Secrets of exam preparation

A balanced and planned examination preparation works as an antidote to the examination stress. Following are some time-tested tips for the better preparation of the examination which, if religiously and determinedly adhered to, can substantially help decrease the stress level -

1. They say that if you fail to plan then it means you plan to fail. Hence planning to achieve your target is very essential. Pre-planning and strictly following it is what we may call the gateway to success.

2. Be familiar with entire material and syllabi of the course.

3. Prepare notes, summarize and highlight important points so that they become more easy to use when needed most.

4. Focus on understanding the material. Cramming wouldn't prove more beneficial in the long run.

5. Browse through the chapters to get their central ideas. Read a paragraph, fold the book, close your eyes and ask yourself what you have learnt from the reading. This process would help you to concentrate, learn and retain better while you go through a certain chapter.

6. One can discuss the topics or the lessons with his friends and share the knowledge.

7. Visualize what one has read. Visualizing is making the picture of ideas in one's mind. It helps get the subject matter fixed permanently in the mind.

8. While sitting for the study, try not to let your mind wander. Try to focus on your study with hundred percent concentration.

9. Everyone has his or her own way of revising or studying routine. Find out which one suits you the best - morning or late at night, without music or with music. Do not try to blindly follow the routine of others. This would only discourage you and dampen your enthusiasm.

10. Always plan well in advance to prepare for the examination.

11. Have a realistic goal. Your goal must be based upon self-assessment of your capabilities, resources and interest. Do not fix your target having been influenced by the pressure from parents, teachers or peers.

12. Include breaks or intervals between your study hours. Doing this will keep you recharging for longer hours of study.

13. Do not feel shy to ask help from the teacher, tutor, parents or the people around you whom you trust most.

14. Take break to talk or have fun with your friends or do the works that you enjoy most. This would favourably condition your mood for the longer and focused study period.

15. Avoid watching television. It wastes time more than anything else. If watching television is so essential, you must fix time for it and religiously stick to it.

16.Stay confident and do never underestimate yourself. For this avoid the company of the negative-thinking- people.

And what about the day of the examination?

The day of examination is a very big day and for some also the day of confusion, worries and fear. So, first you must be confident and courageous to dispel the fears of examination.

On the day of examination a student must keep in his or mind the following essential things -

Start early for the venue of examination lest you should get delayed due to traffic jam or reasons beyond your control.

Carry the admit card or hall tickets and other writing paraphernalia, extra pens of very high quality, a scale, pencils with a very good sharpener and an eraser with yourself.

Read the instructions of the question paper carefully.

Get help from your invigilators to correctly fill the entries on the answer books. Do not make any incorrect entries on the front page of answer sheets. Even if you have committed any mistake fear not, request your invigilator and he or she will do the needful to correct it.

Go through the questions very carefully before answering them.

Leave the questions which you find very difficult and come to them later when the time permits.

First answer those questions the answers of which you know the best. However, writing the answers in sequence is considered as the best practice. But it is not a rule and you can choose answering the question as per your choice.

Keep a few minutes in reserve to revise your answers at the last moment.

Mention the question numbers very legibly and encircle them on the answer sheets.

Keep gap between the answers of the questions. You must avoid overlapping your answers.

Draw a line at the end of an answer before you start answering another question.

Do not repeat nor spread the answers of the same questions on various pages of your answer book. Examiners are smart and intelligent and this would irritate them.