Exam Preparation Tips

For most students, the word ‘exam’ itself personifies apprehension, anxiety and panic. Due to ever-increasing competition and expectations of parents and dear ones, every student undergoes immense pressure of living up to their hopes. Even peer pressure makes students very strenuous and taxing. A million dollar question is that, is this stress worth taking or is it only psychological? According to experts, it is natural to have some degree of anxiety or pressure during exams so that the students are prompted to perform well. However, when this stress level goes beyond a desired point, it creates negative influence on students and they fail to perform as expected, despite being intelligent and bright. Thus, it is very important for every student to follow certain exam preparation tips that will help them to organize their study material efficiently and do remarkably well in their exams. With good organization, even an average student can perform well in exams. Similarly, poor methodology can adversely affect the performance of an outstanding student. Below are some exam preparation tips for students.

 

Advice On Exam Preparation 

Begin Early
Last minute study is always a big no-no for go-getters! It is always recommended to start your exam preparations as early as possible. This will psychologically reduce your stress, as you will have ample time to finish your syllabus beforehand and do as much revisions as possible.Go through your entire syllabus, analyze the scope of your exams and study on regular basis to reduce your anxiety. You will get enough time to study, to relax and to revise as well. If you find something is missing in your course material or if you couldn’t attend some classes, check with your faculties or class mates and complete your notes. Starting early will help you accomplish things in an organized manner. 

Keep A Study Plan Handy
Difference between an average scorer and a performer is how well the student prepares and follows his study plan. A methodological study plan is mandatory to perform splendidly in your exams. You cannot just randomly study anything at any time and expect to excel fabulously in your exams. You need to analyze what is the entire scope of your study material, how difficult it is, how much time you have in hand, how will you divide the topics and how much time should you allot to each subject. Prepare a schedule for your exams and fix it at your study table. Set your priorities and study accordingly. At the same time, do not be impracticable in budgeting your time and also keep some spare time for relaxation and leisure. 

Begin Your Actual Study
You should have an exam preparation plan in front of you whenever you settle down to study. Without wasting any time, begin your studies according to the plan. Either study at your study table or at a place where there are no distractions and you will be able to focus properly. You may even study in groups if that enhances your concentration and the will to study, but be aware of wasting time in redundant conversation. You may follow any learning style, but it should keep you on track with your study plan. On daily basis, try to cover the study material that you have allotted for each day. 

Prepare Summary Notes
Summary notes are a brief of important points that you come across while studying your course material. Jot down key terms and concepts that will help you in recalling the entire subject matter. Go through your textbooks, class notes and syllabus and note down the important words. It is proved that when you write down points and short notes, it is more likely that you will retain them during your exams instead of just reading these. No matter how childish it may look, reading the subject matter aloud or writing it down will surely help you out recalling them during exams. 

Preparing Flashcards
Flashcards or index cards will come to your practical use if you need to learn important points by heart. It is much easier to retain information that is graphically presented. Create bulleted points, lists, diagrams, keywords or formulas on flash cards for every topic you study. Flash cards will activate your memory and will augment your retention power. Especially if you lack sufficient time, flash cards are very helpful in covering larger material with the aid of keywords or bulleted points. You can always carry your flash cards while travelling or commuting and go through these to save time.

Practice Under Exam Constraints
So now you have thoroughly studied your course material and you are well aware of your syllabus. However, these alone will not assure your success! During exams, you will have time constraints and you need to follow and finish your exam within those limits. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to practice mock examination papers or last years’ sample exams within the stipulated period. Also, if calculators are not allowed during exams, you need to give up such temptations and conduct mock papers under actual exam conditions. Only then, you will get real confidence to face your exams. Also, after finishing your paper, check your answers or get a feedback from your faculties to improve upon your weaknesses. 

Taking Care Of Yourself
Apart from the above guidelines, another side of preparing for your exams is to take good care of yourself. It is vital to keep yourself physically and mentally fit to approach your exams confidently. Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid junk or fried food to keep yourself active. Sleep well, as sound sleep is very important to keep your body and mind fresh and energetic. You may be an early bird or prefer a late night study, just make sure you sleep a good number of hours to rejuvenate yourself. 

To conclude, it isn’t a rocket science to prepare for exams. You just need to follow the above strategy and study smartly to accomplish all your goals. You may even read a few motivational lines every day to fortify your willpower and realize your goals. To avoid distractions, focus on your goals in life, study accordingly and make your loved ones proud of you!