Many students of mine have asked me this question numerous times. Some lamented that they work really hard, finishing off the revision package timely. However, they still cannot improve from a C/B to an A or some are still fishing for a pass.
I feel that many students have a misunderstanding about H2 Mathematics. The H2 Mathematics (9758) Syllabus is different for the previous (9740) by a lot, primarily because its assessment objective is different. On top of that, the scheme of exam has been changed to include application questions which will test students’ abilities to wrap their heads around a given situation and solve them. Basically, students have to do of the “core values” of Mathematics, that is, problem solving.
Understanding the syllabus is one thing, next is how we should be studying it. The syllabus content is a lot lesser, so its less wide but much much deeper. Students cannot finish all the drills and practices, like in O’levels. Today, they are expected to think, so how one learns each topic is very important. One thing I pick up from NIE Mathematics is definitely the idea of examples. Every little concepts and ideas we learn, can we think of an example to relate and reinforce our understanding with?
Next, is practices. When we practice, time ourselves to finish. Do not look at the answers as we are just marginalising ourselves the opportunity to learn. If we are stuck, look at one line of the solutions and see if it will help us. Personally, I never give students solutions and even in class, I do not use solutions and rather think together with the students. It is important to train up our thinking abilities when doing H2 Mathematics.
Now students, you have about two months left to A’levels, I highly advise you to really look at how you learn the topics. A’levels will be unpredictable and questions do not repeat. To me, the TYS is more like practice papers then drills cos they will not appear again in the actual exam.
