A lot of students have failed the GCE because they did not know the paten or criteria to follow to be able to pass this examination. Passing or success is the ability of undertaking a practical OR theoretical examination or test, and scoring above the failure line or emerging with a positive result. GCE which is an acronym for CAMEROON GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION, is an examination written nationwide in Cameroon. This exams is in two phase, Ordinary Level written in form 5 and Advance Level written in uppersixth .This examination is written in June which is the number 9th and last month of Cameroons school calenda. This means that students take a maximum of 9months to prepare for tis exam for that academic year, in addition to the 4 years( form 1 to 4), oe 1 year (lower sixth).
Success they say is not a bed of roses nor can it be achieved at the comfort zone. What determines the success or failure of a candidate in these exams is the manner of a preparation. Just like the saying goes that “Rome was not built in a day”, so is the preparation on how to pass the GCE.
WHY LEARN HOW TO PASS THE GCE?
-To fulfill the purpose of the examination
-To prove yourself worthy of the certificate you aim to achieve
-To gain access to the next level of education
-To prove that your time, energy and resources was not wasted
-To make your parents proud and encourage them to keep investing in you
-To be able to meet up to society’s standared
-To fulfill one of the recommendation of the job market, just to name a few.
INTRUDUCTION
Hello dear GCE A level And O level students today we will be talking about how to succeed in your Cameroon GCE exams for both A level and O level students .I have been asked this question several times over social media and also I think it will be good if I did an article on this since it will give students a better way to prepare for their GCE exams. Is important to note that these are not absolute or win win methods or tips they are just tips and advice that will help you get your GCE exam . I believe that everyone has his or her method of studying so feel free of using your method but I will suggest at least to get through this article to see what may be lacking in your method . Before we start for does who don’t know the Cameroon gce exam is an official exam written in form 5 and Upper sixth in Cameroon .
That said we can now jump in;
1)Read your notes (read, read and read)
Yes as you can see one of the easy ways you can prepare for your GCE or any exams and bringing yourself towards success is by reading your notes , however reading your notes is find but I believe it has a period . I can remember back in form 5 , I had a friend that did not get A’s because even till the GCE evening he was still and always reading his notes . Wait a min I know what you’re saying that am contradicting myself right? , but wait let me explain , reading your notes is find but there is a period for that , and after that reading your notes will more of slow you down than help you ! . to make it clear here is my suggestion in reading your notes be it in GCE A level or O level
1st term read your notes 80% of your reading time
2nd term read your notes 40% of your reading time
Finally 3rd and last term read your notes 10% of your reading time ,to say the truth I could have said 1% cause during the third term , you just open your notes to cross check of definitions etc.
2) Gradual increase in your reading time
The title is self-explanatory but I will still explain for does who don’t understand what am trying to say . okay what am trying to say here is this , the more you get close to your exams you should also increase they time you spend studying a simple example will be this let’s say you read for 4 hours that is in the first term then during the second term you should got to 8 hours or 9 hours per day etc. but depending on how long you can endure but I really suggest you should increase it of at least 2 hours as you get close to the gce exam . I always advice my students to be working with watches cause it will help them verify they are reaching their goal in their study hours .
3) Pamphlets and study Guides
Pamphlets Pamphlets Pamphlets !! , really I believe that a student that wants to get A grades in his gce MUST use pamphlets and revision guide . personally I believe that one of the reasons i got an “A “ in economics was because I had pamphlets , yes pamphlets with “s” . Also I will not really encourage pamphlets because they cause students to be lazy cause they give quick answers and students instead turn to be doing cram work instead of understanding which cause them to fail by the end . I always suggest pamphlets to be used after students have fully read their notes then they can use their pamphlets and revision guide
4) Study with Friends
I believe this one is really important!! , just look carefully around in your class and you will remark that does that don’t do well most of the time are does that always study alone (in most cases). This is because when you study alone you have no one to correct you or even improve the answer you did give , and since no one told your answer is wrong you walk it in the exam hall knowing is correct . Back in upper sixth I always work with the first of the class and he used to show me some ticks to solve math’s faster and thing is like that this I believe helped me a lot . so to cut it short study alone is very very bad always study with SERIOUS friends it will help you a lot
5) Solve past questions
“Questions can never be created nor destroy but can be changed from one form to another”
Yes even Questions follow the same law as energy . What am trying to say that if you solve some 1000 questions ( yes 1000 ) before you write your GCE , and your sure of the correction or that the you understood the correction in each of them then there is no reason you won’t have less than an A . Back in upper sixth I solved about that amount In math before writing the GCE , But still just jumping in questions will produce no effects is just is always good to accompany questions with reading that is I always suggest questions should be at the end cause it will help you check if your reading was effective or not , for past questions in GCE or any mocks you can find them in my website here
In Conclusions
I will just add research and prayers skills to these tips and am sure at 100 % that everyone who applies these formula in his studies is pretty sure to get A’s at his GCE A or O level , that said wish you the best thanks.
GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels Study Tips
You should study on an average 130 hours for each A level and O level subject.
- Allocate enough number of hours each day/ week in your calendar for each subject. This should depend on how much time is left.
- Thoroughly go through the syllabus of each subject. You should understand the objectives and assessments on which you will be examined in the exam. The syllabus will also outline the number of Papers.
- Learn from various sources and methods. First, study from your textbooks and then research the same on the internet. Youtube also has good videos on various topics. You can also refer to reference books mentioned in the syllabus.
- This is important- know what the examiners need to see in your answer. What are the scoring points? You should read the examiner reports of all past year papers. Here you will learn the mistakes to avoid.
- Do past papers. 10 past year papers are more than enough.
- Mark your doubts, in case of any ambiguity contact your teachers or post here we will assist you with the best GCE tutors.
GCE A level and O level Maths and Additional Maths Study Tips
These two require something beyond fundamental learning. The more practice you have, the happier you are thoughtful. Extra Math is typically a feared subject since individuals don’t practice it well and it’s a major bounce from A level and O level Math to Additional Math.
It’s simple and less demanding to score in than A level and O level Math. Ensure your practice loads. Once you’ve done with the books, come to past papers and attempt them honestly. The more you practice, the more you gain confidence, the easier the paper for you to score.
GCE A level and O level Physics, Chemistry and Biology Study Tips
- Make sure your conceptual learning is given the 100%
- Some parts, formulae, names of stuff, bond type, etc need to be memorized, but you must know what is formed if compound X is added in compound Y not because you learned it from the book, but because you’re analyzing the chain reaction.
- Past papers. The past 5 years adding onto our online tutoring sessions are more than enough.
- MCQs, the part is most taken for granted and go ‘less’ prepared as they feel are easier, are actually the toughest and decide your grade.
- Chemistry and Physics ATP are the most scoring papers in the trio. Make sure you get 100% in these as it’s literally nothing, and a standardized pattern with different values as such follows.
GCE A level and O level Commerce Study Tips
This is perhaps one of the easiest A level and O level subjects.
Do the past 8 years of Paper 2 past papers and at least 10 years of Paper 1 past papers since the questions very often repeat from the old papers in Paper 1 and obtaining a high mark in paper 1 is essential for an A grade.
GCE A level and O level English Language Study Tips
- You might have heard this thousand of times, but it is true. Reading newspapers and books improves your grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Read up on the recent Medical issues, economical problems, etc. You’ll have no issues answering the Directed Writing part.
- Book reading and general vocabulary is the obvious answer to the essay part.
- You must score very high in paper 2, comprehensions, to get the best marks and A’s. It’s very easy to score in the comprehension. Do lots of comprehensions as the more they practice, the better you are, despite the older papers not covering the newer requirement of the syllabus.
- You need to do revision papers, write eloquently, and speak grammatically sound English
- Make a practical timetable for your studies. Allocate adequate time for all the subjects. More time for your weaker subjects, but do not ignore your stronger areas.