Secret of Passing Examinations

It has been observed that the lackadaisical attitude exhibited by most students is the major impediment that is affecting their coming out successful in their examinations.This article therefore tends to enumerate the reasons for failing examinations and suggested tips that will assist in passing examinations if well followed.

Secret

Oxford Advance Learner's dictionary defines secrets as that which is not known or seen or must not be known or seen by others, not declared or admitted to others. It can also be described as the best or only way of doing or achieving something that not many people know.

Passing

This can be best defined as moving in specified direction, that is moving forward from one position to the other.

Examination

In a broad perspective examination is an instrument for testing, assessment, evaluation and accreditation. It is used for the purpose of selection,placement, certification and promotion as the case may be.

Reasons Why students Fail Examination

There are discernible reasons why many students fail examination, some of these reasons are highlighted as follows:

a. Inadequate Preparation

Many students do not make noticeable preparation towards their examination until some few days or when the timetable for such examination is out.

b. Inappropriate Study Habits

It has been observed also that many students are still adopting old or obsolete methods of testing and test preparation, those that are not compatible with good study habits, some of these bad habits are:

i. Cramming: Cramming does not work. It often proves unsuccessful for the simple fact that its easy leads the student in question to write off point the required answer of the examiner.

ii. Passive Learning: Another way in which the adequacy of a student preparation is undermined is by the way in which the student engaged in passive study. Most student read past marking schemes in one or more times alone believing this will assist them in passing their examination very well. Study has shown, that a more "active" learning approach results in greater learning. Some students even regards themselves as having a magnetic brain with a very high retentive ability, but many students have been proved wrong by the outcome of the examination report.

c. Unproductive Examination Anxiety

A little anxiety is a good thing as it keeps one motivated and alert. Too much, however, may result in dysfunction. In some cases a well prepared student with brilliant study habits may be destabilized if such student is too anxious to sit down and coordinate his presentation during the examination time. Most of the time this is due to fear of failing the examination.

d. Lack of Request Approach to Answering Question

The ignorance of students on the appropriate approach to be adopted in answering the examination question accordingly is another major problem that is militating against success in examinations.

The Way Out

The following tips will assist student in passing any kind of Examination:

a. Adequate Preparation

Examination is not the test of things read when the examination time table comes out but accumulation of what is being learnt with time. In a nutshell, preparation for examination should be every time not a specific time. Student should try to increase their knowledge database with at least gain one new thing per day. Some other tips that will help personnel to adequately prepare well for examination are:

i. Sleep Well

Do not work all night, you need at least six (6) hours of sleep in order to start afresh.

ii. Eat Well

Eating a proper meal at regular times is very important. Eating properly would ensure you have enough energy to tackle your daily studies.

iii. Talk To Someone

If examination preparation or the thinking of the examinations are really making any student ill, worried or depressed, don't hide your feelings. Talk to someone about it. As a problem shared is a problem halved.

iv. Take Breaks

The concentration span of a human being is forty five (45) minutes at a time. So don't task yourself by trying to cram as much information as possible for hours. When your mind is saturated with information, whether you putin one hour or ten, it does not make a difference nothing will go in.

v. Know your Peak

Choose a time of the day when you feel most comfortable studying. It could be morning, late at night or in the afternoon, depending on your preference.

vi. Plan your Day

Try to establish a routine that allows time for meals, sleep, revising and relaxing. And your revision must be at times when you will work at your best.

vii. Exercise

You need to exercise your body so as to have a perfect physical and mental alertness, that will help in passing examination.

viii. Stop thinking and worrying about the examination or what will happen; always be optimistic and your spirit will flow in that direction of success.

b. Adopt Good study habits

Cramming should not be adopted as a means of passing examination and study materials should not be narrowed down to few materials but the student should endeavour to read wide enough to cover all that is required for pass the examination in question.

c. Adopt the Right Approach

Any student or candidate in any examination should try to know what the examiner or the examination is required because there are uniqueness is some examination as all examinations are not same.

d. Calming Down in the Examination Hall

Anxiety should be reduced to the bearest minimum by any examination candidate, so as not to affect their concentration and coordination. This has to do with the psychological balance of the student. It is advised that all students should conquer the examination fear and not to allow the examination to conquer them; this will be achieved by being calm and optimistic about the examination.

Conclusively, any examination should not be a stumbling block to any student but rather a way to achieve more success, therefore all examination candidates should take any thing called examination serious and prepare by adopting a good study habits and sky will be their beginning when it comes to excelling.

Olufemi