Board examinations are one of the most significant parts of a student’s academic life. They help in getting admissions to top colleges and making a good career in the future life. However, board exams can be a roller coaster ride full of stress and anxiety for some students. They are dealing with performance pressure, homework,
extracurricular activities, and exam preparation, all at the same time.
So, are you a student going through the same drill? Don’t worry. As always, we are here to help you out! Students are usually stressed out because they are not doing the preparation right. No, we are not saying they work hard; they are just not using the right strategies!
In this post, we will share some dos and dont’s you should always keep in mind while preparing for board examinations. Following them will help you deal with exam stress and anxiety, and you will surely nail your board examinations. Keep Reading; you will want to thank us later!
The Dos of Boards Examinations
Preparing for board examinations requires you to follow a series of things religiously. Here are a few important dos every student should keep in mind while preparing for board examinations:
1. Make Notes
Making your own notes during classes, lectures, and study sessions is one of the most important things a student should do. Writing notes in your own words can help you understand and absorb the concepts more effectively. Also, they help to revise the syllabus quickly and only recall the important points.
For perfect notes, you need to listen to your teachers during lectures carefully and note down all the key points and important out-of-the syllabus information. Also, try to add information other than textbooks in your notes. If you keep using the textbook language, it will signify tote learning. Therefore, you need to answer all the questions in your own words to achieve the best marks in board examinations. And this can happen only if you make your own notes and learn from them.
2. Practice Sessions
You will get a very limited time frame for attempting your board examinations. Also, you won’t get any extended time, no matter how much you ask. Therefore, performing as many practice sessions and tests as possible is essential. This practice can help you increase your writing speed and know how much time you should spend on one question.
You can also set a timer and see how long you take to solve one question and how you should improve. For example, if your board exam is 3 hours long, you should try to complete it in 2 hours, 30 minutes, or 40 minutes.
3. Mock Tests
Always remember; practice makes a man perfect, and students too. Just like practicing time management, you also need to take mock tests. Some questions and important topics repeat every year in board examinations. With that being said, mock tests usually contain past question papers, and they mimic the format of the actual board examinations.
So, taking and solving these mock tests will give you an idea about the original format and will also let you know about the important topics with high chances of appearing in the exam. Also, mock tests will be a great source to improve your time management skills. It is recommended to attempt at least 5 to 6 mock exams before taking an exam.
4. Physical Exercise
Physical exercise is extremely important to keep your body and mind healthy and in perfect shape. Also, remember that a healthy brain is the only thing that helps you deal with exam stress and achieve high scores. Therefore, give some time to physical exercise in your daily routine and life.
Go for morning walks, do yoga, and work out. You can also play your favorite sports like cricket, football, badminton, basketball, etc. In short, don’t just keep sitting at home and let the exam stress eat you. Move around and keep your brain healthy.
5. Relax
Last but not least, don’t just keep studying 24/7 and bury yourself under exam stress. Instead, give some time to yourself and relax. After all, a relaxed mind is a creative mind. After you think you are done revising and learning, just take a break before the exam night. Watch your favorite movie or show, listen to music, go out and meet some friends, or do whatever that makes you feel happy and relaxed. You can also take a calming and soothing bath to prepare yourself for the next bid day. Here is a pro tip, too: try doing some meditation. It makes you feel relaxed and light like a feather.
The Don’ts of Board Examinations
Now that we have gone through the important checklist of things to do for board examinations, it’s time to learn what to avoid. Yes, students unintentionally make many mistakes while preparing for board exams. Here is a list for you to identify and avoid those mistakes:
1. Not Practicing Diagrams
Diagrams are in the books for a reason; because they are important. However, some students make the mistake of taking those diagrams for granted. They just take a quick look at the diagrams instead of practicing them, and this is where they go wrong. You should properly practice drawing the important diagrams at least three to four times neatly without looking at the book. Also, make sure that you know all the labels and important terms by heart before your final board exam.
2. Procrastinating
Procrastination is the worst enemy of a student, and many students make the mistake of befriending it. They leave all the syllabus for the last minute, thinking they can cover it later, which isn’t possible. It is essential to complete and cover all your syllabus a month or at least 2 weeks before your board exam. This way, you will have enough time for revision and work on the concepts. So, please don’t procrastinate and finish your syllabus in time!
3. Studying for Long Hours
If you think studying for long hours without any breaks in between can make you nail your board exams, you are wrong! Overburdening and tiring yourself numerous never works, especially during exams. Also, it is a fact that your brain can not absorb too much information at one time. If you plan to study in one go, your brain will get tired after some time and forget all the concepts you thought you learned. Therefore, it is recommended to take frequent short breaks in between your study sessions. For example, if you study for 2 hours, take 20 minutes break and so on.
4. Not Revising
Some students don’t understand the importance and power of revision. Even 10 minutes of quick revision from your notes before the exam can help you memorize multiple of concepts. So, make sure to quickly revise your syllabus before sitting in the exam. For this, you can make short and to-the-point notes with only key points mentioned. This notes-making strategy is called the Outline Method, and is extremely useful for quick revision and cramming before the exam.
5. Don’t Forget Your Stationery and Documents
Lastly, please make sure to pack all the important stationery and documents in your bag the night before the exam. These things include your pen, markers, extra pens, hall tickets, and whatever more you need to attempt the exam. If you leave packing these things in the morning, there are chances you will forget something in hurry.
Final Words
As a student, your entire career depends on how well you perform in your board exams. So, try to follow all the dos and dont’s we mentioned above and make yourself well prepared for your exam.
If you need help with some subjects and concepts, you can always hire a professional
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