STUDYVAULTS
IGCSE notes
Step-by-step guide
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1. Go through the syllabi.
Understanding the IGCSE syllabus for a subject you are studying for is crucial. Studying content guided by the syllabus is an effective and more efficient manner of targeted learning. It ensures you aren't straying from the course, and it often contains straightforward information that may come up in an exam paper scaling up to 5 marks. Sometimes, reading the syllabus guide can offer you essential information overlooked by teachers! StudyVaults' complete notes are written in direct reference to each subject's respective syllabus.
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2. Collect and narrow down your resources
Having 10 sources of information may seem smart, but its often a waste of time. Going through similar sheets of information written by various authors, maybe each with slight differences in phrasing, is not recommended when dealing with subjects that require memorisation (with definitions for example). Instead, pick a reliable note source, and focus on its content. This is mainly applicable to written notes. (Of course we recommend using StudyVaults' notes)
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3. Create a plan/schedule
This plan may consist of daily scheduling or an effective method of study. Try about 3-5 different study methods, and pick 1 or 2 that works the best for you. Some people recommend blurting or flash cards, while just writing down summary notes seems to work the best for us. This all comes down to personal preference. When creating a plan, remember, while studying is important, eating well, sleeping well, and having time to yourself is just as valuable. You need a healthy mind AND body to tackle your examinations!
4. Executing that plan/schedule
Making a plan is hard, but following through is infinitely harder. This is why when formulating a plan, it is so crucial to be reasonable. Factor in your daily activities and habits. Half the work is already done when creating a DOABLE plan. Remember, executing the plan is not a rigid, minute-by-minute job, it has been willingly created to help you succeed. Take breaks from your plan if you think you need them, but not when you just feel lazy (you'll fall into a downward spiral of "I'll just do it tomorrow,"). It takes time to form habits, but when habits are formed, they're hard to break! This may just be the gap between an A and an A* student. Prioritise and succeed!
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5. Practice past papers
This should only be done following the solidification of your foundation. Once you've gone through your theory, practicing past papers are all thats left. This is so necessary for you to get an idea of the different question styles and answers. It does nothing to just understand the content, you need to be able to regurgitate your knowledge in the form of legible answers. Practice and practice and practice. It only gets easier after this.
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6. Stay organised
Some people say to start your revision 6 months before the examinations, but we think, "start whenever you want!" Of course, that doesn't mean a day before. Starting your revision too far before the examinations can cause major burnout and maybe even a sense of helplessness if you feel like you can't keep the effort up. This is not to say starting 6 months before is unrealistic, it does work! However, you have to know yourself and pace your studies accordingly. Remember to reward yourself for your hard work :D