Simple And Easy Tips For Exam Preparation

Exam is a part of student's life. Students find it difficult to cope up with exam stress. Exam time is stressful
and the very thought of exams causes unpleasant physical conditions in you. This results in loosing your confidence which in turn affects your performance. Follow simple / easy steps to improve cope with exam stress and perform well in the exam. The foremost thing to keep in mind is to start your exam preparation well ahead.

Go through the following list of simple exam tips which would be helpful to you (the student community) for a better exam result.

General Tips For Students

1. Change your attitude:
   Develop a positive attitude for exams. Do feel it as a punishment. Try to understand the fact that exam is a measure to know your understanding / knowledge you acquired on the subject. When you take exams with a positive attitude, you can enjoy your studies and would find it easier to prepare for the exams. Delete all the ill thoughts on exams from your mind. Do not allow exam fear to crop up in your mind. Remember that fear for exam will only worsen the situation and is in no way helpful to you. For a change in your attitude:
   • Keep reminding yourself that it is just a test. It's not just you but many others are involved in it.
   • Keep recollecting your successes. Remember that success is the outcome of hard work.
   • Develop self-confidence and avoid over confidence.
2. Set a time-table for studying:
   Once the exam date is announced, prepare a time-table, allot study hours for different subjects. While preparing a self set time table:
   • Keep the challenging / tougher subjects first and allot much time to these subject.
   • Allot sufficient breaks after each tough subject.
   • Keep the comparatively easier subjects at the end.
   • Allot sufficient time intervals between the subjects. Allot considerable time for relaxing / enjoying / refreshing.
   • Always start with a challenging subject as you can concentrate more when you start with a fresh mind.
3. Select / create a study atmosphere:
   Select a comfortable place / room for studying. This is extremely important for preparing for an exam. You can enjoy studying when your surroundings are calm and neat. It improves your concentration as well. While studying, keep the books of the subject to be studied on the table. Let all the other books be out sight as these might distract attention and create unnecessary fear in you. Avoid keeping mirrors in the study room. This might distract your attention. Try to sit facing East or North as these directions help in the in-flow of positive energy.
4. Organize the study materials:
   Keep the study materials such as pencils, pens, papers, erasers, files / folders and the like in an organized way. When you organize your study materials, it will create interest in studies. Avoid messing up things on your study table. Keep pens / pencils in the holders. Keep papers if any in folders. If possible keep a dust bin beside the study table. Keep the study table / place / room and the environment neat and tidy. Neat and tidy surroundings are extremely important for exam preparation.
5. Sitting posture:
   Sitting posture plays a very important role while studying. Sit straight while studying. Do not lean or bend. A proper sitting posture helps in keeping the spine straight which is helpful in improving the concentration power. Also avoid lying on the bed while studying.
6. Prepare well in advance:Start preparing for the exams well in advance. Avoid hurrying with the syllabus just before of the exams. Avoid cramming for the exams as this is likely to increase stress levels. Preparing for the exam well ahead helps in getting rid of unnecessary tensions. It enables you to complete the entire syllabus in time.
7. Make notes while studying:
   • Keep small writing slips on the study table. Keep writing brief notes while studying which contains all the important points.
   • Try to write short notes in simple language. This would be easier for you to understand while revising.
   • Highlight some of the important points as it would be very useful at the time of revising the lessons. You need not go through the entire text as a last minute reading. And this avoids confusion as well.
   • Try to include acronyms for remembering long sentences in an easier way. For example, for easily remembering the color of litmus paper when dipped in acids and bases, make a short note as ABR for easily remembering that acid turns blue litmus red. Write these brief notes in good handwriting and do not scribble. A note written in good handwriting creates interest in reading and it would be easier for you to understand.
   • Make flash cards to note down some of the important points. This would be very helpful for a quick revision. Particularly, mathematical formulas, theories and the like can be written in flash cards.
   • Try to remember and memorize the lessons by drawing graphs, charts or diagrams. For example, to learn about the functioning of heart in biology it would be easier to learn by drawing a neat and labelled diagram of human heart. It is much easier if the diagram is colored.
   • Such shorter ways of learning would create interest in learning and makes it easier to prepare for the exams.
   • Try to make a note of some important / possible questions on a slip.
8. Keep reference books in hand:
   Keep some reference books, other than the class texts, in hand for a better understanding of the subject. These help in breaking the monotony in studies and help in creating interest in the subject. Always refer dictionary.
9. Study regularly:
   Studying regularly for an hour or two is very effective for a high score in the exams.
• Studying on a regular basis is the key to success.
• Studying for a couple of days and then skip studying for few days will disturb the continuity in studies as well as disturb the routine.
• It would be difficult to track the subject in case of a break in the continuity of studies.
• Regular studies help the students to be in touch with studies.
• Completing the class assignments on a regular basis would be very helpful in retaining the subject matter. This would make learning easier at the time of exam.
10. Understand the concept of the subject:
    Avoid learning the lessons by heart. Try to understand the concept of the subject. This would be very helpful in memorizing and recollecting the learnt lessons at the time of exams and would be helpful in writing answers on your own.
11. Study with concentration:
    Studying with concentration is the most important thing to be kept in mind. Working hard for hours together in a closed room without concentration is of no use. On the other hand studying for a comparatively lesser time with full concentration and focus on the subject would be very effective for achieving good score in the exam. Remember that when the mind is restless, tensed or bored, it will result in lack of focus on the subject and lack of concentration. To improve concentration:
    • Take a balanced diet
    • Practice meditation at least for 15 minutes a day without fail
    • Have a sound sleep for at least 6-8 hours a day.
    • Lead a disciplined life
    • Develop positive thinking / attitude
    The benefits of concentration power are innumerable. The power of concentration helps in improving memory power as well as will power. And it helps in improving your confidence levels.
12. Revise the lessons:
    Try to recapitulate the lessons studied the previous day as revision work is one of the effective ways of achieving success in exams. By revising the lessons it becomes easier for you to remember what you learnt.
13. Study for small duration of time:
    Take a short break after for 40-45 minutes continuous studying. The brain gets dull on continuous studying for hours together and this leads to decrease in the concentration power. So always take short break while studying to recharge the mind and relaxing the body by engaging it on some interesting activities.
14. Relax and recharge the mind and body:
    When the body and mind is tired of studying, give sufficient relaxation to the mind and body. For doing so:
    • Give small warm up exercises to the body parts
    • Go for small distance cycling for giving exercise to the body.
    • Go out for a stroll to nearby parks and breathe the fresh air.
    • Have small talks with family and friends.
    • Engage in some interesting activities for a while.
    • Listen to music for relaxing the mind.
    • Sit in a calm and serene place and enjoy the nature for a while.
    • Tone up the body with a refreshing warm water bath.
15. Group study / discussion:
    Many a times group study and group discussions have proven to be very fruitful. Group discussion is the best way of knowledge sharing where there is mutual gain of knowledge. Group studies make the learning process interesting. In group studies, strictly involve in academic discussions without any diversions in the subject or topic.
16. Self motivation:
    Try to develop the habit of self motivation. Motivation helps in dedication and commitment to work. Having a role model as per your choice and try to get motivated from his / her hard work.
17. Develop self-confidence:
    Building self-confidence is very important to achieve success in exams. At the same time, don't be over-confident as this will have an adverse affect. For developing self-confidence:
    • Have a positive thinking / attitude
    • Try to speak out openly
    • Know your talent and skills
    • Never under estimate yourself
    • Be assertive
18. Manage time well:
    Time management is one of the important factors for achieving success in exams. Learn the techniques of managing time well as this would be very useful in the exam hall.
19. Self-assessment:
    Assessing your knowledge in each subject helps a lot in preparing for the exams in a better way. By self-assessment it becomes easier for you to allot time to be spent on each subject.
20. Proper nutrition and exercise:
    Take nutritious diet. Intake of healthy and balanced food helps in keeping the mind and body healthy and is very effective in coping up with stressful situation during exam time. Avoid too much consumption of fast foods, soft drinks and avoid too much intake of tea or coffee as well. Remember that fast foods and soft drinks are stress enhancers and hence increase the stress at the time of exams. Keep the body hydrated by taking fresh fruit / vegetable juices. It is even highly important to consume enough of water regularly to keep the body hydrated. Remember that a healthy body will have a healthy mind as per the saying "healthy mind in a healthy body".
21. Have good sleep:
    Having enough of sleep helps in recharging the brain cells which in turn improves the concentration as well as memory power. It is not at all advisable to spend sleepless nights during exam time. Sleeplessness makes the brain tired and dull and this will have an adverse effect on the exam result.
22. Have faith in God: Finally have faith in the Almighty who is the Ultimate disposer. Leave everything at His dispose and He is sure to take care of His creatures and is sure to bless them. Faith in God will help in getting rid of exam fear as well as helps in freeing from stress.

General tips for parents

1. Maintain friendly behavior:
   Develop and maintain a friendly behavior with your child. It really works wonders. Children too will develop affection towards you and this very important for maintaining a healthy parent-child relationship.
2. Speak openly with children:
   Speak to you child openly. This would develop confidence in your child and they will freely share their problems with you. It develops a better understanding between the parent and child.
3. Give them emotional support:
   Do not insist your child on scoring high in the exams. Avoid blaming them for their poor performance in the exam. Instead give them emotional support as they too will be in much dejection. Try to support them in all possible ways and give them the feeling that you are there to look after them. Such an emotional support will help in increasing their confidence levels.
4. Proper guidance:
   Give them proper guidance as and when required.
   • Make your child aware of the importance of studies and exams.
   • Involve them in extra curricular activities of their choice as this would be very helpful in over all development of the child.
   • Tell them about the importance of time management.
   • Develop a positive thinking in the child.
   • Try to create a healthy competitive spirit among the children instead of initiating them to develop ill-feelings / envious feelings.
   • Make them aware of a well disciplined life.
5. Motivate and encourage your child:
   Motivation and good encouragement is one of the key factors of success. Keep motivating your child by sharing your own experiences / success stories. Keep praising and encouraging them for their success, however small it might be. An encouragement from parents helps them in doing better in their next attempts. Encouragements help in developing self-confidence. Use words like 'you have the potential to do it', 'you are talented', 'you can do it'. Such words work wonders.
6. Provide nutritious food:
   Give nutritious / balanced diet to your child for good health. Do not encourage your child to take junk foods / soft drinks during exam time. This will have an adverse effect on his / her health.
7. Send your child to the exam in a happy mood. Wish him / success or good luck as this will give a moral boosting to the child.

Specific tips to be followed during exam time

1. Try to stay calm during the exam time. Avoid getting panicky with the thought of exams.
2. Get help from teachers / lecturers for clarifying doubts if any.
3. Have a sound sleep the night before the exam day.
4. Be in time at the exam hall and stay calm in the exam hall.
5. Avoid rushing through the question paper, instead go through the paper slowly / properly. Read the instructions carefully before you answer the paper. Always start with the easier ones. Try to think actively while answering.
6. Try to present your answers well in the answer sheet. A well presented answer sheet helps in scoring high. Try to highlight the important points in the answers to give your clear understanding of the subject to the evaluator.
7. Always try to be sincere and honest while answering the paper for a successful result. Involve yourself completely in the exams. Remember that a dedicated work is always duly rewarded.
8. Stay calm after the completion of an exam. Avoid post exam worrying and discussion with your friends after an exam. This is in no way helpful to you. Instead it will affect your mindset for the next exams. There is no point in worrying about how you answered the paper. Instead concentrate on the next exam.