How to study and prepare for exams?

1. 73

   viewfindersposted 12 years ago

   How to study and prepare for exams?
   
   Many students show good performance in the class,but after the examination/test most of their result will be average.
   They saying that,  while seeing question paper they  forget what they studied,
   Share some tips from your experience to overcome  this.

   replyreport
2. 62

   Shake Shahposted 12 years ago

   After learning, try to re call what you have learned. Stop studying before at least 30 mins of the examination. While writing the examination, engage in the question, that you are attending, not to bother about the rest.

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      ya its a good suggestion,but I think while studying one have to make some code for that particular section. By doing this surely help to find answers to questions.....

      replyreport
3. 55

   MasculistFeministposted 12 years ago

   The answer really depends on the subject. Some subjects are highly conceptual and language based. A good way to study for the exams of these types of subjects is to use two techniques called chunking and elaboration. Chunking involves grouping similar bits of information under a category in your mind. When you look at your notes and text, try to order the information in your mind into categories. By doing this what you will find is that when the exam paper is in front you, certain words or phrases will trigger memory recall of certain categories you have formed in your mind. To make sure chunking is effective, you will need to repeat the process a couple of times for the same information. Eventually you will get to a point where you can remember 5-10 bits of information, when you see or think of 1 bit of information that happens to be grouped with them. This is memory theory and it works.
   
   However this is really only rote learning without elaboration. Elaboration is a technique in which after you have chunked the information, you think of hypothetical scenarios or examples in your mind and apply the information you have learned to that scenario. This not only strengthens those connections in your memory, but also dramatically improves your understanding of the meaning behind the content. This allows you to better answer questions that might say, discuss, compare, elaborate and so on. Textbooks or past exam papers also give you hypothetical scenarios that allow you to practice applying the theory and better understanding the meaning behind it.
   
   With the more mathematical and problems based subjects, the best way to learn is to work through practice questions that are as close as possible to what is found on the exam. You must make sure the practice questions you use reflect the style found in the exam. Otherwise you might be able to answer the question, but because of the way it is worded differently you will waste time trying to understand it. Secondly, working through practice questions allows you to understand how to practically apply formula and not just rote learn them.
   
   Before you engage in the practice questions though, make sure you understand the exact meaning of each term and the formula itself. This is critical because it allows you to understand how to apply the formula practically in any situation, not just the ideal one.
   
   For subjects that are a hybrid of the two types, employ both sets of techniques. Get a good nights rest and don't panic!

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      its really good suggestions

      replyreport
4. 0

   SkeetyDposted 12 years ago

   I used to prepare for exams about 3 weeks ahead of time, wherever possible, by going into a quiet room with all my books and a drink and a snack and study for about two hours before taking a break of about 15 to 30 minutes and then going back to the books and studying another 2 hours.  The day of the exam, I would just go over the most important points that I had studied but I would stop an hour before the exam began.

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      in my earlier studies i also used these tips and its really useful,thanks for good tips

      replyreport
5. 67

   collegedadposted 12 years ago

   I find that if I have done the course work and fully researched the concepts presented I don't need to spend a lot of time preparing for an exam. I may go over the chapter reviews for the chapters covered by the exam. I may also take any self quizzes that the textbooks offers. If I find that I'm not fully versed in an area I go back and review that portion of the course material. This allows me to focus my efforts on weak areas instead of wasting time on material I all ready know.
   
   It may sound odd, but I do not study on exam day. I let my mind rest and do something that gets my blood flowing. I feel that cramming on exam day isn't productive. It increases your anxiety and you retain very little. I'd rather get up early and go for a hike then cram.
   
   I guess what I'm trying to say is that exam preparation should start the first time you crack open your textbook not the week of the exam.

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      good,but everyone will not have the same mind.

      replyreport
6. 69

   connorjposted 12 years ago

   
   
   There are a few significant techniques that all should use. (1) Read and write (not just read) the material you must learn. (2) Read the material for a minimum of 30 minutes before you begin to sleep. Once you reach the delta wave length of your sleep cycle your brain will coninue to rehease that material. If you can maintain that sleep cycle for approximately 4 hours; when you awaken you will have learned that material significantly. (3) Make sure you have adequate sleep at minimum the night before the examination. (4) Stay alert and attentive while studying. If you are tired or distracted it will not help you.
   ISBN 978-1-4652-0882-8

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      good suggestions.
      but I think is you taken these from any book.

      replyreport
   2. 69

      connorjposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think you have made an error; my second suggestion (2) is not from any book that I am aware of... Suggestion (1) is profound and may perhaps be in some books...

      replyreport
7. 36

   edhanposted 12 years ago

   It is the constant revision after a day in school. Most people tend to say they already know what they had studied but not revising thereafter.
   
   It is wrong. You need to revise after school, that will re-enforce the knowledge of knowing into your brain. So when you revise for the coming exams, things will be remembered.

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      yes,its good to revise what you studied,but most of the students didn't do it.

      replyreport
8. 62

   chikuzenposted 12 years ago

   Study Hard, Pray Harder.
   That's what my mentor tell me when i was started my college days. Simple but effective.
   One specific preparation for the exam is that Sleep early before the exam, having lots of sleep will give you energy in the next day. Take heavy breakfast, it will help you a lot because taking exams consumes a lot of energy.
   It is helpful to create summary on what you reviewed ( Index Card) so that when you are traveling or waiting for the exam to start, you will have a quick view on what you reviewed
   
   Hope it can help

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      good suggestions expect taking heavy breakfast as it cause sleepness.why i am saying is that, for digestion more oxygen is using, thus the amount of O2 to brain  be reduced.

      replyreport
9. 78

   frozeninkposted 12 years ago

   I think mental preparation is very important. Especially for examinations of higher levels, time provided is very limited and hence pressuring. Students should make sure that they are able to handle the pressure and do not just write their submissions without much thinking. Essentially, sufficient rest is required.
   
   With regard to the preparation of substance or subject matter, students should take methods that they are most comfortable with. Some are able to go for a last minute marathon on their books - reading for long hours. Usually such students havehigh level of focus and endurance. They perceive themselves to have shorter span of memory, thus disliking constant revision.
   Some prefer or rather, better able with constant revision. They are unable to cope with the pressure of last-minute revision and/or are unable to have such level of focus.
   
   Nb : Not commenting on which study method is better. It depends on individuals.

   replyreport
   1. 73

      viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      your views are good. Not mental preparation alone  and health preparation  is also required.
      thanks for commenting

      replyreport
10. 60

    jodeciposted 12 years ago

    When I was a student sooooo many years ago I would first prepare a quiet but comfortable place, mine was the kitchen and I was not distracted by food. I have the necessary materials: pen or pencil, notebook, textbook. I usually have something to drink to keep my energy up usually soda.
    
    Most text books have questions or outline at the end of each chapter so I would re-read the outline and answer the questions. After reading the outlines and chapter questions depending on the number of chapters that were going to be on the test, I read my notes which could be from the text book or lecture and compare my notes to the chapter outlines. Sometimes I would make "flashcards" of each chapter especially if there were dates, definitions, or important people involved.
    
    That's basically the only way I studied, it worked for me most of the times. When it came to math I just practiced the questions in the textbook, read the highlights on performing the math problems and I used flash cards for math tests/exams too.

    replyreport
    1. 73

       viewfindersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       everyone have their own way of studying technique and thanks for sharing your techniques that worked for you.I hope your suggestion be helpful...

       replyreport