Tackling exams side by side

In the pursuit of being successful, many students nowadays start early to achieve their dreams. Students do not shy away from getting themselves involved in multi-tasks in their quest to learn faster. Way before completing their basic school education, students today pick up a professional line and start preparing for it right away. It may seem simple but it can be challenging to manage excellence in both spheres. Generally, students get stuck in the conflict of various exams because of varied syllabi, difficulty levels and patterns. Preparing simultaneously for the Board and the Entrance exams definitely needs planning in advance and a clear focus in order to achieve success in both.

The question about “how to handle the exam conflict” comes in the mind of all students and it always creates confusion about whether to focus on Boards or on Entrance Exams. In today’s scenario, it is more daunting because some of the students would be giving their boards for the first time. With the advent of the CCE system, a lot of students do not appear for board exams in class X. This year will be their first attempt, and hence the anxiety. More often that not, students are focused on getting results than putting together a meticulous plan of action and focused efforts for achieving great results.

The syllabus for Entrance exams such as like JEE, NEET, State-level entrance exams, and for all boards are almost on similar lines as per the new pattern of Entrance exams. The difference between these Entrance exams and Board exams is essentially the pattern. The questions in board exams are based more on theory and facts and less on concepts, whereas the questions in Entrance exams are more on concepts and less on theory. Hence, one needs to study accordingly. If students study the basics and adopt a conceptual approach, then they will definitely be able to solve intricate-level problems easily.

Also, it may take less time to cover all the theoretical and derivation part, which are extensively referred in board exams. The most important thing they need is a workable time management plan.

Key tips

To score more in Board Exam, subject knowledge as well as writing skills (presentation) are important. In mathematics at the time of solving questions students must write the concept or formula. Whatever step you are taking that must be clear to examiner. Writing should be neat and clean.

If we observe the Board exam question pattern, three types of question are asked 1. Very short answer type 2. Short answer type 3. Long answer type questions. To solve very short type questions, students must be aware of all formulas and concepts related to each topic. Students can solve very short type questions only when they have clear and sound knowledge of each topic. Short type question and long type questions are asked from NCERT exercise questions. Students must solve NCERT questions thoroughly. Also, to solve Long type questions students must have very good practice so that they are able to solve the question within time. Generally, the students are found to have apprehensions about Physics, but it is a fundamental subject and if you are good in this subject, then you will have an edge over others. Concentrating on the following aspects will be helpful:

1. In Medical Entrance Examinations, most of the questions are found to be direct formula-based; so revise all the important expressions regularly by making the list and solve the maximum number of questions based on them. The same is required for JEE main as well. You can solve the last 10 years’ papers within the time limit in the same manner as you are solving in an Entrance Examination. It will increase your speed.

2. Mechanics and Electrodynamics are the backbone of Physics in any of the Entrance Examination. So give the maximum time to these two units.

3. Optics, Modern Physics, Heat & Thermodynamics are relatively easier topics and questions usually asked from these topics are either simple formula or direct theory-based, so moderate efforts in these topics will give you a better output.

4. While attempting the paper, a medical aspirant should attempt Physics in the end after Chemistry and Biology; whereas an Engineering aspirant should attempt Physics after Chemistry but before Mathematics as the Maths paper is generally harder and lengthier among the three in IIT-JEE. In any of the subjects, solve the questions in which you are more comfortable

When it comes to Biology, the student must go through the NCERT books thoroughly again and again giving special emphasis to the diagrams. The student must be aware about the weightage given to each portion of the syllabus and should revise accordingly, especially the class XI portion need to be taken care of well.

Chemistry is said to be most scoring subject as a good percentage is devoted to Organic and Inorganic portions where no calculations are required and paper can be covered fast sparing sufficient time to physical portion. However, expertise on these portions is attained only by solving a large number of standard problems and marking of those, where, difficulties are encountered. This must be done after a week again to see if difficulties are still encountered. Repeat the exercise every week till you know the answer as soon as you see the question.

The writer is Director, Aakash Educational Services Ltd.

Keep in Mind

•     Preparing for Entrance Exam needs a lot of dedication and planning. The syllabus is vast so it would be wise to follow a structured and steady approach in course coverage.
•     Plan for a day or a week. Set realistic targets for a day as well as week and check your progress at the end of the day/week. Finish the scheduled or planned work without fail. Do not put it for next day.
•     Do not pile up your desk with all the books in town. Go through the NCERT books thoroughly first of all, and refer another 1 or 2 books for each subject for additional inputs, numerical aspect and to go in depth of critical topics.
•     Focus more on clearing your fundamentals. Understand the concept, only then move to the depth of a particular topic.
•     In case you feel you do not understand a certain concept, do not hesitate to ask your friends or mentors.
•     Make a time table and adhere to it.
•     Keep a check on your progress by taking sectional tests. Sectional tests help you fine tune your groundwork, help you manage time better and, also, bring your weak spot into the limelight. Once you are through with section tests, go for full length Mock Tests. Per subject you must try and write a 10-12 times full length tests and analyse the result for imporving the performance in real exam.
•     Keep revising whatever you do. Remember, it is a marathon, and not a 100 meter dash.
•     Read blogs/articles/papers/books by famous doctors/engineers. If nothing else, it will tell you a little about what these people have done, what drives them and why they like what they do.
•     Do not put yourself under immense pressure. Take time out for yourself. Do something you love, develop a hobby and have fun while preparing.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/issues/tackling-exams-side-by-side/article4496629.ece