Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Exams

Why is it that people always tremble when the word "Exams" is uttered? Why is it that we feel this utter sense of impending doom approaching us? I mean exams is just a recollection of all the things we have learnt on a normal school day right? Be it maths, or Econs or Lit or even History, why is it that the word exam brings such terror to our hearts and mind? I don't get it. I mean if you revise your work thoroughly, should you really be worried?

Yes, I am saying this in relation to my Promotional Examination which ends on Thursday with the last paper being International History. That means, regurgitating a whole lot of information on the Cold War and how people like Truman, Kennedy, Stalin, Brezhnev and Gorbachev played a part in escalating and ending this long war. But I am not really worried. I don't brag to be the best in History but I am reasonably good. I mean I have yet to fail. On the contrary I have yet to receive an A grade for my essays. So far, my teacher only gave me a high B or a C. I really need to impress him with my essays to earn my A. And I know I can do it, because I'll be frank, I am good in History. At least I am skilled enough to analyse and write according to the question requirements.

Tomorrow's my Lit paper. A subject I am not particularly fond of. Maybe that's because I never get an A for it. No matter how hard I try, it seems like my essays are always lacking either in depth or in analytical comments. I am trying my best and seeing my friends get constant As makes me sad. Of course I don't say this to anyone because I feel happy for them. They are surely doing something different that's getting them such high marks. I have even borrowed a few people's work to see where am I getting wrong. And I still see no clues. Well I am prepared to give one last shot tomorrow and if I still fail to get at least a B, I'm going to have long consultation sessions with my tutors. Maybe they can help me out here.

So far, I am done with Maths and Econs. They didn't go as perfectly as I had hoped. But I know I can get at least a B for both of them. I don't know, maybe if luck is on my side, I might actually get an A for Econs, which means H3!!!! Oh boy, I'd love to do H3 Econs because it's challenging and it requires individual study and research and write a research report. That means I'll be totally on my own but I'm sure I can consult my tutors. My parents are still having some reservations about H3. They are not too keen on me taking it because they fear I may not be able to cope. I don't know. Next year's pretty important, considering I have to sit for the most important exam in my life, The A Levels. I need to ace them in order to get out of Singapore and study some place nice like the States or UK. And my parents refuse to spend money on my overseas higher education unless I do well in the A levels. So that means 4 As.

I know I can do it. I had the excuse in the O-levels because I was doing triple science which I absolutely hated but was forced to take, thanks to my stupid Secondary School. But here I am, in a JC that allowed me to do the subjects that I simply adore. How can I not score straight As? Not only will I be letting my parents down, I'll let my school down because they gave me the sovereignity to choose my own subjects. Plus, I'll let myself down. Oh well, I'll have plenty of time to think about the As. Now to get through the Promos. Bye!