How to maximise your time during your study week

Been super busy. It's afterall the week just before the start of the O'levels!

I've been asked a lot of questions regarding what to do during this crucial period. Most schools will give their students about 1 week of study leave, where it's optional for them to go to school (for consultation with teachers). It's very important that they spend this study week wisely. I think the results you get at the end depends a whole lot on what you do during this week.

So what do you have to do during your study break to make the most efficient use of the limited time available?

With only 1 week to the O'levels, try the following:

1. Try to squeeze in at least 8 hours of study/practice in a  day. You should optimally hit around 10 hours of study. I've written in this post how you can do that. Take mental 'breaks' by doing wholly different things. If you've been memorising for the past 2 hours, take a 'break' by doing some practice. 
2. Always time your Ten year series (TYS) preparation. You need to simulate exam stress and conditions by timing all your practices now. Unless you're doing topical practise to brush up weak areas, all practice from now on should be timed!
3. If possible, do your papers around the same time as the stated exam time for O'levels. This is to prepare your body and mind to work during the actual exams itself. If you have math exams in the afternoon, do your TYS timed trial during that time! No point doing math in the morning when you're the most alert and less prone to careless mistake. Do it when you're the most fatigued and you just had a great lunch so you feel like sleeping!
4. Keep on going back to your revision notes. Don't just keep doing the TYS. You should brush up your content by reading every 2-3 days. Short term memory of your exam notes need to be regenerated every few days because you'll forget things after about a week. Do a TYS paper, read the notes, rinse and repeat. If you keep on practising, it's hard to gain new knowledge. At most you're practising what you've already learnt. Gain more new knowledge by reading/memorising textbook or your notes.
5. Take care of yourself, don't fall ill. Eat healthily, sleep enough and take care of your health. As if the exams are not hard enough, you don't really need to have a bad flu to make it worse!

Soon, it'll be all over! Work hard and play hard after the exams!