Preparing for your future career involves excelling in your exams; whether internal school examinations or external exams by established examining bodies. Our last article revealed 10 common mistakes students make when preparing for exams. Check it out here!
Today, we'll dive into how to make tutorials work for you, because they certainly have their place in boosting your performance in exams. For a start, let's briefly look at the experience of someone who excelled greatly in his secondary school leaving exams.
Oluwaseunara Arotiba(overall best WASSCE candidate, 2018): My experience with tutorials in secondary school.
"My mum organized 'extra lesson' for me in certain core subjects like Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, few days a week throughout secondary school. They helped me gain a solid foundation in understanding these subjects. As such, I didn't need much extra tutorials for WASSCE. I only did tutorials for the UTME. I did very well in UI P/UTME and got into Medicine at first attempt, without any extra tutorials."
"I believe the solid foundation I had gained from learning well in the main class room, as well as the extra lessons, helped prime me for these successes."
Tutorials and extra classes can be very helpful, especially when classroom learning alone is not enough.
They are most useful:
•when you notice that you are repeatedly struggling to understand a subject, or performing poorly in tests;
•if are preparing for a major exam and you need guided revision and intensive practice
Homework and class practice work better when someone checks them and tells you immediately where you got it right or wrong. That’s exactly what good tutorials do.
However, tutorials should supplement your personal study, not replace it. Students learn best when tutorials are followed by personal revision, question practice, and correction of mistakes. Learning is strengthened when students actively retrieve information, reflect on their progress, and revisit content after a delay.
Maximising the Benefit of Tutorials
Simply paying for extra lessons doesn’t guarantee results, but how you use them matters. Here is how to maximise tutorials if you decide you need one.
1. Come prepared - Before the lesson, review any relevant material so you have questions ready. If you’ve tried the topic already, the tutor can work with you on specific difficulties. It is easier to get help when you have done your part.
2. Participate actively - During a tutorial, be engaged. Ask questions whenever something isn’t clear. Don’t be a passive listener. The more you speak and solve problems yourself under guidance, the better. Tutors are there to help you, so speak up.
3. Take clear notes - Write down examples, methods, and explanations from the tutorial. These notes will be gold when you revise later. Pay attention to the tutor’s way of answering and presenting ideas.
4. Review immediately afterward - This is crucial. Go over your tutorial notes the same day while the ideas are fresh. Solve a few practice problems related to what was taught.
What to look for when choosing a good tutorial centre
1. A Tutorial with experienced, clear teachers - Good tutors can explain concepts in simple terms, not just recite facts. They should encourage & prioritize understanding.
2. A Tutorial with proven track record - Reliable centres often boast consistent improvements in their students’ results. Ask around or look for reviews/feedback from past students.
3. Structured schedule - The lessons should be planned around the syllabus and exam timetable, not ad-hoc. A good tutorial should have a clear program and timelines, so you know what to expect each week.
Be cautious of too many classes at once. Quality trumps quantity. Attending one focused, high-quality tutorial is better than multiple unfocused ones where you can’t keep up. Also avoid depending on tutorials as a "saving grace." Always spend as much time studying on your own as you do in class. May God crown all your efforts with success, in Jesus' name. Amen.
So that brings us to a temporary pause to our "Career Ready" series. We will be back to crown our discussions on this subject, in no distant time. Until then, don’t relent. Apply what you’ve learnt and start building your future from now in secondary school. Get ready for your career, ready to make a difference, and ready to serve others. God bless you! Watch out for our July series.
Post a Comment
0Comments