Stress busters

Updated on: Monday, February 07, 2011

An adequate level of anxiety is good as it motivates the individual to stay focused and give his/her best, but if anxiety is more than the desired level, it impedes performance. Examination is comparable to a marathon, which requires slow and steady strides. What is most critical is self organisation and time management.

An effective preparation has to be preceded with a positive attitude coupled with a belief in one's abilities and strengths. An intake of nutritious food rich in vitamin B supplements is vital at this stage as vitamin B helps to improve memory and concentration level. One should take mock tests that are based on sample blueprints issued by CBSE and previous years' question papers. It is also important to familiarise oneself with the structure of the paper.

Too many reference books can result in confusion and hence it is advisable to consult NCERT books in terms of reference material. One should refrain from use of cell phones and the internet during study hours. It is advisable to set short-term goals that can help one study effectively by completing small tasks within a given time period. Making a study schedule that helps in breaking down tasks into manageable parts and setting a study routine can prove immensely helpful especially in terms of time management.

One should concentrate more on the subjects that seem challenging. It is also important to accord some time for relaxation between study hours. This not only gives time for retention but also prevents proactive and retroactive inhibitions. Another way of improving preparations is to connect new ideas to what is already known. Above all it is important to stay calm and hence it is not advisable to study a new topic at the eleventh hour.
A preparation is as good or as bad as one ultimately fares in the examination hall. Hence one should be positive and confident during the day of the actual examination. Before attempting the paper one should allocate time to different sections. A good way to do this is by allocating the maximum time to the sections that matter the most and the minimum time to the sections that count the least. One should read the questions carefully to check whether they have been understood properly. A good start to a paper is to first choose the answer that one feels the most confident about. Such an approach will boost one's confidence and motivate the examinee to tackle the rest of the questions. The answers must be to the point and precise. Spending too much time on one question should be avoided. One should make judicious use of the time at one's disposal after completing all the answers. Double checking answers and making sure that each part of the question has been answered can prove very helpful.

Times of India

Stress busters

More Education news