Image used for representation.
From kindergarten to grade 12, for a student, the academic journey is grueling and strenuous. They go through a maze of experiences, experiments, ordeals, heartburns, fear, anxieties and sniffles yet no one quits!
Tests and examinations become part of their life. A series of tests through the year culminates in a year-end examination of a more serious nature that determines the child’s promotion or detention.
The tribulations of the heart, mind and body continue through the succeeding years until the students finally sit for the final Board exam in grade 10 and 12 which will be decisive in terms of the future career and growth.
Over the years exams create anxiety, fear and nausea.
Of course, it’s a festival for a few, but only for very few. But on the whole, what I can tell parents and students is ‘don’t stress, do your best, forget the rest. The best view comes after the toughest climb.’
Actually, when a student writes grade 10 board exam for the first time, the whole session (which is a year long) becomes a matter of great concern. Everybody in society, such as family and school, keeps reminding him that he is going to take the most crucial exam of his life at the end of the academic session.
The student has to face various restrictions on his daily routine, especially related to entertainment, games, and sometimes on diet too.
The poor students become an object and center of attention of the whole family and even visitors, proffer a plethora of advice and hold very high expectations.
Many parents go through the same problem when their ward is taking the Board exam. Most of the time they seem more nervous, and of course, become very concerned. We see many scenarios of apprehension outside the exam center where parents are hugging their children, consoling them and some even have tears rolling down their cheeks.
Hence, both students and parents seek proper guidance to deal with this marathon of emotional stress and concern.
Here are few tips for both:
Firstly, parents have to create a positive, healthy and a tension-free environment for their child.
1. Parents should not repeat their expectations regarding the performance of their child in forthcoming exams time and again. It creates unnecessary pressure on the child. Most of the time, a parent while talking to the family members and friends, sharing their concern and nervousness in the hearing of the child actually adds fuel to the existing anxiety, worsening the mental condition of the child.
A parent not knowing the damage it may cause will says, “Oh my God! She is not working hard. I don’t know what she will do in the Board exam”.
Actually, the child may be putting his best possible efforts, but the parents will be oblivious and will assume that the child is not putting their best foot forward.
2. The worst thing parents can do is narrate the success story of either their siblings, cousins, or their own. A child will not help feeling only a surge of frustration. Most of the time, they are least interested in listening to parents’ stories of hard work or hardships.
3. The routine of the child shouldn’t be disrupted during the months before exams. Students need time for some physical activity and entertainment to keep their brain re-energised and ready to concentrate again.
4. Parents shouldn’t compare the performance of their child with siblings and other students. Rather, give them confidence so that they can put in their best efforts. Whatever may be the result, stand by them.
5. Home environment must be conducive for the child, and no unnecessary disruptions like parties, excessive TV watching, loud music etc. should be allowed.
6. Parents must give a personal touch to the preparation of the child by helping in preparing appropriate timetable and strategy for studies.
7. A study room must have a positive environment and pleasant ambience with motivating posters, quotes etc. Mostly, study room walls remain bland and empty. Parents must give a personal touch to the study room of their ward by arranging their study table with family pictures, inspirational quotes, pictures of encouragement etc.
8. Students tend to behave erratically during their preparations and exam period. Parents must tolerate it with patience and try tactfully to resolve their issues.
9. Parents must help the child arrange reading material, extra supplements, as well as by downloading preparation material from websites suggested by school or CBSE.
10. Allow and encourage your ward to discuss or explain problem questions with peer groups. It can build confidence.
11. Parent must keep a dietary check.
It is a well-known fact that certain natural substances have a direct calming effect while others tend to create additional stress and anxiety.
Eat small frequent meals rather than the three meals we generally eat. Make sure your diet is rich in vitamin. Include whole grains, nuts, green leafy vegetables, eggs and fish for healthy nerves.
Honey dissolved in warm milk also has a calming effect when you are nervous.
Avoid stimulants like caffeine, nicotine etc. as they aggravate nervousness and insomnia and also deprive the body of important vitamins and minerals.
Have lots of water and avoid sugar, chocolate, strong spices and highly acidic food.
Important tips for students:
1. Collect last year’s Board question papers, download marking schemes and sample question papers from CBSE website. Answer scripts of toppers of previous years are also available.
2. Set (SMART) specific, measurable, achievable, realistic targets
3. Students must prepare the strategy, keeping their potential and limitations in mind.
4. Students should maintain their biological clock so that the peak performance can be achieved between the board exam timings (schedule) i.e. .7.30am – 12.30pm. They should practice papers (mock exams) during the same time and never sleep during this timing.
5. Recite, write and visualise – use rough sheets and learn through this exercise so that your systems will coordinate to focus your learning process.
6. After every 30/40 minutes, take a short break of 3 minutes, breathe in and breathe out. This exercise will enable sufficient supply of oxygen to the blood and the brain. Take a little longer break (i.e. of 5 minutes) after every hour, do some stretching, take a small walk and come back to study.
7. You may change the place to learn some specific topics and while learning/remembering, relate it to the place (may be drawing room). This connectivity - learning enhances retention.
8. Break large assignments into smaller parts and set deadlines for completing each part.
9. Use “mnemonic” pattern to remember some points or order related to the topic. Create funny patterns(e.g. “ All silver cups” is used to learn trigonometry signs in quadrants)
10. Attempt to form mental images to text material order, space, placing etc. by closing the eyes for a minute and imagination (These may be in the form of a map, flow diagram, chart cloud diagram, pyramid etc.)
11. Read the questions first and then formulate correct sequence of sentences as a model answer.
12. Students can memorise using self- created “acronyms” or “backronyms” by creating a catchy new word by picking first letter of each point or step.( This technique is mnemonic)
13. Sleeping after study optimises the consolidation of newly acquired information in memory.
14. Write and rewrite your notes and, while writing, recite. This stimulates a portion of the brain that incorporates the physical, auditory and intelligible parts of remembering.
15. Student must sit in proper posture on his/her seat while studying and avoid reading in the bed or lying in a sofa for a long duration.
16. Highlight the important text for final revision. Use different colours for the degree of importance.
17. Keep motivating yourself by repeating “Yes I will do it”. The subconscious brain receives the signals and reciprocates.
18. Organise your answers and notes in order and try to visualise them in an order before going to sleep.
Tips while taking the exam:
1. Keep a wrist watch in front of you. Say a prayer before starting the paper.(keep your eyes closed for 30 seconds).
2. Read the question paper during allotted time and underline important parts of the questions.
3. Use pen of similar brand and ink ( in case of ink change convey to invigilator)
4. Leave 2 lines after every answer and draw a line.
5. Try to attempt questions in serial order.
6. Encircle the question you have attempted. Put a tick mark on the question number, if answer is to be rechecked or is incomplete.
7. Your answer should not exceed word limit mentioned in questions.
8. Fill the details about continuous sheet on top of the main answer script (check in the end) and number the continuous sheet.
9. Draw the diagram, where ever asked, do not draw if it is not asked.
And to conclude, work in silence. Let success make the noise.
AP Sharma is the Principal at Birla Public School
