Sound tips to enjoy exams

15 February 2011
Tests and examinations form an integral part of the teaching-learning process. Its not ust board examinations that get stress le!els soaring in students.

"ntrance tests to professional courses that re#uire extra preparation also ha!e the same effect. The purpose of highlighting the follo$ing points is to inspire the learners and help them to bring out the best in the forthcoming board examinations. The best ad!ice is that students should prepare for the examination systematically $ith total commitment% dedication and confidence $ithout $orrying about the results. &n ideal student should de!elop a positi!e attitude to$ards examinations. 'e(she should consider examinations as a pleasant and challenging experience. & thorough )no$ledge of the syllabus is essential for a successful student. The purpose of mastering the syllabus is to ma)e sure that your detailed study in!ol!es all units chapters% subtitles that are included in the learning ob ecti!es. "#ual importance should be gi!en to all sub ects to ensure uniform achie!ement. & regular and specific study routine should be follo$ed $ith appropriate inter!als. *ingle minded concentration is a must during the study hours. It is ad!isable to study tough sub ects during early morning hours. & good student should al$ays ta)e brief notes and points on the material studied. These points should be noted do$n in small slips of paper for daily re!ising. +ue care should be ta)en about the preparation of s)etches% diagrams% maps% charts% data presentation% formulae and other related items. I suggest that students should use the mind map techni#ue. ,ind mapping% also )no$n as concept mapping% is a graphic techni#ue for representing ideas by using $ords% images% symbols and colour. & mind map helps in summarsing% organising and consolidating information. The map holds information in a format that your mind $ill find easy to remember and helps to re!ie$ #uic)ly. -earning to $rite for an examination is as important as studying. *tudents often get confused in deciding ho$ to start an ans$er% ta)e it for$ard and conclude it. .ne should de!elop the s)ill of presenting $hat is re#uired by the examiners. &ccuracy in this regard is to be achie!ed through practice. *tudents should learn ho$ to condense a lengthy ans$er to a brief one and at the same time ho$ to expand the facts a!ailable into long ans$ers. ,ultiple-choice #uestions can be intriguing and may pro!e tough nuts to crac). &pply the ans$er search strategy first and then apply the elimination method. +irecti!e $ords in descripti!e #uestions can be seen as signposts to the )ind of ans$ers expected. If you ma)e a slight error in grasping the directi!e $ord your ans$ers may be $idely off the mar). /eat presentation should be gi!en top priority $ith legible hand$riting. The #uestions calling for diagrams should be tac)led $ith great care and precision. &ll diagrams( dra$ings should be properly labelled. .ne should go through the #uestion paper thoroughly at the end and in the 15 minutes gi!en in the beginning. Time management is !ery important. 0hec) the time after e!ery one hour $hile $riting and the #uestions attempted. &ccordingly% one can increase or decrease the speed of $riting. 1eep 15 minutes to$ards the end for final chec)ing. It is not necessary to ans$er the #uestions in the order gi!en in the #uestion paper. 2ou can ma)e your o$n choice follo$ing the instructions gi!en. 'o$e!er% it is dangerous to ponder o!er a #uestion you do not )no$ fully as it $ould lead to $astage of time.3rong ans$ers $hich need to be omitted should be clearly cancelled .!er-$riting% scribbling and use of $hite in) to erase should be a!oided. &ll rough $or) should be done in a separate sheet or in the space pro!ided to do so. *tudents must attempt all #uestions and ma)e sure that no #uestion is left unans$ered. 4esides% they should use good #uality pens% pencils etc.% for smooth and comfortable $riting. 5arents and teachers can play the role of an effecti!e catalyst in enabling children to gi!e their best in examinations% through steady and thoughtful encouragement. In the end% ha!e a confident mind and sit for the exam $ith complete faith in 6od. 6ood luc) to all candidates7 Abraham Mathew, Sharjah