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Nokutenda Makono
BEING recognised as the best in the world for a particular subject is not an easy feat, especially at Advanced Level.
I mean, there is a reason for calling it Advanced Level; it is way different from Ordinary Level.
It came to me as a surprise when I received a call that I had landed the prestigious title of Best in the World in Biblical Studies for the 2023 Cambridge Advanced Level exams.
I attained an “A” grade with a 93 percent score.
In this article, I would like to encourage others to achieve academic excellence.
You need to pray hard if you are religious.
Growing up, my father always told us that if you need something, ask God and He will provide it.
Throughout my exams, I prayed, asking God for knowledge and wisdom.
And He did come through for me.
Finding the subjects that you are passionate about is also important.
Most learners fail not because they are dull, but because they are taking subjects they are not passionate about.
Learning is more fun when you are doing subjects you are interested in.
I used to do science subjects when I was in Form Three, but after getting the much-needed career guidance, I discovered that my passion was in humanities.
What is also needed is to study hard.
Make a study timetable that works best for you.
Pick the subjects that you feel are troubling you and put extra effort into them.
Having a favourite subject is good, but focusing solely on it is a recipe for disaster.
Also, consult your teachers whenever possible.
Some learners understand better when the attention of the teacher is solely on them. Find what works for you and go with that.
Personally, for Biblical Studies, I did a lot of class presentations.
I discovered I had long-term memory for the presentations I did as compared to the actual studying.
Furthermore, do not wait for the teacher to proceed with the syllabus on your behalf.
It is not a crime to finish the syllabus beforehand.
This way, when you are now in class with your peers, it becomes more of revision than actual learning.
Another thing that is of importance is listening and getting advice from your teacher.
You might be the brightest learner in class but if you do not allow your teachers to mentor you — you are setting yourself up for failure.
No wonder there are teachers at school.
Be wary of the company you keep.
You need like-minded people around you; that is, those who are eager to score high grades.
After all, it is said iron sharpens iron.
Do not expect to succeed when you have a failure mindset.
In a nutshell, this is how I managed to come out top in the world for Biblical Studies.
If I did it, then you can succeed as well.
Study hard and pray even harder.
Nokutenda Makono was a Wise Owl Upper Six Arts learner in 2023. She intends to become a lawyer. Learners can write short poems/stories or about special events at their schools and send to: [email protected]
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter