Securing maximum marks in examinations is always a common dream for students and their parents. However, it is not a piece of cake for those who do not practice enough. Therefore, the students should have a set of strategies to score well on the tests. To secure high marks in any examination, it is essential to have a set of strategies and maintain a timely schedule. It is also fundamental to revise all the concepts after studying the syllabus.
In this article, let us discuss all the tips and tricks one can follow to obtain marks in examinations. Locate Aakash centre near you to get thorough guidance for your upcoming exams.
Effective study strategies to secure high marks
The following are the few strategies the students can follow to obtain marks on any test:
Create a preparation table
Start by preparing a timetable. List out the topic you need to cover for the examination. While doing so, separate the headings based on the difficulty levels. One can also segregate the topics based on how close it is related or connected to the other topics.
In addition to that, mention the amount of time needed to finish those headings. It will provide the students with a clear idea of what to study during the preparation phase. Therefore, it eliminates time-wasting.
After making a timetable, place it on a wall or a notebook to be visible. It will remind you to study and stay focused every time you look at them. It will bring up a positive momentum inside the minds of the students.
Do not memorise the answers
After making the schedule, find an innovative way to learn it. There are many ways one can study the syllabus without memorising. One great way is by picturing everything you study so that you can visualise the concepts. It is a proven fact that having story-based learning could have more impact on the students’ minds.
Every student has their own learning pace. They should be able to use a method that suits them the best. They can watch tutorial videos on the internet to understand the concepts, read educational blogs, ask their teachers to clear their doubts, etc.
Sometimes, it is essential to memorise, for example, while learning a new formula or a theorem. Only in such cases they can mug up.
Practice makes perfect
To score marks in any examination, be it science, biology, or economics, practice is necessary. You can also call the practice the mantra for success. It helps the students to score more marks. They can practice in many forms. There are mock tests readily available on the internet. The students can also download previous years’ question papers from educational websites. They should take full-length tests at least once or twice every week to prepare themselves for the examination.
Take notes
Notes are very fundamental during the time of preparation. It is recommended to take notes of the concepts while being taught and while learning. Personalised notes can help students remember the topics in a much better way. Writing down the concepts briefly in the form of notes will assist the brain in easily understanding the concepts.
Another huge advantage of taking notes is that the students need not have to study everything repeatedly while at the time of revision for their examination. They can look at the notes to remember the topics and concepts. Also, practising previous year question papers helps answer the questions effectively.
Time management skills
Time is the most important factor for everything in this world. It also plays a major role in the life of students. The students should manage time depending on their learning pace. They can make a timely schedule of what to do at what time. For example, they can include the topics they need to cover for the day and start preparing.
Moreover, the students need to set a time limit for each topic and try not to exceed it. The students can take more time if they are learning an important or a difficult topic. Their timetable should be fixed properly so that their daily routine could not affect them.
Maintain a proper diet plan
It is fundamental to follow a healthy food plan. Eating healthy foods will significantly improve the fitness of the students. The students should increase their intake of vegetables and fruits, which will help them acquire the much-needed proteins and nutrients for their bodies to stay healthy. Therefore, being health-conscious is a must.
Furthermore, the students should strictly avoid eating junk foods. Fast foods can create digestive problems and might even cause other issues like stomach aches. So, following a healthy meal plan is equally important.
Yoga and meditation
Yoga is a very efficient method to boost the concentration of the students during the preparation phase. It also helps them stay calm and collected while encountering rough times. The students can allot some time of the day to do yoga.
Apart from yoga, students can also utilise the benefits of meditation. Meditating for 30 minutes a day in the morning enhances the memory power and helps the students maintain focus. It is proven that it improves the students’ memory by 20 to 25 %.
Some students might have ADHD. For them, it won’t be easy to concentrate consistently. Therefore, yoga and meditation will greatly help them improve their concentration levels.
Minimise the usage of social media
There are many distractions for students while studying. One major distraction they need to avoid is the usage of social media. The usage of smartphones drains students’ energy levels and consumes a huge amount of their time. The students should minimise using social media.
Sometimes, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram can be very addictive. Students tend to keep scrolling which consumes a hefty amount of time. However, not all social media should be avoided. Whatsapp, for instance, is a very productive application which will help them share notes.
Answering the questions effectively to secure maximum marks
The below-given are some of the most common techniques that one could use to obtain the best possible marks during their exam:
- Always utilise the first few minutes of the exam by reading the question paper thoroughly. After doing so, note down the very easy questions.
- Write the question numbers carefully and make sure they are right because it will make you lose hefty marks if you do it wrong.
- Make sure to be very careful while answering objective type questions. They are also called multiple-choice questions.
- While writing short answers, do not exceed four lines. Always make it short and crisp and don’t give too much information. Just write the relevant content.
- For long answers, make them look legible and give as much information as possible. Neatly draw the diagrams if required. Make bullet points so that it will be easy for the examiner to read and give marks. Have the content in a well-organised way.
- Always start writing the well-known answers and keep the difficult ones for the last. Be sure to finish everything on time.
- Write at least something relevant to the question asked if you do not know the answer to that question.
- Do not strike out too much; try to write without mistakes. To do that, you need the utmost concentration on the paper.
- Use different colour pens to highlight keywords and headings. Use a numbered pattern or stars to mention the bullet points.
- Use rulers to draw lines after every question. It will make the paper look very legible.
- Have a watch with you, so that you can use it to know the time. However, do not look at the timer very often.
- Whenever you are asked to draw something, use only a pencil.
FAQs
What is an easy way to kickstart your learning phase?
The students should find which section or areas they are good at. After figuring that out, they can start preparing from those sections. It will effortlessly help them obtain marks. In such areas, the students need not have to focus a lot, which will save them a lot of energy and time.
For some students, the short answer section is easy to obtain maximum marks. Likewise, the students should find theirs. Also, while at the exam hall, try to answer the easiest section first to have more time in the end. It will help them fetch the maximum marks.
Mention the effects of studying in groups.
Group study is another important strategy that one could use to obtain higher marks. It is a very efficient method. It makes the students feel less lonely while preparing. Having a group could also help them acquire concepts very easily.
It can create positive momentum and help students have a good study environment with which they can utilise to learn the topics. They can share each other's ideas and clear whatever doubts they have during group sessions. Moreover, revising the concepts together is also a healthy learning habit.
How do outdoor activities improve productivity?
Spending a couple of hours a day on the things that interest the students helps them stay active and boosts their mental capabilities. The students can make good use of that. These activities may include running, dancing, gym, cycling, or other sports, watching movies, or even listening to their favourite music. Mostly, these activities can be incorporated whenever they need a major boost for their preparation.
How important break in between the study?
The students should not keep on studying without taking any breaks in-between. It will only tire them out. Intermediate breaks play a major role in helping the students refresh their minds before starting every topic.
It is scientifically proven that it is only possible to concentrate for up to 40 minutes without breaks, anything more than that would be less effective, and the students would tend to forget what they learn. So, taking a break every 30 minutes increases productivity.
How to write an analytical paper such as mathematics?
While appearing for analytical papers, when solving the problems, use a structure. For example, write the equation at the beginning, write down the given data and what you need to find. After doing so, write the formula in a different colour and then start solving the question. Highlight the final answer with the help of a different colour pen.
Conclusion
To conclude, a preparation strategy is a key to writing the exams well and securing high marks. Without a strategy, it will be very hard to obtain marks. So, we have seen a complete preparation schedule of what to do and what not to do. After that, we also discussed essential things to do at the exam hall to obtain the best possible marks. Do not forget to check comprehensive NCERT solutions to answer your exam questions effectively.
