EBUU/B promos to AAB/A A Levels AMA

i took BCMH because i didnt know whether to choose sciences or humanities and wanted to keep my options open. for context, i was in an elite jc so while i was doing terribly everyone around me was doing relatively okay and better.

in j1, i scored horribly for promos. EBUU/B. i didnt let my lectures snowball so i was confused why i did so badly. all my friends did better than me, and i had to advance, not promote, to j2, which hit my self confidence badly. i ended up dropping math to h1, which turned out to be one of the best decisions i ever made.

i also couldnt find the motivation to study properly because i felt there was no viable future for me. with climate change worsening, the job market plummeting, AI taking over and the constant geopolitical issues, i couldnt see a reason to study and work, because i probably wouldn't be able to live comfortably anyway without selling my soul to a 9-5. i was so stressed from school and exhausted, so i just kept playing brawl stars after finishing my assignments when i should've reviewed and revised.

then for prelims, i got DEC/B. better than promos, but with A levels a few months away, i felt so fucked, like any studying i did was futile.

in october, i woke up at 7.30am every day and followed a rigid schedule of studying till 10pm, taking minimal breaks. i knew i had one last shot and wanted to just try and make things work.

throughout A level season and afterwards, i just felt doomed. i was doing consistently badly in my sciences and my gp stagnated at a B, so i thought my life was over and i would get shit results. every exam was tough and the one-month marathon was super taxing. the worst week of my life was the hist-bio-bio-hist week, where each exam was each consecutive day and i decided to sacrifice bio to memorise history hard-core a few days before because the bio content just wasnt sticking.

for the past few months, my parents and i fully expected me to do badly. i was wondering if i could even get into a local uni and told myself id be satisfied with straight Bs.

then on results day, when i turned open the booklet, i was shell-shocked. granted, i got a D for h1 math because i completely neglected it, but ABA/A for bio, chem, history and gp? i was completely stunned. i absolutely did not expect to do this well.

anyway, if you have ever found yourself in a similar boat, where youre running out of time to study and nothing is working, here are some tips i have for you:

1. make the last month count.

if you've been doing minimal studying the past 2 years, DO NOT waste october. your life can turn around if you utilise every single day to revise and review your work. wake up at 8am, go to bed at 11pm. make sure to take breaks throughout the day, but dont waste time doomscrolling. this wont work if you haven't been paying attention at all for the past 2 years, you need to at least have a basic foundation of your content. this month will help you polish your content properly so dont waste it.

2. find a reason to study.

whether its to enter your dream course, get a good job, or just to leave your toxic household, find that reason. grip it tight. keep it with you as you trudge the unbearable path. i personally didnt find a purpose in my life yet, but i decided to give it my all in october just so i wouldn't regret wasting the entire jc journey doing nothing.

3. take care of your mental health.

studying is important but your wellbeing comes first. i didnt delete brawl stars till september (BAD IDEA), but i couldnt go cold turkey without playing games, which is my destresser. in october, i deleted all social media apps and interactive games, and whenever i needed a short break to recharge, i would play rhythm+ on my ipad (rhythm game) that wasnt so addictive but still a breath of fresh air from the gruelling work.

4. tuition is only a boost, not a crutch.

my chem tuition helped me a lot but i still had to do extra practise myself, and then go to class and ask questions that i didnt understand. tuition will only help you if you invest the time yourself to study.

5. drop your ego

i so so wanted to keep my 4 H2s BCMH because like everyone i knew in my elite jc kept the 4 H2s and i didnt want to be inferior.. but after being forced to drop math i felt so free. i had so much time to work on my other H2s, and H1 math was basically A math from secondary sch. i ended up not studying for it at all to focus on my H2s, and im so glad i did. point is, do whst you need to to achieve maximum results. dont feel inferior or compare yourself to others, we all walk own paths. walk the one that is the least painful for you.

and thats all!! do ask any questions in the comments if u have any!! please know that A levels is not the end of the world, there are so many alternative paths that will lead to success. you are more than a piece of paper. never forget that.