Exams are always tough to deal with. Your anxieties are heightened, fear suddenly seems to set in, your memory seems to have become weaker and text books have overtaken your life. And when the exams we’re talking about are the boards (God save us!), the panic attacks are doubled, if not trebled!
Some of you might be preparing for the CBSE board exams, others for the allegedly tougher CISCE board exams and many of you would be facing your state public exams (Andhra SSC & Inter I & II/ UP high school & UP inter exams etc.) No matter which state/ central board you’re from, the level of nervousness would be equally high for all of you (and your parents!)
To help you survive this board exam stress, we have scoured through the internet and our memories, to suggest some of the best exam hacks. These should see you through the upcoming board exams and help your weary brain improve its performance.
Here are a few tips which schools don’t give you to prepare for your class 10 and class 12 board exams.
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Plan one week at a time. You can make a 6-month long time-table, but your priorities will change on the 6th day itself. So keep it simple and practical – keep time for breaks, for snacking, chatting and even maybe a visit to the gym twice a week.
Plan week-wise, setting clear & achievable goals
Ensure you get your beauty sleep and power naps. We have heard of enough stories where candidates have fallen asleep during the exam, so don’t push yourself, you need the rest – at least your body does.
Also read:Â 5 ways to keep your brain sharp
The last thing you want to do is fall asleep in the middle of your board exam! Image courtesy: theviewspaper.net
I know most parents will disagree, but you do need to take time to relax and unwind after a full day of mugging and studying. You deserve the break so set aside a couple of hours to do what you enjoy most – watch TV, chat with your friends, play a game, go to the gym, do yoga or what ever helps you calm down.
Also read:Â 6 Yoga Practices to help you Score Well in Board Exams
A 2013 study by researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit, USA found that a single session of Hatha yoga significantly improved a person’s speed and accuracy in memory and concentration!
Closer to the exam, don’t panic and start cramming, especially on the eve of the paper. All you will do is stress yourself out and forget the little you already know.
Image courtesy: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/393150242442587745/
Keep the confidence that you have prepared well, we all have our weak spots, accept yours and don’t fret over concepts you fail to understand, but focus on what you know and get that done better.
Learn to face the question paper with confidence! Image courtesy: youngisthan.in
Yes, you read right…eat well – to hell with the diet during exams! Don’t go in to write a paper on an empty stomach. Keep a comfort food – a bar of chocolate, a banana, a muesli bar at hand to help you get through the 3-hour long paper. A water bottle is generally allowed into the exam hall – make sure you carry one. Let’s just hope that your mouth does not go completely dry when you get the question paper in hand!
Also read:Â 8 foods to increase your brainpower
Snack healthy when you study
This is more from a comfort point of view rather than a fashion advice – plan your wardrobe, and keep all your favorite clothes ready to wear on the important exam days. The last thing on your mind or cause for distraction should be uncomfortable clothes. And don’t forget the lucky scarf, good luck t-shirt, the lucky color, irrespective of whether they actually work, will give you confidence. But if there’s a rule that you have to wear your school uniform, then you may ignore this advice 🙂
Your accessories – a watch is a must to keep track of time and to manage it well. Shoes should be comfortable, hair clips and studs for the girls should be comfortable.
Don’t forget to keep track of time as you write your exam. Image courtesy: pokeyournose.com
Check your stationery pouch, and ensure you have extra pens, pencils, erasers, whiteners and whatever else you might need. For your Mathematics exam, don’t forget the geometry set. And remember to carry your admit card/ hall ticket!
Your stationary box should be complete, even if your syllabus is not! Image courtesy: amazon.co.uk
Doesn’t really matter how much you have studied, as along as you carry the right attitude. Stay positive. Tell yourself that nothing can go wrong. Reinforce positive thoughts, you are your best motivator and tell yourself that you have done your best. Most importantly you have nothing to lose and everything to gain…so go forth and face that board exam like it’s just another regular exam in school and you will be surprised at how well you fare!
About Nishatha Abraham Bijeesh