People regularly use
the term “The Model Student” within the education industry when
describing what the ideal student would do when passing their exams
with top marks.
However, the idea of
the model student can seem a bit out of reach for some students, as
they may think that they will never get to that level.
I wanted to explore
the idea of the model student therefore, in order to try and work out
what really makes the perfect student within the accountancy world,
with the hope of potentially inspiring a few students to reach that
little bit further within their own studies to achieve the best that
they possibly can.
To start off with
however, we need to give the model student term a little bit more
context. So let's first look at what makes an average student.
The Average Student
When talking about
averages in education, most see this as the benchmark for their
learning. In most cases it's interpreted as doing just the right
amount of work to pass, which seems to be good enough for most, and
so therefore 'it must be good enough for me'. For this reason, the
majority of people, when asked, would probably associate themselves
to this group.
But what is average
when it comes to the accountancy training sphere? Fortunately, we
have some facts and figures of or own to help us outline what it
means to be average in our student's field of study.
From a recent
Astranti survey, an average student looked something like this:
-
Study time per week: 5-10 hours
-
Total study time allocated: 2-4 weeks before exam
-
Mock/practice exams completed: 3+ exams
-
Materials used: Study texts, Mocks/Practice exams and Revision questions
The average student
appears to plan their studies well, using a range of different
materials across what appears to be an acceptable amount of time in
total.
Average students may
also do well by searching for a wide range of sources, perhaps not
just settling for the tuition provider with the biggest brand image.
They might also make use of some of the additional resources
available to them, such as reading blogs, forums and discussion
boards across the web.
It is debatable
however, whether the characteristics of the average student really
makes for the best course of action when it comes to assessing and
planning your own studies. In some instances, the average student
might be something to look up to, especially if considering the
disaster student.
The Disaster Student
It might become
apparent in this section that the disaster student is not necessarily
something to aspire to.
A disaster student
might be highlighted by a few of the following traits when it comes
to their studying:
-
Study time per week: <2 hours (depending on how late their studies are started)
-
Total study time allocated: <2 weeks before exam
-
Mock/practice exams completed: ≤1 exam
-
Materials used: Study text only
In addition to these
factors, a disaster student is normally the de-motivated type,
leaving revision to the last minute, working completely on their own
with no external input or guidance and potentially getting distracted
very easily.
The likelihood of a
disaster student passing their exams first time is slim, though they
might never get to the exam as a disaster student would quite
possibly be tempted to put off their exams until a later date, which
is of course fine once or twice should other commitments arise, but
if it is down to a lack of motivation, then there is no saying how
long a disaster student will delay their exams.
It is this factor of
motivation that might signify the difference between the three
categories of students highlighted, and is a factor that brings us on
to the model student.
The Model Student
Below are a few
figures you can use to compare our idea of a model student with the
others:
-
Study time per week: 10+ hours
-
Total study time allocated: 6+ weeks before exam
-
Mock/practice exams completed: 3+ exams
-
Materials used: Anything available to them (if appropriate for the individual)
On top of these key
characteristics, a model student will seek for additional input on
their studying, often visiting discussion boards (as the average
student may do), however instead of just reading, a model student is
more likely to get involved with discussions, asking questions and
sharing their ideas and opinions with other students and tutors where
available.
High motivation from
the outset allows model students to fully get their teeth into the
study material, enabling them to understand and apply their
knowledge when tested.
In terms of
distractions, it is hard for anyone to shut themselves away
completely when studying, so some procrastination is normal. It is a
model student however, when they are able to restrict themselves to
other activities (usually involving social media) for only an
allocated amount of time between study sessions.
Where do you sit?
Hopefully you have
read through this article questioning whether you agree with some of
the points made regarding the characteristics of the student groups.
You might have also put some thought into which category you are in.
If you think you are
in the Average Student group, (or even the Disaster group!) then
hopefully this has made you reassess what you can actually achieve,
as the Model Student group might not be as far off as you may have
first thought.
To find out more about how Astranti can help you to become a Model Student, visit our website:
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