MANTRAS To Score Well!

                                                     MANTRAS To Score Well!

To the students of class 10 and 12, 

I know right now you are gearing up to write your  board exams. I am also aware about your anxieties and fears. No, I don’t think they are unreasonable. No, I also don’t believe they are unavoidable to be able to score well. Let me walk you through my mantras of scoring well while at peace.

Let us begin with identifying what stresses us. Is it really our board performance or the thought? I am sure it is the thought about our score because the Boards have not yet happened to us. (Remember knowing your concepts well and scoring well are two entirely different aspects.)YESSS… you read it right. I am not doubting or questioning your concepts at this moment. All I want to highlight is that you can score better out of all you know!!

As you read, dear students, I would encourage you to analyze your experiences on the go. I am sure you all have gone through your Mock tests, Practice Tests or Pre Boards and got your score cards. I am also sure that your teachers have discussed your areas for development with you. Now my next question is to YOU - Have you yourself looked into those areas? Have you identified the kind of mistakes you make? Have you been sincere enough to introspect? Here is how I want you to categorize yourself based on each mistake you made:

1. I did not know the concept so could not attempt the question.

2.  I misunderstood the question and wrote an altogether different aspect of the concept      asked.

3.  I understood the question, knew the concept but could not explain it.

4.  I understood the question, knew the concept but could not complete the exam.

Before you read further, I urge you to sincerely pick up an answer sheet and bucket yourself accordingly.

Disclaimer: You might very well fall in more than one category.

For the Case 1: I did not know the concept so could not attempt the question. 
During an exam, such questions must be left to be answered at the end. I am sure you know that mostly all Boards allot extra 15 minute to the students for reading the question paper before you start answering. This is the time you must use wisely to decide the order in which you will answer questions of paper depending on what you know well.

Right now, while preparing for the Boards, you must look into all your pre board answer sheets to identify such questions and concepts where you faltered. Ideally you must revisit the concept, practice a little more and build upon that.

Believe me there should be no concept that you don’t know by now if you have been attending your classes regularly. At times, our over agitated minds can’t make meaning out of simplest of the things. So you have to be calm and stress free and tell yourself everyday that..ALL IS WELL and you are in charge of yourself and your emotions.

For the Case 2: I misunderstood the question and answered altogether different aspect of the concept.

This happens when we jump to conclusion simply on reading a part of the question and start answering assuming we know the concept. For instance, the question might ask to explain the consequences of French Revolution. The mind jumps with joy on reading French Revolution and one ends up citing all the factors that led to French Revolution.

All you need to do, if you fall in this category, is to consciously read the question twice or thrice before answering. Just be sure of what is asked and then answer appropriately.

Another hack would be to develop a habit of paraphrasing the question and writing a short heading for the same before answering. This way, you can never go wrong for you have yourself written the desired concept already.

For the Case 3: I understood the question, knew the concept but could not explain it.

This again happens because of our over zealousness when we assume since we know the concept, we can write well. Once you read the question, especially for sciences and social sciences, you should make sure to structure your points in mind or use a part of your answer sheet for your preparatory work, check it with the question and then answer. Remember, it is always a good idea to paraphrase (giving a short crisp heading to your point) your points so that while checking, the examiner easily gets the gist of your point.

For the Case 4: I understood the question, knew the concept but could not complete the exam.

This majorly happens when we write inappropriately long answers to  questions. Remember, for a 2 mark questions, even if you write 3 full pages the examiner can still award you 2 marks only. You need to write precise answers based on a clear understanding of what the question is asking. Learn to customize your answer as per the value points and marks allotted to the question.

Right now, while preparing for your board, re-analyze your answer sheets and identify such questions where you took unusually long time. Restructure your answer, re-write it and evaluate using model answers or with the help of your teachers.

And remember, this also happens when we just read through the books to revise our concepts. To be able to write at the desired speed, our minds and hands should be well practiced.

So dear students, identifying your grey areas and consciously choosing to overcome them by following these basics of how to attempt your exam, you will surely end up scoring well.

RELAX…take a deep breath and attempt your exam with a new confidence!!

ALL THE VERY BEST!!!

With Love

Anju Arora