We are midway through our 3rd module and starting on the 4th. Weekly TMAs (tutor-marked assignments) fill our schedules besides attending weekly 3-hour seminars for each module.

It is easy to underrate them because they are not exams. But here is the catch: THEY ALL COUNT TOWARDS GETTING THAT 3.5GPA. Do not treat them lightly, my friends.

So it is best to try and hit more than 65 for your TMAs to lessen the stress of the final exams hopefully! My classmates and I did a calculation – if we can do reasonably well in our TMAs, there is really less pressure on having to ace the final exams. In other words, you buy yourself some leeway. This is important because if you are like me, exams are especially stressful given the need to think and answer within the allocated time.

If you attempt to do it all alone, your ability to deconstruct the ask of each TMA is unlikely to be as strong as if you were able to discuss and share your analysis with your peers. And trust me, each TMA is not easy because there is no right or wrong answer, only logical ones reasoned sensibly within 1,000 words.

Today, I’ll like to share a little hack my classmates and I employ.  See, there is power in numbers.  We commit to a weekly 3-hour zoom call where different people take turns to lead and others take notes. Yes, this is in addition to the weekly 3-hour seminars we have for each module!  We come prepared, of course, having read the assigned case and the TMA and our answers.  Then we go through an intense debate and check our own analysis and interpretations.  Afterwards, we check in on each other’s spelling, grammar and citations before the submission – why lose precious marks on unforced errors?

We are each other’s motivation and each other’s source of strength.

Of course, this approach may not work for everyone. Some simply prefer learning in solitude. But for adult learners, myself in particular having not mugged for the last 2 decades, collective strength and wisdom is invaluable. And it gives me confidence, knowing my classmates are but an ask away.

Like what my partner-in-crime, Daryl, says, we’ll never walk alone (sorry, Kunhe who is not a Liverpool fan)

Onwards and upwards,

Wendy

Post note:  I have since received well-meaning feedback that I have may have given the impression that a) we are a bunch of lousy students and b) we risk rattling the structure of the curriculum.  I would like to clarify that: firstly, perhaps I am a poor writer, but the intent of this post was meant to encourage fellow students (1st years like me) or those who may find the notion of studying as a working adult daunting; secondly, this is purely a personal sharing, not a reflection of the quality or calibre of the students or the programme.  Do note that we are new to this course (and we are honest about it) and for some, it is the deep end.  As for our ability, time will tell.