Have you been struggling to stay afloat in your Physics class? Physics can be a challenging subject, but it is definitely not impossible to pass and even clinch that ‘A’ in, as evidenced by the many success stories from our Physics tuition at Ang Mo Kio. If you are looking to do better in Physics, it is never too late to start improving your grades with these must-have pointers!
Make a Formula Sheet
Every Physics student knows that the syllabus includes plenty of formulae that you have to memorise. Although some formulae will be given in the examination, it is still important to remember not just the formulae, but also how you should apply the correct formula to each question. Some students still get stuck after memorising all the formulae because they are unsure of how to use the concepts they have learned. The topic tested may not be evident at first glance when reading the question – this knowledge only comes with enough practice and exposure. When you finally sit down for the exam, you should be able to look at each question and instantly know the right formula to use and how to apply it to the information given in the question.
As such, we highly recommend creating your own formula sheet, with all the formulae you need to know and examples of how they can be applied. Include real questions that you have worked through using the correct formulae, which can help you to refresh your memory when reviewing your work. Having all the important information in one place can help to make your studying much more efficient.
Practice Makes Perfect
Physics is all about understanding the concepts and applying them, but just knowing the syllabus is not enough to scoring well in the examinations, especially for free-answer questions. Plenty of our students come to our Physics tuition at Ang Mo Kio knowing their content, but unsure of how to answer the exam questions. To secure that ‘A’ in Physics, you need plenty of practice on past-year papers to ensure you can answer each question effectively and efficiently. Do you remember what it felt like to do your very first Physics paper? Not every question follows the textbook format verbatim, which can take you some precious minutes re-reading the question and trying to figure out how to solve it, then spending a good amount of time doing the working – only to realise that you had chosen the wrong approach halfway through.
Fortunately, this harrowing situation can be completely avoided the more you work on Physics papers and questions. The questions may be varied, but they cannot stray from the original syllabus too much. With enough experience in tackling the different question types, you will be able to identify how to solve each question right from the first glance. Getting sufficient practice on the written papers will also enable you to complete the paper faster, leaving you ample time to check through your work and eliminate any careless mistakes.
Take Notes in the Lab
Lab work is an important part of your Physics grade. If you aim to top your class in Physics, it is imperative that you master the practical component. The Science Practical Assessment (SPA) is one of the easiest ways to secure that 15% or 20% of your final grade, automatically elevating you to the next grade band.
Since you only have a limited number of lab sessions in school, it is important to pay extra attention to your lab experiments and take plenty of notes on standard procedures and how you should describe your observations. Unfortunately, most schools have to fit their lab sessions in a tight timetable, so it is normal for students to be getting less lab time than they need to completely familiarise themselves with the practical component. As a result, some students may feel stressed or anxious about their Science Practical Assessment because they are not as familiar with it as the normal written paper. If your school allows you to book the lab for free access on your own time, you should definitely make use of it to ensure that you know your way around lab work like the back of your hand.
To completely ensure that you can score full marks in the practical component, attending Physics practical tuition can also be an option. Physics practical tuition aims to enhance your school’s lab sessions by giving you more lab time to work on common experiments. On top of that, your tutors can also guide you in executing the lab tasks accurately and efficiently, pointing out any careless mistakes and measurement errors which could cost you precious marks in the actual assessment. With the right preparation, you’ll be able to top your Physics class in no time!