Whether you are studying A Level Economics in Singapore at the H1 or H2 level, the dreaded case study section of the exam is unavoidable. Several people suffer from this for a variety of reasons. It might be due to the massive amounts of information you must process quickly or the crazy time pressure you experience.
If you’re not currently enrolled in econs tuition for JC, have no fear! Here are five A-level economics strategies to help you overcome these obstacles and pass your exam easily.
Tip 1: Read the questions first instead of case studies.
Every student in junior college should embrace the first (and possibly most crucial) piece of advice, which is to plunge right into the questions. Sure, it may seem illogical to some, as the case studies themselves would be the first item you encounter while opening the case study. Nonetheless, you should immediately turn to the questions and perform a quick review before reading the case studies. Use a highlighter in one hand and a pen in the other while switching between both tools, highlighting vital facts and circling keywords to ensure you don’t get off topic when answering questions.
Tip 2: Plan out your answers.
Another frequent error many junior college students make in Singapore is failing to prepare their responses beforehand. Spending a few additional minutes to prepare your answers will help you organise them more logically and save you a great deal of time while you are writing them down. Choose a method of planning that works best for you! This might be scribbling down crucial points that need to be covered in each paragraph in point form or putting down a few keywords that will serve as a reminder of what should be included in your argument.
Tip 3: Use the information in the extract.
The material may be extensive, but it has a purpose! Several issues may be addressed based only on your previous economic knowledge and comprehension, but this is not the focus of the case study topic (CSQ). The primary purpose of the CSQ is to assess your real-world application of the aforementioned economic knowledge. Use relevant quotes and facts from the case study to demonstrate to your examiner that you are not simply regurgitating model answers that you clumsily remembered the night before the test. Consider these extracts a gold mine. These excerpts contain crucial information and quotations that, if used appropriately, might make the difference between a B and an A.
Tip 4: Effectively manage your time.
The questions range from straightforward 2-point inquiries to complicated 15-point essay questions, as is common knowledge. Use the marks assigned to each question as a general guide for allocating your time effectively. You may become engrossed in answering the lower-order questions at the beginning of the exam, only to struggle with the higher-order problems later in the exam. If you frequently find yourself under such time pressure, you must deliberately select what may be abandoned and what you should focus on with the remaining time. Several students fall prey to the temptation of being overly descriptive and frequently skip assessment, which is crucial to their research. Many may find it difficult to operate under such a stringent time constraint; thus, you should practise, practise, and practise!
5. Take a breath.
With the preceding four recommendations focused on parts of the real case study test, a simple and commonplace tip such as breathing may seem out of place, but it’s not! Sometimes, your inability to control your anxiety may prevent you from demonstrating your expertise. It is certainly nerve-wracking to sit in the exam room nervously awaiting the beginning of the A Level Economics examination. Nevertheless, instead of utilising this time to mentally review the material, be confident in yourself and use it to calm your anxiety and stabilise your heart. Have confidence that you have fully prepared for this and will succeed.