Students have a lot riding on their shoulders these days with exams being just round the corner or having started already. February and March bring about a heady culmination to a year’s worth of wait and efforts. Along with peer pressure, there is pressure from within the student himself, casting the spectre of exams in an altogether different light.
Chriselle Vaz
4th Rank Merit, Class XII and TYBCom
During exams, time management is absolutely crucial. Having knowledge but not being able to complete the paper is a waste of effort. Time management can be achieved by regular studies throughout the year instead of last minute cramming, which needs to be avoided at all costs. Along with this, students also need to avoid rote learning and must try to understand the concepts better.
Also while studying, students should try and study only when they are in the mood to do so. The time doesn’t really matter, but it is preferable and advisable to study during the daytime as students would be fresh and get a complete night’s sleep. This would enable them to attempt the paper better. Before the exams, eating the right kind of food is also important. Junk food needs to be avoided at all costs. Students also need to take breaks before the exam and indulge in activities that interest them.
Right before the exams, students must close their books and relax. Most importantly, they must learn to treat all exams equally as this would help reduce the stress levels considerably.
Shriraman Vijayaraghavan
Distinction, Class X
SSC is one of the most crucial exams that one gives but I am pretty sure not the toughest. During my board exams or maybe just before it as well, I never let the stress of exams hit me. I tried various stress busting activities like playing cricket and other sports that interested me. This helped me a lot during the days just before the exams. So my advice to everyone would be to avoid studying round the clock. This will give good results while at the same time the student would be relaxed right before the exams.
Himanshu Kapadia
Distinction, Class X
With the exam season fast approaching, student's anxieties are at an all time high. This last phase, right before the exam, is actually the most critical one where most battles are won or lost, almost like the penultimate over of a cricket match. The key is to hold your nerve. Students will be well served if they follow some simple tips which have always worked for me.
1) Create your own study schedule and stick to it. Take enough breaks.
2) Refer to the previous year’s question papers.
3) Talk to people who can act as positive influences. Avoid panicky, negative friends and relatives.
4) Avoid energy drinks, pills or any other supplements. They’re useless.
5) Have confidence in your own ability.
Exams are not an end but a means for you to reach your goals. Don’t get obsessive about the outcome and give it your best shot.
Hetvi Dholakia
Distinction, Class XII
The first and foremost thing to keep in mind while appearing for board exams is to have the right attitude. It is very important to understand that board exams, however important, form a very small portion of your life or career. Don’t let them take a toll on your or bog you down, they are not the end of life.
A few basic things to keep in mind are: target, time-table – making a time-table and be truthful about it to oneself, food and eating habits – fresh fruits and dry fruits are a better diet than junk food; periodic breaks and revision.
One must make sure that one has ample time for revisions. Trying to study a new chapter a few hours or even a day before the exam should be avoided. It is very important that you revise all that you have already done and try to score most out of what you already know, rather than start something new.
Avinash Somanathan
Distinction, Class X and XII
Amidst all the expectations and all the great advice that people had to give during the crucial months of February and March, it felt as though everyone had something or the other to comment about the HSC exams and add to the already stressed state of my mind. But this surely never let me down. I had a clear idea in my mind that board exams are not something to be scared of. Rather it is just one more exam like any other. Having such an attitude helps a lot in gaining confidence and with the proper practice of previous years' question papers, board exams don’t really seem to be "BOARD EXAMS"! To conclude, I can just say that confidence in yourself and practice decisively reflects in your performance in the exam.
Nishtha Tiwari, Counsellor
The last one week of exams is more about managing oneself as the whole ambience becomes quite overwhelming for the students. At this juncture, all efforts need to be directed towards relaxing oneself and for this familial support counts as a major contributor.
Last minute mugging needs to be avoided. Instead of last minute mugging, one should concentrate on areas that one is confident and sure about. Mugging at the last minute can lead to panic attacks and anxiety. Also, last minute studies leads to unwanted concentration instead of one-minded focus towards what one is confident about. In lieu of mugging, students need to spend time going through the broad highlights of the course already covered.
Students should engage themselves in activities like going for walks and getting out of their study room for fresh air. These increase mental agility while also acting as good stress managers. Ultimately, students need to be confident about the efforts they have put in till that time and appear for the exams with a positive and confident attitude without any self-doubts.
Energy drinks and other supplements should be avoided. One needs to maintain normal pattern of sleep which sometimes gets disturbed due to these products. Eat light , sleep well and relax yourself.
R.Sumathi, Parent
When my daughter was giving her board and university exams, I tried to bring my daughter into the right frame of mind to study by giving good and healthy food. In case of my daughter who is an avid book reader, reading helped calm her nerves. In case of other students, before the examinations, focusing on other areas of their interests becomes a good stress reliever. While attempting exams, it is important for students to calmly read all the questions properly before attempting the paper. Trying to answer questions in a hurry only complicates problems especially during the final moments of the paper.