A room messed with textbooks, guides and test papers; ‘Study well’ advice wherever you go; Plenty of scolding from parents; tuitions even at nights; No TV, Outing, Browsing and games; A dozen empty ink bottles: Are these symptoms in your house? Then it means there is a +2er !
In the olden days people used to say: ’Life is an ocean, swim it’, Life is a game, play it and so on. But in this Era of Education, I’ll prefer to say Life is an examination, pass it. But now it seems that even passing is not a matter at all, it is your marks that decides your future. 80% and 90% have become things of the past, Marks have been decimalised now and every 0.01 mark is important in your cut-off. Education has overtaken all other talents and in our race to get a job this is very, very important.
A year ago, I passed my +2 examinations getting 1143/1200 (First mark: 1191/1200 !) in the public examinations. My entrance mark was 94.13 (TNPCEE) but my cut off came down to 290.88 due to low marks in Physics. However I successfully got BE EEE in PSG Tech. free seat, one of the top ten colleges in India, but how I studied? What are the mistakes I’ve done?
Cover 2 Cover Method
Guides, Model Question Papers and Coaching classes are flooding the market. Students showed a lot of interest in the Importance i.e. important questions that appeared in the previous examinations. But for me all these were a complete no…no… I relied on learning by understanding and I felt that Guides, Models and Importance are not essential in the beginning, it is enough if you refer these a month before the exam. As for coaching classes, only join if you don’t have a good teacher in school or else it is better to join a test batch. Also ensure that it is an established centre. Coming to the Cover 2 Cover method, just thorough everything right from the front cover page of the textbook to the back cover and nothing else. Make sure you know every nook and corner of the book, just like your favorite movie ! After you have done this, you can refer the model and important questions and start revising again and again and again… How to go about this cover 2 cover method? What is the best way to study? How to revise? How to write in the exam? Lets see all these after a short commercial break…
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Coming soon… Review on Ooty: Njoi | the | Chill - Abishek
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How 2 study?
Before studying make sure you develop a strong will and desire to study, it is preferred u cut TV from your daily routine, save the news and some informative programmes. Remember Where there is a will, there is a way. Never study when you are distracted, it is better to first quench the distraction and then study. No man can serve two masters, so avoid studying while watching television or so. Always study in a separate room, preferably locked in. I also don’t advice studying in terraces or by windows as moving objects always distract. Don’t have any dynamic objects, even clocks in your studying room. Develop an interest to study, think that your girl will be impressed by your knowledge! And there is one difficult point: Try to stay away from MouthShut ! I know it is difficult but try to limit yourself. Now let us see these in detail…
Listening the class
Cultivate an interest in the subject.
Try to understand the lessons.
Don’t hesitate to ask doubts.
Take notes only on important points and not what is already on the book.
Frame an idea of what the topic is about and what to learn in it.
Timing…
You decide your own time period. About 2 hour is sufficient per day.
Study at-least an hour in the morning; never miss this part of the day.
Never attempt to study when you’re not in mood, it spoils your memory.
During examination study about 8 hrs a day, don’t take any pills for memory, drowsiness etc.
Sleep early during exams and wake up early. Give lot of breaks in b/w.
The Environment
The room should be well lighted by a fluorescent lamp, avoid studying in scarce light.
The room should be silent and well ventilated, no distractions.
Curtain the windows to avoid distractions like hawkers, vendors or playing children.
Lock the room to avoid unnecessary interference by your family members.
Ask your neighbors to reduce their TV volume or so.
Posture
Avoid studying on the bed.
Avoid arm chairs and cozy sofas
Use a comfortable chair but should not be too comfy.
Sit upright, don’t spill over your book.
Take a break then and there to stay fresh.
Studying at home
Pre-Exam
First give the lesson a quick reading, don’t worry if you don’t understand something.
During the second reading mark important points and give a comprehensive reading. Refer the notes if you don’t understand something
Avoid marking the entire textbook. Work out problems and draw diagrams.
During the third reading, try to memorize whatever you have understood. Don’t mug up what you don’t understand. Clarify it with your teachers and then memorize.
During breaks close the book and recollect what you have learnt. Give breaks every half an hour, relaxation is important.
Finally give it a revision without seeing the book.
Again revise it with the book open to know the points you’ve forgotten and write a test.
During Exam
Memorize again all that you have learnt before. Study well important answers.
Repeat the revision process in the morning.
During revision decide how you are going to reproduce it in the exam.
Decide the time you’ll be taking for each section using model papers.
Avoid studying for the last 30 min, recollect for 15 min, discuss and then just refresh. Be confident that you know everything. Don’t panic.
Health
Don’t take memory pills or any chemicals
Consume lots of fruits and vegetables.
Drink a cup of fresh juice everyday.
Sleep at-least for 8 hrs normally.
Avoid dangerous games and violent movies.
Have a light breakfast before the exam so that digestion process is complete before the exam.
Writing the exam
Be neat, legible and have a good spelling. Don’t use fancy colours.
Give topics suitably in bold black and the rest in navy blue.
Presentation should be well planned and underline topics and important points.
Hit the points crisp and directly.
Don’t omit any answers, write fast and revise finally.
The paper should represent your hard work throughout the year !
However I lost interest after November, and I didn’t work out the problems which made me loose 9 marks in physics. Also I became very playful before entrance examination, always dreaming of bikes! Otherwise I could have got even better marks. I also didn’t write enough tests, your speed and accuracy increases with the no. of tests you write. About copying, I did it for the first time in my +2 final coz marks are that important, only 2 marks!
Best Wishes!
Contd. in Comments No.4