Preparation for exam
Objectives of the seminar
 Clearing wrong belief
 Feeling of obligations to ‘Alma
matter’ and to the society at large
 Shaping dreams:
Safalta Unhiko Milti Hai
Jiske Sapno Mein Jan Hoti Hai
Pankh Se Kuchh Nahi Hota
Honsla Se Udaan Hoti Hai
4 Ds of success
 Dream-The boundaries are in two
places-in mind and in map-child dreamdoctor dream
 Desire: dream + willingness
 Determination: desire + action plan
 Deed: determination + implementation
 Luck?
Success
 The only place where success
comes before work is in the
dictionary-Donald Kendall
 Our dreams have to be bigger,
our ambitions higher,
our commitment deeper and
our efforts greater-Dhirubhai Ambani
Preparation for Exams
 Substantive preparation
 Material preparation
 Physical preparation
 Mental preparation
Substantive PreparationReading skills
 What to read-materials, organisation
 When to read-time
 How much to read-hours per day
 Individual vs group
 Time management-time table, avoid
procrastination-role of parents
Reading Strategies-Speed
reading
 Speed reading: parameters-survey
findings-average speed
 Popular belief
 Reasons of lower speed-word to word,
vocalisation, eye movement, subject
difficulty, lack of interest, lack of
attention, fear of not remembering,
habitual slow reading due to wrong
belief, cramming
Reading Strategies-Improving
speed
 Willingness to improve speed
 Desire to change
 Eye movement: looking at the centre
 Increase eye span
 No vocalisation
 No regression: use of ruler
Reading Strategies-Changing
the speed
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Some books are to be nibbled and tasted, some
are to be swallowed whole and a few need to be
thoroughly chewed and digested no matter how
trivial the content-Sir Francis Bacon
Decrease speed-unfamiliar words, abstract ideas,
long sentences, detailed technical material, matters
requiring complete retention
Increase speed-simple material, unnecessary
examples, unnecessary elaboration, broad ideas
Magic of SQ3R: F P Robinson
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Survey
Question
Read
Recite
Review
Magic of SQ3R-Survey
 Read the title
 Read introduction
 Read summary or conclusions
 Read all boldfaced headings and sub headings
 Review all maps, graphs, charts and other
visuals
 First and last sentences in paragraphs
 Read italics, technical words and glossary of
words etc
 Questions at the end of the chapter
Magic of SQ3R-Question
 Questions from the survey and what you
already know
 Turn headings and sub headings in to
questions-w-type questions
 Read the questions at the end of the
chapter and mark the same in the text
Magic of SQ3R-Read
 Decide the purpose and type of reading
 Decide the speed of reading
 Read for main ideas
 Mark the key words
 Decide the supplementary details
 Find the unnecessary details
Magic of SQ3R-Recite-Recall
 When to recite
 How to recite
 What if you do not remember
 Manipulate, compare/contrast,
reorganise and categorise your reading
Magic of SQ3R-Review
 Why to review: long-term memory
 When to review
 How to review
 What if you do not remember
Magic of SQ3R
 Student having 57% in 9th standard
securing ranks in various exams
 Foundation of consistent results of my
career-1982-83 example
November 1982: CA (Inter)
December 1982: CAT written test, IIMA
April 1983: Second LL.B
When not to use SQ3R
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Maths and science subjects-change
required
Foreign language
Verbatim type reading
Techniques for concentration
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What is concentration?
Consolidate and make practice
Self confidence in concentration
High productivity periods and type of subject or
topic
Put aside distracting ideas-write down
Don’t mix play and work
Self check and self talk
Ability to say ‘No’: movie invitation?
Interest
Physical and mental fitness
Increase in understanding
 Law of comprehension
 Understanding-type of material
 Breaks in reading-5 minutes
 Get engrossed in reading-attention is the
heart of understanding
 Analyse type of reading material-rote
memory?
 Use of colour coding or symbols
Techniques of Revision
 24*7 principle
 Spaced learning-car driving
 Recitation
 Overlearning-process
 Whole learning
 Reintegration
 Zeigarmik effect-incomplete
 Restorff effect-background contrast
Substantive Preparationothers
 Writing skills-Speed, flash cards or notes,
presentation, list of formula, solving past test
papers (test conditions, pattern study, own test
paper, honesty), good handwriting and use of
memory techniques
 Study environment-No TV/Talk, Room position,
temperature, light and air, seating, organisation
of table, 5 minute breaks, music?
 Others-Interaction with teachers, attendance in
class, completion of assignments and
importance to all subjects
Material preparation
 Pen, pencils, erasers, sharpeners,
rulers, calculator, batteries
 Water bottle, juice
 Exam receipt-identity card
 Never expect to borrow items from
others
 Check which items are allowed
 Used pens, calculators etc
Physical preparation-Food
 Balanced food
 Avoid junk food, cold-drinks, heavy food,
outside food, tea or coffee at the time of
sleep. No more Pizza hut and McDonald
 Don’t skip breakfast or meals
 Use plenty of water-8 to 10 glasses per
day
Physical preparation-Sleep
and exercise
 Sleep for minimum 8 hours
 Do not reduce sleep hours in exam days
 Fix up bed time and rising time and stick
to them
 Suggestions for better sleep-away from
reading table, switch off lights, warm
bath, comfortable room temperature,
avoid heavy meals, no sleeping pills
 Exercise-fit mind and body, relaxation
Mental preparation
 Attitude and self responsibility-take
responsibility for good and bad results
 Building self image and confidencestrong will power and optimism-Rohan
Shah
 Avoiding test anxiety and stress
Mental preparation-stress
areas
 Physically or mentally unhealthy
 Negative self image and lack of confidence
 Dislike for subject or teacher
 History of poor performance
 Inadequate preparation
 Inappropriate expectations
 No idea about what to expect in exam
 Reaching late in exam room-12th example
Mental preparation-out of
stress
 Avoid specific situations
 Over-preparation-IIMA example
 Effective time management
 Go out of specific situations
 Talk to others
 Read in groups
 One task at a time
During exam
 Examinations are formidable even to the
best prepared, for the greatest fool may
ask more than the wisest man can
answer-Charles Caleb Colten
During exam at Home
 What to read and How
 What to do if feeling sleepy-standing,
walking, listening, recorded tape, writing
 Care about food, sleep
 Time management-read at night
 Parental assistance-material, food, sleep
,clothes, etc
At the exam centre
 Go to exam centre and inspect your seat
 Wear clothes, based on season
 Reach in time
 Do not carry reading materials
 Do not reach too early
 Do not think too much
 Do not talk to others, especially brilliant
students
In the exam room
 Go confidently
 Avoid thinking too much about test paper
 Keep alert but calm
 Read instructions and test paper completely
before first answer
 Evaluate paper on many parameters,
understand options, decide priority, use signs
for type of questions, mark words used in
questions like and/or, compare/contrast etc.
 Quick listing of points/formula
In the exam room
 Budget your time
 Begin with easiest but best answer
 Fill in the details in question/answer
book
 Decide response based on questionessay type, short-notes, multiple choice,
fill in blanks
 New question on new page
 Keep concentration
In the exam room
 Use a glass of water
 Consistency in use of serial numbers
 What if time is inadequate
 Use total available time
 Use all supporting materials like log table
 Supplementary-take in time, write details
and tie them well
 Revision- 10 to 15 minutes
Memory loss in the exam room
 Take long breathes for 20 seconds
 Close eyes and look up ,not down
 Use reintegration principle-go back to
reading time and situation
 Get out everything from your mind
 Look at key words of question and recallLL.B. example
 Change the topic for a while
After exams
 Think of next day exam
 Do not talk to others or ask others
 After all exams, evaluate yourself and put
expected marks-find the problem areas and
work on them
 When you get results find gaps and find
reasons for gaps, work on strategies
 Everyone may not succeed at first attempt-do
not lose passion & patience-stick to your goals
and continue journey for destination
Safar of Life
+vn khI> wI #hrta nih hE
Aa>2I se tUfa>se Drta nih hE
t>U na clega to cl degI rahe>
Ao...tU> na clega to cl degI rahe>
m>izlko trsegI terI ingahe>
tujko clna hoga, tujko clna hoga