Gone are the L1R4 days. Now you are greeted with a new grading system - Grade Point Average, also known as GPA. Unlike previously where a single exam would determine your score, GPA is cumulative and follows throughout your three years in Poly. That's why doing well is not enough, but consistency is required for you to graduate with flying colours. Unsure of how to do so? Read on for five tips on how to maintain your GPA!
This article is adapted from Seniors Say, an event where seniors share how they successfully navigated through life in Poly. We had the opportunity to hear from Joel, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic alumni who graduated with a GPA of 3.90/4.00, and he shared some useful tips on how he maintained his high GPA.
1. Get enough rest
To rest is to prepare for a longer journey; Whether you are an early bird or night owl, rest is crucial in ensuring your overall physical, mental and emotional health! Our brain functions at its best when you get sufficient rest, allowing you to listen attentively in class, get the most out of lessons, and perform well during assignments and exams. So try to get adequate rest—that’s the first step to doing well!
2. Be a diligent student
Sorry folks, there really isn't a shortcut to scoring well as it requires effort on your part. Before classes, glance through the chapter or topic to familiarise yourself with the contents of that lesson so that you can follow along as your lecturer teaches in class.
Pay full attention during classes and try not to skip them even if you find them boring or useless. Furthermore, you never know when your lecturer may drop hints regarding your quizzes and tests, and you certainly wouldn’t want to miss out!
Pro tip: participate actively in class because this will help you to get participation marks. Make the best use of such ‘free marks’ by being engaged in the lesson and participating actively. Not only will it earn you ‘free marks’, but it also helps to reinforce concepts learnt and test your understanding of the topic.
3. Take charge of your learning
Now that you are in a tertiary level of education, it is time to get used to self-directed learning. Note down questions you might have and take time to clarify them with your lecturers or tutors. If you are shy to speak up in class, you can always email them or opt for a small group consultation instead.
Devote some time to make notes for each topic as it will come in handy when you are revising for quizzes and tests. You don’t necessarily have to write down everything, but focus on the fundamental concepts and key points that you have to memorise and recall. Another suggestion is to form your own study groups where you and your peers can study, help and teach one another!
4. Be consistent and not complacent
If you have done well on a test or assignment, congratulations! But it’s also important not to be complacent because that might lead you to rest on your laurels and be content with this good performance.
This is something that you need to constantly watch out for, as consistency is paramount since your GPA is determined by your overall performance over three years in Poly. Instead, continue to keep up the good effort and review your work consistently so that you will be able to internalise and recall what you have previously learnt. No more last-minute panic attacks and chiong-ing!
Pro tip: If time is really not on your side, try focusing more on modules with higher credit units because it has a higher weightage on your grades. However, take this only as a last solution as you should aim to put in equal effort for all your modules.
5. Have an end goal in mind and work towards it realistically
Ask yourself this question: What do you want to achieve at the end of your Poly education? From there, you can plan your studies and Poly life accordingly such that you are working towards your desired GPA and Poly life. Do keep this plan flexible and review it after every semester so that you know what to continue doing and make necessary adjustments to improve further for the subsequent semesters.
While you are busy hustling away during the semester, do remember to take short intermittent breaks in between your study sessions so that you avoid burning out and letting the stress overwhelm you. Remember that you are not alone in this journey so form a small group of trusted friends where all of you can share your worries and spur each other on!
As cliche as it sounds, GPA truly doesn't define you. As much as it is important to do well academically, having a holistic Poly experience with Co-curricular activities (CCA), Youth Expedition Programmes and Overseas Immersion Programmes will greatly add value and fun to your time in Poly! While you focus on getting the best grades, tell yourself that life is worth so much more than that. Pick up new skills, forge great friendships and cherish your Poly life!
