By Dr Ananth G Prabhu

Mangaluru, Mar 6 : Board examinations are important milestones in the life of any Indian student. A student's career and future life, to an extent, is decided by 10th and 12th standard board exams. In this article, we will look at some time-tested effective study tips and strategies, which will help students prepare for their board exams efficiently.

After January (or around that time), 10th and 12th standard students will get their revision vacations. For the students who are going to appear for these board exams, this will be the ‘make-or-break’ period. If students manage time well and study strategically, they will be able to score very good marks. But if they don’t, they should forget about scoring high marks and settle for mediocre scores (or even low marks). In short, if students follow the below mentioned board exam study tips religiously, they will be able to score high marks in board examinations. They will also be able to prepare decently even when less time is left.

Lack of preparation time, huge syllabus, entrance exam preparation, tough syllabus and stress are some of the common factors preventing students from scoring well in the board exam. In this article, tips to tackle these problems have been provided.

Here, I am going to provide you some sureshot tips to study productively, without wasting much time. As mentioned before, these study tips are tried and tested. Putting these tips into practice will ensure that you will pass the board exams with flying colors. I mean it my friends!

Firstly, you need a ‘power-schedule’. Basically, it is an improved version of the time table that you’ve been following so far. So far, you’ve also been devoting some time towards other activities like hobbies, playing, social media etc. Now, it is time to reduce the ‘frequency’ of such activities.

Well, I am not asking you to stop these activities altogether. Just a gentle pause, so that you can resume with those activities once you are done with your exams. When you sit down to study, just focus on it. Cut out all other distractions. If you are sitting down for a 2 hour session, then the two hours should be devoted only towards focused studying, nothing else (exceptions - drinking water, going to toilet and other such tasks only). I know that this could be difficult for many of you to follow, especially with distractions in the form of mobile phones, TV, social media etc. What I suggest under such circumstances is that you should start practicing power schedule 3-4 weeks beforehand. This will help you form a habit of sitting down and studying, avoiding all distractions. Note that after the 3-4 weeks, your brain will accept this routine and create a habit. Also, you should train yourself to sit without going to the washroom for 3 hours. Usually in the exam halls, they do not let you go out of the hall. Anyways, here are the 10 tips that will make you score even more.

1. Avoid Procrastination and Stress

Procrastination is a student’s biggest enemy. Most students, at start, tend to postpone study tasks and targets. Try to get rid of this habit. Once you successfully get rid of this habit, your productivity will improve considerably.

With the 10th and 12th standard board exams looming large over their heads, students tend to get a bit tensed. Not only students, even teachers and parents fall prey to this!

Don’t let tension ruin your preparations guys! Overcome it! Try Pranayam and other breathing exercises. It will have a soothing effect on mind and help one relax.

2. Right Now is the Right Time

Students who are serious about their studies must start preparation from day 1. For those who have not started yet, this is the right time. It's now or never. Most of us tend to get laid back and careless during the initial phase. We think that we’ve got plenty of time in hand.

This is not a good attitude. Starting preparation early has many advantages. Some important points to remember-

- Create a timetable
- Manage time efficiently
- Finish study tasks on daily basis (don’t postpone or avoid it)
- Study the difficult chapters first
- Choose a quiet and calm room to study in

3. Foundation is the Key

Many students just mug up lessons. While it will help one to remember things for a short term, it won’t be of much help in the long run. Mugging up things is like a temporary solution. It is time consuming and you’ll tend to forget mugged up stuff sooner or later

The key is to understand the basics. Instead of mugging things up, focus on the basics, understand the principles. This way, lessons will be etched to your mind. It won’t just disappear from your mind one fine day.

4. Different Study Techniques

To master each subject, you must prepare for each subject using learning techniques and methods tailor-made for those subjects. For example, mathematics subject can be prepared by practicing and solving problems. Similarly, physics subject can be mastered by understanding the basics and fundamentals.

Use subject wise learning habits cleverly. This will help you master the subject and later score well in board exam.

5. Revise. Revise. Revise. Golden Mantra.

Students must revise studied portion again and again. Revision is very useful and important. One must revise course content at regular intervals.

Many students go through the portion once and leave it there. They won’t open it again until the exam date has come close. This is not a good habit. One must revise covered portion again and again at regular intervals. The next step will be useful for revision purposes.

During the reading vacations, many students feel enticed to go for group studies. But these so called group studies often tend to become less productive. This is something you just can’t afford, particularly with so less time left. Only go for those group study sessions, which you feel will help you. Like going to a studious friend to clear your doubts.

6. Evaulate Yourself. Work on Your Weak Points

Writing tests will help you revise covered portion well. One may take self evaluation tests or ask teachers/parents to conduct tests regularly. While preparing for such tests at regular intervals, students will be able to revise portion and get to know about their preparation level.

Tests help one know more about his/her strengths and weaknesses. Test results can be used to work upon one’s weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

7. Take Care of Your Health. It's Your Wealth!

Don’t get too busy studying that you neglect rest and good diet. Too much studying can lead one to burnout. Burnouts are bad. It will influence your board exam preparation negatively.

The key to avoiding burnout is by keeping it at bay through stress busting activities. At regular intervals, you may indulge in activities such as physical exercise, meditation, your hobby, interacting with family etc.

Good diet and rest indirectly helps you in exam preparation. A good, balanced diet will keep your mind charged and sharp. It will help you focus on studies.

Good rest helps you get recharged. It helps your brain function well. Lack of rest can lead to issues such as fatigue and burnout. Ultimately, these issues may play spoilsport in board exam preparation.

8. Write and Study - Your Parents Always Said This

When it comes to board examination, getting writing practice is of utmost importance. Without adequate writing practice, students usually end up mismanaging time in the exam hall. As a result, they end up being unable to complete the whole question paper.

To avoid this situation, I suggest readers to get busy writing. Do plenty of writing practice. This will give you insights into time management tips and tricks. Follow the next step to get writing practice.

9. Solve Previous Years' and Mock Question Papers

Solving full length mock question papers and previous years’ question papers will help you get valuable writing experience. Solving such question papers will help you get used to writing for hours, manage time well and also understand more details about the nature of the question paper and blueprint.

By solving such question papers, one will be able to recognize important questions that are repeatedly asked each year. Once such high marks, regularly asked questions have been identified, students may prepare for them accordingly.

10. The Right Ambience

Most students choose to study in their own room. Wherever you sit down to study, make sure that the place is quiet and calm. Make sure that there are no distractions present there (like TV, radio, PC, laptop, mobile phone etc).

The study room should be neat and clean. Books and study material should be arranged neatly. Once in the room, student should keep distracting things like mobile phones and laptops away. If possible, make sure that noise from outside is kept at bay by using curtains.

That’s it friends, these are my effective and sureshot tips for board students. Following these board exam study tips religiously will guarantee you high marks. 12th and 10th standards are important milestones in a student’s life. So make sure that you put in surplus hard work and make yourself and your parents proud! At the same time, take care of your health! Wishing you all green lights.

Dr Ananth Prabhu G

31-year-old Ananth Prabhu G is an author, software engineer, motivational speaker, TV host and educator. He is the advisor for Vikas Group of Institutions which runs the prestigious Vikas PU College - a state-of-the-art residential college in Mangaluru - and guest faculty of cyber crime and cyber law at the Karnataka Police Academy, Mysuru. For personal counseling, contact the author at puc@vikascollege.com.

Link: www.facebook.com/educatorananth 

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