Archive for the ‘Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM’ Category

STPM 2009 Tips Analysis – Part 1 – Audience Reach : 23.4% of All STPM Science Stream Students in Malaysia Benefitted From Berry Berry Easy’s Tips

February 22, 2010

Berry Berry Easy will be publishing a series of analyses regarding its hits and misses on the 2009 STPM Tips. First up, are the audience reach. Berry Berry Easy would like to estimate the number of STPM students benefitted from this humble website. This analyses will be used as a baseline for future references to see if we are growing or not growing. To see if we are serving enough students or not. To see if our efforts are worthwhile, or would there be a better way to serve our students.

So to start things off, we would like to estimate the number of 2009 STPM Chemistry and Biology students served, by % of total STPM students in Malaysia.

STPM 2009 Tips Analysis – Part 1 – Audience Reach

There are 9,079 and 5,343 STPM students who took the subject of chemistry and biology in 2009, respectively. (Source: http://www.mpm.edu.my/main.php?Content=sections&SubSectionID=64&SectionID=63 – Valid as of 22 February 2010)

Top 5 Post as of December 2009 (STPM 2009 season)

Legend:

• Single post – denotes visitors who logged onto a specific post via search engine (this meant that they intended to visit the site)
• Category – denotes visitors who viewed the specific category of “Berry Super Tips”
• Archive – denotes visitors who viewed the monthly archive of “November”
• Home – denotes visitors who viewed the post from the main homepage

Calculation:

Hence, to estimate the number of students who are served by Berry Berry Easy, we have developed a simple formula for the calculation. It is not fool-proof but serves as a rough estimation.

The formula will follow the assumptions:

• Single post : 1 view = 1 visitor
• Category : 1 view = 0.25 visitor (because there were 4 possible tips that the reader might be interested at, so 1/4 = weightage of 0.25)
• Archive : 1 view = 0.045 visitor (need to divide the value by 22, as there were 22 posts in November)
• Home : 1 view = 0.1 visitor (need to divide by 10, as the homepage displays 10 posts at once)

Extra assumptions:

It is also expected that the following phenomena will cancel out each other (as it is impossible to track)

• Some readers might print it out for distribution (so actual numbers might be even higher)
• Some are repeating visitors (the numbers of repeating visitors are rather low – based on Google Analytics tracking, so expected to be negligible effect)
• Some of the tips are posted in forums and other blogs (so the actual number of readers who benefitted from the tips should be even higher)
• Some visitors are not STPM students (this will pull down the actual numbers)
• Some did not use the tips (this will also cause the numbers to be over estimated)

Hence, it is postulated that the aforementioned factors cancel out each other.

Final formula :

Total students benefitted from Berry Super Tips =

=(Single post x 1) + (Category x 0.25) + (Archive X 0.045) + (Home x 0.1)

For STPM 2009 Chemistry

= (1860 x 1) + (890 x 0.25) + (26 x 0.045) + (388 x 0.1) = 2122.47 = 2122 STPM 2009 Chemistry students

For STPM 2009 Biology

= (826 x 1) + (794 x 0.25) + (110 x 0.045) + (890 x 0.1) = 1118.45 = 1118 STPM 2009 Biology students

Percentage students in Malaysia who benefitted from Berry Super Tips

Chemistry : (2122/9079)x100% = 23.4%

Biology: (1118/5343)x100% = 20.9%

Berry Berry Teacher is pleased to inform all readers that, the site has successfully served an estimated 23.4% and 20.9% STPM students in the whole Malaysia who took Chemistry and Biology, respectively. This is quite a happy finding for a new and humble site like Berry Berry Easy

For readers who might have benefitted from 2009’s STPM tips, can you also drop a comment on what you think of Berry Berry Easy’s effort, so that we can improve ourselves. Part 2 of the analysis coming up.

Posted in: Berry Announcement, Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | No Comments »

Types of Examination Paper : STPM 2009 Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics

November 27, 2009

Berry Berry Teacher noticed that students occasionally study too hard, without being overly smart. Of course it is good to be studying hard, but exam paper strategy is equally important. Most students have only one same technique to approach all subjects.

It is a bad strategy that will lead to low marks. Berry Berry Teacher had the privilege to compile the techniques and studying habits of quite a number of top scorers, and they agreed with me in the sense that every paper requires its own strategy.

So BerryBerryEasy will be presenting (in its simplest form), the types of exam papers, which paper fall into which category, how to tackle them (studying/exam strategies) and how BerryBerryEasy can help you. Please be noted that even papers from the same subjects sometimes can fall into different categories. The three major categories which all the young berries should take note are:

1) Berry “Practice Makes Perfect” Paper

Paper: Mathematics paper. – Mathematics T/S paper 1 & 2.

Description: There are no chances that you can try to predict or memorise any fact. This is a fully “practice makes perfect” paper. Young Berries must always follow your teacher instructions, do all the exercises and if possible do extra questions whenever you are berry berry free (throughout the whole semester). Even a genius Young Berry must not do any last minute study for this type of “Practice Makes Perfect” paper!

Strategy: The more you practise, the higher you will score. As straightforward as this.

2) Berry “Read It All” Paper

Paper: Chemistry Paper 2, Biology Paper 1

Description: Basically this is the most ideal examination paper among all the three as this really examines the student’s ability to understand the subject, at least according to the syllabus. In this category, predictions are near to useless as the paper tests nearly student’s knowledge on everything. Berry Berry good student should be extremely overwhelmed, because it is the best way to separate Berry Berry good students and merely just good students. Same like ‘Practice Makes Perfect Paper’, there is no way you can spot chapter to read.  The good thing about this paper is that, it is hard for Young Berries to fail in this type of paper unless they have really really did berry berry last minute studies. (However, it is also harder to score)

Strategy: Berries are required to understand concepts and memorise all the facts constantly. So all Young Berries must revise on all the topics/chapters that you have learned over the whole year/semester.

Special mention: Chemistry can be consider as a “general” subject that all the science stream students must take in STPM examination. Therefore, it is a good idea to put this paper in this category as this is the best way to filter berry lazy students.

3) Berry “Study Smart” Paper

Paper: Biology Paper 2

Description: This is mostly used in paper which required a berry berry big memorisation capacity. It is also usually used to test a part of students’ knowledge.

Strategy: Young Berries must study in a very smart way. How to study in smart way? Young Berries must pay attention to teacher’s explanation in every chapter and in each chapter you can find a few berry berry important topic (Young Berries can refer to the past year STPM analysis which Berry Berry Teacher has already simplified it in the site). Then you must have a set of keywords for every chapter. Young Berries do try to memorise it and draw out the concept map to make relationship between concepts. It will become berry berry handy for your final revision and before you are about to answer an essay question. And the last but not least, Young Berries must do some mini research on other state trial STPM paper. Look out which is the Berry Berry Hot topic for that particular year. (You may also use BerryBerryEasy prediction and tips as a guide, although Berry Berry Teacher still recommend that student study everything that is deemed important)

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | No Comments »

SUCCESS!!! Berry Berry Easy’s STPM 2009 Biology Paper 2 Prediction Results : 60% minimum for prediction followers

November 21, 2009

SUCCESS!!! Berry Berry Easy is pleased to inform that our prediction is highly accurate for STPM 2009 Biology Paper 2 with 60 marks guaranteed for those who used our tips. Unlike other predictions which predicted many chapters, Berry Berry Easy only predicted 10 topics (due to the paper having only 10 questions) and would have provided 60% to our readers who followed the tips.

The proof is shown in the table below:

So there you go, a guaranteed 60 marks for Berry Berry Easy followers. I’m sure those who took our tips seriously would have scored well, as besides the 60 marks from the predicted tips, I’m sure you would have scored some marks from the remaining 40 marks that were not predicted. (If you can score 15/40 from the non-predicted topics, you could have scored 75 marks, which should be enough to score an A)

So tune in for more tips. Drop me comments to let me know if you have benefitted from the tips. Or if you know any more accurate tips as compared to ours (provided they also only predicted 10 topics).

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | 4 Comments »

SPM Biology 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 4551/1 , 4551/2 and 4551/3

November 19, 2009

SPM Biology 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 4551/1 , 4551/2 and 4551/3

BIT Paper 1

All the questions are evenly distributed, so there are not chances for you to skip any chapter. So work hard on these important chapters!

Berry Important Topics:

• Chapter 2 – Cell Structure and Cell Organisation
• Chapter 3 – Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane
• Chapter 6 – Nutrition
• Chapter 10 – Transport
• Chapter 12 – Coordination and Response
• Chapter 13 – Reproduction and Growth
• Chapter 14 – Inheritance

All of these topic that I have mentioned are Berry Berry Important Topic, so do not ever think to skip these BIT!

Not so important topic (with only an average 2 questions every year):

• Chapter 5 – Cell Division
• Chapter 7 – Respiration
• Chapter 11 – Support and Locomotion
• Chapter 12 – Variation

Totally not important (zero questions each year)

• Chapter 1 – Introduction to Biology

BIT Paper 2 (Structure)

Berry Important Topics:

• Chapter 4 – Chemical Composition of the Cell
• Chapter 5 – Cell Division
• Chapter 8 – Dynamic Ecosystem
• Chapter 10 – Transportation
• Chapter 14 – Inheritance

Not so important topic:

• Chapter 2 – Cell Structure and Cell Organisation
• Chapter 9 – Endanger Ecosystem
• Chapter 11 – Support and Locomotion
• Chapter 12 – Coordination and Response

BIT Paper 2 (Essay)

• Chapter 7 – Respiration
• Chapter 9 – Endangered Ecosystem
• Chapter 12 – Coordination and Response
• Chapter 14* – Inheritance
• Chapter 15* – Variation

*This year super berry hot topic!

BIT Paper 3

• Chapter 3 – Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane
• Chapter 6 – Nutrition
• Chapter 8 – Dynamic Ecosystem
• Chapter 15 – Variation

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | 16 Comments »

SPM Chemistry 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 4541/1 , 4541/2 and 4541/3

November 16, 2009

SPM Chemistry 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 4541/1 , 4541/2 and 4541/3

BIT Paper 1

Form 4 Syllabus

• Chapter 2 – The Structure of the Atom
• Chapter 3* – Chemical Formulae and Equations
• Chapter 6 – Electrochemistry
• Chapter 7* – Acids and Bases
• Chapter 9 – Manufactured substances in Industry

Form 5 Syllabus

• Chapter 1 – Rate of reaction
• Chapter 2* – Carbon compounds
• Chapter 3 – Oxidation and Reduction
• Chapter 4* – Thermochemistry

* Berry Berry Important Topic

Not so important

• Chapter 1 (F4) – Introduction to Chemistry
• Chapter 8 (F4) – Salts

BIT Paper 2

Form 4 Syllabus

• Chapter 2* – The Structure of the Atom
• Chapter 3 – Chemical Formulae and Equations
• Chapter 4* – Periodic Table of Elements
• Chapter 5 – Chemical Bonds
• Chapter 6 – Electrochemistry
• Chapter 8 – Salts
• Chapter 9 – Manufactured substances in Industry

Form 5 Syllabus

• Chapter 1* – Rate of reaction
• Chapter 2 – Carbon compounds
• Chapter 3 – Oxidation and Reduction
• Chapter 5* – Chemicals for consumers

* Berry Berry Important Topics (every year)

BIT Paper 3

Form 4 Syllabus

• Chapter 6 – Electrochemistry
• Chapter 7 – Acids and Bases

Form 5 Syllabus

• Chapter 1 – Rate of Reaction
• Chapter 4 – Thermochemistry

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | 7 Comments »

STPM Biology 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 964/1 and 964/2

November 14, 2009

Seeing the popularity of the tips and predictions for “STPM Chemistry 2009“, Berry Berry Easy will also publish the tips and predictions for STPM Biology 2009. (This should reply the numerous e-mails which we receive regarding tips for the Biology paper.)

Berry Berry Prediction STPM Biology 964 : Book Volume #1

Paper 1 – 964/1

STPM Biology is very different from its chemistry counterpart, therefore Young Berries must use a different technique to score A! In paper 964/1 (Paper 1), all the topics are evenly distributed and there is no way for you to skip any chapters!! (Diferrent from Chemistry 962/1)

Paper 2 – 964/2

However in 964/2 (Paper 2), you actually can predict the Berry Important Topics (BIT)! In Paper 2, you must try to get full answer (full points) for each of the BIT and do a mock self-test by writing it out on a test pad. Read it for a few times and before you enter the examination hall. Why?? So you will have the most freshest Berry Brain!

Berry Important Topics (BIT):

• Chapter 1 (Basic Chemistry of a Cell)
• Chapter 3 (Control in cells)
• Chapter 4 (Photosynthesis)
• Chapter 7 (Gaseous Exchange)

Not so important topic:

• Chapter  6 (Nutrition) (Edit: Yachiru Aine highlighted that subtopic on saprophitic nutrition can be important too. So take note of it)

Semi-important topics: There are some topics that are BIT in Paper 1 but not in Paper 2 (totally did not appear in P2 from 2005 to 2007!!).

• Chapter 2 (Structure of Cells and Organelles)
• Chapter 11 (Hormone / Chemical Coordination)

Berry Berry Prediction STPM Biology 964 : Book Volume #2

Volume 2 Biology – typically 2 STPM MCQ will appear from every chapter, but still there are some chapters where the average is 1 question.

Chapters with normally least MCQ question:

• Chapter 4 (Growth)
• Chapter 10 (Taxonomy)
• Chapter 13 (Ecosystem)

Not important chapter based on Berry Teacher’s analysis:

• Chapter 10 (Taxonomy) – hardly appeared in Paper 1 and Paper 2.

STPM Biology Trends between 2006 and 2008 (Berry Berry Important)

Biology started to follow (2006) the Chemistry trend where there questions consist of elements from a variety of chapters. (Meaning, one question could involve more than one chapter) It is promoted as a good way to eliminate question-spotting. This is bad news for those who indulge in last-minute study. Luckily, there is not much changes between 2006 and 2008, so Young Berries still can choose the BIT to study.

Volume 1’s Berry Berry Important Topics (repeating in STPM 964/2):

• Chapter 2 (Structure of Cells and Organelles)
• Chapter 4 (Photosynthesis)
• Chapter 5 (Respiration)
• Chapter 9 (Homeostasis)
• Chapter 10 (Nervous System)

Volume 2’s Berry Berry Important Topics (Young Berries must not skip):

• Chapter 5 (Transmission genetics)
• Chapter 6 (Mutation)
• Chapter 9 (Modern genetics technology)
• Chapter 13 (Ecosystem)
• Chapter 14 (Quantitative ecology)

Do take notes, these are just prediction based on the STPM 964/2 question frequency, to get a better view, you must refer to the other state trial STPM Biology 964 paper! Also, spotting questions is not encouraged, understanding everything is still a better option. However, for those who still wants to spot questions, you may use this as a guide.

Good luck in your upcoming exams.

(Thanks to Yachiru Aine for pointing out the inadequacies in the earlier post. More feedback is welcomed)

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | 5 Comments »

Analysis of the STPM Biology Questions Volume #1 (2003-2007)

November 13, 2009

Following the previous post on “Analysis of the STPM Biology Question Volume #2 (2003-2007)” (yeah, it was posted in reverse order), Berry Berry Easy will be posting the analysis for the same analysis but for Book Volume #1. Combining with the previous post, you should be getting a full picture of the STPM Biology analysis.

Please use it as a guide. Stay tune for this year’s prediction for STPM Biology too. To be posted in an upcoming post.

Analysis of STPM Biology Questions Book Volume #1 (2003-2007)

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | No Comments »

Analysis of the STPM Biology Questions Volume #2 (2003-2007)

November 11, 2009

To reward loyal berries, which are all you readers out there, Berry Berry Easy will be providing analysis of the STPM Biology questions for 2003-2007. I hope all of you benefitted from the analysis for chemistry. Please also work hard on your biology paper.

All the best to Berry Berry Easy readers and all STPM students by large.

Analysis of STPM Biology Questions (2003-2007)

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | 1 Comment »

Analysis of the STPM Chemistry Questions (2001-2008)

November 8, 2009

In addition to the tips that was posted on “STPM Chemistry 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 962/1 and 962/2” under Berry Super Tips, Berry Berry Easy hereby presents you with the complete breakdown of STPM Chemistry questions for the past 8 years between 2001 and 2008. Efforts have been made give more detail on the chapter breakdown.

So please use it as a guide to assess the importance of each topic. But always remember, the best study method is still understanding everything. Remember to spread the word around, so that all of you can group up to think of a good strategy to tackle the exams. (Exam smartness and strategy is as important as studying hard.)

Analysis of the STPM Chemistry Questions (2001-2008)

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | No Comments »

STPM Chemistry 2009 – Tips and Predictions for Papers 962/1 and 962/2

November 5, 2009

The most important time of your life in your whole national school career is approaching with the imminent arrival of the STPM examinations. Hence, to help our berry berry faithful readers, Berry Berry Teacher will be sharing some prediction and tips for the upcoming STPM Chemistry 2009 paper. If you are looking to spot possible questions, you have come to the right place. (Remember that, spotting questions and working on predicted topics should not be your main studying method, understanding everything remains the better bet)

So to start things off, all Berries (yeah, that’s you my Berry Reader) should be revising the topics according to the priority. There are some Berry Important Topics (BIT) which you must not skip. Berry Berry Teacher has analysed some BIT for the young berries to revise on.

=========================================

Prediction for STPM Chemistry 2009 Paper 962/1

Physical Chemistry

1. Chemical Bonding (2 – 5 questions / average ~ 3 questions). Berry Berry Easy questions.
2. Equilibria* (1 – 9 questions / average ~ 5 questions). In recent years (2005 -2008), this has become a BIT that you must fully understand it. Usually involves calculations and chemistry concepts.
3. Electrochemistry (1 – 4 questions / average ~ 3 questions)

Organic Chemistry

1. Hydrocarbon* (2 – 5 questions / average ~ 4 questions)
2. Hydroxy Compounds (1 – 3 questions / average ~ 2 questions)
3. Polymer* (1 – 3 questions / average ~ 2 questions)

Inorganic Chemistry

1. d-Block Elements* (2 – 3 questions / average ~3 questions)

* Important topics that has shown steady upward trend in appearance in STPM.

Next Young Berries also need to revise on the following topics. These topics usually consist of 1 – 2 questions.

Physical Chemistry

• Matter
• Electronic Structure of Atoms
• Reaction Kinetics

Inorganic Chemistry

• Group 14
• Group 17

Organic Chemistry

• Haloalkanes
• Carbonyl Compounds
• Carboxylic Acids
• Amino Acids and Proteins

=========================================

Prediction for STPM Chemistry 2009 Paper 962/2

Berry Berry Teacher also finds it hard to predict in this section because between the Year 2006 and 2008, all the topics (Physical, Organic and Inorganic) are evenly distributed!!! This has made STPM Form 6 Chemistry a Berry Berry challenging subjects! Nevertheless, DO NOT SKIP the INORGANIC if you want to score A in the subject. So for all the Young Berries taking Chemistry Form 6, try to be consistent in learning (good learning habit) rather than last minute study. If you are doing the last minute study now, I would advice you to memorise all the organic chemical equations. It would be very handy for you!

Use this as a guide to help you to study, but do not use this guide as the only way to study. Remember also that, there are no 100% accurate tips. If you ever find them, be sure not to take them seriously. Bookmark this post on your computer and share this site with your friends who are taking STPM too and tune in for more tips, predictions and topic/question spotting.

Posted in: Berry Super Tips *SPM/STPM | 12 Comments »