Learning is an ongoing process where you advance step by step. To do well, you need to review your learning progress regularly to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This way, you can monitor your progress in overcoming your weaknesses and contribute towards gaining excellence in your studies.
When you first start on a new subject or topic, you may feel overwhelmed. To stay motivated, you need a plan to keep your focus, study effectively and score well for the subject. Here’s how!
1. Clarify Your Goals
Clarify your goals by asking what you want to achieve for each subject. Then, you can identify the skills and content knowledge you need to get you from where you are to where you want to be.
2. Know The Exam Criteria
Examine the content page of your textbooks for an overview of how each subject is structured.
If you’re unsure about the learning objectives, check with your teacher to understand the examination requirements better. This way, you can stay on track to attain the desired marks and apply your hard work where it matters.
3. Engage A Tutor
After reviewing each subject, ask yourself if you would have any issues tackling the subject? If you do, you may want to consider engaging a tutor to support you in understanding the subject better.
4. Plan A Timetable
Plan a revision timetable that will properly allocate time for you to review notes from school, make your own notes, complete your homework or study for certain tests.
As you progress through your study plan, don’t forget to also evaluate the effectiveness of your plan. Use a journal to track the timing of each study period, what you studied, how you studied, and what worked and didn’t work for you. Record your marks from each test and examination, and consider the following:
- Which areas of the subject are you still not confident about?
- Are there any study methods or note-taking techniques you need to learn, change or improve
- Would studying past years’ papers help you handle the exams better?
5. Celebrate Your Success
To stay on track and motivated, reward yourself by taking a 10-minute break after each study session. Your mini-study break is a time for you to relax or do what you love. This will prevent burn-outs and can renew your motivation to complete your study schedule.
As you continue to monitor your learning progress, you will also learn more about yourself and be able to achieve more with less stress!
(Originally Published — Elucidation Learning (May 2021). Reviewing Your Learning Progress. POPClub Magazine, Popular Book Co Pte Ltd, May/June 2021, 116-117.)
