If the month before was tough, how would you rate this? Absolutely, terrifying! Can’t concentrate, can’t eat, can’t sleep.... this just about sums up the day! Your parents will of course advise you not to worry, but that is much easier said than done. While it is natural to worry at a time like this, keep your feelings under control. After all, there are a number of important things that you need to take care of today.The time just before beginning of the exam can be crucial to how well you consolidate the information you have worked with, and how calm you remain. Here are some basic tips and strategies for what to do during this time.
Last few days before the exam.....
Avoid any activity which may cause anxiety. Focus on whatever you have studied.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD YOU SOLVE PROBLEMS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. This may have a damaging influence on your confidence and ability to solve questions and problems during the examination.
“Stop discussion or review of the subject atleast 1 to 2 days before commencement of the examination. Many students insist on cramming till the last minute. This is absolutely unnecessary and leads to additional tension and problems. Relax the day before the examination. Do what you like the best or do what makes you happy or motivates you. Do not spend your time studying. You will not retain anything of what you study in the last minute.
Focus your attention on the main points of revision . Time is very limited and how you spend it, is important . This is not the time for learning minute details or a new topic. Write down the main points as you go through your notes. This will fix the ideas in your mind.
When with freinds, try not to talk excessively about how nervous you are, how you are going to perform and what the final results might be. This will only succeed in making you more nervous and will take your attention off your preparation.
Be confident. But do not overly confident - this will cause you to become complacent and overlook imortant stuff during the revision process. Avoid discouraging yourself. Be optimistic and positive
Get enough rest and recreation.
Day before the exam.........
Verify the exact location of your examination center atleast one day before the exam. When you are sure of the location, find out the buses or trains that takes you there. If you are using your own vehicle, make sure it is in a good condition and has sufficient petrol.
Check the exact time of the commencement of your examination. Plan to be there at least half-an-hour before the scheduled time. If commuting is going to take you half an hour, you shall start at least an hour before the examination starts.
It is very important to have the following items ready, on the night before the examination. - Your hall- ticket or registration slip. - Blue or black pens or ball-pens with fresh refills (that works). - Sharpened pencils/ Instrument box / A foot- ruler /Eraser/ Watch etc.
Anxiety and excitement are normal on the eve of the examination. Suppress excessive worry.
Say to yourself. “Tomorrow is the day I have been preparing for all these weeks. Now is my chance to show that I have studied well.”
Have a light meal. Listen to some soft music.
Review your key word cards with the emphasis on practising recall. Attempting to cram in new material, although tempting, will tend to use up energy and be self-defeating.
To minimise exam anxiety, avoid gossiping about your preparation and state of mind with others.
Go to bed relaxed with a sense of relief that the strain you have experienced for weeks is soon to end. Go to bed at least by 10.30 p.m. not later.
Sufficient sleep assists digestion and give confidence and calmness before the exam.
Get plenty of sleep the night before. At this point, an hour of sleep is more valuable to your performance than an hour of extra cramming.
Go to bed a little earlier than usual. This way, even if you do not sleep well, you will still get enough rest.
Outside examination centre......
When you have arrived outside the examination room, the sight of students pouring their books or discussing excitedly can make you nervous or anxious. It is best to avoid all of them. The last few minutes should be spent alone in peace. Sit calmly in a place and relax. Should someone come and discuss the subject, tactfully leave/avoid him.
Minimise your waiting time outside an exam room, know the location of the room and time your walk, rehearsing it if necessary. You may either come direct from your home or find a temporary waiting place near the exam room that you can use until a few minutes before the examination.
Meet only those people you want to meet, if any. Avoid conversation with friends, eg about how nervous you are feeling, what topics you have revised or questions you think are going to be on the paper. Avoid waiting around outside altogether or talking to anybody, if you wish, by timing your arrival so that you can walk straight into the room a few minutes before the exam is due to start.
During the exam.....
Once you are inside the room, check up and take the seat assigned to you. If you find your table or chair uncomfortable, seek the supervisor’s help and get it changed.
Complete the identification details regarding your name, registration number , correct name/code of your course, name/code of your examination center and date.
As soon as you receive your question paper, read and re-read the directions carefully. Read all directions carefully. The single biggest cause of error on exams is simply failure to read the instructions.
List the order, in which you intend to do the questions, in the beginning of the examination. Keep in mind two criteria while doing this: your knowledge of the question and the marks value of these questions. In case of a subjective paper you may answer the questions in any order but be sure you put the correct question number in the margin, including the main question number, section number and sub-section number, if any.
As soon as you answer a question put tick mark against the question. If you are not sure about an answer and plan to return to it later, put a query mark and attempt it later. Having allocated the time and the order of answering the questions, stick to the plan .
Even if you find the paper tough, don’t panic. Keep on trying and eventually you will find answers to some of the questions. Remember if the paper is tough it is tough for everybody and the effect would be same on all the students taking the examination.
Stay for the whole exam. Even if you think you’ve done all you can, stay to the end. Relax, let your mind wander. You’ll be surprised what comes back to you in a relaxed state that helps you improve answers or answer a question you were stuck on earlier. Give yourself that chance. Only make changes you are certain of.
Ignore what others are doing, what questions they are working on, and when they are leaving. Focus on your own work and your own pacing.
Read each question very, very carefully. Not reading a question properly results in many silly errors. Don’t answer the question that’s really there.
Budget your time wisely. Spend time on each question or section according to how much it counts toward the mark. If an essay counts for 25% of a two-hour exam, you should spend no more then half an hour on it. Stick to a strict allocation initially, then return to unfinished items if you have time left over.
Do what you are confident of first. Don’t do the questions in the exact order presented on the test unless specifically told to do so in the instructions. If you get stuck, move on and come back later. Let your brain work on the question for a while. Meanwhile, you can finish the easy question and build your confidence. If you do questions out of order on paper separate from the exam sheets, make sure they are clearly marked for the examiner.
