Do you have a master checklist that you tick off before you sit for an exam?
You know, like the topics that you need to revise, the subject syllabus and how you will be graded etc.
Well, no matter how long your checklist is, it will not mean anything if you are not willing to put in your best effort to learn and master the subject.
It is only with the right studying methods that you can reap your desired results for any subject you are learning.
That's why in this article, we will explore 5 methods to help you excel in your STPM Physics subject during your Form Six studies.
Method 1: Create A Feasible Study Schedule To Master All Learning Outcomes Consistently
Nothing sets you on the right track like a clear study schedule for each semester.
This is especially evident during the first semester when you have to learn and master 11 Physics topics, followed by 7 topics each for the second and third semesters respectively.
The first thing you need to consider when creating a study schedule is to come up with clear learning goals within a fixed timeframe. In other words, you have to be specific and make sure your revision sessions are manageable to sustain until your final examinations.
You can start by asking yourself the following questions:
- For instance, how long will it take to study and review a chapter? (Weekly or daily)
- When it comes to arranging the topics for revision, will there be any topics that you want to prioritise based on their significance and your level of comprehension?
- What hours (time slots) work best for you when it comes to revision (without distraction or other commitments)?
When you know how to maximise your peak productivity hours, you'll naturally gain more during each studying session.
Remember to also schedule breaks in between the sessions to avoid burnout. It's not the hours you put in your work that counts, it's the work you put in the hours.
To track your progress, you can mark down what you have done in terms of revising the notes or attempting topical exercises with an app or a notebook.
Before that, make sure you dive deep into the overall curriculum and the latest exam format for your STPM Physics papers.
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Method 2: Review Notes, Sample Questions With Elaborations Plus Examples
After coming out with a schedule, it's time to put them into actual practice.
Make the best out of your STPM Physics revision materials such as your textbooks, reference books, online notes and sample questions. After reviewing the topics, make sure you complete sufficient topical questions to ensure you have really mastered the topics.
If you find that the notes in the textbooks are too wordy, you can break them down according to mind maps, step-by-step diagrams or even illustrations to make things clearer.
For example, when you are studying the concept of uncertainty under the topic of Physical Quantities and Units, you can first define the three types of uncertainty: Absolute uncertainty, Fractional uncertainty and Percentage uncertainty.
Then you can proceed to memorise the relevant keywords and associate certain examples alongside the respective definitions.
Learn more about the marking rubrics for all the STPM Physics assessments throughout the semesters.
Method 3: Relate What You've Learnt With Real Life Applications (Theory + Practical)
As compared to the other two Science subjects for STPM, STPM Physics has relatively more numbers and formulas.
Don't be taken aback by that but pay attention to the models, concepts, principles, theories and laws of Physics. Take your time to relate, analyse and evaluate the ideas that you have read logically and critically.
For instance, when you are studying the concepts of potential energy and kinetic energy under the topic of Work, Energy, and Power during the first semester, you can match the real-life examples according to each different form of potential energy.
- For gravitational potential energy: A ball rolling down from the top of the hill.
- For elastic potential energy: A compressed spring (release of energy)
- For chemical potential energy: Usage of batteries in a flashlight
This will help you not only remember these facts better but also help you to structure your answers better when you are answering the structured or essay questions for your STPM Physics written assessments.
Make the best out of various learning resources to take your STPM Physics grades to the next level.
Having said that, having an experienced Physics tutor can help you to enhance your overall comprehension towards the subject, both in theory and practical terms.
How You Can Benefit From Having A Superprof Tutor As You Prepare For Your STPM Physics Papers
Our tutors at Superprof are not only well-versed with the latest syllabus and examination format of STPM Physics, but they are also adaptable when it comes to guiding students according to their learning needs and pace.
At Superprof, it's also extremely easy to connect with a Physics tutor. In just a few clicks, you can hire a home tutor or online tutor.
Once you have indicated your preferences in terms of your learning level, subject, maximum budget and learning mode, you will be directed to a wide selection of Physics tutors. From there, you can browse through the tutors' profiles from different cities in Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Melaka, Kuching and many more.
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Now, let's take a look at how you'll benefit from taking STPM Physics tutoring with Superprof.
First and foremost, you will gain access to supplementary learning resources for the subject.
That way, you can practice and study with different sets of questions. It'll help you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the "missing gaps" that you might fail to notice during the first round during your usual Physics lessons in school.
Secondly, you will enjoy the undivided attention of your Superprof tutor. This one-to-one lesson enables you to immerse completely during the lessons and ask questions freely without worrying about time constraints.
Your tutor can also freely provide you with immediate feedback and be more certain of how well you completely grasp the topic before moving to the next one. This quick feedback loop helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses objectively when you're solving a problem, for instance, and take the necessary steps to improve the next time.
Thirdly, you will also experience a boost in your motivation and confidence with a Superprof tutor. Having someone experienced to encourage and teach you consistently will help you stay focused on your learning goal throughout the three semesters.
This will help you to prepare better for all your assessments as you learn the right answering techniques from your Superprof tutor too!
Trust us, it's really a worthwhile decision to invest your time with a Superprof tutor as you prepare for your STPM Physics papers as a Form Six student!
Method 4: Organise Your Answers For Structured And Essay Questions
Next, let's move to the direct answering techniques for the written assessments for your STPM Physics Papers.
Altogether, there are three sections for your written assessments each semester.
For Section A, there will be 15 multiple-choice questions, so it's rather a straightforward answering method.
For Section B, candidates need to answer 2 compulsory structured questions whereas for Section C, candidates need to answer two out of three essay questions.
Most students tend to lose marks for their structured and essay questions because they are not sure how to answer them according to the marking scheme.
When it comes to answering structured and essay questions, it's important to identify the physics concept that is asked, (for definition questions), followed by the relevant laws or formulas needed for any calculation operation.
This also applies to the written practical test for private candidates whereby they are required to answer three structured questions.
For example, you might be asked to define what is magnetic flux density or state what is Kirchhoff’s laws for structured questions.
For essay questions, you'll need to answer a series of questions that are interrelated with one another, which might involve calculation, explanation, and even sketching.
One tip to help you answer the questions is to look at the mark allocation of each question. That will give you a clue on how long your answers (workings) should be, especially when calculation is involved.
Apart from providing the right work for your calculation, it's also important to back your answers with the right explanation and examples.
For instance, let's say you were given a question about a heat process.
It's important to note that you should not only state the right name of the heat process (the right physics concept) but also correctly describe what is going on during the heat process like how heat was supplied or absorbed and the changes of temperature due to the heat process. Then, you can solidify your final answer by applying and explaining the right formula based on the question.
Don't forget to discover the benefits of learning and mastering the STPM Physics subject as a Malaysian pre-university student.
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Method 5: Double Check The Units/Significant Figures For Various Calculation Questions
After ensuring that you have covered your workings for your structured and essay questions, it's now time to go into the details.
There are many instances where students lose marks over using the wrong negative sign, units or the wrong figures for the final answers.
Never ever use mixed units during your calculation and always refer to the original question for the significant figure if you have any doubts!
Remember to always double-check your workings and final answers. The cliché rings true— The devil is in the details.
Now that you have reviewed these five methods to ace your STPM Physics papers, which method do you think works best for you?
Try them out and let us know how it goes!
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