TIPS FOR EXAM PREPARATION

Most of the students are scared of exams.  They feel high pressure whenever they think of the Exams.  The expectations are very high and thus the excitement and anxiety.  Why is there a fear and why should a student get worried about Exams??

How to get relieved of this tension, pressure, anxiety and excitement?  The best way is to treat the exam as a letter writing experience.  Why should we think of Exam as a life threatening experience.  It is afterall a letter writing experience according to me.  The paper setter is writing a letter and the student has to write a reply.  The paper setter's letter and the student's reply is then sent for evaluation to a third person called Examiner.  The Examiner looks at both the letters to decide if the two parties have perfect meeting of minds.  In that process he ends up giving some marks.

I feel parents and students should first get rid of the fear of exams.  Treat it as a letter writing experience and feel comfortable to go through that experience.  Do not worry about the results.  In Mahabaratha also Krishna is adising Arjuna to stay focussed on the task on hand and not worry about the results.  If the task on hand is performed with total devotion, attention and concentration then the effort will definitely yield very good results.  While making that effort if we start thinking about the results, then the effort is diluted to that extent and thus the effort will not be 100%.  If we do not make 100% effort how can the results be 100%.  The result will be directly proportionate to the efforts made by us.

The following are my tips for Exam Preparation:

1. Treat the Exam as a letter writing experience and do not be overwhelmed - feel relaxed
2. Cover the entire portion in each subject.  Do not make selective preparation by expecting a certain question paper as you do not know what is in the mind of the paper setter.
3. Read for the sake of understanding.  Do not read for the sake of examination.
4. Have a clear daily plan and timetable.  Stick to your timetable and daily plan.
5. Go to bed early and get up early in the morning.
6. Sleep for minimum of 7 hours in the night and take a power nap of 30 minutes in the afternoon.
7. Eat well and stay positive
8. Take short breaks every 30 minutes and when you get back try to recall what you have read.  This process is called the "Registration" process.  By doing recall you will be able to register what you read in your mind.  If your recall is not complete then you have to study the same topic again.
9. Do not keep reading till you enter the exam hall.  Stop reading the subject atleast two hours before the exam and keep the mind free.
10. If you have remember something try to create a "Mnemonics" for the same.  For example the order of arithmetic operation is Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Additions and Subtraction - to easily remember this you can create a Mnemonic - Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.
11. Write model exams or take up mock tests at home so that you can practice the same a few times in order to ensure that you are able to answer all the questions well within the time allotted in the Exams

See below the short video which emphasizes some of the above points:

If you write the placement number of each alphabet in the list of alphabets (A is 1; D is 4; T is 20) and see the total then words like ATTITUDE and DISCIPLINE will add upto exactly 100.  If you have positive Attitude and Discipline you will achieve the 100% desired results.  The word TEAMWORK adds up to 106 which shows that you will get more than 100% if you work in a team.  Joint Studies are good as long as it does not end up in waste of time.

SUCCESS is assured if you have the right ATTITUDE and DISCIPLINE.  I wish all those who are taking up their Exams in March/April/May all the very best.

T.P.Anand

Dubai, U.A.E.

28th February 2013