The mugger’s edition: Study Spots

Written by:  Liew Shu Mei Jacynthe (21-O3), Leanne Soh Li En (21-E6), Liew Yi Xuan (21-E1), Tricia Loh Qiuxuan (21-U1)

Designed by: Liew Yi Xuan (21-E1), Leanne Soh Li En (21-E6)

We can all agree that studying is a large part of student life. Endless assignments and group projects often bombard us, leaving us wishing for more than 24 hours in a day to complete them. Sound familiar? Fret not, for in this article, we will be breaking down various study spots in EJC for you to find the perfect one to study and maximise your time spent in school!

Library 

Situated on the 9th and 10th floor, the school library takes up two levels with ample space for students to clock in hours of studying. You can find many rectangular tables placed parallel to one another and several round tables on the first floor and more tables and chairs on the second floor. What we like most about the school library is that there are many carrel desks (study cubicles) on the upper level for undisturbed studying as well as power sockets on each carrel desk to charge your electronic devices.

Moreover, the air-conditioning in the library is a plus point and its quiet environment is most conducive for long hours of studying. The panoramic view of Bishan-AMK park is also a bonus, especially if you need a break from the books and one look outside the huge window full of lush greenery can help calm you down.

Noise level: 10/10

Accessibility: 7.5/10

Comfort: 8/10

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Cafe 

Located on the 10th floor, the cafe provides snacks and light refreshments as well as a variety of chairs and tables for you to study at. Doing some work while indulging in a light snack for some study motivation is perfect in the cafe. There are also plenty of power sockets in case you need to charge your electronic devices.

Though the area seems conducive for studying, it does get quite packed when many classes have break, as some students choose to dine at the cafe instead of the canteen. Hence, if you face difficulty concentrating in loud spaces, do try to come at non-peak hours!

Noise level: 5/10

Accessibility: 8/10

Comfort: 7/10

Overall rating: 6.7/10

Benches on level 3 

On Level 3, there are a few tables and benches that are available for students. These tables are quite convenient for meeting teachers for consultations as it is an area that is not frequented by passing students. This makes it a less disruptive environment to review understanding about the syllabus than other more common gathering areas in the school! This is also a non- air-conditioned place with fresher air, which may be more beneficial for your studying than being cooped up in an enclosed space! However, it is on a lower level, meaning it is closer to the warmer ground, and air ventilation is not the best here. Thus, we do not recommend this place to students who are easily affected by warmer temperatures. 

Noise level: 8.5/10

Accessibility: 7.5/10

Comfort: 6.5/10

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Benches on level 6 

At the corners of Level 6, there are benches and tables available for students to study at. These benches are relatively secluded, making the area quiet, which is ideal for those who find themselves easily distracted by noise. There are a few power sockets for you to charge your devices, and the area is also an open space, so there is plenty of natural light and wind. However, we do not recommend studying there on rainy days!

Noise level: 9/10

Accessibility: 6/10

Comfort: 7/10

Overall rating: 7.3/10

Level 8 

With the staff room occupying virtually half the space, Level 8 might not appear to offer much at first glance. However, there are two quiet spots for some of us who prefer an environment with minimal distractions. Walk straight ahead from the lifts and you’ll see a high table situated by the infamous cocoon chairs. The area is typically quite breezy and it is generally quite a conducive space! You might want to think twice before studying there for long hours, though. The awkward height of the chairs without a backrest might get a bit strenuous to use after a while. 

Walk on a little more and you’ll come across two benches overlooking the lush flora of Bishan Park. They’re nothing out of the ordinary, just your usually sturdy, brown benches that work well for studying. The space does get a bit too windy at times, so make sure to hold tight onto your worksheets!

Noise level: 7/10

Accessibility: 6/10

Comfort: 6/10

Overall rating: 6.3/10

Benches on Level 11+12 

Located within walking distance of the lift at level 12 and the classrooms, you can find several wooden benches for students to study on level 11 and 12. Since they are located at a relatively high ground, it can get really windy at times which can be both a boon and bane. Overall, this is a good place to study at if you like heights and seclusion.

Noise level: 8/10

Accessibility: 7.5/10

Comfort: 6/10

Overall rating: 7.2/10

Canteen 

While the canteen is a place for many of us to enjoy our food, it can also be a great study spot if you are a foodie that snacks a lot while studying. There are many seats to choose from, such as the high tables, round tables and rectangular tables! Since it’s an open space with direct access to Bishan park, you might occasionally find birds chirping around as well as strong gusts of wind. We recommend studying here during after school hours when there isn’t much crowd scrambling around to find seats during recess.

Noise level: 5/10

Accessibility: 9/10

Comfort: 6/10

Overall rating: 6.7/10

Consult Tables 

Located on Level 9, the consult tables are another option for students looking for a quiet secluded place to get some work done! While not an air-conditioned place, this study area is on one of higher levels in EJ, making it a cooler environment than areas on lower levels. With the tables quite spread out from each other, the noise level is more tolerable. There are also 2 types of chairs to choose from, depending on whether you are more comfortable on a bench or chairs with a back support. 

Noise level: 8/10

Accessibility: 7/10

Comfort: 7/10

Overall 7.3/10

Forbidden Tea 

Here’s a bonus: Forbidden Tea. While not exactly located within our campus, it’s grown to become one of our favourite study spots nearby. Unless you wouldn’t mind listening to JJ Lin’s latest single blasting in your ears while you work on your Econs assignment, we recommend getting your work done at the benches outside. You could choose between the high tables or the low benches, but both are equally as sturdy and comfortable - perfect for you and your study buddy. Go on then, get back on your grind and sip on your favourite cup of bubble tea while you’re at it.

Noise level: 5/10

Accessibility: 8/10

Comfort: 8/10

Overall rating: 7/10

Conclusion

Congrats! You’ve officially ventured with us through every nook and cranny of EJ (and beyond). We hope that this trusty little guide has given you some insight on where to study next. Whether you’re someone who needs a quiet environment or someone who doesn’t mind a bit of noise, there’s definitely a spot in EJ meant for you. Oh, hey. Look at the time. You should probably get back to your assignment. See you around!