The word “exams” brings back so many memories, some funny, but mostly scary! Sleepless nights of mugging, the frantic praying and then waiting for results with bated breath. Exams cause the same amount of anxiety, no matter if they are school exams or entrance exams like the JEE and NEET. If you are studying for a competitive exam then you’re in luck – we’ve compiled five useful tips on how to prepare for exams successfully.
Success Mantra For Competitive Exams
There is no one particular solution to ensure success in competitive exams. It is the culmination of various tactics/efforts that helps a student attain their end-goal. Remember the following five tips as you start your journey toward competitive exams.
1.Build A Winning Plan
As a first step, students should build a study plan which consists of details like how much to study, what subjects to review, how to divide the curriculum, and when to practice. The study plan should take into account one’s ability to understand each topic – i.e. if you are not very comfortable with physics, then more time should be assigned to this particular subject. Make sure your study plan includes enough breaks and free time for relaxation.
It is recommended that these study plans are made at the beginning of each month. We strongly recommend your practice on the topics you are already good at and revise, or learn and understand topics through video tutorials. There are numerous live sessions where seasoned coaches work in conjunction with each student to set realistic goals and plans and then monitor the progress closely. This can help you in doubt solving and clearing your understanding of concepts.
2.Learn & Understand Vs Read & Remember
It is possible to mug up chapters and do well in school exams, but competitive exams are a different ball game altogether. Competitive exams like NEET and JEE are structured in a way that tests your complete understanding by isolating concepts in the form of questions. So, if you approach these exams with the attitude of mugging and remembering concepts, then you will be making a huge mistake.
The best way to tackle competitive exams is to understand the concepts in detail – ask your teachers and mentors as many questions as you like and try and understand the “why” behind everything, instead of just searching for the “what.”
3.Practice Is The Key
Once you have mastered various concepts, how do you put them to the test? The best way to check how you are really doing is to sit for mock tests, solving previous year’s papers, and getting your hand on any question you find in the textbook. As you practice more and more, your understanding of the questions will increase, and eventually, the questions on the actual paper won’t seem scary. Practice questions and tests are at the core of SpeEdLabs’ philosophy for this very reason!
4.Keep An Eye On The Clock
All competitive exams are time-bound, which suggests you simply get a couple of allotted minutes to finish your paper. Most students reveal that sometimes they could not answer questions due to lack of time. Now, you do not have any control over the amount of time allocated, but what you can do is start training for time management.
Once you’ve mastered finishing the paper within the deadline, nobody can stop you from getting an honest rank. We would like to point out that SpeedLabs’ advanced AI-driven platform allows our team to identify any unproductive patterns in test-taking promptly so they can be addressed before the actual exam that counts.
5.Time For Introspection & Feedback
It is not enough to only give mock tests and solve questions – it is just as important to learn from your mistakes and identify your weak points and unhelpful patterns. Once you learn which chapter or questions are difficult for you to crack, focus on them more and try to grasp their logic – this way you will not only master the subject but also be cautious to not repeat the same mistake in the actual exam you’re preparing so hard for!
One thing is certain, there are no shortcuts to meeting your goals. Only those that can concentrate and practice with 100% dedication are the lucky few to taste success.
Will you be one of them?
Also published on Medium.