In this week’s H2 Math tuition class, we had a go at this particular Rate of Change question from Victoria Junior College. JC students widely consider this to be a very difficult Rate of Change question, but I want to talk about a very interesting observation. Look at the solution independently from the original H2 Math question. It is surprisingly similar to that of an O Level question, isn’t it?
Given that both solutions are virtually identical, why is H2 Math so much harder than O Level Additional Math then? Two words: Instructional components (or rather, the lack thereof).
To explain, when it comes to doing Additional Math questions in secondary school, it is very much a guided process. Questions at this level are usually very instructional, relatively speaking. All the information you need to solve a question will be laid out in front of you. You will be clued in step-by-step. It is a rather straightforward affair of getting from point A to point B.
This is the simple reason why it feels like the rug is pulled out from beneath your feet when it comes to H2 Math. A Level questions have missing instructions. The critical bits are there of course, just not in plain view. It is now up to you to parse the question and glean all necessary bits of data you need. This is the only way to make logical leaps across the yawning chasms. It is a bit like assembling Ikea furniture without any instructions!
So, my advice is: prepare to do a lot of head-scratching as you attack JC Math questions with a fine-tooth comb. The good thing is that building bridges that lead you to the solution is truly rewarding. As they say, there's nothing as satisfying as scratching an itch.
With the JC1 promos and JC2 prelims fast approaching, it's time to give yourself a boost with our A Level, JC H2 Math Tuition and Crash Courses!
A Level H2 Math Crash Courses for JC1 and JC2.
These JC1 and JC2 topical revision programs provide the most comprehensive coverage of the newly updated 2021 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A Level H2 Math syllabus, and includes every topic in Pure Math and Statistics. We have also worked in past-year H2 Math exam questions to help you perfect your exam techniques .
I am Jack from Achevas. We conduct weekly A Level H2 Math tuition and crash courses.
I was an average student in my secondary school and Junior College but when I got into the university, things changed for me dramatically because I got into the Dean's List and maintained there every semester until I graduated. This gave me the chance to work on projects with many other undergraduates who were some of the best in their specializations. And here are five quick tips I want to share with you on what I know helped me and what I have learned from those friends I worked with on how you can study effectively. Simple as they may sound but not everyone will be able to keep up.
Number 1: Be DILIGENT
This point may seem obvious and trite, but the honest truth is that there are no shortcuts to success, only sheer hard work. The one and only surefire strategy is for us to roll up our sleeves, crack our knuckles, and crack open those notes and textbooks. Leave no stone unturned — we're talking about a thorough and complete understanding of every topic, sub-topic, section and sub-section.
Investing the time and effort required to understand the subject you are studying thoroughly will pay off in the long run. As Louis Pasteur wisely said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” With a firm grasp of concepts and the facts at your fingertips, you will be ready for any curveball the examiner decides to throw at you.
Number 2: Be DISCIPLINED
Studying is an arduous task in and of itself, but factor in CCAs, project group meetings and the gazillion other things you have going on and it seems to acquire an almost Herculean quality.
Your best bet is to draw up a realistic study schedule or plan and stick to it. For best results, it should be customized according to your personal needs and learning style.
Keep in mind that for most of us, shorter time blocks are easier to schedule and are a more sustainable option than longer time blocks. By breaking up study time into blocks, you automatically create breaks so that the mind has time to recharge, thereby keeping productivity at optimum levels.
Another useful tip is to mix it up – a change of topic or subject is a good way to regain one's lost attention.
Number 3: Eliminate DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS
In this age of social media, many social networking sites such as Facebook , TikTok and Instagram clamor incessantly for our attention. In fact, individuals who are very active on social media platforms are said to be in a state of “continuous partial attention”, meaning to say that at any given time, they are unable to devote their full attention to tasks at hand.
Many of us are guilty of the above, so let's make a collective effort to unglue ourselves from our smartphones. With our phones out of reach, we are less likely to check obsessively for latest updates, and more likely to get work done.
Number 4: DEMONSTRATE your understanding by sharing your knowledge with classmates and friends
While this might seem counterintuitive at first glance, the idea is that by teaching and sharing, our conceptual understanding is reinforced in the process. Additionally, any areas of deficiency will be brought to attention and can be rectified accordingly. As an added bonus, if you get a reputation for being the smart one in the group, you'll get the challenging questions thrown at you, which mean more opportunities for learning. I have a university friend who was also on the Dean's List even told me that this was his only strategy when preparing for exams!
Number 5: Be DETERMINED
Setbacks are inevitable in every life journey. Even when it seems like you've reached an impasse, take a break, regroup, and try again. Try approaching things from another angle. More often than not, a change in perspective brings new insight.
Never give up – giving up means you fail right then and there, whereas so long as you don't throw in the towel, you still have a fighting chance.
The key is to not be afraid of making mistakes. John Maxwell, author of Failing Forward, puts it best:
“The more you do, the more you fail. The more you fail, the more you learn. The more you learn, the better you get.”
Think about it – it's far better to fail early on in the study process rather than on the day of the exam.
Once again, I am Jack from Achevas. We conduct weekly A Level H2 Math tuition and crash courses. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and let's continue to learn Math better.
H2 Math Integration Techniques 2-Hour Crash Course
All Achevas A Level H2 Math Crash Courses now come with extended 99-day playback, so you can go at your preferred speed, for as long as you need. Because good things take time.
All A Level H2 Math crash courses are conducted by Achevas Founder, Jack Ng
Jack holds a First Class Honors Degree from the National University of Singapore, completing his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in 4½ years instead of the usual 6 through the invitation-only Accelerated Masters Program. A Book Prize recipient, Jack maintained a place on the Dean’s List for the entirety of his academic career.
When it comes to Math, the most commonly heard piece of advice is perhaps the familiar phrase “Practice Makes Perfect”.
While these are wise words to live by, and is generally true for Math at Primary and Secondary levels, the game changes when students progress to Junior College, where the complexity of the subject increases substantially. Due to the increased difficulty, purely attempting as many practice questions as possible is often not enough to assure students of a good exam grade where higher-level Math is concerned.
Another technique commonly relied upon by students is going through past-year exam papers in an attempt to spot patterns and trends, and revising accordingly. As we know, all predictive techniques come with some measure of risk, and question-spotting, being a gamble by its very nature, will not guarantee students good exam grades.
Contrary to popular belief, the key to scoring consistently high grades in Math at Junior College level is neither lots of practice, nor question-spotting or analyzing how examiners set questions.
It's not about beating the system, it's about grasping the concepts
The most foolproof method of achieving consistently high marks for tests and exams is for students to develop an in-depth understanding of each topic, especially theory-centric topics, as well as the versatility in applying this understanding to solve the different types of questions they may encounter.
The most common problem Junior College students face while attempting to complete their tutorials is that they often get stuck very early on, leaving them frustrated and discouraged. The reason this problem arises is in part due to the heavy assignment workload students are given, as well as their tight academic schedule. Feeling the pressure to complete their assignments on time, students tend to jump straight into doing their tutorial assignments after just a cursory reading of their lecture notes, often having to revisit and consult their notes when they realize that they are out of their depth.
This disorganized and unfocused approach often leads to students developing an incomplete and in come cases, an incorrect understanding of the topic.
As a result, students often find themselves having to relearn key concepts, and this vicious cycle places a further drain on their already limited resources of time and energy.
The solution to this problem is counterintuitive and not always easy – ideally, students should spend as much time as possible to reading and understanding their lecture notes before they sit down to attempt tutorial questions. In other words, there has to be a re-proportioning of the time students allocate to reading lecture notes and to doing questions, with the focus being on gaining a thorough understanding of each topic rather than on merely completing assignments and tutorials.
Consistent and good grades can be accomplished in a three-step process, namely:
Theory & Concept Understanding
Topical Outlining
Practice
As we touched on earlier, firstly, students should take their time to reading their notes closely and carefully instead of rushing through them. For a theory-centric topic, we will recommend that the optimal proportion of time devoted to theoretical understanding and practice being 50% each, whereas for a practice-centric topic, 30% – 70%.. The next step would then be to form a logical framework of the topic, noting and highlighting what the key points are. The goal is to reduce each topic into a condensed outline of key information, such that students can tell at a glance what is important and what is not. Lastly, students should put their understanding to the test by attempting practice questions, refining their logical frameworks along the way.
The above approach will help students to achieve consistent results via a thorough and complete understanding of the concepts, which in turn enables them to answer effectively any kind of question they encounter during their tests and exams.
