Back here for my weekly dose of blogging.

Now this post is something out of the norm. This blog post isn't about me but a story of what my Physics lecturer told me that changed my thoughts. So I'm sharing this in light of you, being a reader getting inspired by this.

My Physics lecturer said he did not study SAM/ Sace last time. Instead, he was in form 6. He always got number 2 in class. Coincidentally, the guy sitting beside him was a guy who got number 1. He had been eyeing for the number 1 seat.

One day he asked his number 1 friend how long did he study on his own. His friend said he'll study at least 2 hours a day. My Physics lecturer ended up studying 4 hours a day.

His friend said he'll do a certain number of questions per day, my Physics lecturer did double that number of questions.

Since they were living in the hostel ( If I'm not mistaken ), my Physics lecturer always kept an eye on the room opposite to his (the number 1 guy) to see whether the lights were still on and he refused to sleep if his "enemy" haven't sleep.  Ohh my kiasu Physics lecturer.

But he still didn't manage to get number 1.

All the other classmates always seek help from the number 1 guy. He did the solutions on a piece of paper and took his time explaining to his friends. Having done that, he scrambled the paper and tossed it into the dustbin. My Physics lecturer on the other hand filed his answers nicely. He claimed that his work was neater than any other girls at class. (Hahahaaha) But of course I'm not telling you to burn all your solutions books larh.

Eventually my Physics lecturer became the more popular one when it came to asking questions. All he needed to do was hand them the book of answers he filed to them while he continue to solve his own problems. It was faster that way.

He did not get number 1, again.

He questioned himself what went wrong and decided to confront his enemy. His friend told him this, "Do you realize your study method is wrong?"

My reaction (and probably yours too) : Huuuuhhh?

"Number 1, you treat your answers like your bible. Throw it away." (Wise words number 1)

My Physics lecturer was of course, dumbfounded.

I believe some of use here would be the same, treating the answers like it's our baby. But if you think about it, everytime when you come across the same question, wouldn't it be better to redo it instead of referring to the solution without thinking?

A study shows that you have to repeat something 7 times then you'll remember it for quite some time.

Whenever a friend asked my Physics lecturer for help, he would hand them his bible but the other guy would redo it. After solving the question, he crumpled and discarded it.

Another thing is that explaining is a test whether you understand what you've been taught. If you manage to explain it in a way your friend understood what you were saying, it shows how much you understand it. If you have doubts for everything your friend asked, that's when you know you need to solve them.

For me, I'm afraid that I would not be able to do the question again in the future and that's why I tend to not throw away the answers. But there's a solution to this: I simply have to understand the logic behind it.

"You have to repeat the logic, not the solution." -- Mr Yap, my phy lecturer. (Wise words number 2)

There are many ways to solve a question. You solve it based on what you understand. If you repeat the solution, you'll only know one way to solve it when there might be a better way for you to solve it.

"Don't leave your solution and logic on your paper." -- Mr Yap. (Wise words number 3)

What for if you leave your understandings on a paper? Sure you jot down notes on it for your future references but we have to understand why is it so.

And this. The one I find it the best.

"If you have nothing to memorize, you have nothing to forget." -- Mr Yap. (Wise words number 4)

If you understand something, you will not need to force yourself to memorize. Of course some terms and formulas are unavoidable. But if you understand something, you will not need to memorize much or even don't need to memorize at all. Hence, you've got nothing to forget. You got nothing to loose in exams.

His number 1 friend also pointed out his second flaw in terms of studying, "Your notes are too organized." (Wise words number 5)

My reaction (and probably yours too) : Huuuuhhh?

Who's gonna read your notes? You? Your grandma? Your teacher?

Write it in a way you would understand better. Keep it clean cut. Write it for your sake and for you to understand. If you understand it better with your mother tongue then go ahead and do that. Or possibly some signs only you know.


Mr Yap's concluding remark was this: Redo more solutions.

You may know the theory well, but how you apply it is a different story. Study smart. Do more questions so you'll remember them better.

Hope this blogpost is somewhat informative to you! ;D

xoxo