Board examinations can be nerve-wracking. Even if you are not scared of appearing for examinations and other tests, the pressure from home and school, the weight of expectations of family as well as teachers can be stressful. The period between pre-board examinations and the boards is very crucial. This is when you can identify and work on your weak points based on your performance in the pre-board exams. Don’t be disheartened if your pre-board examination results were not great; there is still time to ponder where you went wrong and make some course corrections.
Making your own notes is very helpful when it comes to studying for an exam. The most efficient way to do this would be to keep a copy and pen in hand while in the classroom, so you can note down anything that you think is
important while the teacher
is teaching.
Ask your teachers to help you identify important topics and questions. Remember, when teachers mention an important topic, there is 95 per cent chance that there will be questions from it in your final exams. Make a note of those.
If you have not done this throughout the year, it is still not too late. You can open your textbook at home and make notes of the important points. You could consult your teacher if you are stuck on some point, or you could look up a YouTube video of a teacher explaining the chapter to you. These YouTube instructors are also very helpful for revisions or when you are in a time crunch.
Acronyms and tricks used to memorise topics go a long way, especially when you have to learn long lists such as the Periodic Table. Another useful thing to do is memorise the keywords of a topic. If you know these, all you need to do is use your language skills to group them into intelligible and intelligent sentences. Keywords are essential to impress the examiner checking your answer booklet.
To better remember complicated topics and long answers, you can make points using keywords and perhaps even number them in your head. That way, when you are actually writing the exam and attempting a particular question, you readily know if you are missing points.
Time management can prove to be a challenge for some students, especially in the exam hall. It is essential to finish the paper in time, preferably with 15 minutes in hand to revise. To increase your writing speed and to understand how much material you have been able to absorb, solve mock test papers. These may include old question papers or other sample question papers. While solving these question papers, time yourself. Keep to the time limit and treat it like a final exam.
Some other things that you should keep in mind are that neat and clean answer sheets go a long way. Write in your answer copies in a presentable manner. You can take an extra step to underline your keywords, write your answers in points, draw ending lines after every answer. These are tips that your teachers might already have given you. Remember that even though these tips may seem irrelevant for your exams in school, they will be very helpful in your board examinations.
Before appearing for an exam, revise your syllabus thoroughly. This will help you gain confidence as you will realise how much you know. You can also identify your weak points and pay attention to anything that requires more work from your end.
Along with all this, make sure you take regular breaks between your long hours of preparation so you don’t get burnt out. Prioritise your study hours by identifying if you are a morning or a night person, find out what is best for you and work according to that. You don’t have to match your timings with anyone else’s so long you are studying for a good couple of hours every day.
Remember not to be too harsh on yourself, take breaks or naps if you need to, go for a run to clear your mind, and eat a brownie or two. Listen to your body, your brain is working hard as it prepares for your exams. All the best!
The writer is a first-year student of Jindal School of Journalism and Communication, Sonipat
