Physics is an amazing academic discipline. Most students probably won’t agree with that sentiment, though. The fact is, although it is indeed fascinating, physics isn’t the easiest to learn, nor does it to do itself any favor by requiring students to also have excellent math skills to do well in the particular subject matter. While admittedly difficult, however, student physics can be made easier.
Here are a few important tips that can help:
1. Math and Memorization
Physics involves a lot of problem-solving and remembering different concepts. In short, you’ll have to brush up both on your math and memorisation skills to do well in physics. The sooner you accept this as a fact, the sooner you’ll get to start working on it.
2. Divide and Conquer
A very common strategy employed by physics tuition centres in Singapore is that they divide the different principles, laws, definitions, process flows, problems, and start tackling them one by one until the student gains a better understanding of each of the concepts.
3. Focus on the Core Material
While it’s perfectly understandable for you to start memorising the examples and illustrations, because they’re easier to understand, it’s not exactly the best way to study physics. This is because 80% of exam questions come from the core materials, namely the key concepts, principles, laws, definitions, important diagrams, etc. If you’re studying physics, it’s important that you have a full understanding of the main material first. The rest will come easy after.
4. Always Be Prepared
Physics isn’t just some subject that you learn just by going to class. No, you have to prepare for it. The night before, preview your new lesson and prepare preliminary notes based on what you understand. Sure, you might not understand everything just yet, but that’s okay. What’s important is that you have studied the lesson beforehand and once the lesson has started in class, your prior knowledge will create a link with anything new you learned, creating a phenomenon that learning psychologists like to call “schema activation.”
While you are in class, pay attention, take notes and make sure to write down notes. This is especially true if your preliminary notes are lacking. Don’t forget to ask questions as well. Participate in class whenever the professor asks for volunteers. After class, do a quick recap of everything you’ve learned, and review everything that you just learned once you’re home.
This strategy will make it more likely that you’ll remember most of the information that you had just learned.
5. Make a Test Exam
Take the time to create your exam and tackle it as you would your real exam. It doesn’t matter if you’re basing most of it on your previous exams, what’s important is that you simulate the test or exam conditions, which will help hone your intellect and better prepare you for what’s ahead. There are many more ways that you can improve in physics, and these are just some of them. But, if you want to do better in physics, there are institutions that offer IP, O and A Levels physics tuition in Singapore that will be more than glad to help you develop a much better understanding on the subject matter.