There are no short cuts. In order to do well in exams you must
prepare well. So find your own deep and compelling reason to study.
Thorough preparation will provide you with a strong foundation and will give
you the confidence that you have done what you best could do.
Prepare a good time table for the days ahead until the exam dates. Make sure your schedule provides sufficient time for revision. Revision
is as important as the first time study, so begin your first time study well in
advance. Make a daily activity chart which will indicate the activity you
desire to do for every half hour slot of the time that you are awake. Assign time for all the subjects but may not be with equal priority. Tough subjects can be given more
time and easier ones less. Allot time for relaxation, exercise, some socialization,
self care, etc.
Select
a proper atmosphere for studying. It is not easy to study well while also watching TV! Select a place where you feel comfortable, i.e. where
you feel relaxed and can concentrate. Shift locations occasionally for a
change. Make sure that while you are studying a subject you are concentrating
on it only. Keep the books of other
subjects away from your eyesight so that you won't be upset about the
things you have to learn.
As you study, focus on understanding the concepts rather than mugging. Use mnemonics
if rote learning is the only way out. When you are trying to memorize ideas or facts, do so while
moving from spot to spot inside or outside the house. If needed read aloud.
Too
often we think we are studying when we let our eyes drift over the words in our
notes, our textbooks, and our study guides. That is not enough. Habitually underline or high
light important points
as you read. Make notes
while studying. An ideal
note should include all important points,
formulae and figures. Review your notes regularly to reinforce your
new-found knowledge. It will be
a lot worth if you use these notes for the last minute revision rather than skipping
through pages of your text book.
To check if you remember what you learned make your
own question bank in a separate note book. Having established the best set
of potential questions you can determine how much you are able to recall when
prompted by the questions in your question bank. Use the Question Bank book
while traveling or waiting for a bus.
Study
in groups. When
this works well, it is awesome; when it doesn’t work well, it can be a
disaster. It will differ from person to person and group to group. Discussion
benefits you two ways: you gain a far better comprehension because the best way
to understand and remember ideas is to explain it to someone else.
Second, by listening to others, you will get new ideas and perspectives that
you might never have thought of before.
Do
past papers as often as possible to familiarize yourself with
the format and the pressures of working under exam conditions.
Eat, Sleep and Exercise well: Don't fast on exam day or the day before. This will have reverse effect. Keep your
dinner light the night before the examination and go to bed early to get a
sound sleep. Having a glass of water
before you go to bed helps to keep your brain cells charged. Your brain
needs sound sleep in order to perform well next morning. Sleep deprivation studies
show that the optimum requirement for
sleep is 6 hrs, but not more than 8 hrs. Take the time to exercise by walking every 30-45 minutes
around the block or up some stairs. Do gentle stretch and deep breathing
exercises. You might even try to do a slow exercise on the treadmill or
exercise bike while you are studying.
Reach the examination centre early and relax
yourself. Do slow
deep breathing exercises to relieve any tension in your body and to get a rush
of healthy oxygen flowing to your brain. Pray before entering the examination hall and as you wait for the question
paper. Read the question paper slowly and carefully. Don’t rush through it. Understand
what the examiner wants before you allocate your time and begin answering the
questions.
Write and Present well: However well you may have studied your marks will depend on how you
present them in the answer sheet. The teachers may not be able to read all what
you have written. Remember daily they are going through 30 to 40 papers. They
will scan for points. So try to present answers in points. In essay questions
don't forget to underline the important
points. Your hand writing also affects your marks. Try to write neatly.
If it is not good enough, don't worry, if you presented it in a good manner you
can score more marks. We all know 'First impression is the best impression'.
So, answer the questions you know well,
first. This will create a good impression on the evaluator and though
you couldn't write some last answers well, that won't deduct your mark much. Take
care to manage time well and attend all questions. If there is any
question out of syllabus, simply attempt it. Usually full marks are awarded for
such questions.
If
you are faced with a mental block breathe deeply and relax. When
confronted with a question
that entirely stymies you – one you think you have no idea whatsoever how to
answer– just begin writing. Begin to fill that white space
with something, anything. You might try just rewriting the question, and
then freely associate it with anything you do remember about the topic at hand–
even if your ideas have no direct relationship to the question at hand. What
you will find, more often than not, is that ideas are connected to other ideas;
ideas follow each other like a long train of widely varying units, and by
beginning to write words and ideas you do know, the connected ones that you
have forgotten will emerge in your mind.
Avoid post examination
discussions right after the exam. This won't do you any good and may affect your next exams. If your
friends are discussing the question paper avoid them and reach home soon.
Last but not the least, never do any malpractice. The cause of
exam tension in most cases is the gap between expectations and achievements.
Keep your expectations at a moderate level. Try to focus on what you know
rather than panicking about what you do not know. Exams are not the end-all-of
life. There will always be an anxiety to perform better than the rest in every
examination. Remind yourself that the happiness of entire life does not depend
on the outcome of this exam. God has
called us to be faithful and wants us to trust Him to accomplish His purpose in
our lives whatever be the outcome of the exams.
Tips for parents
Create an atmosphere where children feel safe speak openly and share any of
their problems with you. Maintain a good and understanding relationship with them.
Give them the feeling that you are always with them and that all you want of
them is a genuine, sincere and faithful effort. This will increase their
confidence. Help your child in making and keeping a good time table by ensuring
that your activities align with theirs. Remain awake with them so that they do
not feel alone. While gently nudging them to study, make sure you don’t end up
nagging. Ensure short times of exercise
and undisturbed sleep. Some students may be suffering from over sleep or depression.
Check their hemoglobin level in blood and take expert help if needed. Maintain
the necessary study ambiance at home by reducing the TV volume (or better avoid
TV all together) and postponing hospitality to guests. Avoid food
items such as potato or tapioca
on the day of exams and also food items with are too chilly hot. Instead use more of curd, milk, and honey. Before leaving home
for the exams pray with
them, wish them and send them happily with a piece of chocolate. When the exam
is on continue to uphold them in your prayers. When the exams are over,
celebrate and trust God for the outcome instead of being anxious.
