arrange an intricate timetable to determine what they study. Geography Monday at 7, History Tuesday at 8, etc. But you know as well as I do that it doesn't work that way. What happens if you couldn't be bothered studying Geography at 7 on Monday? Instead, it's best you study what you want to at whatever time you like. On the other hand, it’s good to have some sort of plan for what you will study in the week. So even if you don’t plan the exact time you will study, you can at least decide what topics and subjects you will be putting your mind to each week.This will put you in a good mood for studying other things you're not so keen on.
- The Actual Exams: Coming up to the big day, don't cram. Instead calmly look through your notes and have a good idea of the questions that are likely to come up. Make sure you prepare the questions that are certs to come up within an inch of their life, like English essays and Maths questions. That way you'll have a bit of self-assurance and it'll calm you down no end. During the exams, get your four square meals a day and relax a little bit to recover.
- Most importantly: Even though it seems like the most important thing in the world now, come September you're guaranteed to look back and think "What the hell was I worrying so much for?” All the toil you put in now will pay off when you're free of school and enjoying the rest of your life!
By: Patrick Duffy
The opinions of writers featured on SpunOut.ie do not necessarily reflect the views of the SpunOut.ie team or those of Community Creations. We try to give everyone a chance to have their opinions heard but we are not responsible for inaccuracies contained within these.
Your Comments
There are no comments for this article yet, please leave one!
Login to leave a comment on this article
Login | Sign Up