B.S. Warrier
| Here are more tips on long-term preparation for examinations. |
HEART AND SOUL: Sound health is of great importance while preparing for an examination. Photo: K.K. Mustafah
THIS WEEK we will discuss a few more steps for long-term preparation. An important step in developing good language skill is learning more words. Some people call it `vocabulary development.' If language is considered a building, words are the bricks. We say we build brick by brick. Without bricks we cannot build.
Likewise, you cannot write without words. How can you improve your vocabulary? The first step is to develop the habit of referring to a dictionary. Unless you go to the dictionary, you will not know the correct meaning of words.
One word may have different meanings. You may wrongly believe that you know a word even if you have learnt only one of its various meanings. Let us take an example. All of you know the word `round.' What does it mean? You may say that it means `shaped like a ball or circle.'
The answer is correct. But that is not the full answer. Look at the following sentences using the word `round.'
The police fired ten rounds.
The doctor is on his rounds.
She called him roundly a liar.
He rounded off his career by becoming an actor.
Gandhiji attended the round table conference.
Round your salary to the nearest thousand.
The wolf rounded on the sheep.
Does the word `round' mean `shaped as a ball or circle' in any of these? There are other senses also for the word `round.' Unless you know the different senses of the word, you will not be able to use it well. It is a good idea to make use of a `learner's dictionary.' Another method is to make use of books that help to develop your vocabulary quickly. They advise the method of looking at the roots of words. Whatever is your method, the objective should be to enrich your vocabulary so that you can write fluently with precision, using the most appropriate words on any occasion.
As hinted earlier, there are several points that are common in learning strategies and examination strategies. We will, therefore, have to repeat some of the points we had discussed in the previous series on learning that were featured in these columns. However, there are many new points as well. This is for the reason that the best-prepared student need not necessarily score the highest marks. The assessment result in an examination depends on how well the matter has been presented, to match the examiner's expectations. Let us now look at the examination strategies.
Timetable
The first step is to frame a realistic timetable for your studies during the days of the examination.
You may have only limited time at your disposal to cover a vast area. Prioritise the lessons, taking into consideration the probability of questions from each of them.
You should admit that your limited objective during the pre-examination preparation is not the ideal widening of your knowledge for purposes of personality development, but giving finishing touches to your knowledge and skills to meet the specific demands of the examination and to secure the highest scores.
During the framing of the timetable, the gap in terms of days between two papers permitting eleventh hour preparation, number of examination sessions each day, relative difficulty or ease of the subjects from the point of view of each individual, areas left uncovered previously are some of the factors that deserve attention. Your scores during previous tests in individual subjects may give you some indication of how you would perform in the next examination.
Eleventh hour
Anticipating the test content is a wise strategy that would help you in the eleventh hour preparation. The patterns of questions asked during the previous examinations of the same type would give you an insight into the possible structure of the question paper you should tackle.
The quantum of time, the number, style, and difficulty level of questions, instructions regarding choice and options, and the percentage of numerical problems that are likely are some of the elements you can guess through the exercise of analysing previous question papers. Also, in university-level examinations, this would help you to identify certain possible questions through a process of elimination. Very often, question-setters leave out those areas that have been dealt with in the just previous examinations. Nevertheless you should be prepared to face surprises as well. Those who blindly plan selective learning based on this kind of speculation may have to repent later. Who knows a question-setter may not nurture a queer flight of fancy?
In an emergency test preparation, you may have to resort to cramming in the last moment. It is no sin, although cramming should not develop into a habit.
Note down all formulae, definitions, and key points for essays at a single place for a quick look just before the examination. Refresh your mnemonics.
As old soldiers would tell, "Keep your powder dry."
Health-wise
Another aspect that is seldom discussed by educationists, but has a profound influence on your performance in the examination is the keeping of sound health through proper diet, exercise, rest, and sleep. Some overanxious students ignore the health aspects when they are blindly immersed in the examination-oriented efforts, with the unfortunate result that at the crucial time they fail to deliver their best.
They may not be able to learn with concentration during the eleventh hour, or write effectively in the examination hall.
Such a possibility should be carefully prevented. Avoid stimulants as far as possible and keep away from depressants. After any test or examination, find some free time to make a thorough analysis of your performance.
It is by the realisation of your errors that you can learn lessons and avoid repeating the errors in future.
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