How to get A* in subjects?
Getting an A* isn’t about being “naturally smart” — it’s mostly about using the right system consistently. The students who score highest usually don’t study the longest, they study in the smartest way.
Here’s the real formula to getting A*s in any subject:
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📚 1. Understand Before Memorising
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Most students reread notes again and again and wonder why they forget everything in exams.
Top students do this instead: • Learn the concept first
• Then explain it in simple words
• Then practise questions until it becomes automatic
If you can teach the topic to someone else without looking at notes, you probably understand it well.
Example: ❌ “Memorise formula only”
✅ “Understand why the formula works”
This is SUPER important for: • Add Maths
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Science subjects in general
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🧠 2. Active Recall > Passive Studying
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Reading notes feels productive but your brain stays passive.
Instead: • Close the book
• Write everything you remember
• Answer questions without checking notes
• Test yourself constantly
Your brain remembers information better when it struggles to retrieve it.
That tiny struggle = stronger memory.
Best methods: • Flashcards
• Blurting method
• Past paper questions
• Self-quizzing
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⏰ 3. Study Every Day Even If It’s Short
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Consistency beats motivation.
Studying 1 hour daily for 2 weeks is better than: ❌ 10 hours one night before exam
Why? Because your brain needs repetition over time.
Even on busy days: • revise formulas for 15 mins
• do 5 math questions
• memorise 5 vocab words
Small progress daily becomes huge later.
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📝 4. Spam Past Papers
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This is literally one of the BIGGEST secrets to scoring A*s.
Exams repeat: • question styles
• techniques
• wording patterns
• common mistakes
When you do enough past papers: ✅ you stop panicking
✅ your speed improves
✅ you recognise patterns instantly
After every paper: • mark mistakes carefully
• write WHY you got it wrong
• redo the same question later
Mistakes are actually one of the fastest ways to improve.
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🎯 5. Focus on Weak Topics First
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A lot of students only revise topics they already like because it feels easier.
But A* students attack weak areas first.
Ask yourself: “What topic would destroy my marks if it appeared tomorrow?”
Start there.
Weaknesses ignored now become panic later.
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📖 6. Learn Exam Techniques
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Sometimes students know the answer but still lose marks because of exam technique.
For example: • English → answering format matters
• Science → keywords matter
• Math → method marks matter
• History → structure matters
So don’t just study content. Study HOW examiners want answers written.
Use: • marking schemes
• sample answers
• examiner reports
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💤 7. Sleep Is a Cheat Code
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Your brain literally stores memory while sleeping.
Pulling all-nighters: ❌ worsens memory
❌ slows thinking
❌ increases careless mistakes
Students who sleep properly often perform better than exhausted students who studied longer.
Aim for: • enough sleep before exams
• breaks between study sessions
• proper meals + water
Your brain is an organ, not a machine.
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📱 8. Stop Fake Productivity
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Pretty notes alone won’t get A*s.
Sometimes students spend hours: • decorating notes
• highlighting everything
• watching “study motivation” videos
• reorganising stationery
But never actually practise questions.
Real studying feels uncomfortable sometimes. That discomfort means your brain is growing.
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🔥 9. Discipline Beats Motivation
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You will NOT feel motivated every day.
Top students still study anyway.
Create a routine like: • same study time daily
• clear goals
• phone away
• timer method (50/10 or 25/5)
Motivation starts action. Discipline keeps results coming.
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⭐ 10. Believe Improvement Is Possible
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A lot of students give up because: “I’m just bad at this subject.”
But most strong students were weak at some point too.
Grades improve through: • repetition
• mistakes
• practice
• consistency
Not instant perfection.
Every expert was once confused.
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💡 Final Advice
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If you truly want A*s: • study smart, not just hard
• practise more than you reread
• stay consistent
• review mistakes seriously
• start early even with small steps
You do NOT need to be perfect. You just need to improve a little every day.
A*s are usually built from: small habits + repeated effort + good strategy over time.
Daripada pengalaman saya dan pemerhatian terhadap pelajar cemerlang, perbezaan terbesar bukan pada kepintaran semula jadi, tetapi pada bagaimana mereka menangani kesukaran dalam pembelajaran. Misalnya, apabila mereka tidak faham sesuatu topik seperti matematik atau sains, mereka akan berasa sedikit kecewa tetapi kemudian terus duduk ulang kaji, membaca semula, dan mencuba sehingga mereka benar-benar faham. Ini berbeza dengan pelajar biasa yang mudah berputus asa dan berharap topik itu tidak keluar dalam peperiksaan. Saya juga perasan pendekatan belajar mereka sangat aktif. Mereka bukan sekadar membaca nota berulang kali, tetapi menulis semula tanpa melihat nota, menjawab soalan-soalan tiada rujukan, dan sentiasa menguji diri sendiri. Kaedah ini membantu otak mereka menguatkan ingatan kerana berdepan dengan cabaran mengingat tanpa bantuan. Selain itu, mereka menetapkan rutin belajar harian walaupun pendek. Contohnya, mereka mungkin belajar hanya 30 hingga 45 minit selepas pulang dari sekolah tetapi menggunakan masa itu untuk membuat latihan soalan kritikal atau ulang kaji topik lemah, berbanding pelajar lain yang menangguhkan dan akhirnya tertinggal. Konsistensi seperti ini membuatkan mereka nampak maju walaupun selama beberapa minggu sahaja. Satu lagi rahsia yang saya perhatikan ialah pelajar A* tidak takut untuk menghadap kesilapan. Mereka menanda kesalahan dalam latihan lepas dengan teliti, menulis kenapa mereka salah dan berlatih semula soalan yang sama. Ini membantu mereka mengenal pasti kelemahan dan membaikinya sebelum peperiksaan sebenar. Dalam aspek teknik peperiksaan pula, mereka memahami betul kehendak penilai. Contohnya, dalam subjek sains mereka pastikan menggunakan kata kunci yang tepat, dalam bahasa Inggeris mereka fokus pada format jawapan, dan dalam matematik mereka berlatih menunjukkan setiap langkah untuk dapat markah kaedah. Pendekatan ini sangat penting kerana kadang-kadang pelajar tahu jawapan tetapi hilang markah kerana cara penyampaian kurang tepat. Paling penting, mereka jaga kesihatan mental dan fizikal dengan tidur cukup, makan teratur dan berehat sesuai. Hasilnya, otak mereka lebih segar ketika belajar dan semasa menjawab soalan. Mereka juga mengelakkan pembaziran masa seperti menonton video motivasi tanpa buat latihan sebenar. Kesimpulannya, untuk bergerak dari tahap biasa ke tahap A*, bukan perlu berubah secara drastik, tetapi konsisten melakukan sedikit perubahan positif setiap hari. Fokus pada memahami, berlatih, dan memperbaiki kesilapan sambil menjaga diri sendiri akan membuka jalan kejayaan. Jadi, jangan cepat putus asa, percaya pada proses dan teruskan usaha dengan disiplin dan tabah.
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