Post means after. So, congrats! You're done with your SPM. The next time someone ask you about it, tell them 'Been there, done that!' Put SPM behind you. As much as it plays an important role in determining your future, you have a new focus now.

My SPM result was just average. I think I might had failed my parents. They were not expecting that kind of result from their eldest. I was thankful that I got accepted into the law matriculation programme in UiTM. So, no matter what people say about the quality of UiTM students, I am standing proud here, shining bright like a diamond, hahaha.


Picture from Google.

Actually, it was because of my SPM result that I pushed myself harder during my university days. I didn't want to fail my parents, again. And I think I made them proud when I walked on that stage receiving a Second Class Upper Degree. Errr....not First Class. I purposely save that for my PhD, hahaha! * wink.

When I became a lecturer, I can see that there were lots of mistakes that I made while studying for my Degree. I would have gotten a First Class Hons if I had known then, what I know now, hahaha. So, if you are reading this and you are a post SPM student, it is still not too late to change your style of studying now. Remember, study smart is better than study hard. You're only given a semester to master a few subjects, which you CAN, if you do it right!


1. Make your own notes.

This will be the 100th time I point this out, hahaha. I think you might get bored already. You can read my post about making your own notes here. Pay attention to point No 1. You can use the snowball technique to make your own notes. Read about the technique here.

2. Always take down what the lecturers say or write on the board.

You will be surprised at how helpful this could be especially when exam is near. So just take down what the lecturers say or write on the board even if it did not make any sense at the time of writing it. In fact, if you do not know what you had copied down, it will be a good excuse for a consultation with the lecturer.

3. Consultation.

Most academicians are more than happy for appointments with students for consultations. It actually shows that someone is paying attention in class, hehehe. So, please make appointment for consultation with your lecturer. But please do not come empty handed. There are few times when the students come to see me for consultation but have no idea what to ask about. In the end, they told me to repeat the whole syllabus again from week 1, and we were already in week 10 :( You must make the effort to study first, then only you come for consultation and ask the lecturer of anything that you are unsure of. Make an impression that you had already done your reading. This will definitely give you a plus point in the eyes of the lecturer.

4. Answer the tutorial questions before the date of submission.

Whenever your lecturer gives you tutorial questions, attempt to answer before the actual date that she wants it. Make a draft and then make an appointment to discuss your answer. That means your lecturer can polish the answer before the day of your tutorial. This can also save you from embarrassment in case you did not answer it right in class, hahaha.

5. Practice answering past years questions especially the essay questions.

This is the biggest difference between SPM and university. During your SPM, you studied with your teacher in school, you answered exam questions prepared by another teacher, and then marked by different teachers who had been appointed as examiners by the Ministry of Education. However, in the university, the same lecturer will deliver his lecture to you, prepare the exam questions, and then mark it during exam. That means you only have to learn his style of asking questions in exam. How do you learn this? Through the past years questions! More often than not, the same lecturers had been teaching the same subject for years, so that means he had been preparing the exam questions for years too. So make sure you take a look at the past years questions to have a target on which area does he like best. But please say NO! to spot questions. Do not take any risk if you are not ready to face the consequences.

6. Pray, whenever you can.

Apart from the rituals, you have to submit yourself to God, whenever and wherever applicable. After you had done all of the above, the best thing to do is pray. Do not be afraid of failure. Especially if you had already done your best. Be proud! 


Picture from Google.

Good luck! ♡
LAZADA
         "What's your wish? 15th to 18th March 2016".