Study smart, not hard

“While preparing for my Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), I had to learn hundreds of words. I found this idea very innovative and as I like my own voice, I recorded the words along with their meanings. I made sure I listen to the recording at least twice a day.”

It is exam time and students are busy grappling with notes, formulae and timetables. While the meticulous ones may have successfully hacked their way through vast syllabi, others are now burning the midnight oil to make up for lost time. Study habits may vary from person to person. While some may huddle in groups to help each other out, others may lock themselves in rooms and resort to brute force mugging. To help one and all, Young Hans brings a few smart hacks and chops from students who’ve mastered the art of the final revision.

These unique detours may help students from losing their nerve at the last moment and come out of the exam hall with flying colours. As the old adage goes, it is quality that matters, not quantity. It is not about how hard you study but how smart you are while taking on the mighty syllabus.

Location, location, location! It is of utmost importance where you choose to spend your preparation time. Students should establish a proper study zone. While a few prefer complete silence, others are undeterred even in a chaotic and disturbing environment-to each his own. But studying in silence can make learning easier. A peaceful atmosphere helps you spend your time productively.

But those devoid of the luxury of a private space can drown out the chaos around with soothing music. However, the study location plays a big role in determining the amount of concentration one can put in. Students have to make sure their study place is comfortable, but also not too comfortable so as to put them to sleep. Colours are not only for aesthetic purposes. They can be good at providing accurate reminders. Memorising with the aid of colours helps one speed up the learning process. While making notes, use different colours for different concepts.

Prioritising points with your favourite colours can help you memorise them even better. Priyanka Kanday, a student of business management says, “I make sure I use colours as it helps me memorise important concepts well. Even if I forget a few points during the examination, the colours help me recall them”. Another unique technique is to record one’s own voice. Listening to a familiar voice guide you is an interesting way to learn even as you stay away from your books. Here is where technology can come to your rescue.

Record the main concepts of your syllabus in your own voice and listen to it frequently. This can be your own music till the end of your exams. Farheen Begum, who is currently pursuing her masters in computer science, says “While preparing for my Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), I had to learn hundreds of words. I found this idea very innovative and as I like my own voice, I recorded the words along with their meanings. I made sure I listen to the recording at least twice a day. This tip helped me the most during my exams”.

Another technique, ofcourse, is to resort to either group studies or solo studies depending on your temperament. Anita K, with an experience of nine years in the teaching profession, says “Many choose group studies nowadays. It helps you look at one particular concept in different ways. A point from each student in a group can make for good notes. It is very easy to remember concepts discussed in groups. However, one can choose to study in isolation one day before the examination so as not to get distracted, she says.

Using flash cards, flowcharts and diagrams are other effective ways to remember even difficult concepts. Shravanthi Satyavarupu, a software employee, says “I was the topper of my college. The only tip I used to follow was to make flow charts and diagrams before my examinations. It not only helped me learn but also helped me present the concept well to my paper evaluator.

The more unique one’s presentation style, the more one can score”. Also, start making your own test papers. You get to know your mistakes through self-evaluation. Make sure you are not tired on the day of your exam. Have adequate sleep before the examination and make sure you have eliminated all unnecessary distractions.

By:bhagya shree kottoori