October 15 is celebrated as World Students’ Day. I wondered what a student fears the most. Speaking to some of them at random, I was able to gather that 80% of them feared examinations. I began to ponder as to why this should be so. When do we fear something? It is usually when we are not fully prepared. Therefore I thought I should help these students to be stress free and feel confident before the exams.
I give below some methods I adopted as a student as well as some more that I wish I had. Preparation for an exam should be an ongoing process. It is very difficult to be attentive all the time in class. But if one were attentive, preparation time is greatly reduced. Every week end it is useful to take stock of what has been covered during the week. For completed lessons it is useful to jot down probable questions and identify the answers for the same.
This is not easy, especially with so many distracting factors. However if one could cultivate this habit, it becomes second nature. When it is part of routine it is hardly a couple of hours a day. Questions should be classified as meaning and definitions, short answer questions and essay type answers. Another classification could be based on 30, 50, 100 0r 250 words and above. Answers should be in paragraphs/points, with side headings, especially for 100 words and 250 words. To remember all the points it is very helpful if the first letters of the side headings can be devised as a pattern. If this can be linked to something you like, it becomes very easy when you try to recall. It is very helpful to draw up a schedule at least a fortnight before the exams. A comprehensive reading of the lessons, for a beginning, followed by a revision of the important questions is a time tested method.
Group study is advisable in the understanding stage. In the recall, revision stages individual learning is best.