Food for the brain

Exams is round the corner. Some parents have taken leave to show their children some moral support while they prepare for exams. While doing so, it helps to prepare some nutritious meals to boost your child’s memory and focus abilities.

By now, it’s easy to discover brain-food. Just by doing a quick search on google, we can find a consistent list of food that are always mentioned as brain-boosting. We will not be repeating what have been written before. Rather, let us suggest to you some yummy and nutritious meals to prepare using these brain-boosting food. If you have not before been made aware of these common brain-boosting food, do not fret. We still have them listed for you here.

Eggs

Egg yolks have always been controversial in health articles. Some encourage less of egg yolks due to its high cholesterol. Another school of thought would argue that the cholesterol from egg yolks are actually good cholesterol. Here, we are all for egg yolks. Egg yolks contain Choline that helps to regulate mood and improve memory.

Eggs is a very versatile food that can be used for all meals. For breakfast, eggs can just be served on its own. Some children like boiled eggs while some prefer half-boiled eggs with some black sauce and pepper. Others like scrambled eggs (with a dash of black pepper and salt) that can go with toast.

For lunch, eggs may be used to prepare a sumptuous egg sandwich meal. Preparations is easy – place a slice of cheese on a wholemeal bread, and then place a hot sunny side up on the cheese and finish off with another piece of wholemeal bread on top. The combination of melted cheese and oozing yolk makes the sandwich irresistible even in the middle of intense concentration. Salad can be used for sides for some fibre intake.

For dinner, eggs may be used to cook omelettes. Omelettes can be cooked in a variety of ways depending on the child’s preference. Some children prefer omelette plain, as it is. To make it more flavorful, simply spread some tomato sauce on the omelette. You may also add other ingredients like onions, spring onions, crab meat, ham or cheese to add taste to the omelette.

Eggs may be steamed too! The simplest way to steam eggs is to use a small packet of chicken stocks, mix in with 3 beaten eggs. It is ready for steam. You may sprinkle on some chopped spring onion to add colors to your steam egg dish.

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish contain Omega-3s fatty acids that are great brain-boosting nutrients. Fatty fish can help sharpen memory and improve the mood of children. Two types of popular fish in this category would be salmon and codfish.

Salmon makes a wonderful addition to a nutritious breakfast meal. If you are an adventurous cook, you may attempt to prepare a dish of smoked salmon eggs ben! If done well, smoked salmon is great for breakfast because it is easy to down.

For lunch, you may try steaming codfish in light soy sauce. Codfish is very oily in nature, therefore it is not suitable for frying. Steaming would be the perfect way to prepare codfish. Nothing additional because codfish in itself is strong in its flavor. Remember to add in a few pieces of ginger to reduce the strong fishy smell. Steamed codfish with light soy sauce may be added into plain porridge to make a light meal for lunch.

For dinner, baked salmon makes a great treat. If you can get your hands on some sage (which in itself is a great brain-boosting food and yummy seasoning), you may marinate your salmon with sage, basil, some salt and black pepper. Place the salmon in the oven together with some bell peppers and potatoes. That makes a delightful dinner dish that is not at all time consuming!

Broccoli

Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin K – an oil soluble vitamin that improves cognitive functions. It is not an easy food to down, even for some adults. It is also not an easy food to cook! If overcooked, broccoli changes its color to become more yellowish and tastes bitter. It becomes no longer attractive aesthetically and to the taste bud too. Overcooked broccoli can also be less effective in supplying us with the required nutrients. However, if not cooked enough, broccoli brings a very raw taste that puts off the taste bud as well.

Our recommended way to prepare broccoli would be to cook it with chicken feet broth. Chicken feet has always been known to be a great source of collagen (a must-eat for beauty and cartilage health). However, few of us know that the Glycine found in the collagen in chicken feet can improve sleep and memory for our children! First, simmer chicken feet (add ginger to remove the chicken smell) in a pot of water for about 2 hours to make the broth. At the same time, cut the broccoli into small pieces (huge bouquets of broccoli stalks only make them look harder to down). 5 mins before serving, throw in the broccoli and add in some salt for taste. Broccoli soup in chicken feet broth can be served during lunch together with macaroni for a light meal. Alternative, use the chicken feet stock to cook porridge, and then stir in finely chopped broccoli into the porridge 5 mins before turning off the heat. It is often advised to cook broccoli with meat because the Vitamin K in the broccoli is oil-soluble.

For a dinner dish, try preparing stir-fried beef or pork with broccoli. Again, chop the broccoli to smaller pieces to make them look easier to manage. Also, throw in the broccoli at the last minute so they are not overcooked and retain their fresh green color.

Walnuts

Walnuts are shaped like our brains. The beauty of mother nature is that it gives us the hint of what is good for different parts of our body by creating food that look pretty much like that particular body part. One of such food is wolfberry – that looks like our eyes, and is indeed a great food to improve our vision. Another would be black beans – shaped like our kidney and is itself a kidney tonic.

We can get walnuts and eat them on its own as a snack, or thrown into stir fried spinach (mentioned by some sources to improve mental performance). Another way to get nutrients out of walnuts would be to simmer them in soup. Simply boil some pork ribs (or beef bones) in a pot of water, add in some celery (not widely acclaimed to be a brain-boosting food but mentioned by some), pumpkins (because orange and green makes the soup very attractive and they have complementary taste) and lastly some walnuts. Simmer the soup on low fire for about 2 hours. Serve it with white or brown rice.

Brain-boosting snacks

Blueberries can help improve connectivity among brain cells. They may be eaten on its own as a healthy snack. For those who do not fancy blueberries on its own, try making blueberries muffins for a yummy treat for tea-break! They may also be added into salads as a side dish.

Dark chocolate not only helps mental performance but improves your child’s mood as well! It makes a great break, and helps your child manage his stress and anxiety.

Exercise and Good Sleep

Lastly, exercise and good sleep help the brain retain information more effectively. Encourage your child to get out for some sunshine in the morning, and participate in some outdoor activities. If your child in young, encourage him to go to the playground daily. Do not keep him at home to study just because it is the exams period. Do not stop him from sleeping if he needs to sleep more. With these, we wish you all the best in your child’s exams.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to make a living as a home tuition teacher in Singapore? Giving home tuition in Singapore can be a great way to connect with children and guide them through their studies, while supplementing your income at the same time. Additionally, home tuition in Singapore often offers flexible working hours. If becoming a home tutor in Singapore is something that sounds appealing to you, read on to find out more about how you can embark on this rewarding journey.

What are the different types of home tutors in Singapore?

A number of aspects you should consider when first deciding to become a home tutor are:

–  The subjects you would teach

–  The levels you would teach (Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary or JC)

–  Whether you will be a full-time or part-time tutor

–  Whether you wish to sign on with a tuition centre or be an independent tutor

Most home tuition teachers start off with one or two subjects as their primary focus – this is usually the subject you feel most comfortable teaching. They also centre on a particular age group to teach. It is worth noting that the older your tutees, the more qualifications or track records you may be expected to have. Generally, grades quickly increase in importance and difficulty to achieve as you move up the levels, with many parents looking for a clean A* or A1 from as early as PSLE all the way through JC.

If you are changing jobs to become a home tuition teacher in Singapore, it may be a good idea to start off with part-time tutoring first. This allows you to adjust to the job and be sure that it is something you want to do. You can easily take on tutoring as a side job since each session is usually not longer than 2-3 hours. Part-time tutors are normally paid by the hour or by session, while full-time tutors may be also paid according to similar schemes, or they may have signed a contract with a tuition centre.

Lastly, as a new home tutor, it may be easier for you to get new clients by working at a tuition centre or with a tuition agency, which will help to source prospective clients for you. Independent tutors have the luxury of managing their own income, schedules, locations and clients, but if you do not have many connections yet, your best bet to get started may be with a tuition centre.

What are the requirements to become a home tuition teacher in Singapore?

Aside from experience and reputation, a lot of parents look at a prospective tutor’s educational qualifications. The minimum qualification required to become a home tutor in Singapore is at least an ‘A’-level certificate or a Diploma. A JC experience is usually favoured over polytechnic, since the JC subjects and syllabus are generally more aligned with the content required for school exams. Of course, if you are a degree holder in the field you are tutoring, such as English, Maths or one of the Sciences, you can expect to command a higher pay. The most sought-after tutors are former MOE school teachers.

While an official tutoring certificate is not required to be a home tutor, it certainly helps. You may be interested in pursuing the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from NIE, which will allow you to teach in MOE schools. Adding this certificate to your qualifications will definitely boost your credibility!

How can you gain experience as a home tuition teacher in Singapore?

Experience and testimonials from your past students is your number one advantage as a tuition teacher. The competitive home tuition world can be a daunting one, especially if you have no prior experience with giving home tuition in Singapore. Given that most tuition agencies and parents would want an experienced tutor who is able to deliver results, it can be difficult to find ample opportunities to get some experience in the field. Well, one of the ways to rectify this is to volunteer as a tutor in non-profit organisations. For instance, plenty of childcare centres, churches, and charitable organisations provide tutoring services to less privileged students. It is possible to offer your tutoring services to one of these organisations to get a feel for tutoring students and build up your resume. While you may not get paid much, if at all, doing a few hours of community tutoring a week can really expose you to the different types of students and common techniques to tutoring them.

Alternatively, you may also be able to sign on as an assistant tutor at a tuition centre. Some tuition centres may be looking for assistants to help their tutors, especially for larger class sizes. While you may not be doing the main tutoring, you will be able to observe how an experienced tutor conducts each class and get some opportunities to interact with the students.

Some people swear by study groups as a great way to mug for the exams together with friends. Study groups are a common sight in schools, libraries and cafeterias especially nearing exam period. For some students, a good study group can be their replacement for home tuition in Singapore. However, sometimes after a study session, you may go back thinking that the study group was perhaps not the best use of your time.

What are the Advantages of Study Groups?

Sure, you could always study alone – but the main boon that study groups bring to the table is the opportunity for discussion among your peers. Study groups are usually made up of people from the same class, cohort or course, as it is usually better to organise study groups where everyone is studying the same subject. Often, study groups also comprise of a mix of stronger students and weaker students in the subject they are studying. This helps weaker students to be able to clarify their doubts with their peers. We all know the feeling of poring over a difficult question without any idea how to solve it. With your friends there at the ready, you will easily be able to ask them any questions. Additionally, two heads are better than one – if a problem has been stumping the whole group, study groups make for great opportunities to put your heads together and work on solving the problem. Through discussion, it is more likely that the group will arrive at a lead than if one were to puzzle over the problem alone.

At the same time, stronger students can also reinforce the concepts they have learned by explaining them to their coursemates. It is often said that the best way to learn a concept is to teach it. Teaching can also open new perspectives and help everyone see the concept in a different light. Sometimes, a different view may be all you need to come to that eureka! moment.

What Makes a Study Group Ineffective?

Unfortunately, though organised with good intentions, it is all too easy for study groups to become ineffective and result in students going home wondering if the session was just a waste of their time. If you are feeling similarly unsatisfied with your study group, it may be time to re-evaluate the group’s environment and see if anything needs to be changed.

Large Group Size

The optimum group size for study sessions should be around three to five students. It is best not to invite too many students, or the study area might get crowded with not enough time for each person to discuss.

Uninterested Parties

A study group is only as focused as its students – if someone has been slacking off and distracting others, the rest will be less able to focus even if they want to. To avoid this, make sure you know that the people you invite are interested in the study group for the right reasons. If you realise after a few sessions that a particular member is less committed to the sessions, you may want to talk to them privately about it or look for a replacement.

Poor Ground Rules

Are phones allowed? How often should you take breaks? What constitutes as slacking off? These are all ground rules that should be established at the start of a study session. Make sure everyone agrees on them.

No Plans

If everyone comes unprepared to a study session, chances are you will leave with little gained. Be sure that everyone knows to come with a list of topics they want to discuss or have problems understanding. Take turns going around the group to share, so that nobody hogs the entire session.

Where to Find Study Group Mates

You may have considered asking your friends to join your study group, but if you are all in different disciplines, where else can you find people to study with?

For a start, your classmates usually make good candidates as they are studying the same subjects at the same level. Being in the same class means that you have probably covered the material at a similar pace, or at least know where the class is at in the topics. Studying with your classmates also means that you can discuss homework problems with everyone on the same page.

Alternatively, if you attend tuition, you could also ask your tuition classmates to join your study group since everyone is taking the same subject, such as JC Chemistry tuition. While you may all be from different schools, you can still talk about the problems you encounter in school or tuition. This is also a great way to look at the material that other schools have and share your resources.

When done right, a study session should be rewarding and enlightening to all involved. There is nothing better than working together with your friends to achieve a better grade!

Singapore is renowned for having one of the most demanding mathematics syllabi in the world, and its students have repeatedly demonstrated outstanding performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international maths studies.

However, maths can be challenging for some students who might struggle with exam revision. Math builds on several basic concepts, so students need a solid foundation to move on to more complex topics. When sitting for maths exams, students need to know how to approach and solve the questions under time pressure. A good maths tuition teacher can help students to devise a strategy for the exam and give them tips on how to succeed.

If you’re a student looking to do better on your next exams, here are five top maths exam tips to help you through your last-minute revision.

Prepare a Maths Exam Timetable

It’s repeated often but can never be overstated: preparation is vital for any math examination. But how do you go about preparing? The first thing to consider is knowing the syllabus content that will be tested. Often this involves familiarising yourself with the key topics and concepts such as vertices, inverse functions, probability, and linear equations. To determine which topics will be tested, refer to the exam schedule, textbook questions and lecture notes.

Once you know the math content that will be tested, planning a timetable and guidelines for getting through the material is best. This means picking out chunks of material that you need to revise (e.g., polynomials – Monday 2 pm, trigonometry Friday 4 pm) and scheduling them in order of most-to-least complex topics. Assign a reasonable amount for each subject area and aim to stick to that time limit throughout your preparation period.

Analyse Past Maths Exam Paper for Tips

Some students rely on sheer practice alone by going through maths ten-year series assessment books, with the mantra that ‘practice makes perfect.’ Many students fall into the trap of spending too much time going through endless similar questions without realising they can use their time more wisely.

You can improve your maths exam performance by being more strategic: look for commonly tested topics and try to predict the type of questions you might see.

Look through the ten-year series or past exam papers and start analysing them. Start to classify the questions into topics by making a note or highlighting them in different colours based on your classification. There is no need to attempt every single question; instead, prioritise understanding the questions and familiarising yourself with how to solve them; use the answer sheet to help you.

A good maths tutor will typically be able to spot these questions with high accuracy and confidence because of their teaching experience.

Use Mind Maps to Memorise Maths Concepts

Another excellent maths exam tip is Mind Mapping. Mindmapping is a great maths revision tool that can help structure and visualise your knowledge. It’s a graphical representation of your thoughts and ideas that can be used to break down complex topics. For instance, if revising for a maths exam on Geometry, you start by writing the word Geometry at the center, then draw lines connecting it to the different concepts, such as “Triangle Hypotenuse” or “Circumference.” Underneath each idea, you can add more detail through diagrams, definitions, or notes.

A mindmap should only include essential concepts a student needs to know to grasp the main topic. Mind mapping is an effective exam preparation technique because it allows you to revisit and reinforce your existing math knowledge while allowing you to review unfamiliar concepts. This can significantly improve your overall understanding of the materials.

Decide on the Order to Answer Maths Exam Questions

One maths exam tip often overlooked is deciding on the order to answer questions. If you’re faced with a paper that contains more than one section, would you answer the more straightforward questions first or start with the tougher ones?

In reality, this depends on your learning style and skills. Some students prefer to quickly answer the more straightforward questions, giving them a sense of accomplishment and improving their motivation for tackling more complex questions. For others, tackling the hard questions from the beginning can be better, so they’re not left struggling for time.

Whichever approach you decide on, it’s essential to stick with it throughout the paper and makes sure you check your answers before submitting. This is a straightforward maths exam tip but could make all the difference in performance. If you have 30 minutes or so at the end, it’s a good idea to go back and double-check your answers.

Once you clearly understand what you need to do, prepare your answer by working out the solution on a separate empty sheet – this will help ensure accuracy and minimise errors. After completing your calculations, write down the key steps and double-check them before writing your answer on the exam paper.

Pacing Yourself Well

Time management is a critical factor in any exam, including maths exams. It’s important to pace yourself during the paper and leave enough time to check your answers at the end. The simplest way to do this is by allocating specific time for each question or section (depending on the difficulty). If there are twenty separate questions, you could divide the total time by 20 and attempt each question within that allotted timeframe.

If you run out of time towards the end of a paper, skip some questions and return to them later if you have spare minutes. Don’t waste too much time on one question – move on, and you can always return to it if you have extra time.

Conclusion

These maths exam tips will help you to prepare for your exams in  . Remember, with the proper techniques and preparation; you can excel in your exams. Start early and not scramble for last-minute maths tips, which will cause more stress and anxiety, negatively impacting your exam performance.

Economics students are no stranger to writing lengthy essays, a mandatory component of Paper 2 of H2 JC Economics. This paper is further divided into two sections, where Section A mainly focuses on microeconomics while Section B mainly focuses on macroeconomics. Students are expected to answer three questions out of the whole paper. As with other essay papers, students are required to choose one question from each section, as well as a third question from either Section A or B. Needless to say, having a wide knowledge of real-world economics will be extremely valuable when taking this paper.

What are Essay Questions Like?

Economics essay questions typically present a scenario and ask students to present a balanced view on the situation. The questions provide little data, instead of requiring students to rely on their own background knowledge and studied material to answer the question. You will notice common keywords appearing frequently in each question, helping you to identify the type of answer each question is looking for. For instance, keywords such as “discuss” and “explain” usually require the student to provide a balanced argument for the case in point. A good rule of thumb is to identify the two sides of the situation, and then develop a fair argument for each side.

It is also important for students to be able to determine what topic the question concerns. Since the economics syllabus comprises of many topics across microeconomics and macroeconomics, one must be careful of how they are approaching the question. Failure to correctly identify the relevant topics and concepts could potentially cost you a lot of marks from answering the question out of context. Students might also waste time answering a question according to the wrong concept, before realizing that they were on the wrong track and having to rewrite the entire essay. As such, the importance of thoroughly revising your economics content cannot be understated.

Getting Started on the Essays

It may be tempting to flip the paper over and begin answering the first question right away, especially if time is a constraint. However, we recommend choosing your questions carefully. Even if it takes a few minutes at the start of the paper to look through all your options, be sure to consider all the questions and choose the ones that you are most confident in answering. This could save you plenty of valuable time, compared to writing an essay halfway and finding that that topic is not your strongest after all.

Structuring a Great Economics Essay

Just like any other essay, an economics essay should start off with an introduction. The introduction summarises the situation you are discussing, as well as the points you will be including to support each side of the argument. If there are any terms or definitions that need to be clarified, add it to your introduction. At a glance, the introduction should give the examiners a clear summary of the contents of your essay. It serves to demonstrate how well you have understood the question and how you are going to approach it.

It is also good to include a thesis statement at the end of your introduction. If the question requires a balanced argument, be sure to include an anti-thesis as well. The thesis statement should be a sentence that directly answers the question and states the main idea of your essay.

However, it is worth noting that the introduction and thesis are usually written after you have planned out all your content, as it is much easier to backtrack and summarise what you have already written instead of the other way around. It is a good idea to draft out each point you will be making, as well as the relevant examples and explanation you plan to use to support it.

When writing your content, remember that cross-referencing is key. Just because the question asks about a particular scenario or event does not mean you have to stick to providing evidence solely from that topic. Sometimes, there may be other economic examples in the real world that can provide a compelling case for your argument. If you are referencing a real-world example, it is important to provide ample context and even illustrations if needed.

Lastly, always end with a conclusion to reinforce the perspective you are agreeing with. Explain why you chose this argument after looking at both sides of the coin. This tells the examiners that you have correctly understood and applied the economics concepts you have learned.

Is that ‘A’ in economics still eluding you? Sometimes, knowing how to write a great economics essay is not enough to clinch the top grade, especially in today’s competitive field. In such a case, you may be in the perfect situation to benefit from economics tuition. Select one of our experienced home tuition teachers in Singapore to get personal, one-on-one help with your economics!

Students coming to JC Chemistry from O-level Chemistry may find the huge jump in content a difficult challenge to tackle. While Chemistry in secondary school merely touched the tip of the iceberg, Chemistry in JC gets far more advanced and covers even more topics. JC Chemistry also shifts the focus to more of hands-on and practical applications, requiring students to apply the concepts they have learned instead of simply memorising and paraphrasing them. While a student may have been able to score well in O-level Chemistry by memorising key concepts, they would find themselves at a loss in A-level Chemistry if they have not mastered the applications of Chemistry. It is thus essential for students to have a good grasp of the subject if they wish to score well.

The importance of Chemistry cannot be understated, as it forms the basis for many science-based study paths and careers. Although studying Chemistry at its base level may seem dry, it is imperative that JC students know the subject like the back of their hands before they can move on to applications of Chemistry in higher studies.

Additionally, since other areas of science employ Chemistry concepts, it is a requirement in JC that science-streamed students take Chemistry on top of their choice of Physics or Biology. Students can choose the level of Chemistry they wish to take, namely an elective level at H1, a full subject at H2, or an advanced course at H3. Most students will take either H1 or H2 Chemistry depending on their proficiency. If a student scores well in H2 Chemistry at the end of JC1, they might then be offered the option of H3 Chemistry, to be taken concurrently with H2 Chemistry. H3 Chemistry is especially challenging because students who pick it up will only do so at the start of JC2, leaving them a mere 10 months or less to master the material. As such, most students find themselves turning to JC Chemistry tuition to keep up the pace.

Components of the A-level Chemistry Exam

Both H1 and H2 Chemistry share the same Paper 1 and 2, while H2 Chemistry adds an additional Paper 3 and 4. Paper 1 is the multiple-choice component, consisting of 30 questions to be completed in an hour. This amounts to about two minutes per question, presenting a harrowing situation where students must scramble to complete their Paper 1 on time. It is thus important for JC students to get their multiple-choice answering down to a science, using smart methods such as elimination to clear questions with the utmost speed and accuracy.

Paper 2 consists of structured and data-based questions. These questions are challenging and not only require a student to have a strong understanding of the content, but also the know-how to apply that knowledge. When tackling Paper 2 questions, it is important for students to spot the keywords and answering styles each question is looking for. Our recommended way of preparing for Paper 2 is to practice extensively on past-year papers and assessment books.

Paper 3 is only applicable to H2 Chemistry. This paper comprises free-response questions, designed to test students’ understanding of key concepts, evaluation of the questions and high-level application of what they have learned. Section A of Paper 3 contains three to four questions, all compulsory, while students will be given the option to choose one of two questions in Section B. This is where students may encounter time constraints if they attempt one question halfway, only to realise that they are unable to answer all the parts and must change to the other question. To avoid this, it is important for students to read through both questions and all their parts carefully before selecting one to attempt. Choosing wisely is the key!

Like Paper 3, Paper 4 – which comprises the practical component – is likewise only applicable to H2 Chemistry. Accounting for 20% of the final grade, the practical exam is not to be taken lightly. It includes a written Planning component on top of carrying out the experiment and presenting your findings. It is a good idea to read the end of the question first to find out the objective of the experiment, before identifying the concepts tested and proposing an appropriate method to test the hypothesis. Be prepared to explain the reasoning behind choosing that method, as well as the conclusions you can draw from your results.

Understandably, JC Chemistry, especially at the higher levels, can be a massive hurdle to overcome. Fortunately, our expert Chemistry teachers are here to the rescue. Rest assured that once you attend our A-level Chemistry tuition, all your fears about JC Chemistry assessments will melt away under our expertise.

Many of us remember Chemistry during our school days. The test tubes around the classroom, the colourful chemicals and those large protective glasses we all wore during experiments. While we remember the fun aspects of these lessons, many of us forget just how difficult the classes themselves were. While Chemistry has a significant practicality and importance in the modern world, it is by far an easy subject. From the amount of memorisation to the application of theory, the subject is arguably one of the most difficult topics you can take. As a result, JC chemistry tuition and A level chemistry tuition may be required to help your child achieve the grades they want in the class. Luckily, there are many options available for parents who want that extra support. But first, we must establish the reason as to why your child needs chemistry tuition.

Signs Your Child May Need Chemistry Tuition

Whether your child needs A level chemistry tuition or JC chemistry tuition there are certain signs you should look out for to determine the amount of help they need. Here are the key characteristics to look out for.

Low Grades: If you notice that your child is struggling to achieve the lower grades in the subject, then it is a sign they may need extra help. A tutor would be able to give them that little extra push to help better understand the topics and achieve higher grades in class.

Avoiding Homework: One sign that a child is struggling in class is that they avoid doing their homework. There is always “something else” that needs to be done. They will always find one excuse or another to avoid doing work they do not enjoy.

Low Confidence: After some time, it is possible for a child’s confidence to become extremely low when it comes to a particular subject. The sooner this is acknowledged and handled, the better. A Chemistry tutor can help increase their confidence again, which will help their grades to improve.

Learning Disabilities: Learning disabilities are more common than once thought and may include anything from ADHD to dyslexia. If your child has a learning disability, they can still achieve top grades with some extra help from a tutor. A few hours each week will make sure they achieve the same grades as their peers.

Where Can I Look for Chemistry Tuition?

Luckily for parents looking for help, there are several options to choose from when it comes to finding A level chemistry tuition and JC chemistry tuition in Singapore.

The most common option is private chemistry tuition. This type of tuition is provided in a one-on-one environment either at home or an agreed location. It is fantastic for students who struggle to learn in the classroom, as the tutor can focus solely on helping your child.

The second option is a chemistry tuition centre. These centres are designed like a classroom environment with only a few students. This allows your child to have significantly more attention which will help them to overcome the struggles they encounter. If your child struggles to learn in a group setting, then private one-to-one tuition may be the better option.

How To Find The Right Chemistry Tuition Centre

With many options available, there are several ways you can find the right chemistry tuition centre for your child. It is important to remember that there is no “best centre” for all children. Each child learns in their own way, which means that you will have to make your choice based on their learning style and what you hope to achieve from tuition. Here are some of the key features you should consider when making your choice.

The Culture

Each tuition centre will have its very own culture. It is advised that you find one with a positive learning environment, in which children are free to learn and interact with those around them. To gain an insight into the culture, you can ask to sit in on a session or you can look at online reviews. If you want further insight, you can even choose to contact the individual who wrote the review to better understand their experience.

Teaching Style

As we said before, every child learns in their own way. While some children may learn by looking at information on a whiteboard, others will learn from physically conducting experiments and first-hand experience. Learn about your child’s learning style and you will be able to match the teaching style of the centre to the learning style of your child.

Physical Environment

You want to make sure that the environment your child is learning in is set up for the learning experience. To do this, you can ask for a tour of the centre before enrolling, which will provide you with a foundational understanding of the environment your child will be studying A level chemistry tuition or JC chemistry tuition in.

Chemistry lessons in school are often extremely fun consisting of test tubes and numerous experiments within the classroom for assessment. However, often children can really struggle when it comes to the topics themselves. While the topics are interesting and have real life application, they are also difficult at times. From the amount of memorization required for the concepts themselves to the application of theory in exams makes Chemistry one of the most difficult subjects taught around the globe. As a result, often both JC chemistry tuition and A Level chemistry tuition are required to achieve the highest possible grades. Without this tuition, the subject can appear too difficult and, in some circumstances, will make children develop an aversion to the topic altogether. However, with the right tuition, children can not only begin to enjoy the subject, but thrive and achieve high grades throughout the year.

Reasons Why Your Child May Need Chemistry Tuition

Before you consider enrolling your child into an A Level chemistry tuition program, it is important to consider a few factors that will contribute to whether tuition is needed. These factors will help you decide tuition is the best route.

Poor Chemistry Grades

If your child is continuously producing low grades in the subject compared to many other subjects in school, they may need tuition to boost their grade. Tuition can help to boost their confidence in the subject as well as help them grasp an understanding of the topics they believe are most challenging.

Continuous Procrastination

If you find that your child is always trying to focus on something else when it comes to Chemistry homework, this may be a sign they are struggling. If this happens in one or two sessions, there is no cause for alarm. However, if this is this the case with each piece of homework, then tuition may be a good investment.

Low Confidence

If a child is continuously doubting themselves in Chemistry lessons, then it is unlikely they will gain very much from a class with 30 other students. They will feel afraid to put their hand up and will struggle to interact with the teacher. This will inhibit their ability to learn and can result in poor grades should it go unchecked.

Learning Disabilities

If your child has struggled with learning disabilities throughout their life, this should not prevent them from taking chemistry class if it is something they want to do. There are several JC chemistry tuition and A Level chemistry tuition classes designed for children with disabilities, who tailor their teaching to the needs of your child.

You Want Them to Achieve Top Grades

If you want your child to achieve the top grades in a chemistry class, then private tuition may be needed. Achieving a top grade in any class is difficult. It is even more difficult for chemistry classes. Even the most gifted children will struggle without the help they need to get to the top.

So, where can you get help?

The two best options are chemistry tuition centres and private chemistry tuition. In a centre, chemistry will be taught to a small class (of around 5 students) which will allow the teacher to spend more time with each child. With private tuition, your child will receive a one on one home-based session in which they will focus on topics they are struggling with.

How to Find The Right Chemistry Tuition Centre for You?

There are many tuition centres throughout Singapore that your child can choose from. However, how can you find the right one for them? Here are some of the things you need to take into consideration when it comes to finding a centre for your child.

The culture

The culture of a teaching centre will say a lot about the practices that go on there. Children learning should have the opportunity to do so whilst also socializing and making new friends. To find out about the culture of a centre, you can look at reviews, ask someone whose child goes there or have a discussion with the owner of the centre.

The teaching materials used

Teaching materials should be at the very top of your list when looking for a chemistry tuition centre. Make sure all the materials are not only of a high quality, but also apply to the exam your child will be sitting. Make sure they are all up to date and in line with the current curriculum. Most centres such as Edu Aid will allow you to make an enquiry online or in-person to gain further insight into the materials that are used.

Look at the testimonials and reviews of former clients

In the age of the internet, over two thirds of all people check the reviews on a site before making a purchasing decision. If you have found a centre you like, type it into Google and look at the reviews. This will provide you with some insight as to whether they are right for your child. You want them to have the greatest possible impact on their education and know that your money is being well spent. By checking the reviews and even messaging former clients, you can rest assured knowing your child is getting the absolute best out of each session.

MOE’s Exams Changes 2019

In Sep 2018, MOE announced changes in its school exams system. There will be no exams at all for Primary 1 and Primary 2 students. For Primary 3, Primary 5, Secondary 1 and Secondary 3 students, there will be no mid-year exams. Report books will not show students’ ranking, both in class and level. With such a move, Education Minister, Mr Ong Ye Kun, aims to maintain a healthy balance between academic rigor and inspiring students’ intrinsic motivation to learn.

Indeed, the past few years have seen Singapore students focusing too much on just being “exams-smart”, rather than finding joy in learning. In fact, many tutors have also been advertising about their effectiveness through their past students’ exams results! Because of our nation’s over-emphasis on grades, the tuition industry has thrived till today. How is the tuition landscape going to change with such an announcement from MOE?

Parents’ Reactions

Parents’ reactions are important to note because, well, they pay for the tuition. So far, we are seeing a mix of reactions. There are happy parents (Yay! No stress from teachers about my child’s performance!); there are unhappy ones (The big elephant is still in the room – PSLE. Is my child adequately prepared?), there are skeptical ones (Not sure if schools truly embrace the spirit of such a change?).

We see such a mix of reactions primarily because different people hold different attitudes towards major national exams aka that big elephant (PSLE, O’ levels, A’ levels, etc). As mentioned by Mr Ong Ye Kun, we can’t remove these national exams because they are still necessary as reliable assessments for academic excellence.

There are parents who take such exams more seriously, and there are those who no longer do. Why so – because in today’s economic setting, it is possible for a non-graduate social media influencer (because no exams for social media excellence?) to earn more than a PHD taxi-driver (potential victim of the 2009 financial crisis who never bounced back, or he got a PHD in a dying industry?). Exams certificates are no longer the primary factor for success, and exams certificates cannot guarantee success – this is the very belief of our Singapore Government. This explains the rigorous drive towards life-long learning for every Singaporean. This also explains MOE’s move to inspire learning in students, and move away from being too focused on getting good exams grades. Singapore’s future need people who are always learning and innovating, not an entire generation of exams-smart graduates.

Now, do all parents embrace such a thinking about our children’s future? Exams results are no longer crucial? Obviously not. It takes time for deep-rooted beliefs to change. Exams have always been supremely important. Even if they are proven not in reality, we will still have parents who will stake their all for their children to score well in their exams. Therefore, the verdict – tuition will not die. It may, however, see some changes in form.

Tuition Will not Die

Tuition managed to gain a foothold in Singapore because school teachers are too caught up. They are too caught up with administrative work, CCAs, huge class size of differing learning needs. This is why students turn to tutors to improve their performance. Tutors cater to a smaller group, tutors can give students full attention and answer all their questions. Tutors can cater teaching styles to the student’s learning patterns. In whatever needs to be done, tutors will always be more effective than school teachers. Tutors have proven their effectiveness in training students to tackle the exams hurdles. Tutors will prove themselves effective in bringing in different teaching media to help students learn more. Tutors will always have their place in Singapore, regardless of where our education system heads.

Changing Tuition Landscape

With such a change coming from MOE, the tuition industry will need to cater to the different needs of different parents. Some parents will still want to keep their children focused on preparing for the national exams. Such tuition experience may even include more exams papers than before, because schools have reduced exams.

There will be some parents who believe that inspiring learning for their children has become more important than preparing them for exams. Tuition experiences may change to cater to such an expectation. In fact, many tutors feel more delighted with the opportunity to create fun learning experiences for their students, instead of going through boring papers every session.

How much the tuition landscape change, and to what form it finally takes, is still yet to be seen. This will very much depend on how parents respond to MOE’s change. We hope, however, that more parents will be enlightened and encourage their children to be better learners rather than better exams scholars.

To begin your child’s journey of a fun learning experience, feel free to approach us, Edu Aid Tuition Agency to find a tutor who inspires learning.

Taking notes is an essential activity in our lives. Most people underestimate the importance of taking notes but in reality, taking notes is one of those obvious life hacks that improve your life drastically.

You do not have to work in a big company or to be a student in order to take notes. Notes are helpful even in informal situations like writing down a shopping list. This is because notes are meant to be a summary of information that is intended to be reviewed at a later moment.

Here are steps that you can take in order to make notes efficiently.

#1 Be Prepared

If you are going to attend a meeting or a class, always be prepared to take notes. Carry enough pens and paper for the duration that you will be engaged in writing. Some people may prefer using electronic devices to take notes. When it comes to gadgets with keyboards, it may seem to the speaker that we are chatting and not paying attention to them. This may lead to the development of a lousy relationship between you and the speaker. We have also associated our electronics with social media and whatnot thus trying to use them to take notes may be counterproductive as we may be tempted to check our messages and notifications quickly.

When it comes to voice-recording devices, they function well enough but they have one limitation- they lack activity. You can just power up the recorder and sit back! This makes it easy for you to get distracted. Using paper, on the other hand, is an activity that requires you to pay constant attention to the speaker lest you miss out on whatever information they are trying to pass across.

#2 Pay Attention

Now that you have your pen and paper ready pay attention to the speaker do not let your mind wander off. You can do this by developing an actual interest in the subject at hand. Attention can be maintained by actively participating in the meeting or class. Ask questions. Give comments. Ask for clarifications. All these actions will help you pay attention to the speaker as you will be actively participating in the activity.

Other things that will help you pay better attention to the speaker include switching off your phone and completing urgent tasks before committing yourself to the note-taking session. Go to the bathroom before-hand. Have a snack if you are hungry. If you do not take care of important activities before-hand, they will distract you and hamper your effectiveness in taking notes.

#3 Develop a Note-taking Method That Works for You.

Most of the people that take notes on a regular basis cannot read each other’s work. This is because everyone has their unique way of presenting their ideas on paper. Writing what the speaker says verbatim is not an effective way of taking notes as it takes too long and involves too much writing. You would get bored very quickly.

A great way of taking notes is to break down what the speaker is saying into key points that follow a certain train of thought. Notes that flow can be easily deciphered compared to ones with points from different topics all jumbled up together. Keep your notes organized and neat.

#4 Go Through Your Notes Afterwards

The main point of taking notes is storing information in a short form that will be reviewed and expounded later. It is for this reason that you should always review your notes soon after you wrote them. The longer you wait, the more you will forget what the speaker said.

When you are reviewing your notes, it is a good idea to use a pen with a different ink color to differentiate the changes you made from the actual notes themselves. With your new pen, write out the abbreviations that you made on your notes, draw arrows to link points, make new notes on the margin and do whatever else that you do to expound on the notes. This will help you to conceptualize the topic that your notes were supposed to cover.

Always remember to keep your notes in a safe place as they serve a myriad of purposes. You might need to review them again or use them as proof. Minutes are notes that are used as proof that a meeting took place. Always take care of your notes.

That brings us to the end of this guide on how to take notes effectively. I am sure that many of you out there have your methods of note-taking such as using shorthand. Although it takes some time to learn, shorthand is a great way of taking notes. For those of you who would rather write their notes in your unique way, I hope this guide has helped you.

Remember note-taking is a basic skill that will help you improve your understanding of topics and to remember things easily.