The bubbly ex-president of Journalism Society, Clara Ang, did exceptionally way by scoring 5 distinctions for the ‘A’ level results. NYCX caught up with Clara to ask her to share her secrets of success.

How do you feel about your ‘A’ level results? Did you expect it?

Ok, first things first. I DEFINITELY didn’t expect my results. I thought I was done for! I mean, I had no idea on how to gauge how well I did. I didn’t even get a single A during prelims, and the ‘A’ level questions were unexpectedly challenging.

So my friends were actually the ones who spotted my name on the screen and I had to check my name on the result slip just to be sure. When I went home, I checked my slip once every five minutes or so (just to exaggerate) just to be sure.

What is your method of revision/studying?

I can take ten days to tell you! Let’s just name some here…

1. I use this weekly planner (Which u can download free online) and every Sunday I will plan my schedule for the following week. I know I’m not a smarty-pants so I normally don’t wait for the last minute to mug.

2. You HAVE to be consistent. After every lecture (almost) I will go back and read up what has been taught. If I realised that I didn’t have time, I'll recap on the bus on the way to school. We need to recap because we'll get very lost on the following lecture, especially if you have not been paying attention.

3. If you have any doubts, or if you’re lost, or if you didn’t know what in the world your tutor was talking about in lecture, look them up for consultation. Some of my friends were shocked that I started consultations as early as J1. Do not wait until the period before prelims. Your tutors will be fully booked.

The bottom line: Some concepts (or rather, most?) are linked. Set your foundations right first. At least that’s for people who are not so smart (like me) who have to work extra hard.

What drives you to work so hard?

My goals! It is important to set goals because it steers you in the direction you want to go. Goals are important because it helps you manifest your energy, your potential and increases your directions in life. I feel that people without goals will be less motivated in working hard because they don’t have any compelling reasons or PURPOSE to do so.

For example, I wanted to go FASS in NUS... and by the way it is good to tell people your goals because once you say it out the people around you can help to push you forward and you too will find yourself working extra hard. You don’t have to tell them the reason behind your goals, but you can tell them your goals.

When I was in Secondary school, I didn’t dare to set goals (and tell people about my goals) until I was in Secondary Four. This was mainly because I was afraid of failure. Do not be like me! Don’t be disheartened if you didn’t accomplish your goals. Change your strategies and take off from there again.

Last but not least, a little word of encouragement from Clara to us.

‘Hi juniors! I know you're starting to feel the stress for the Big, scary, horrible A levels. But don’t worry; it will be over soon BEFORE you even know it. (Sounds cliché but it’s actually true!) Start working hard now. Support each other and since you're going through this, might as well make it a fruitful experience, right!? So be crazy and wild while you study! Have fun and HAPPY MUGGING (This is an oxymoron).

Yours until the planet explodes,
Clara

**Clara would also like to thank all her tutors for being so committed in helping her and her friends do well. She appreciates all the patience they showed to her during tutorials and consultations, as well as along any walkway in college when she tried to traumatise them by screaming.

Article by Cheryl Tan