Useful Tips to Face Board Exams…
February and March are exam times for all those appearing for their board exams, whether 10th or 12th. Students are anxious, and their parents are even more anxious! This is mainly because the future course of action or the future career planning is largely based upon the results of these board exams. Still, this doesn’t mean that board exam should be taken like a monster. If we consider these exams like any other exams you have faced till now, then you will also agree that by following certain basic principles you can easily ace these exams.
You have worked hard throughout the year; now you just need some polishing, some last hour useful tips to face your boards more confidently. Here we go…
1. Sleep and Exercise Well:
It is very natural for students to decrease the number of hours of sleep as the exams get closer. This may be because the students are anxious to finish as much portion as they can, or may be simply due to stress and tension they are not able to sleep well. It is surveyed that students who sleep well during exam time, that is 6-8 hours a day, are more likely to concentrate on their studies and perform well. It is always better to sleep early and get up early in the morning and also perform Yoga and light exercises that will keep your mind and body fresh and energetic.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet:
Eat a balanced diet, particularly when your exams are approaching. Have fresh juices, vegetables, nuts and avoid fat, oily and junk food. Junk food will make you sleepy and tired throughout the day. Home-cooked food is best during exam time. Eat at short intervals. Have light healthy snacks in between and drink plenty of water, atleast 8-10 glasses of water every day to prevent from getting dehydrated. Takes short breaks in between instead of studying continuously for hours.
3. Know your syllabus well:
Every year though most of the syllabus remains same, there might be a few changes here and there. So, keep yourself updated with the new concepts added or deleted from the syllabus. If you are not sure, check out with your teacher, friends or search the internet. Also, understand the marking system. This will help you to concentrate on areas with high weight-age of marks given to each chapter and study smartly. Make short notes whenever and wherever necessary.
4. Solve previous years Papers:
The best way to judge whether you are prepared to face the exams or not is to solve previous years papers within the given time constraint. Only then you will actually know what are your areas of strengths and weaknesses, where do you need to work on harder, which chapters or which concepts are not clear to you, are you able to manage your time well or not, whether you are able to solve math problems or not, and so on. Only after solving a couple of mock tests you will realize where do you stand and what you need to focus on the most during the last days left to answer the boards.
5. Visit your Exam Center in advance:
Usually you do not answer your boards in your own school premises. The exam center is set at a different location. Once you are informed regarding your exam center, don’t wait for the exam day to visit it. This is because on the examination day you may not be able to judge exactly how far or how close it is to your house and may tend to get stuck in the traffic. That could be the biggest nightmare for students answering their Boards. So, visit your exam center in advance and get familiar with its surroundings.
6. Keep everything ready on the exam day:
Get up early, take a deep breathe, go through the main points or important formula. Reach your exam center a little earlier than required to reduce stress and anxiety. Do not cram books on that day. Make sure you carry your admit card, otherwise you will not get an entry into the examination hall. Also, carry all the required stationery, infact carry extra pen, pencils, geometry items, so that you do not fall short of anything while answering your board exam. Stay cool and positive.
7. While answering Your Paper:
Read all the instructions carefully before beginning to write answers and try to understand what is expected from you. Answer all questions clearly, by stating and explaining each point. Where you need to explain some concepts, explain those by giving some relevant examples, and where only short answers are required, just answer to the point. Label your questions correctly, draw neat and labeled diagrams, highlight important points and create right column for doing all rough calculations. Manage your time prudently, do not spend too much time in answering a particular question. If you are stuck with a question, go to the next and come back to it later on.
8. Once the exam is over:
A very usual but scary activity is to discuss the question papers with others. Do not discuss the question papers once you are done with it. The logic is that whether you have answered correctly or not, nothing is going to change now. So, just concentrate on the next paper you have, instead or analyzing the previous question paper. At the end of day, the bottom line is that relax, give your best without getting stressed and accept whatever comes your way positively. Remember, Board exams are just one step to your successful career, not the end of your career!
So, study hard, but study smarter!
