It is natural for
most children to be a little weary of tests and examinations. Surprise tests
are what worst nightmare are made of for students and all of us have been
caught wrong footed at one time or another during our student life, when the
teacher made the unexpected announcement. Our reactions ranged from mild alarm
to downright panic.
So the topic
raises an old question - is doing well in examinations and tests a true
indicator of a student’s worth? Opinion is equally divided right down in the
middle.
One half argues
that it is not, while the other half opines that exams and tests prepare the
students for a real life situation, where things always happen unannounced.
Being exposed to tests will prepare the students to expect the unexpected and
take on the challenge confidently, they add.
So how can we get
students to get over the phobia of exams and tests? Here are a few tips to help
students to ace the tests of both variety - normal or surprise.
1. Pay
attention in class: Most
of us can recall lectures and lessons by some of our teachers years later. Good
teachers possess the ability to influence our minds in a positive way and all
we have to do is pay attention. This strategy also eliminates the need for
last-minute cramming and remains the #1 strategy used by top-performing
students.
2. Follow
up: Have a daily and weekly lesson plan
to reinforce what you have learnt in school. The learnings from school which
are still fresh in our memory are revisited, rough edges are smoothened, and
committed to our internal knowledge bank for later use.
3. Personal
discipline: Knowledge
and hardwork need a disciplined approach to be effective. Relegate TV viewing
and similar activities to the weekend. Instead, encourage children to spend
time outdoors. Fresh air can do wonders to their thinking ability.
4. Regular
habits: Burning midnight
oil never helps. A sleep of at least 8-9 hours a day and during regular hours
is absolutely essential for all. Going to bed early and rising early is a good
way to start one’s day. Apple CEO Tim Cook and his Pepsico counterpart Indira
Nooyi start their day at 4 AM!
5. Be
organized: Make a
checklist of all things you need and round them up well in advance. A dried up
pen or a missing log book on exam day can make you hit the panic button and potentially
affect your performance negatively.
6. Devise
a strategy: Take
time to read the question paper thoroughly and prioritize the questions and the
order in which you are going to tackle them. Some students prefer to answer
tougher questions first, and some others like to answer easier questions first.
7. Manage
time: Effective time
management is an essential part of a successful strategy. Do not panic if you
get stuck and do not spend an inordinate amount of time on the question. Move
on to the next question. You can always revisit the tough one later.
Finally, eat well
and sleep well before an important exam. Always revisit and re-read your
answers before you hand over the answer sheet to give yourself a chance to spot
and correct the errors you may have overlooked the first time around.