With careful planning and disciplined execution, the preparation for Boards exams can be made stress-free and satisfactory, says Monica Malhotra Kandhari
With the Board exams around the corner, there is much pressure on the students to perform well in their stream of study. Over time, a pattern has evolved following the design and purpose of the exam, making it possible and often highly advisable to follow a certain structure when preparing for Boards. Here are some tips to help the students prepare more effectively for their board exam and achieve desired results:
Start Early: The earlier you start your preparation, the better it will be. This is true especially for exams with a large syllabus. Start you preparation in such a way that you have enough time to go through and then revise the whole syllabus at least once before the day of the exam. Starting early will allow you some buffer in case of a disruption from unforeseen circumstance.
Have a plan: Creating a study plan and following it thoroughly will help you study more effectively and minimise chances of a burnout due to stress. Your study plan must also incorporate sufficient free time at regular intervals to help your body and mind unwind and relax and set aside time to indulge in your favorite hobby. Set achievable and realistic goals and build your plan around the same. Prioritise, create time tables, schedule study sessions and most importantly, stick to the plan.
Study: Find a place where you can study undisturbed and helps you concentrate. Start slow off the block and build-up a rhythm by re-reading your textbooks and notebooks. This will also help you refresh the basics and identify important concepts. There are various studying techniques with proven effectiveness— summary notes, flashcards, practicing old question papers, flowcharts and diagrams etc. Identify what suits you and make full use of it. A study group might also prove to be beneficial. Decide on what is helpful for you and adopt that.
Take care of yourself: Eat healthy, drink enough water, avoid junk foods, get yourself some physical exercise, sleep well and maintain a positive attitude. It’s important to be in a good physical and mental state during the exam so that you can actually utilise all that preparation and reap the rewards. While exam results are a good indicator of learning and competency, and holds weight in determining future careers prospects, it is of great importance to remember that they are a test of education of a certain level and not a test of life competency. Identify and understand your strengths and weakness, set realistic targets, give it your best and be ready to accept the outcome.
What you need to do
Fortis Healthcare has re-activated its national helpline programme for students appearing for the Boards exams. The helpline number is +918376804102 on which students or parents can call between 9 am to 5 pm with queries related to stress, mental well-being, exam tips or even to consult a team of experts and behavioral psychologists.
The helpline will have a counsellor available seven days a week for guiding students and parents, providing crisis intervention and answering anyone struggling to cope with exam-related concerns.
Dr Samir Parikh, director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, shares valuable, easy-to-do tips to bust exam stress:
Your study table must be organised and uncluttered, the same goes for your bed to ensure relaxed sleep.
While studying, take breaks every 45 minutes to realign your thoughts and absorb what you have read. It’s a good idea to take a walk, play a game or listen to music.
You can also try some concentration exercises such as listening to a single instrument while recollecting your thoughts work. Memory pills do not work.
Highlight important points while skimming. Using flow charts, mnemonics and graphics do help to remember important things.
If you have difficulty remembering what you read just yesterday, make a revision schedule. Revise on these days – 1, 2, 7, 15 and 30 of the month.
If you are anxious, take a self-test and imagine yourself in an exam hall writing your paper.
Avoid tobacco and caffeine as it is a myth that they help.
Make sure you sleep for seven to nine hours.
On the day of the exam, be confident, don’t discuss the subject or the paper with your friends before the exam starts. Don’t try to read or memorise anything at the last moment.
Once you receive the paper, look at the first question and answer it if you know it. If you don’t, move forward. Divide your time based on the marks for each question.
It isn’t a race. Don’t look at the number of sheets others use. Do not look at the clock too often. You don’t need to be the first one to finish.
Once the exam is over, it is finished, so no discussions and no analysis with your friends.
Take a short break & prepare for your next exam.
Remember, if you need help, reach out and talk to a friend, a family member or call us.
(The writer is the Managing Director, MBD Group)