Shorter study sessions work better than long, strenuous sessions


Psychologists have found out that students learn as much in one-hour sessions spread over four days as they learn in one six-hour marathon session. It means that students could cut their study time by at least 30% by using a well-planned study schedule or time table. Consider this: When you study for a limited time, it makes your brain work more efficiently. Most of the IITians report that they can cram much more a day before an exam than a regular day – which just confirms this particular research conclusion. Besides, it is believed that during study breaks, the mind absorbs information automatically, without any conscious effort on your part. Hence, for intense memorization sessions like when you are trying to learn dates and events, names of countries and their capitals, a foreign language or math formulae, you should not study for more than 20 to 30 minutes at a stretch.

Focus on understanding and not on memorising

Exams like JEE, NEET and CPT are extremely complex, and check your analytical skills. You cannot crack these simply by isolating various concepts and memorising them. You not only need to understand them, but you must also analyse them and know how they are interlinked. These help with getting a strong understanding of concepts.

Ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your basics. Concepts that you have studied after grade 8 form the foundation of concepts that you will be tested on in these exams. If you have started preparing at an early stage, you should leave some time to revise these concepts before moving on to the core syllabus.

Moreover, simply memorising the concepts will not give you a good base to build on while you are pursuing your degree. It will eventually hamper your growth.

Do not slouch or study when you are sleepy


Sitting with books when sleepy-eyed is a total waste of time. For me, 3 pm is the time when I get quite slothful – about two hours after I have lunch. For some others, early morning is the time when they just can’t wake up to read anything coherently. If you have too much backlog to cover, just do something light at the time – like clearing your desk, sorting your notes or arranging your school bag to let the sleepy phase pass. Better idea? Take a quick 15-minute nap to charge your mind for your study time.

Practice is the key

Now that you have understood your concepts and remember them, you must start practicing. Start by explaining these concepts to your friends and peers. This will help you create a stronger foundation.

The next step is to take subject or topic wise practice tests. Focus on using your understanding to solve an array of questions based on those concepts. As you start attempting these questions, you will get better at solving them. The amount of time you will spend per question will reduce.

Once you have completed the syllabus, start solving as many mock tests and previous year question papers as you can. These will give you a real feel of the exam and you will be able to plan an overall exam strategy. The more mock tests you solve, the more acclimatised your body gets to focusing for long hours and dealing with pressure situations.

Smart work is better than hard work


The attention you pay to the subject and alertness of your mind matters more than the time you spend on it. For competitive entrance examinations, especially, one does not count the number of hours he/she is spending in front of books; Rather, you need to measure the amount of focused study you’re doing. Most common strategies to keep yourself alert are:

  • Minimize distractions. Get rid of the TV noise blaring somewhere in the room, running errands in between studies, and people shouting in your ears. Of course, you cannot control all your family, but you may adjust your time table to study early in the morning or late at night when everyone else is quiet.

  • Start with the most difficult or boring subject when you are fully alert. Keep the easier ones for the times when you feel lazy to study.


Manage your time judiciously and stick to the plan

Now that you have made a plan for yourself, nothing is as important as sticking to it and executing it effectively. Time management at this stage is extremely important. The key to time management is developing a strategy that suits you the most. Some students feel that they study well in short but intensive study hours, which gives them time to relax. Study at an hour that suits you the most - be it early in the morning or late into the night. Avoid long breaks, but ensure that you do spend some time relaxing, enjoying, and even exercising. Pick out one sport and one hobby and spend time away from your books. Remember, focused preparation doesn’t mean overburdening yourself and completely cutting down other activities. A nice balanced schedule for extra-curriculars helps you concentrate better in your studies.

 

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