10 tips to revise better

Board exams: 10 tips to revise better

Try out these cool new strategies and make the most of your revision time ahead of the exam.

Exam time. Maybe there is enough study done, maybe not.

The idea is to max the performance, and revision has a potent impact on the performance we register.

Here are ten proven tips that will give you ample time to prepare and revise before your board exams.

1. Start from scratch

Doing everything, from scratch easily takes 10-15 days.

You don't have that much time before an exam, esp. if you have 4-6 exams over 2-3 weeks.

So the only way is to refer to condensed notes.

Take an A3 sheet or a big chart, and compile all key formulae, terms etc on it.

Scan this chart many times in your run up to the exam.

2. Test your memory

Now that you've scanned your chart, why not make the whole chart again, from memory.

Writing, pressuring mind to come up with details, helps anchor all stuff deep and solid.

This may take 2-3 hours, but this exercise is extremely beneficial.

3. Speak

You know what, take any term or formula, and try speaking on that for a minute or even 30 seconds.

Do this speaking for 10 terms/ formulae -- what do you realise?

It exerts pressure, it makes you confront your depth of grasp on the issues.

In case any term is not clear, you can review it from your book.

Keep on trying this speaking on 10-15 items at a trot, many time in the day (waiting, watching TV, driving).

4. 100 items on your list

You shall discover that every exam has around 50-150 items that form the entire syllabi, so to say.

Your chart should have these 100 items listed.

You can go to Glossary of the subject to identify these 100 items.

You can go to index at back of a good book, to better identify this list of 100 items.

In fact this way, whichever word you aren't clear on, you can cross-reference the page of the book that item appears on and get it brushed up.

5. Sprint

This may sound crazy, but some guys out there have tried this.

Run 50 metres, return as fast, and then speak on 4-5 terms/ formulae someone throws at you.

No time to catch breath -- just rattle off as asked.

Maybe it is the unnaturalness of the setting or what, things begin to stay stuck in mind more easy.

6. Revisit the toughies

Over the period of preparation, always keep on recording the tough difficult questions you encounter.

Over revision, special time should be allocated to revising these.

This aces you up and allows facing the tough questions set on the exam you would sit through.

7. Warm-up

 On the day of the exam, it is useful to try a 10-15 minute not seen before mock exam, some 2-3 hours prior to the commencement of the actual exam.

This is just to loosen the mental muscles.

Do not, repeat, do not evaluate your right or wrong on this warm-up.

Take it in a fun mode.

8. Try a novel

 Distraction is probably the nicest way to get primed up for an exam.

Too much of exam based content makes life monotonous and brain cells tired.

It is always a good idea to pick a novel, a thriller preferably, 2-3 days before an exam, and looking at your mood, browse 2-5 pages at a time.

Never more. The idea is to keep the mind in a state of mild tease.

Enter the exam whence the novel had not been completed, you can always finish it over after the exam.

Magical things happen this way to your neural networks.

9. Form your own questions

This exercise is truly worth it, in case you are really focused on excelling on your exam.

It entails setting up your own version of a full exam paper.

You study the expected format/ pattern.

You choose most fitting questions from here and there, of course after adapting them with due changes.

You make your own creative questions.

In case you are short of time, making a small part of the full exam paper also helps immensely.

10. Exchange

You can swap the paper you set with a friend's and try each other's mock exams.

Great fun.

Maybe a few questions are wrongly designed, but that's ok.

After all you aren't a professional in exam framing.

Believe me, the happiness you get on cracking your friend's set is heavenly.

Naturally, you would be keyed up with all these initiatives, and surely score well on the exam you take.

The Best Time To Study

What is the Best Time to Study? Day vs Night

The Best Time To Study

What is the best time to study? It’s one of those endless debates among students; is it better to study at night or during the day? Each side has its own loyal advocates who will speak at length of the benefits of their preferred method to try and convince you of the benefits of their choice.

Everyone thinks they know what the best time to study is but the reality is that each person is different and there is no clear winner from a scientific point of view. There are some people who get more out of studying at night while others find the best time to study to be the morning or the afternoon. In terms of objective reasons for both sides, we’ve researched the following benefits to try and answer once and for all what is the best time to study?!

4 Benefits of Studying During the Day

1. After a good nights sleep, you’ll likely have more energy and a higher ability to concentrate the next day.

2. Society is structured around being active during the day and sleeping at night, so by sticking to this norm there are undeniable benefits such as being able to go to the library or book shop.

3. Most people are contactable during the day so it’s easier to communicate with your friends or teachers during the day if you have any questions.

4. Natural light is better for your eyes. Artificial light hurts our eyes and can affect our natural sleep rhythm.

4 Benefits of Studying at Night

1. People are more active, louder and intense during the day. At night it’s only you and the night owls so you can study in peace and quiet.

2. If you’re lucky enough to live near a library that’s open late, you will notice that thelibrary is near deserted when you want to study late.

3. At night there are fewer distractions than during the day. Most of your friends are asleep and your social networks will be less active.

4. It is true that things look different by night. The night can increase your creative efficacy and help you see concepts differently.

There are possibly more reasons why each of these options could be the best time to study. It’s important to note however that ultimately it all depends on your individual preferences. Sadly, there really is no objective ‘best time to study‘! It all depends on your personality, what you’re studying, your resources, time management and your natural sleep cycle.

There are bunch of study tips out there to help you improve the time your spend studying. You can even read our article “How to Study: 10 Tips to Improve your Learning“.

If you study at night, or are interested in starting, then read the tips below.

6 Tips for Night Time Studying

If you know that you study better at night, follow these tips to get the most out of your preferred time of study:

1. Establish a Routine: If you decide to study at night, don’t do it sporadically, establish a study routine. This way your body will get used to it and you can get the best study performance possible. If you study for a few days and a few nights, your body will go crazy! Pick one and stick with it.

2. Rest: If you study at night, this does not mean you should be sleeping less. A well rested mind is key to successful study so make sure you don’t neglect your sleep by catching a few zzz’s during the day.

3. Lighting: It can happen to us all; you start studying during the evening and next thing you know it’s night time and you’re studying in the dark! Make sure this doesn’t become a common occurrence. If you’re a night studier, work in a properly lit room as it will improve your study.

4. Time Management: It’s easy to lose track of time when studying at night. This makes it even more important to create a study timetable outlining when you will take breaks. It’s recommended that you take a 5 to 10 minute break every 50 minutes when studying. Also make sure you keep hydrated!

5. Music: As mentioned above, one of the benefits of studying at night is the increase in your creativity levels. Many believe that their creativity becomes more pronounced at night. That is why many artists work through the night. A good idea to induce your creativity is to study while listening to music that inspires and motivates you.

If you’re interested in studying with music, check out our article “Music for Studying: 10 Tips to Pick the Best Study Music“.

6. Organise a Study Group: Studying in the dead of night lacks a lot of the social aspects that daytime studying may have. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to organise a study group with other night studiers to help you keep motivated.

If you’re a night studier, why do you think this is the best time to study? 

Celebrate an Environmentally Safe Diwali

Celebrate an Environmentally Safe Diwali

Every festival has its own significance and meaning to its celebration. Diwali, the festival of lights signifies the end of darkness (ignorance) and the beginning of light that enlightens us all.  Every nook and corner of the country resonate the festive spirit with lights and sound of the crackers. In our zest to celebrate Diwali in a grand scale, let us not forget our responsibility towards the nature, the home for all living beings.

We all know that our environment is precious and that we have already done enough harm to it. The high electricity consuming lights, air polluting crackers and disturbing sounds from the explosives during Diwali celebrations are highly detrimental to the environment.  Here are some tips to be Eco sensitive this Diwali,

Green and Safety Tips –

•  Light Diyas instead of energy burning lamps and lights.
•  Avoid decorating the outside of your home with electric lighting, you can do without it!
•  Crackers not only pollute the environment but also burn your pocket! Stay away from    highly polluting crackers.
•  Make conscious decisions while Diwali shopping. Buy Eco friendly gifts for your  friends and family!
•  If at all you HAVE to, enjoy the crackers by going to a public cracker show function or  from your balcony rather than bursting them yourself.
•  Dispose the remains of the crackers carefully; they may be harmful for kids and pets.
•  Reduce the use of non-degradable decorative items, find innovative  and Eco friendly  ways to improve the aesthetics of your home during Diwali.

Hope you will keep these pointers in mind and be sensitive towards nature this Diwali. 

This Diwali, let’s go green & celebrate a pollution free Diwali. Say No to firecrackers & yes to

Happiness. Let’s not forget our nature this Diwali, Celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali. This 

Diwali. Only Diyas, No fireworks.

Happy & Safe Diwali..!!

"M.U.R.D.E.R." A Study System.

           "M.U.R.D.E.R." A Study System              

Mood: Set a positive mood for yourself to study in. Select the appropriate time, environment, and attitude.

Understand: Mark any information you don't understand in a particular unit; Keep a focus on one unit or a manageable group of exercises.

Recall: After studying the unit, stop and put what you have learned into your own words.

Digest: Go back to what you did not understand and reconsider the information; Contact external expert sources (e.g., other books or an instructor) if you still cannot understand it.

Expand: In this step, ask three kinds of questions concerning the studied material:

•      If I could speak to the author, what questions would I ask or what criticism would I offer?
•      How could I apply this material to what I am interested in?
•      How could I make this information interesting and understandable to other students?

 Review: Go over the material you've covered, Review what strategies helped you understand and/or retain information in the past and apply these to your current studies.

         Choose your subjects with an Aptitude Test - CBSE SGAI

The senior secondary level of school education in India can be the most defining period in shaping the higher education options & career choices of a child. What stream you need to choose after class 10 – science, commerce or humanities - is a question that starts looming large over the parent’s and the student’s mind right from class 9. 

More often than not, the decision of picking the choice of subjects to study in class 11 & 12 is taken by the parents, if not determined by your class 10 marks. But ideally, you should choose your subjects on the basis of your aptitude, personality, interests and career plans. 

How can students establish where exactly their aptitude lies? How can they determine and finalise which subjects match theiraptitude and interests? Parents often don’t take their children seriously when it comes to making such decisions. And students end up giving in to parental pressure and choose subjects which lead to “lucrative” and “safe” career options.

CBSE Student’s Global Aptitude Index (SGAI) 

It is to address this growing concern that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) came up with the novel idea of an aptitude test for class 10 students in 2011. The CBSE was the first board in the country to introduce such a concept – a “Student’s Global Aptitude Index (SGAI)”.

The purpose of the SGAI is to empower a 15 year old, class 10 student with “self-knowledge” – help him/ her discover where his aptitude lies, what his personality is like etc. The CBSE SGAI is meant for X grade students and is an optional activity, for schools and students.

It has been designed by a team of experts comprising of psychometrics, psychiatrists, and practising school counsellors and pilot tested on a sample audience before its implementation.

The first edition of the “Student’s Global Aptitude Index (SGAI)” was held on 15 January 2011. More than 6 lakh students from all over India and abroad took the CBSE SGAI in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Salient features of SGAI
•    The CBSE SGAI is not mandatory & is meant for class X students studying in CBSE affiliated schools               across the world.
•    The test is a collection of indices such as aptitude, interest and personality.
•    Unlike the conventional aptitude tests which indicate professional orientations, the CBSE SGAI attempts         to indicate subject orientations at +2 level.
•    CBSE’s aptitude’s test has been customized to suit the Indian context and variety of student population         in CBSE affiliated private, government and aided Schools.
•    The CBSE SGAI is not an examination.
•    It is a simple paper and pencil test of 1.5 hours duration.
•    There are NO right or wrong answers, negative marking, pass or fail.
•    There’s no prescribed syllabus and no special preparation is required.
•    You just need to be mentally prepared and answers questions sincerely in this test. Your SGAI scores             may depend upon your environmental stimulus and motivation levels.
•    You should take the CBSE- SGAI scores only as an indicator or a facilitator.
•    The purpose of CBSE SGAI is limited to help the larger population including parents, teachers and                   students to initiate a dialogue on subject choices that lead to effective career planning later in life.
•    Final decision on the subject choices may be taken in consultation with teachers and parents.

Choose wisely!

Our advice to class 10 students is to choose your subjects for the next two years wisely - they'd determine your path for future - your career goals and aspirations are intertwined with this decision you make. Follow your heart, your interests and keep in mind where your aptitude lies!

Everyone has a Story in Life

Everyone has a Story in Life

A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity,
suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”
The old man smiled and said…
“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.

Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you.