For international schools in Singapore, like the Global Indian International School, preparing for the IGCSE exams are of paramount importance. The results of these exams will be the key to getting into their dream universities and in setting up their path to their dream career. Assuming that they know what career path they want to take, all they need to do now is to familiarize themselves with the grade requirements of their desired degree program and pass the exams with flying colors.

If your school offers an IGCSE program, the worst thing you can do is feel the pressure. Yes, there is a lot hinging on your results, but there are a lot of ways you can prepare for it. All you need to do is make a little adjustment to your normal study habits. In this article, we will explore the benefits of the IGCSE program and how you can prepare for the exams to get the results you want.

Understanding the IGCSE program

The goal of the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education Program (IGCSE) is to encourage a child’s propensity to learn. All of us grow up to be naturally curious, asking lots of questions about the world and how it works. What the IGCSE program does is to nurture that curiosity by putting emphasis on holistic education. Much of what the exams are contain real life problems that can be solved easily if the school has provided the students with a means for them to apply what they have learnt in class.

Some of the key focus of the program are:

• Students should be confident with coming up with their own ideas, but are willing to listen to other people’s perspectives
• Students should be respectful of others and should understand the consequences of what they say and do
• Students should be able to adapt to different learning environments and come up with a different learning scheme for each
• Students should be prepared to face challenges through innovation
• Students should be socially responsible and should engage with others through sound discourse

As a student, you know that being a critical thinker is more than just knowing theories, concepts, and definitions. In this world, having the penchant to listen first before taking action is incredibly important. Understanding where people are coming from and taking that into consideration is the difference between showing off what you know and producing critical thought. The latter encourages informed discourse, while the former antagonizes people.

Benefits of the IGCSE program

The Cambridge IGCSE program is globally recognized. Not only are you ahead for studying in an institution that offers it, but passing key subjects for your career path is a ticket to getting into your dream university. Passing the exams mean that you have shown mastery in school. Not to mention, the results can also help you get into some of the most respected organizations and companies in the world.

Effective study habits to help prepare for the exam

Don’t worry, you do not have to change your own study habits drastically. But it is important that you remain focused as you start your revisions. So here are some effective techniques that you can consider.

Know your preferred learning method and study environment

Ask yourself if you are more of an audio kind of person or more visual. Additionally, do you prefer complete silence when studying or do you like mildly noisy environments?

The reason this is important is so you can cut unnecessary time leafing through your notebook drawing diagrams and concept maps work better for you. You will also save time looking for the best place to study if you know the kind of environment you need in the first place.

Note that sometimes, it is different per subject. So it is best to schedule which subjects you will focus on for the day. If you still do not know your preference, think back on your previous exams regarding where you studied Science when you got a high score? Did you remember most of what you studied when you drew pictures of the concepts for it? Did you retain more information when you were listening to Kendrick Lamar or Ludovico Einaudi?

Get past the pointers

Teachers usually give students a syllabus and pointers to study for the exam. The best way to study is always to get ahead of the recommended parameters. If the IGCSE aims to prepare your for undergraduate university life, the best way to prepare is to learn more than what you are required to learn. You do not need to finish the whole book, just be ahead a chapter or two.

Download mock exams

The best part about growing up in the digital age is the amount of resources that are available to you whenever you need it. There are a lot of mock exams that you can download so you can practice every after study time. Schools also provide the students with mock exams, so make sure you get to review those once you receive the results.

Know your strengths and weaknesses

Another way to cut unnecessary time is to know which subjects to prioritize. Are you better at Physics than Trigonometry? Then maybe you should start studying Trigonometry first before delving into Physics. You only have the school year to study the subjects required for your career path, so you need to make efficient use of it.

Do not feel pressured

This might be the most difficult thing to do, but it is the most important. You will notice that a huge chunk of the study tips is on how you can create a comfortable study environment for yourself. Being comfortable and relaxed makes a great difference when you are studying. So forget about passing first, just focus on what is in front of you.