What is the best way to study for AS Physics in South Africa before May/June exams?

Apr 2
3 min read

“My child is studying, but nothing is improving.”

This is the reality many parents face just months before the May/June exams. Time is running out, pressure is increasing, and students are trying to memorise everything instead of learning properly.

If your child wants to improve before May/June, they need the best way to study AS Physics, not just more hours.

Why students struggle before May/June exams

At this stage, most students panic.

They:

Start doing random past papers
Memorise formulas without understanding
Jump between topics without structure

This is why marks stay the same.

AS Physics is not a memory subject. Students who try to memorise everything struggle the most. The best way to study AS Physics is to understand how and why things work, especially under exam pressure.

The mistake most students make right now

The biggest mistake before May/June exams is overusing past papers without learning from them.

Students:

Do papers
Check answers
Move on

But they never fix the problem.

If your child wants the best way to study AS Physics, they must:

Break down mistakes
Relearn weak topics
Practise again correctly

This is what separates average students from those who improve quickly before exams.

The best way to study AS Physics before May/June exams

With limited time, your child needs a focused system.

At Hill Education, we focus on:

Paper-specific learning so students know exactly what each question is testing
Clear explanations so concepts actually make sense
Structured revision so nothing is left to chance

Each subject includes over 60 lessons, quizzes, and progress tracking for just R299.

This is the best way to study AS Physics when exams are close.

A simple May/June study plan that works

If your child wants to improve quickly, this plan works:

1. Fix weak topics first (Week 1–2) Identify problem areas using past papers. Focus only on those topics. Do not waste time revising everything.

2. Build real understanding (Week 2–4) Go back to lessons and rebuild the concept. If they cannot explain it, they do not understand it.

3. Practise with purpose (Week 3–6) Do past paper questions by topic. Focus on accuracy, not speed.

4. Full exam practice (Final weeks) Complete full past papers under timed conditions. This builds confidence and exam readiness.

5. Review mark schemes properly Mark schemes show exactly how to earn marks. This is one of the fastest ways to improve before May/June.

This is the best way to study AS Physics when time is limited.

What actually changes results before exams

Most students think they need more time.

They don’t.

They need:

Better structure
Clear explanations
Targeted practice

We have seen students improve dramatically before May/June exams when they switch to the best way to study AS Physics instead of guessing.

Common questions parents ask

How late is too late to improve before May/June exams? It is never too late if your child studies correctly. Even 4–6 weeks of focused work can make a big difference.

Should my child only do past papers now? No. Past papers without understanding will not improve results. They must fix weak areas first.

How many hours should they study? Quality matters more than time. 1–2 focused hours per day is enough if done properly.

What is the fastest way to improve marks? Fix mistakes, understand concepts, and practise under exam conditions. That is the best way to study AS Physics.