Night Before Examination
And late at night before the examination day, I was flipping thru the pages. Trying to capture what it all meant, totally lost and contemplating each word with focus. Certainly, I was not in this world. Since, I was not aware of what was going on around me and what time it was. I must have slept by this time. After all, it was my examination the next morning and I had to leave early.
In contrast, I was so lost in the concepts mentioned in the book. As a result, I didn’t want to keep the book aside and fall asleep. I was anxious and why must someone not when it is examination the next day. And if it is something horrific like thermodynamic then sure you must. If someone isn’t anxious then one must claim him the Einstein. So, here I was nervous, flipping page after page like some studious. Like I was gonna finish this in a single night only.
But was I really worried about the examination? and If I was worried, was it really about me? My answer to this is – No.
If truth be told!
I was not worried about myself or any examination. Rather worried about the character in a book I was reading late at night. It was no thermodynamics I was flipping thru however a novel. And in this story there was this character whose life was at stake. In the middle of the pacific ocean, whose life was continuously threatened by a Bengal tiger.
I was worried about him, who had no hope to survive, I was worried about him rather any examination. And It was the same place I was lost mentally which captivated me late this night. I was reading Life of Pie – one night before examinations.
Behind The Scenes!
Now you must be thinking, whether I must be good at this subject or certainly the question paper was out, one night before.
Well, if you think the former then think twice. After all, its thermodynamics and this subject doesn’t befriend anyone. And if you prefer the latter one then think 100 more times – it only happens in fantasy not reality.
There is one more condition – maybe I don’t care about the exam. Yeah, maybe, maybe that’s true.
The point is there is nothing like the study one night before examination(SONBE) concept. Perhaps there is but up to some extent. Up to the passing marks only but this blog isn’t limited to there. This blog talks about getting A+ and SONBE concept is vogue concerning that.
If I was that relaxed, chilling with my novel late at night. There must be something I was doing differently than others. When others were revising what they studied, memorizing what the Clausius inequality is all about. Here I was in the middle of the pacific ocean with a tiger aka Richard Parker under 7 different skies having nothing to eat. I was sailing across the ocean.
I care about exams, I was just not worried. Now let me tell you how you can have the same attitude. Let’s begin then!
Months before examinations
This section won’t talk much about the preparation part. But this section is one of my favorites and this is part of the strategy too so I must share.
The whole concept of getting an A+ isn’t the one-night game. It is a continuous effort and the magnitude of effort is in the form of Gaussian distribution. You should not effort very early or during the examination. It should be somewhere between – Analytically I must say 3 weeks before the exams(mid/end term). Then how this strategy is necessary?
Clearly, this is the time when the semester begins and most of the students start studying their subjects with enthusiasm. Far ahead of their professor’s progress in lectures classes. But soon give up unless they are nerds.
Since studies aren’t the only thing that I believe you wish to pursue. Besides, being a student with innumerable passions & interests you all want to do a lot of things other than studies. Such as sports, cultural activities, singing, and arts. Some of you wish to piano classes, and some to learn programming or design software. In such a hustle and bustle, the semester beginning is the second best time ahead of vacations to keep continuing your passion on regular basis.
Do This To Be A Top Performer!
Learn any hack you want to, participate in whatever you connect to, try different things, and approach whomever you like. But just keep in your head the following thing to be a top performer:
- Never miss any of the lectures and in case you do, ask your mates about the topics that were covered.
- Make good notes and note down each topic that is being taught during the lecture – they are the ones the question paper is consist of (not the paper itself).
- Focus on what the professor is trying to imply & understand the concept there only. Forget if there be any YouTube videos available out there.
- Try to jot down each thing in your notes so you don’t forget that ever and then revise everything at the weekend or the day end whichever fits you better.
- Ask as many doubts as you can during the lectures – but only logical ones. Else you only irritate your classmates.
- Progress with your professor – not ahead of him, there is no Pulitzer prize for being over-smart. Grades differentiate all.
These all above points will help you keep progressing slowly and slower is better than never. Nevertheless, when the exams day will come you know what are those topics, the professor contemplates more. In short it turns out to be the important one. Consequently, you won’t take much effort to understand topics since you made it all clear in the classroom only. This will save you a huge self-study time too. That you can spend later on your passion, internships or building some skills.
Days before examinations
This is the period 4 weeks before end term examinations and 2 weeks before midterms. This is the time in which you have to put your maximum efforts to prepare. By this point of time generally, we receive the date sheet also. And that’s exactly where your planning part must begin.
4 weeks for 4-5 subjects are more than enough. Here you can divide the subject week-wise or day-wise as per the subject difficulty and the syllabus.
(Like I do have 4 subjects so I allocate each week for 3 subjects. Since 4th subject is almost kinda philosophical so I do study for that one in 2 – 3 days meanwhile).
Note :
Week_1 – Start with the most difficult subject.
Week_2 – continue with the 2nd difficult one
Week_3 – prepare for the first examination no matter the difficulty. But for the easiest one – do not give a whole week instead 2-3 days before examinations are enough)
And then try to focus on the execution part once your planning is done.
Let’s foolproof now!
To make your planning part effective, you can use Google calendar where you can mention exactly what you are going to study on which date will solve your day-to-day worry. There are a few more tips to help you in effective studying but that part we will discuss later in the productivity blog which I’ll be soon posting where I will share all the productivity hacks I use to stay up to date.
But for now, plan your weeks and do effective execution (study).
For effective studying, the points mentioned in section 1 will help you a lot. And if you follow them thru, you won’t face much difficulty during self-study. You will know what matters from an examination point of view.
Also, practice as much as you can during these 3 weeks. Practice numerical, concepts, and derivations, as much as you can. So that, during the examination you only have to revise them. Instead of giving much time practicing each and every concepts.
Now let’s move on to the next section, which talks about the strategy during examinations.
During examinations
Read, play guitar, watch cartoons, take a walk, talk to your loved ones, listen to music! – oh really.
Yaah, you read that true.
Do things that calm you down, relax you, that keep you sane. Because it is the clarity with a calmness that matters more than the concepts with chaos.
The examination time is for the revisions only, not for practice to be honest. But believe me sometimes I found myself practicing some concepts during this period. Nevertheless, 100% adherence to some strategy is a myth too – and still it gave me tremendous results. So don’t fret).
The most helpful concept i follow during this period is the 80-20 principle so-called the Pareto principle.
This says that during examinations focus more on those 20% of the concepts which has 80% of the chances to appear in the exam. Which also can give you 80% of the result. Just 20%. And for the rest of them just skim thru the pages and relax.
This is a very nice strategy cause this gives me a lot of time in exams to offset my mind from the study to the mind wondering things. So I can calm my mind and avoid over-digestion of the concepts.
And this was exactly what I was doing when I was reading late night novel.
But remember the adequate amount of sleep before exams night is necessary too. That’s why I avoid midnight football matches no matter how important they are.
Exam Hours
Here comes the examination hours now!
Scenario (15 mins before examination):
Excuse me bro, did you read that Henry Fayol’s 14 principles of management?
This is the action part that directly links to the result. No matter how hard or smart you study – if you are not present mentally in the examination hall. If you are not at peace with yourself. If you are not confident in yourself. If you doubt what you study whether be able to jot it down. If you stay pessimistic about all those concepts that might appear that you didn’t study. Believe me, you can f*ck all the planning part and the strategy you made earlier.
First of all, learn to believe in yourself. Stay positive and then accept the truth about the concepts that you didn’t study. (So bro, I didn’t study those 14 principles. Still, I’m confident about what I have done and that’s my truth so you stop breaking my mental peace now).
Yaa, it’s alright. And if such questions appear then accept them. In case, if you don’t know about them stop panicking and do what you know.
The main fundamental is to start answering the questions that you know first, which you have prepared. Later as you go, if the attempting marks are not yet approached, go for the questions that you have at least some idea about. Now attempt them to the best possible knowledge.
And meanwhile, make sure to highlight all the important things. Use some blue or black underlines to make your presentation well. A clean and clear writing style matters a lot.
It Isn’t about examinations only!
But examination isn’t the only parameter in Semester. There are many assignments, practical files, and attendance percentage marking. You don’t have to worry about any of them if you follow the instructions mentioned in this blog.
If it comes to assignments, complete em on time and submit them before deadlines. Finish your practicals as they have been assigned to you to avoid last moment rush. And if there is some kinda research work or project assigned, I highly recommend you use Google calender or Google task. There you can break down your actions in day-wise planning. So as to meet the final deadline and finish them on time. The first research paper that I prepared was based on the same strategy which was highly appreciated. I will share the same in the coming blog on how to manage research works and projects effectively.
Personally, with me, I have not only college tasks to manage but I’m a working professional as well. And if I have managed well by sticking with the above strategies then why you can’t?
So read this blog again and take away the key learnings and share with others.
And last but not least:
Focus on your growth, not grades!
Kabil bano, success jhak marke piche aayegi (Be a capable/competent person, success itself will run after you).
3 idiots
Don’t forget to comment in the comment box. Tell us about what part you loved the most and what you wish to further add on.
A big hug to you all!
Adios!