Pumzile Molimi, MBCHB IV, SMU, South Africa.

1. How you should interpret your first results of the year

The first tests you write at the beginning of the year should be seen as a reference or starting point, a place where you can start improving from. If your results at the beginning of the year aren’t as impressive as you would have liked, that shouldn’t be a reason to be discouraged, rather they should give you a reflection of where you need to improve.

Starting a new academic year can be intimidating as you get introduced to a new and probably unfamiliar curriculum, so starting off with average or below average marks should not put you down. Take it as an opportunity to re-evaluate your study techniques, revise topics that you found challenging in the test and shift your focus to preparing for the upcoming tests.

2. Set target marks for your upcoming tests

It is important to always have an aim as you prepare for your upcoming tests. As your first results will serve as a starting point, you should also set a target mark for your next test relative to your previous mark. However, you need to be realistic when you set your target mark, improving from 50% to 90% percent isn’t so realistic.

The importance of having an aim is so that you can study with intention and have a sense of direction, even if you do not reach your target mark, the obtained mark will most probably be higher than that of your previous test. So, learn to be goal-oriented even when it comes to your grades, it’s better to have a plan than to have no plan at all.

3. Maximize your strengths and improve your weaknesses

Acknowledging your weaknesses is a strength itself, it is the beginning of growth and improvement. Write down all the topics or a particular module that you are not doing well at, and take the initiative to consult with your professor, mentor, or even your fellow classmate that you know does well in that field.

Make use of various sources of information in order to get a deeper understanding of the particular concept you are studying. One source may be a bit complex while another one may be a bit more basic and easy to comprehend. Knowing your strengths and maximising them can help you stay afloat academically while you try to improve your weaknesses.

4. Revise and repeat!

Studying for longs hours but without making time to revise and repeat the studied work may be futile. Studying is incomplete without actively recalling the content. Revising your work is as important as studying the content, so revise as much as you study if not more.

Repetition is the key to learning and understanding, the more you practice a particular topic, the better you become at it, otherwise studying a concept just once and not revising it is a waste. Additionally, you should make practicing past question papers a part of your study routine. Past papers can give you a gist of how examiners test your understanding and to which topics you should pay more attention.

5. Re-evaluate and adjust your study techniques

Doing something the same way and expecting different results is almost delusional. It is best to try implementing different study styles every now and then until you find one that works for you best. Do not stick to one method that apparently does not work, so ensure to re-evaluate the particular study method you use to confirm that it is still effective for you.

However, consistency is the key when it comes to implementing any kind of technique. So, don’t rush to jumping from one method to the next without giving a considerable amount of time to get used to that one study technique.