Exams are around the corner, make yourself your best performer.

How can you make your examination period better and less stressful?

1)Be realistic: Knowing personal strengths and weaknesses is the key to planning. The real test of the student is to realize that “I am a student”. And, nothing is important to me other than study. Be realistic means; be your own self, the strategy adopted by other students will not necessarily work in favor of all. If a student is reading the notes, simply don’t start to imitate him and start reading the notes only. He might have completed studying the whole syllabus and he only requires reading the notes. I came across a few students who have never bothered to look and analyze their past results. They never troubled themselves to look behind and figure out what has gone wrong with him. Extrapolating our performance will help to improve and work in a different and more reformed and specific way.

2) Sleep adequately: Don’t overstretch to complete the last-minute leftover syllabus. If you are exhausted, you aren’t going to recollect the previously read information. So, give yourself a good relaxation time especially at night. Don’t deprive yourself of sleep. The body’s rejuvenation depends upon the quality of sleep. The irony is, students remain awake for extended hours, but not for study, just to procrastinate or binge on unhealthy foods. The surprising part is, few students take sleep so seriously that they forget to study and become lethargic and indolent. Adequate sleep doesn’t mean going beyond the need. Al Dai al Ajal Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin’s RA sacred verses can be our source of encouragement and inspiration to work hard as He RA states:

3) Drink enough water: Hydration helps to keep your brain cells in function which is the most needed parameter during the examination. Keeping a jug or glass of water within the reach, which will help to avoid remain parched for stretched hours.

4) Avoid junk food and overeating: Extra salt, sugar, and preservatives will add to your drowsiness which in turn will make you sleepy during study hours. Try to have green tea, fruits, and other natural foodstuffs. Good nutritional food is important to maintain the body’s stability. Avoid craving for junk and sugary food by remaining satiated most of the time.

5) Go for a small walk: Staying physically active is a proven way to boost your ability to grasp and retain the knowledge you have acquired during your study phase before the examination. It will also alleviate your stress and anxiety.

6) Exercise: Perform few physical moves as well as some meditation and mental exercises to keep your brain as well as the body functioning in unison for the forthcoming examination. A few basic hand and eye and neck exercises will help improve your performance.

7) Limit cellphone usage: It’s better to avoid extra hours on your phone as it’s detrimental both physically and mentally during this period.  It’s the biggest distraction as well as a source of stressors to invade your precious time. But the question here arises that all the instructions and information are posted through social media, then how we can avoid the usage of a cellphone? True! But here we are talking about limiting and curbing the usage of it. However, it can be a real source of knowledge, if utilized purposefully.

8) Group/ individual study: Group study is one of the distinctive study techniques in Al Jamea and especially in Hostel. This is one of the unique features students are missing these days. The atmosphere of study influences the minds of the lackadaisical person also. A student feels guilty if everybody is engaged in the study and he remains careless. But still with the help of technology students are engaging themselves in group study.

9) New material: Trying to over-read all which you haven’t touched even once will be panicking and hence to be avoided. Know your limits and be kind to yourself. First, try to skim through the previously read topics before pouncing on the new topics.

10) Refer to the previous year’s question paper:  This is a very helpful practice for every student. It’s important to solve at least the previous five years’ question papers. A student will become familiar with the pattern of questions and hence can gain confidence for getting prepared for the upcoming exam.

Here I want to cite two examples:

A: In STD 3 chemistry I have observed that a question on “vinegar” was asked three times in five years but every year in a different way. This makes the topic “vinegar” important to study. Here students miss the salient feature of identifying the main topic. Hence, a thorough study of the topic “vinegar” is required than just going through it superficially.

B: In STD 4 Qasida, the QasidaMubaraka” لم لا نجيب …………….. الذي فينا”   is repeatedly asked in Imtehaan. Owing to its exalted status in Fatemi literature, understanding its verses become one of the important elements for Fatemi students. So, this is how a student can identify a similar pattern and prepare accordingly.

11) Last but not least: staying aware of the current affairs: a student will undoubtedly be asked about the coronavirus pandemic this year. Either to write a short story or an essay or anything related to it. So accumulating the desired information on such latest topics should also be one’s priority.

Hope this article paves your way for a smooth journey of the upcoming examination!

Best of luck!!