Recently, I asked a person how she did her university exam. “I did not do as well as I would have liked to," she said. "I had studied and prepared well and had the confidence to answer all the questions. However, during the examination, at one point, I lost the connection and could not continue. So I got only 8 marks out of 10.” Although disappointed at her less than satisfactory performance, she added an interesting remark: “But I don't worry about it. I studied well and that's sufficient for me. After all examination is not everything in life. We study for life, not for examinations.”
These words reflected a rare wisdom that only a few possess today. In the rat race for success, people spend countless sleepless and stressful hours with their textbooks in order to score high marks in their examinations. Their only aim is to secure a place in the selection for higher studies or the job of their choice. When an examination is near, students get into severe stress; worry about whether or not they have done enough revision or if they will remember everything when the time comes. They take special tuitions and memorise all the exam guides that they can get hold of. Many students approach examinations as an end in themselves and spend all their resources for achieving good results only to forget later most of what they had studied.
Examinations, of course have their importance as an exercise of evaluation of a student's knowledge, ability and aptitude. But what is of greater importance is the need to study for life, and thereby to enrich one's career and enhance the quality of life in the world.
Here are seven tips to help you face examinations:
1. Know that examinations are important, but they are not everything in life. Study not just for and at the time of exams, but daily, and for increasing your knowledge and enriching your life.
2. Be attentive in class, take clear notes, and ask questions when you have doubts.
3. Read more than your textbooks. Use library, not just to prepare for exams, but to increase your knowledge in various disciplines.
4. Make a clear revision plan in advance and stick to it. If you are well prepared in advance, you will feel much calmer and confident when exam time comes around.
5. Discuss and revise what you have learned in class with your close friends and analyse how those lessons can be applied to life.
6. Even when you study hard, take enough breaks, enjoy your favourite hobby, and have enough sleep to energise your body and mind.
7. Doing badly in an exam can be upsetting but it is important not to put too much pressure on yourself. Poor grades or failure is not the end of everything. You always have a second chance. Stressing and worrying drain out energy you need for your work and study.