How to Study?

[DonFrank]

Most students tend to jump onto the bandwagon that doing a lot of exercises would make them understand certain topics better. It is not about quantity when it comes to learning, it is up to the quality you have.
If you understand certain topics, you will have no problems doing any questions,even very hairy problems. However, if you don't understand the topic well, even if you have done 100 questions, chances are that you would not be able to solve complicated questions which test your understanding.

There are two types of learners, namely holistic learner and shallow learner. Holistic learner is the one who has very strong and logical understanding about certain topics but shallow learner uses rote memory.
It is without doubt that most students resort to rote memory learning today because it is one of the easiest and at the same time, one of the most ineffective and time-consuming learning process. For example, shallow learners, while learning PA kertas 1, they tend to memorise all the facts instead of understanding them. By understanding I mean knowing the intuition behind something you learn.

I found that our brain will only remember things that come with logical reasons. The stronger the reasons, the longer it will remember. For example, if your friend tells you that A = B and and he explains why A = B, you would remember it with ease but if he never explains the intuition behind, your brain will struggle in remembering (such is the problem in rote memory learning).

Sorry if I've rambled too long at this point. I'm now going to introduce you some learning strategy I've been using.

1)Always understand the intuition behind something that you learn.
For example, learn how to derive certain formulae instead of memorising them.
Let say for a chemical reaction - aA + bB <---> cC + dD
Its equilibrium constant, Keq = [C]^c . [D]^d / [A]^a . [b]^b
Why should we time the exponent a for [A]? Have your teachers ever taught you how do they derive Keq? I guess most teachers don't.
If you want to know how, go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONBJo7dXJm8&feature=fvsr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONBJo7dXJm8&feature=fvsr)

2)Use your internal dialogue to learn.
Internal dialogue is the sentences that people tell themselves and the debate that often goes on "inside their head" a form of self-talk, or inner speech.
You talk to yourself on how to solve a certain question, when you are making decisions or when you are choosing which path to go in future and so on and so forth and in the end you choose. So internal dialogue is something that we do since the moment we are born. So how are you going to use it in your learning process? Well, whenever you come across any topics that are mind-blowing, you must use internal dialogue to learn. You must try to give yourself some reasons why something occurs, why is it so, why is that so and so on. Even if your reasons are ludricous, so be it. The stronger the opinions you have towards that certain topic, the better is your understanding and your memory towards that particular subject. The important thing is that you keep talking to yourself about that topic until your brain accepts it without a shadow of doubt.
*The more logical is your reasons, the better your brain can accept and thus remember for a long time.

3)Learn with heart
Perhaps this is the element that most students lack-the passion to study.
A student without heart will have to force himself to learn subjects being taught. Hence, he has to struggle to make himself learn and he of course would not be talking to himself about these subjects so he wouldn't remember much of it. Imagine if you talk to yourself about those academic subjects you learn, everything would be at your fingertips.

Students who learn with heart will always find learning easy. They would never have problems in learning, even when they have, they would happily solve it without hurry and worry. A student with heart does not have to force himself to learn. Even when learning is difficult, students with heart will not have any problems but students without heart would have headaches.

4) Always understand how something works first before attempting any questions.
Such is the case with vectors, deductive geometry and many math topics which base a lot in understanding rather than simple calculations (matrix).
As emphasised by all the points before, understanding is of pivotal importance. You must make sure you have understood those concepts before you attempt any questions. Doing questions without comprehension is nothing more than bumping your head against the wall. Those examiners who set questions essentially want to test your understanding on certain topics. They are not going to award A to students who don't understand the concepts. For easy questions, even if you don't understand the concepts , you still can do. But how about long questions and hairy questions?

5) Don't memorise unless no other options
Believe me or not, memorising is the harder than understanding. This is because memorising is not supported by reasons.Things that are not supported by reasons is usually short term. Memorising is different from using internal dialogue. You ground yourself, trick yourself into believing something strongly with internal dialogue and most of the time they are supported by logical reasons or maybe stupid reasons. But memorising is not supported by reasons at all. Therefore, stop doing it and use internal dialogue.

6)Be light and fluid
When learning something, always leave out all your pre-conception. This is to make your brains taking up the concepts easily, it's like a little tricking process that helps trick your mind. If you are very pre-occupied, no matter what the books say or teachers say , you can hardly take it so chances are that you will not be able to grab something taught.

7)Terminology
You might come across many words which you don't know what they mean. In this case, you should quickly check dictionary to avoid any misconceptions. Your brain likes everything to be as clear as possible.

8 )Make everything as clear as possible
Make everything that is unclear clearer. The brain likes things that are clear and with certainty. When your conception about certain things is unclear, there are only guesses and this is not the case with studying. A good student makes sure that everything is clear. He doesn't leave anything to chances.

exam tip
Avoid being habitual
Always be prepared for new challenges. Don't expect all questions to be familiar or some sorts of questions you usually encounter. To avoid being habitual, you have to be aware of everything. In PA exams, in math exams, read all questions real carefully and understand what they want before you attempt to solve them. Use some logic in your thinking to solve them. Most of the questions in STPM these years are tricky because they want you to really understand. They don't set straightforward questions already because they want you to think. This is what a marker of PA told me. Always analyse the questions carefully before you start doing. Know what they want and give what they want and they will give you what you want.

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Everyone studies differently. You should choose whatever methods that suit you best. Good luck. [Click thanks if I've helped you to show some appreciation, thanks]
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If you are looking for a very good tutor who can provide free and high quality education, go http://www.khanacademy.org (http://www.khanacademy.org/) or http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy (http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy)

Good luck.

[gsh]

thanks for your meaningful post ya..n good luck for your stpm exam...:)

[freakyz]

Oh, nice post! Sometimes, my mind was debating with what I'm trying to read. Now I only know it's called internal dialogue. By the way, I found that learning through questions works well for me. I grasp some concepts that were not available in the books by understanding the answers for the particular questions.

[DonFrank]

Oh, nice post! Sometimes, my mind was debating with what I'm trying to read. Now I only know it's called internal dialogue. By the way, I found that learning through questions works well for me. I grasp some concepts that were not available in the books by understanding the answers for the particular questions.

Yeah, that is one of the way too.
Questions are thought provoking. If you couldn't solve some questions, you try to 'solve' the suggested answers.

'Solve' means dissolve here. You read the suggested answer and then ask yourself the reason they write such answer and voila, you will understand the concepts too. This is because there are logical reasons for every answers. What you need to do is to find the logic behind.

thanks for your meaningful post ya..n good luck for your stpm exam...:)

Thanks for your compliment.
Good luck to you in your coming exam too.:amuse

[nemosmknimh]

3)Learn with heart
Perhaps this is the element that most students lack-the passion to study.
A student without heart will have to force himself to learn subjects being taught. Hence, he has to struggle to make himself learn and he of course would not be talking to himself about these subjects so he wouldn't remember much of it. Imagine if you talk to yourself about those academic subjects you learn, everything would be at your fingertips.

Students who learn with heart will always find learning easy. They would never have problems in learning, even when they have, they would happily solve it without hurry and worry. A student with heart does not have to force himself to learn. Even when learning is difficult, students with heart will not have any problems but students without heart would have headaches.


i really agree with this point....
most of my friends study because the have to...
not because they want to...
while me always study and set my mood to it...
yo open my heart to grap what i read....
and made my friends jealous how i can grasp the topics easily...

[freakyz]

Yeah, that is one of the way too.
Questions are thought provoking. If you couldn't solve some questions, you try to 'solve' the suggested answers.

'Solve' means dissolve here. You read the suggested answer and then ask yourself the reason they write such answer and voila, you will understand the concepts too. This is because there are logical reasons for every answers. What you need to do is to find the logic behind.

This is what I'm doing right now. But sometimes, I may forget the concepts behind it... What about those questions without suggested answers? BTW graph sketching for exponential and natural logarithm are so troublesome, any idea to overcome it?

[DonFrank]

This is what I'm doing right now. But sometimes, I may forget the concepts behind it... What about those questions without suggested answers? BTW graph sketching for exponential and natural logarithm are so troublesome, any idea to overcome it?

There are always many ways to answer a certain question. When you refer to the answer, you refer to only a way which means that you are more likely to be able to solve the question in only one way . But if you have grasped the concept already, you can solve the question in multiple ways. This is the cons of studying the answer I can think of.

For the graphing problem, I believe most of us are rendered headache when we come across equation like y = 3e^4t / 2e^2t and many others because they are not intuitive , ie , you don't have an idea of their shape when you first see them.

Some very hairy equation may look very complicated but most of the time they assume the same shape as that of simple exponentional and natural log equation.

But frankly, these problems can be solved if you use some strategy.
1) Find the intersection on y-axis and x-axis
2) Find the asymptote if there is any.
3) Find the region of existence of the equation, ie , when x--> + infinity, y --> ? and when x--> -infinity , y--> ?
4) Find the rate of increasing / decreasing so that we can guess the shape of the curve ( increase very fast or increase slowly as x increases)

If you don't like the above steps, there is a shortcut way to do.
You will only need a calculator. You insert the equation, you computerised the value from 0 to 1 to 2 and so on until you have idea about the shape of the curve. [ This is really short cut and applies to straightforward question like those in differential equation . For other, like most graph sketching questions, do as asked in the question like finding maximum / minimum pt and pt of inflexion ]

Almost all graph sketching questions can be solved by using calculator. You will need to manually find the stationary point and inflexion point only.

I don't know if there is any best way, teach me if you know :)

[freakyz]

Oh thanks.. by the way we need to differentiate to find min and max point. Err my strategy? I use wolfram alpha to see the shape of the graph and grasp the concept 1st, but this 1 is not allowed during exam XD. So normally do u have any problem sketching the graph in exam?

By the way, grasping the concepts is not something that can be done in a day... Also the khan academy's videos are really helpful, thanks for the link!

[DonFrank]

Oh thanks.. by the way we need to differentiate to find min and max point. Err my strategy? I use wolfram alpha to see the shape of the graph and grasp the concept 1st, but this 1 is not allowed during exam XD. So normally do u have any problem sketching the graph in exam?

By the way, grasping the concepts is not something that can be done in a day... Also the khan academy's videos are really helpful, thanks for the link!

I think basically I've no problem in graph sketching.
I've attended a seminar by STPM paper 1 marker and he said that in order to score in graph sketching question, your graph must have the following elements:
1)x-axis and y-axis intersection
2)asymptotes (denoted by broken lines)
3)labelling (y-axis, x-axis, and your curves)
4)maximum/minimum point if there is any.

Btw, I have mastered most of the vague concepts I'd had before by listening to Mr Sal's lecture.

Maximum point, minimum point and inflexion point are stationary point although inflexion point can be non-stationary.

Stationary point has a gradient of 0. Therefore, to find out maximum/minimum point, we have to find out the y' or dy/dx first if the equation is y= something. Then we let the dy/dx = 0 and we will find the values of x which have dy/dx = 0. Now that we have these x values, substitute these x value into the equation y=sth and find out y and you will get the coordinate. how are we going to know whether these coordinates are maximum or minimum point?

There are two ways, I think
1) let say the x value you found is 2

Showing that certain coordinate is minimum point
a)Test of concavity
dy/dx (2)- (2) (2)+ ...................[ (2)- means <2, (2)+ means >2 ]
value -ve 0 +ve
shape \ __ /

Hence, (2, f(2)) is a minimum point

b)Using second derivative
Concave upward , U - the gradient changes from very negative value to very positive value. Curve that is concave upward has a minumum point (when its first derivative equals 0)
If you find out the derivative of the gradient , ie , the second derivative (d2y/dx^2), you will find out that the curve for d2y/dx^2 is a straight line with positive gradient.

Therefore, you find out the second derivative of the function. Substitute the x value , 2 , into the equation of second derivative. If d2y/dx^2 > 0, then (2 , f(2) ) is a minimum point.

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For maximum point, the way to prove it is the same as proving minimum point. The differences are
i)the first derivative changes from very positive value to very negative value. If you graph the first derivative, you will obtain a straight line with negative slope (This means that the second derivative <0 )

Using the first model, you must show that the shape changes from
/ to ----- to \, then you can say that coordinate is maximum point

Using second derivative, you show that d2y/dx^2 < 0

Sorry because I do not know how to write math signs in forum.Quite difficult to teach graphing without any pictures. hopefully you get it.
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For point of inflexion that is stationary,
i) it has dy/dx = 0,
ii) a point where changes in concativity occur
iii) d2y/dx^2 = 0 (Sign changes from 2- to 2+ in concativity test using d2y/dx^2)
iv) use the model below

say, x = 2 ,
dy/dx 2- 2 2+
value +ve 0 +ve
shape / --- / (The graph will look like U shape , with tip touching 0)
(see this, no change in sign which means there is changes in concavity, hence, this must be a point of inflexion that is stationary since f'(2) = 0)

*Use either (iii) or (iv) to prove this type of inflexion point

For point of inflexion that is non-stationary,
i) Its dy/dx does not equal 0
ii) a point where changes in concativity occurs
iii)its d2y/dx^2 = 0
iv) There are changes in sign for concativity test using second derivative
[ d2y/dx^2 2- 2 2+
value +ve 0 -ve (or vice versa) ]
You find out the equation of d2y/dx^2, you let d2y/dx^2 = 0 , the value of x , if there is any, could be the point of inflexion provided that there are changes in sign in the second derivative concativity test. (If no changes in sign, even when the d2y/dx^2 = 0, it is not a point of inflexion, this might be a little bit hard to grasp, but if you graph them out, you can see better)

*Some questions may ask you to find point of inflexion. You find out dy/dx=0 but if those values of x you found are not inflexion point, this implies that you must find out the second derivative (let it = 0) in order to find out the point of inflexion.

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Hopefully I didn't confuse you, haha... just draw the graph of y, y', and y'' and you can see what really happens.

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Additional notes:
You can use third derivative test to prove your inflexion point.
If third derivative at that point >0 or <0 , as long as it is not equal to 0, it is a point of inflexion.

[Cerise]

first of all , thanks fo sharing these very useful tips and also some fantastic ways of how to study well.
I do agree with all of the points because i'm too, using some of the methods.
I do believe that learning with passion and heart is the key to anything including studying and in the exams.Even if we are learning something very boring or very 'unuseful' in our life but bear in mind that we are learning knowledge.Who knows these things would be useful in our life someday? we can't tell. So if study with a heart and not just for to pass the exams, i believe we will do better.
I'm the kind person that find a bit hard to remember things without understand them first. Therefore i am totally agree with point 4 and 5 .
And also internal dialouge comes very useful in studying (from what you were saying ) , i should try on this one !
Good luck in your STPM!

[DonFrank]

first of all , thanks fo sharing these very useful tips and also some fantastic ways of how to study well.
I do agree with all of the points because i'm too, using some of the methods.
I do believe that learning with passion and heart is the key to anything including studying and in the exams.Even if we are learning something very boring or very 'unuseful' in our life but bear in mind that we are learning knowledge.Who knows these things would be useful in our life someday? we can't tell. So if study with a heart and not just for to pass the exams, i believe we will do better.
I'm the kind person that find a bit hard to remember things without understand them first. Therefore i am totally agree with point 4 and 5 .
And also internal dialouge comes very useful in studying (from what you were saying ) , i should try on this one !
Good luck in your STPM!

Hi Cerise, thanks for your compliments. Very right, moreover we don't lose anything by learning more things. The only thing that frustrates me is that majority of the school teachers are not passionate in teaching. Because of this many students are influenced badly. This indirectly causes them to lose their interest in learning , thus producing many bad crops. Sometimes I think it could be one of the government policy. They make medium of instruction the scapegoat when it is really the problem of quality in teaching.

I'm glad that I've managed to help some of you. Hopefully all of you pass the exam with flying colours.

[Cerise]

Hi Cerise, thanks for your compliments. Very right, moreover we don't lose anything by learning more things. The only thing that frustrates me is that majority of the school teachers are not passionate in teaching. Because of this many students are influenced badly. This indirectly causes them to lose their interest in learning , thus producing many bad crops. Sometimes I think it could be one of the government policy. They make medium of instruction the scapegoat when it is really the problem of quality in teaching.

I'm glad that I've managed to help some of you. Hopefully all of you pass the exam with flying colours.

Yup , i learned that from a friend of mine, and since then i'm doing good.To be honest, i really hate the education system in Malaysia. Lucky me got out of it as i'm currently studying in Ireland ( a chance that felt from the sky for me )
I have to say a lot teachers hate their jobs and i can say some of them became a teacher because they had no choice. And this is sucks when the teachers are actually no passionate about teaching!

[DonFrank]

Yup , i learned that from a friend of mine, and since then i'm doing good.To be honest, i really hate the education system in Malaysia. Lucky me got out of it as i'm currently studying in Ireland ( a chance that felt from the sky for me )
I have to say a lot teachers hate their jobs and i can say some of them became a teacher because they had no choice. And this is sucks when the teachers are actually no passionate about teaching!

Good to hear that you have had the chance to enjoy better education out there.

I must say that we students are really fortunate to come across teachers are more interested in $ more than teaching. It makes us become more responsible and it helps tempering our spirit. Haha, when there is nothing we can do to change their attitudes, we can only change ourselves. Hence, we really must change opinions towards things that are unfavourable to us. This is because whining would not bring any good.

Enjoy learning :))

[Boyz_Zoo]

It is without a doubt that if one has the passion on the subject, one tend to able learn it well. However, honestly speaking, the current education system makes the interest in the students in any subjects to fade away sooner or later. This is because we are forced to study and study day and night just to vomit it out in our test paper and then forget about it.

Therefore, try 2 be as much interested in the subjects that you are learning. If one finds it hard 2 get be interested in it, try learning the subject in another way like mind mapping or connect the knowledge we learn in our everyday life.

Besides that, think about your future and if you ever want 2 achieve whatever you want to be, you have to study hard. let that inspire you to do well.

[DonFrank]

It is without a doubt that if one has the passion on the subject, one tend to able learn it well. However, honestly speaking, the current education system makes the interest in the students in any subjects to fade away sooner or later. This is because we are forced to study and study day and night just to vomit it out in our test paper and then forget about it.

Therefore, try 2 be as much interested in the subjects that you are learning. If one finds it hard 2 get be interested in it, try learning the subject in another way like mind mapping or connect the knowledge we learn in our everyday life.

Besides that, think about your future and if you ever want 2 achieve whatever you want to be, you have to study hard. let that inspire you to do well.

Can't agree more. Such is called discipline , control and forbearance. :)

[Cerise]

but the problem is can everyone do that ? be passionate about biology or maths?
when some people think of biology, they are like ' God , i hate this subject!' and the more they hate or reject, they more the find it hard...
It's the attitude they have and they should change the attitude towards things...
Attitude makes everything possible!

[DonFrank]

but the problem is can everyone do that ? be passionate about biology or maths?
when some people think of biology, they are like ' God , i hate this subject!' and the more they hate or reject, they more the find it hard...
It's the attitude they have and they should change the attitude towards things...
Attitude makes everything possible!

Hi Cerise.Right, we should change our attitude towards things that are unfavourable to us.

I can tell you frankly that I'd always loved biology until I learnt the truth about the modern scientific medicine. In these periods, I'd been struggling to make myself studying them. Such is a path without heart, I'd to repeatedly force myself to study and in the end, I had always had to struggle in learning biology. But now I've changed my opinions towards them, I've learnt to have discipline, control and forbearance when facing things that I don't like or unfavourable to me. Consequently, I've made this path without heart into a path with heart. Now I do not struggle to learn. I enjoy the learning process.

Most people would not be able to do so because it requires a lot of effort. Most people would choose to walk the path with heart and usually it is not an academic one. They might not have the best credentials but they enjoy the path with heart that they have taken. So it really doesn't matter, considering that we can't do anything to change the quality of teachers.

I've always asked why are those teachers, even when knowing that their teaching abilities are atrocious, do not actively seek improvement. The answer that I've is that there is no pressure from their boss, ie, the government. Even when your teaching skills are the worst, you still get the same pay. There is no pressure from the employers. There is no competition. The government is not going to tell you ' Hey, if you don't teach well, I'm going to reduce your salary!!!' or ' Hey, if your students couldn't understand what you are teaching, I'm going to sack you!'.
So which teacher would work to improve their expertise, provided that the teachers aren't passionate in teaching? You teach badly, you get $5k a month, you teach very very well, you still get $5k a month. This is what I can think of at the moment.

This is a private msg I sent to someone, this message might help some of you so I decide to post it here.

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For every examination, all you need is sobriety and strategy,provided that you are well equipped with the required knowledge. If you can remain calmed throughout the test, you shouldn't have any problem. When you are nervous during examination, turn around and ask your 'death' (using death as your adviser). When you take your death as your adviser, your action will have some power and convictions.

Questions that I usually ask my death when I lose my nerves ....' I'm already dead, so I've really got nothing to lose, why still nervous?' , ' What if I don't complete my paper? I'm going to die. ' ' What for being nervous? For it doesn't bring in any good.'

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For mathematics, understanding is the key. Just make sure that you know what those concepts really are. If you have mastered those concepts such as vector, deductive geometry, and so on, you can apply your knowledge to solve all kinds of problems. Lecturers who set STPM questions are essentially testing you of your understanding.
We should not expect all the questions to be familiar. Sometimes when you look at the questions, you've no clue. Well, this is pre-U examination, surely you wouldn't have clue by first looking at it (not kindergarten test right).

For solving questions
1)Read the question until you know what is it talking about without a shadow of doubt. If you don't understand by first reading, reread.
2)Pick appropriate weapons in your inventory to tackle the problems. (Be logical, all answers written must be logical, at least enough to convince you)
3)Make sure you do it with sobriety (be aware all the time, no worry and hurry) to prevent careless mistake.
4)Recheck to make sure there is no mistake.
5)Proceed to a new question.

*For differential equation, usually students do not know how to solve questions involving deriving an equation for the situation involved.

Deriving those rate equations would be easy if you've really understood 'chemical kinetics' in physical chemistry. (Refer to videos about it found in khanacademy)
Some examples for deriving
i)changes in A / dt
= increase in A/dt - decrease in A/dt

ii) A <----> B + C
Rate of forward reaction
= decrease in A / dt = -d[A]/dt = (k+)[A]
= increase in B&C /dt = d[b][C]/dt = (k+)[b][C]
k+ is an arbitrary constant

Rate of backward reaction
= decrease in B&C /dt = -d[b][C]/dt = (k-)[b][C]
= increase in A /dt = d[A]/dt = (k-)[A]
k- is an arbitrary constant.

increase in B&C /dt =
increase in B /dt + increase in C /dt

decrease in B&C /dt =
decrease in B /dt + decrease in C /dt

* Use the rate of forward rxn to derive first order rate equation and so on.

I mastered most of basic concepts in www.khanacedemy.org (http://www.khanacedemy.org/) and also some mathematics website.
http://www.freewebs.com/weews/

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For organic chemistry, I prefer understanding too.
Remember the internal dialogue I talked about in my article? Use that internal dialogue to learn. Talk to yourself about why this reactions occur or why that occurs until your brain is convinced and knows without a shadow of doubt. You don't have to do a lot of exercises in order to be good, you only have to understand in order to be good.

For physical, pretty much the same thing. Understanding is also the key. Work out all kinds of derivation of formulae. Understand what they really are and ask yourself why this happens why that happens and so on.

*
First order
A <---> B
Rate of forward rxn = -d[A]/dt = k[A]
integrate 1/[A] d[A] = -k integrate 1 dt
(Simple integration, same for second order)

Second order
2A <----> B
Rate of forward rxn = -d[A]/dt = k[A]^2

Zero order
A <----> B
Rate of forward rxn = -d[A]/dt = k [A]^0 = k

All using simple integration to derive.
Do it and you don't need to memorise already. (Derive during exam, take you less than 5 sec)

For half life, when t = t1/2, [A] = 0.5 [A]o ; [A]o is initial concentration of [A]

*For inorganic chemistry, understanding is too the key. Group 2 and period 3 element, understand why solubility of MSO4 decreases down the group, why thermal stability of M(NO3)2 increases down the group and so on. For group 4, same thing. Understand why they happens. Use your internal dialogue. [I understand this by knowing what enthalpy heat of hydration really is. refer to videos in khanacademy.]

[Sometimes you can't remember a certain process well, for eg, kroll's process : extraction of titanium metal from rutile and ilmetite, I repeated telling myself about it using internal dialogue until I remember it without a shadow of doubt.]

*I use my internal dialogue and I completely remember all the types of glass(I relate it to what I've seen, ketchup bottles, lab instruments(borosilicates glass) and so on), all the types of silicates such as amphiboles, pyroxene, and so on (I draw them out one by one).
Make sure you check the dictionary or look for reference if you don't understand certain things.

*For example, asbestos, when you first hear it, you don't know what is it. So google it and look the picture, your brain will know already. It's an example of the amphiboles. It's used in construction because it is resistant to hea.Itt is highly hazardous due to its fibrous nature. Upon breathing it will cause asbestosis which is incurable.

I also mastered most of concepts in chemistry by listening to lectures of khanacademy. Ya know why I understand it without a shadow of doubt by listening to him but when I listen to my school teacher I usually don't understand? This is because Mr Sal from Khanacademy convinces me using his 'internal dialogue'. His explanations are logical and hence, our brain can grasp easily and thus remember it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy (http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy)

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For biology, also understanding. Understand why this happens and why that happens. Give reasons or find reasons for all kind of happening. Then , talk to yourself repeatedly about a certain topic such as formation of urine , describe all the process involved using your internal dialogue. Gives reason for what happens. Then you will know remember without a shadow of doubt.

For eg, formation of urine has three stages, namely ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption, active secretion. Afferent arteriole of glomerulus has larger diameter compared to its efferent arteriole, therefore it has higher hydrostatic pressure. This causes the blood content to be filtered into bowman's capsule, forming glomerulus filtrate.... talk to yourself like this about all kinds of process. Make everything as clear as possible.

Same for all chapters, recombinant DNA technology, inheritance, and so on.

Khanacademy has made some lectures about biology topics already, check it out.

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Well, having said all these, I must emphasise that all kinds of learning process involve internal dialogue. If you can't remember something, you can talk to yourself about it until your brain accepts it without a shadow of doubt.

*Well, just remember, you need to have sobriety during examinations.

*Don't leave anything to chance, you can change the outcome of event by your unbending intent.

*I can say a lot but whether it is going to really help you or not, it depends on your personal power. If you don't have the personal power, even the most magnificent piece of wisdom won't make a damn difference.

*Consider yourself dead, you will not have anything to lose. Your actions will have some power. Haha, think about it.

*Good luck!

[DonFrank]

Having problems memorising molecular geometry? Stop it then, don't memorise but understand.

*Understand the terminology such as seesaw, pyramidal, planar etc
*Imagine them
*Voila, done!
*Refer to the website below for the animations.

http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/1314F97/Chapter9/VSEPR.html

[ImCB]

wow.. Don u're on ur way to 4.0.. if u cant get it no1 can.. lolx

[DonFrank]

wow.. Don u're on ur way to 4.0.. if u cant get it no1 can.. lolx

hi ImCB, I'm afraid I'm not as good as you thought :)
There are countless good students out there.
I'm just a learner who has the self-motivation to learn all kinds of knowledge in this world.

[ImCB]

Good Luck in our exam.. ahas.. Im quite anticipated to see a guy claim himself DonFrank when he get best student in STPM in March during press conference^^

[shad0wk1]

Study study study..... I think just saying it may bring tension to someone. =P 2 tips that may help, at least it help me that failed several times.

Do you even know your best way of learning? For me, i am more of a visual learners and a bit more kinesthetic than auditory learner. So i have tables and diagrams of notes that i copy everytime i study(other than answering questions).
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/learningstyle.htm

And also, you may want to improve more of something else. I took IQ test, that tell me my strength is spatial(something like ability to recognize 3D objects) and weakness is general knowledge. i guess i should be reading more newspaper.
http://www.intelligencetest.com/index.htm

[DonFrank]

Study study study..... I think just saying it may bring tension to someone. =P 2 tips that may help, at least it help me that failed several times.

Do you even know your best way of learning? For me, i am more of a visual learners and a bit more kinesthetic than auditory learner. So i have tables and diagrams of notes that i copy everytime i study(other than answering questions).
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/learningstyle.htm

And also, you may want to improve more of something else. I took IQ test, that tell me my strength is spatial(something like ability to recognize 3D objects) and weakness is general knowledge. i guess i should be reading more newspaper.
http://www.intelligencetest.com/index.htm

I'm not an auditory learner too. I learn by imagining and visualising but I hardly make notes and diagrams because I believe that knowledge should be stored in the brain and not on the paper :)

thanks for your idea.

[markwongsk]

I'm a practical learner. Therefore I need to practice the ideas I have just learned. Also, teaching other people helps reinforce your ideas as you have to explain them (just as you are going to explain to the examiner on the paper!) or do them (as in mathematical questions).

I think once you accomplish this your memory retention will improve by itself.

[DonFrank]

I'm a practical learner. Therefore I need to practice the ideas I have just learned. Also, teaching other people helps reinforce your ideas as you have to explain them (just as you are going to explain to the examiner on the paper!) or do them (as in mathematical questions).

I think once you accomplish this your memory retention will improve by itself.

True indeed. This is what I've been doing too, explaining my ideas to friends and practise using knowledge I've just acquired by doing interesting exercises.

Thanks for your sharing.

[markwongsk]

Good Luck in our exam.. ahas.. Im quite anticipated to see a guy claim himself DonFrank when he get best student in STPM in March during press conference^^

Digression again: I just posted this somewhere else lol =D Don are you taking 5 subjects? We are hoping to see you!!

[DonFrank]

Digression again: I just posted this somewhere else lol =D Don are you taking 5 subjects? We are hoping to see you!!

Hi mark, I'm taking only 4 subjects since my school insist us to take only 4 and also I lacked the motivation to take physics a year ago. I wish that I'd taken 5 :))