[0:00]Hey guys, welcome back to my YouTube channel. Thumbnails, I'm going to share with you all how I studied for A/L, just like I had mentioned in the thumbnail. Today, I'm going to talk about the video topics. First, how to choose schools and tuition classes, and then how to manage time. Next, how to study effectively. After that, how to do past papers. Also, something many people don't say, but I want to share with you all. And then how to manage stress, and extra books. Those are the things I'm going to share with you all in this video. First, there are two places where we study for A/L, right? One is school, and the other is tuition classes. When it comes to school, I attended school from the beginning, right? That means our school somehow conducted practicals, taught us, discussed past papers, and did everything. That means they did practicals, and in structured essays, they ask about practicals in physics and such. They even did question papers and discussed everything. So, I continuously attended school, right? But I know that many A/L students in Sri Lanka get their knowledge from tuition classes. So, choosing the right tuition class is very important. Many people ask me what tuition classes I attended. Even when I knew my younger siblings asked, 'What classes did you go to?' I told them. However, they said that those classes don't cover the syllabus anymore. So, I don't really know. But anyway, the best class changes from time to time. So, I did my A/Ls in 2018. So, that's a long time ago. So, I can't properly recommend a class to you saying this one is good. You should ask someone who recently did A/Ls and got good results. Next, when choosing classes, I first chose good classes and attended them continuously. I think I changed one class in the first two or three months, but I continued with the rest of the classes. One of the biggest mistakes you make when doing A/Ls is changing classes in the middle and moving around a lot. When you change classes like that, you miss many small but important parts in the middle. Even if you think you'll cover them later, because those important parts are missed, you won't understand the next part properly. Also, our syllabus is structured to go from easy to difficult. For example, if you're good at mechanics, it's easy to understand oscillations and waves. It's structured in that order. So, when we keep changing classes, that flow is broken.

[3:07]Then, our brain stores things in a logical order, from easy to difficult, so it's easy for us to retrieve them and apply them in papers. So, that's why I tell you, something very important that many people don't even think about, is to choose the right classes and follow them consistently. Try doing that. Next, about time management. A common question people ask about time management is, "How long should I study? What's the best time to study?" So, it depends on the individual. Some people can study for a short time and absorb it, and they don't need to study it again. But for me, that wasn't the case. I had to put in a lot of effort to grasp things. During my school days, I somehow managed to be active in extra activities like dancing, badminton, and several societies. Then, during all the remaining time, I studied. I had to do that because there's a lot to study during that period, right? So, what I have to tell you is not about how long you should study, but that you should somehow work until you understand that subject part and grasp it. An important thing is to create a to-do list. You can take a small notebook and create a to-do list for the next day in advance. Then, when you wake up the next day, it will be very organized. You will know what you need to do when you wake up. You'll have a plan for the day. Next, many people make their to-do lists very complex by adding various things like priority lists. Don't do that. In the end, you'll spend a lot of time creating the to-do list and won't actually do any work. So, create a very simple to-do list. Include different tasks like studying, doing past papers, or explaining things to someone. Then, you can easily track your progress for the day. Create a to-do list, and then I didn't do this; I learned it later, many people do it. This hour, what did I do? The next hour, what did I do? They note it down. Then, you'll understand how productively you worked within that hour. So, I think that's very good for making the day a bit productive. That's a big help, I think. Next, using a timer. Using a timer is very helpful for you to do any work at maximum speed. Not for long periods, but for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, keep track of time. Then, within that time, you can do a maximum amount of work. Then, your slow work will reduce, and within that 15 minutes, you will do the maximum amount of work. So, try that. Then, the time wasted will also significantly reduce. Next, there's a method that helps a lot to manage time properly. That is, you work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. Work for another 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. However, this method doesn't work for everyone. Also, if we're studying a large topic, meaning if we can't cover a large amount in 25 minutes, then often this method doesn't work for us properly. But don't study continuously. Then, it won't go into your head, right? Take a small 5-minute break after finishing a study section. But don't let it become a long interval where you spend more time on the break than on studying. Next, what many people do to manage time is to make short notes. However, children, for biology and chemistry subjects, making short notes is not very suitable. Then, you might miss important parts that need to be remembered a lot. That's why, keep your note visible to your eyes at all times. That is very important. So, that's why, if you can, try to make short notes in this way. This is how I made short notes, okay? You divide your notebook page like this. Okay? Divide it into three parts like this. You write the notes here, in this part, after you go to class. Then that work is done. After coming home, in this section, you write questions. You write every possible question from this lesson part here. That means, you create questions that cover this note, simple small questions. In the box here, you put the summary of this note. It could be a sketch. Anyway, make it easy for you to remember, put a small summary there. You might think, "Will this manage time? Oh no, this is a lot of work!" You might think that. However, after you divide your book this way, after you divide the page, writing the note in class happens automatically, right? Then, after coming home, you write the questions that cover the note and make a summary. That's a small amount of time it takes. However, when you revise again, that time will be significantly reduced. When you revise again, you don't read the entire note again. You check if you can answer those questions. Then, you don't spend time reading the whole note, and your time is saved. Also, when you answer those questions, the note is automatically covered, and you also get a small confidence boost when you can answer a question.

[9:23]Even if you can't, you have the note right there to refer to. So, then it's very easy for you to revise, and also, we don't just blindly write things down. When we put in that little effort, it goes into our heads well. So, then even if the same question doesn't come, if a similar question comes, you'll understand how to approach that question. That's why I thought to tell you this under time management. Even though it takes a little time to make it, when you revise later, it's the best way to manage your time. Next, to manage time, especially during the exam, the most helpful thing is having done past papers. However, some people don't even need to do past papers; if they just understand the lesson, they can answer any question. But some people only understand what to expect from the lesson when they do questions. They truly understand what they need to learn by doing past papers. That's why I think doing past papers helps most people. Next, I'll tell you how to effectively do past papers. During our time, there was Pesusuru Prakashaka. I think it still exists. They have classified MCQs, structured essays, everything. So, you do these questions after finishing a lesson. Then you do the past papers. Next, when do you need to start doing past papers? You don't wait until you've covered a certain extent of the syllabus to start past papers. As soon as your first lesson is over, start doing past papers. Then, as soon as your lesson is over, those questions are done, then when you go to the term test, you do those questions again. You do them again in the next term tests. Then, before the exam, you've already done these past questions multiple times. It doesn't have to be past questions; there are also model papers. Anyway, you've done those questions related to that subject part. Another thing is, if we plan to do past papers four or five times at the end, it won't happen, and it's a very complex thing.

[11:49]So, when you do past papers repeatedly like this, you automatically cover past papers. Next, when you do past papers, especially in physics and chemistry, try to write as many reviews as possible. Writing reviews doesn't mean writing huge reviews. You divide your CR book into six parts like this. In each box, you write a question, how to solve that question, how to get the answer to that question. Write small reviews like that, including around it. Then, one thing is that you'll have a clear understanding of how to solve that question. Also, if you forget it again, when you come back and look, it's very easy for you to understand it again. And also, we don't just blindly hit it, this to this. It's not like that. If we put in that effort, it goes into our heads well. Then, even if the same question doesn't appear, if a similar question comes, you'll understand how to approach that question.

[13:18]Next, what many people ask is what extra books we should read. In our time, we looked at school notes, tuition class notes. In addition, we also referred to teacher's guides. So, those are the things I also looked at. It helped me a lot. I think it helped me a lot. I think it's more important to understand what we know correctly than to read extra books. Then, that is, in our syllabus, they give us almost everything we need to know. If we can do that correctly, we can pass the exam rather than looking for many extra books. Sometimes there might be good extra books to read, right?

[14:24]I did my A/Ls in 2018. So, now it's very different. The syllabus itself has changed. So, then you can ask a big brother or sister who recently did A/Ls and find out. That's when I think it will relate the most to you, according to my opinion. So, somehow find out. Okay? Next, children, when you say studying, it's not just looking at books and studying. You revise the lessons. You don't have to sit in one place and do it like that. You can revise lessons while traveling on the bus. So, revising is very important. Then, you'll know what you don't remember. So, do that. Also, if there's anyone who doesn't know, tell them. That is, it's not that you can study. The truth is, there might be friends who genuinely need our help. So, then tell everyone and work together, that's what's beautiful. For example, in my campus, I have two very good friends who have been good friends since A/L time. So, then it's a big shock then. Next, what I'm going to tell you is something many people don't say, right? It's that I thought whether to say this or not because if I say this, then if people look at it like it's a gambling thing, then I thought it might cause trouble for the children. But I thought it would be good to say it anyway. If someone can use it properly, they can use it properly. That's why.

[16:17]I mean, what I did was, I studied for A/L in 2018. I attended a physics A/L class in 2017. That means I covered the syllabus of the year before mine in a class beforehand. You might think, "Is it useful to cover the syllabus beforehand?" It's like this, right? In the last period, in our classes, they finished the lessons very quickly, right? So, then it doesn't go into our heads much. But since I attended the class from the previous year, I don't try to understand it in a hurry, I slowly, then since I also have that class, it helped me a lot to do the past papers in advance, to cover the syllabus in advance. So, I think it will be useful for you too, if you think so, use it. But it's a very stressful job. I mean, why is it that in that class also homework is given? And for us, it's already very difficult to do our own year's A/L work.

[17:31]It's extremely difficult, extremely difficult. And in between, if you go to the previous year's class, it's extremely stressful. Homework is also given there. Sometimes, on some days, you go crying, exhausted. Anyway, that is, it's like this, right? You don't have to do it like that. My friend went. He's also with me in the faculty now. He didn't get that work to set. He stopped it afterward. He continued doing normal work. He also got the best result and came to our faculty. So, it's like that. I mean, I'm telling you everything I did. You take only the things that suit you and use them to help your journey. Okay? Next, what else do I need to tell you? I forgot to tell you that in our time, it wasn't like now. Now, with online classes, you get sleepy when you watch the video, right? So, then the best thing to do is to write. Okay? When you write, you won't fall asleep. Another thing is, when you write, you write what you understand from what you hear. It's not like just looking at something and writing, right? So, then, you write what you understood. Then, you'll understand the lesson very well at that very moment. The extra advantage is that. So, do that. Next, how to manage stress. Oh no, this will never end. I'm so fed up with this. No matter how much I work, my marks are like this, you might think. I also felt like that back then. Everyone feels like that, right? That's something everyone experiences. And any stress that arises, I don't let it destroy me because this is temporary. This will pass. We've had happy days. Those things pass. We've had sad days. Those also pass. This time is also like that. We worked hard this year.

[19:25]We can do the remaining things with the field we love. Thinking like that, we can prepare our minds. Next, especially, talk well with friends. Then, stress is also reduced. That is, you can do the work without much burden then. Next, you don't have to become a doctor, right? If you don't get selected, don't be sad. I saw in the comments that some people are sad.

[19:50]Next, some people are interested, but they are scared if they will get it or not. So, it's not just medicine. There are many other things too. Some people don't even like medicine, they don't like doctors. So, it's not like that. Now, if you are genuinely interested in becoming a doctor, if you genuinely like doing medicine, then try. But whether you get it or not, don't be sad. Try three times. Next, even if you can't, for your sake, there is a beautiful plan, a beautiful story in this world. What suits you, you will definitely get. Sometimes, no matter how much you like medicine, sometimes there might be something else you don't know, something where you are very talented, something that brings you great mental satisfaction. So, don't be sad at any time. You will get a good path, and also, there are many job opportunities now. The world is very different now. So, I think I said everything I wanted to say. Thanks for watching, guys. If you want to take anything from this video, take it. Do your work well. Reduce the time you spend on social media a bit, and do your work well. Good luck!