How does a course syllabus help students learn effectively? → The syllabus for a particular course describes the topics and concepts to be covered while preparing for the examinations for that particular course.
→ A syllabus also mentions the weightage allotted to different units and chapters knowing which you may form a strategy on how to prepare for chapters with high or low weightage.
→ Question paper design/format is also explained in a syllabus which lets students know about the type of questions asked and various sections employed in the exam papers. It also gives an idea about the marks distribution in the paper.
→ Having a clear understanding of your syllabus and the weightage to various sections will definitely help you to decide how much time you should dedicate to each section.
→ Generally, the exam papers for each course are designed as per the syllabus prescribed for that course. So, preparing according to the topic and instructions mentioned in the syllabus obviously helps to crack the exam with good scores.
How student can prepare from the syllabus? → At the beginning of the course session, carefully read the entire syllabus to get an idea of the course structure.
→ Before starting a chapter or unit make a list of the topics prescribed in the syllabus for that unit so that you don’t waste time learning irrelevant or unnecessary topics.
→ Having a clear understanding of your syllabus and the weightage to various sections will definitely help you to decide how much time you should dedicate to each section.
→ Sometimes the details and instructions mentioned in the syllabus may seem to be a bit complex or difficult to understand. When something about the syllabus is unclear, ask your teacher for help.
→ Use your syllabus to take an idea about the importance of a topic and determine how much time you should devote to particular topics1.
After knowing the importance of a well-designed course syllabus, we can say that a syllabus is much like a roadmap with directions for succeeding in the class. A course syllabus focuses on the needs of the students and their learning process. It thus helps the students become more productive and more effective learners in the course.