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Many students believe that their prelims are insignificant compared to their A-levels, and as a result only start cramming notes after their prelims are over. However, this is a big mistake. In many cases, your prelims can actually be more important than your A-levels with multiple reasons.
Firstly, prelims serve as a crucial proxy for your national exam. Students usually score 2 grades better during the national exam as compared to their prelims. This can serve as a good gauge for students to assess their current standards, and how much effort they have to put in to achieve their desired grade.
Secondly, students who find themselves doing well in prelims will have a much-needed confidence boost for national exams. Prelims is the perfect time to explore new strategies and test new theories, whether it be an economic concept or a strategy to finish your math paper in time. Therefore, getting your teacher’s affirmation can be a crucial factor in encouraging you to apply these tested and proven skills and theories in the actual exam itself. On the other hand, mistakes can be corrected and improved upon, ensuring a better performance during the national exams.
Finally, prelims can serve as a much-needed wake-up call for many students to realise where they are currently standing in terms of academic proficiency, and how much more effort they have to put in for the national exams should they want to achieve their desired grades. Many students do not realise how far they are lagging behind until they get their results back, providing a last-minute motivation to study harder. However, it is also important to not push yourself at the start as your A-levels is a marathon, not a sprint. If you burn out at the start, you will not be able to sustain the momentum till the end and eventually fail.
- Prelims serve as a good proxy for your national exam. Students usually score 2 grades better during the national exam
- Scoring well in prelims give you more confidence for national exams
- Preparing for your national exams is a marathon, not a sprint. Those that receive a wake-up call during the Prelims will study extra hard during the one month from Prelims to the start of their national exams. However, your O/A Levels are one-month long. Burn out at the start, fail to recall what you crammed during your study period.