SPM Electrical & Electronics Engineering Studies study plan
SPM Electrical & Electronics Engineering Studies · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Electrical and Electronic Fundamentals, Units and Safety & Electrical Circuits and Network Principles
Convert fluently between SI prefixes, base units and derived units (V, A, Ω, W, J, C, F, H) and write 20 conversion problems with worked answers
State and apply Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws, and the power relationships P = VI, P = I²R, P = V²/R to at least 15 numeric problems
Explain the purpose and operating principle of earthing, RCDs, fuses, MCBs and isolation procedures, and list the shock-current thresholds that drive protective device selection
Compute series and parallel equivalent resistance, including two-branch current division, for 10 mixed networks without a calculator error
Your checkpoint
A single A4 formula-and-units reference sheet plus a 30-question self-test on units, safety and basic laws scored and corrected, with every wrong answer annotated
Electrical Circuits and Network Principles
Apply mesh and nodal analysis to two-source networks and verify each answer by a second method
Apply Thévenin's and Norton's theorems to reduce a network to an equivalent source and load, and state maximum power transfer conditions
Sketch and interpret V-I characteristics for resistors, diodes, thermistors and lamps, distinguishing linear from non-linear elements
Solve AC single-phase problems using phasors: compute impedance of series RLC circuits, phase angle and power factor
Your checkpoint
A worked portfolio of 12 circuit problems (at least 3 mesh, 3 nodal, 3 Thévenin, 3 AC) each solved twice by independent methods
Electrical Circuits and Network Principles & Electronic Components, Devices and Circuits
Analyse first-order RC and RL transients using the time constant, and calculate charge, discharge and inductor energy values
Explain resonance in series and parallel RLC circuits and calculate resonant frequency, Q factor and bandwidth
Describe the construction, doping, and forward/reverse behaviour of the PN junction diode and calculate currents in a biased diode circuit using a simplified model
Draw and label the output waveforms of half-wave and full-wave bridge rectifiers with and without smoothing capacitors
Your checkpoint
A one-page annotated transient and rectifier summary sheet with five fully worked numeric examples and sketched waveforms
Electronic Components, Devices and Circuits
Determine DC operating points for BJT circuits in cut-off, active and saturation regions and select bias resistor values for a target collector current
Configure and analyse op-amp circuits in inverting, non-inverting, summing and comparator modes, computing gain and output limits
Explain the function of the thyristor, TRIAC, MOSFET and IGBT in switching and power-control applications and match each to a stated application
Interpret datasheet parameters (Vce(sat), hFE, Vgs(th), Rds(on), power derating) and justify a component choice against a specification
Your checkpoint
A component-selection justification table for a low-voltage switching and amplifier task, citing at least six datasheet parameters with values
Electrical Machines, Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Explain the construction and operating principle of DC machines, three-phase induction motors and synchronous generators, and state the conditions for generating a rotating magnetic field
Calculate synchronous speed from pole number and supply frequency, and compute slip and rotor frequency for given operating points
Compare star and delta connection for voltage, current and power relationships in three-phase systems and solve three-phase power problems
Describe the stages of generation, step-up transmission, distribution and final transformation, explaining why high-voltage transmission reduces losses
Your checkpoint
A labelled single-line diagram of a generation-to-consumer supply chain with calculated currents and losses at each voltage level for a worked load case
Electronic Systems, Control and Communication & Electronic Components, Devices and Circuits
Convert between binary, decimal and hexadecimal, and perform binary addition and two's complement subtraction
Apply Boolean algebra and Karnaugh maps to simplify logic expressions and implement them with NAND-only gates
Explain modulation (AM, FM, digital), bandwidth requirements and the purpose of sampling and quantisation in a signal chain
Distinguish open-loop from closed-loop control and describe proportional, integral and derivative action with a practical example of each
Your checkpoint
A logic design exercise: truth table, K-map simplification, NAND-only circuit and a written justification, plus a block diagram of a sampled communication chain
Design, Practical Work and Engineering Communication & Engineering in Society, Ethics and Environment
Produce a correctly dimensioned and labelled engineering drawing or schematic with a title block, component references and a parts list
Write a structured technical report with aim, method, results, uncertainty, discussion and conclusion, and cite sources in a consistent style
Apply a risk assessment to a practical task, identifying hazards, likelihood, severity and control measures
Explain professional codes of conduct, the engineer's duty to public safety, and the environmental impact of energy conversion and disposal of electronic waste
Your checkpoint
A four-page practical report with schematic, risk assessment table, results with uncertainty and a conclusion that references at least three cited sources
Electrical and Electronic Fundamentals, Units and Safety & Electrical Circuits and Network Principles & Electronic Components, Devices and Circuits & Electrical Machines, Generation, Transmission and Distribution & Electronic Systems, Control and Communication & Design, Practical Work and Engineering Communication & Engineering in Society, Ethics and Environment
Complete two full-length timed mock papers under exam conditions and record a score per domain
Re-teach the two weakest domains using your own notes and re-test with 20 fresh questions each
Compile a one-page list of recurring errors and the specific correction for each
Rehearse written-answer structure for calculation, explanation and evaluation questions within time limits
Your checkpoint
A scored mock-exam log showing domain-by-domain percentages for both papers, a ranked weakness list and an error-correction sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on a self-made 20-question circuit test covering Kirchhoff's laws, mesh/nodal analysis and Thévenin equivalents, with all errors corrected
Week 4: Explain aloud, in under five minutes and without notes, how a diode rectifier and a BJT amplifier stage work, and score at least 70% on a 25-question components and devices test
Week 6: Complete a 40-question mixed test across machines and electronic systems at 65% or better, and correctly convert five numbers between binary, decimal and hexadecimal
Week 8: Achieve at least 75% overall on the second timed mock paper with no domain below 60%, and have a written revision list for any domain still under 60%