7 tips to kick start your preparation for board exams

Monday, July 13, 2015

Your board exams may be months away, but it is always important to start early in order to avoid last-minute rush to finish the syllabus. We suggest that you divide your academic year into two halves, one till the Diwali Vacations and another from then till the exams. Plan your year accordingly. This way, you will not have to take extra pains to study separately for your pre-board exams as you will be at par with what portion of syllabus is being covered in each subject.

However, only studying will not guarantee success in board exams. What is required is proper planning and execution of the same. You may think this is too early to start, but if you want to see your name among the list of toppers, begin working towards it today.

Here are 7 tips to help you kick start your preparation for Board exams:

1.Know your syllabus:

The first step of preparation for board exams involves thorough knowledge of the syllabus for each subject. This is also the right time to stock up on sample papers and previous years’ question papers which you will need to solve during the course of your preparation. Find out the exact pattern of the question papers for each subject in order to know which portions of your book will need maximum attention.

2.Manage your time well:

Time management is most crucial in this year. As of now, plan how much time you will devote to each of your commitments—studies, tuitions, meeting friends and family, hobbies, exercise, eating etc. If you have a family wedding or a festival to attend this year, mark that time out as leisure now. Setting out time for these is also important since it prevents you from burning out.

3.Make a time-table:

Now that you know exactly how many hours per day you can devote to your study on an average, chalk out a time-table. Consider the portions of syllabus you are left to cover for each subject and divide your time accordingly. Subjects like Mathematics need regular practice, so make sure you keep an hour aside for it every day. Mark out time on the weekends for solving sample papers.

4. Do not procrastinate:

With a time-table in hand, there is no excuse for you to postpone studying a particular chapter. Prepare the portions being taught in schools and tuitions on a daily basis. Don’t leave them for later. Remember that your study-schedule is prepared and you already have set aside some work for the weekends.

5.Early to Bed, Early to Rise…:

If you have a habit of studying till late in the night, this is the time to change it. When you go to sleep late, you will have trouble waking up in the mornings. Even if you are forced to wake up, you will remain tired for the rest of the day. Don’t compromise on your sleep. Go to bed early and wake up in the morning, fresh as a daisy.

6.Make notes:

Now that you have started studying early, chances are that you may end up forgetting your Chemistry formulas and Physics definitions by the end of the year. Make extensive notes to avoid rework and wastage of time and energy. On the days before exams, it should be enough to go through your notes rather than going back to the books to find a particular detail.

7.Embrace a healthy diet:

It is important to keep tab on your food habits this year, since your performance is often affected by what you eat. If you eat too much, you might end up feeling lethargic and even find it difficult to remember facts. If you eat too less, it would mean less energy which will affect your ability to focus on things. Have a balanced diet comprising vegetables, fruits, nuts and proteins.

If you haven’t been doing any of the above, start now. Do not wait till the end. It will only put you under pressure and get you stressed out. Remember that your board exams are important milestones which determine the course of your lives. Get serious about them today.