JOIN USWith around 12 lakh aspirants having appeared for each of the major entrance exams, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), in 2017, the challenge to excel can be really daunting. Besides, the prospect of having to deal with the vast syllabi may make some students unnerved and confused.
However, with judicious planning and efficient time management, you can easily overcome these hurdles and breeze through the exams. It is essential to start your preparation early so that you can have ample time to prepare. Keep in mind that any competitive examination will have questions from the syllabus of Classes 11 and 12.
To ensure productivity, design a time table to study for the exams and stick to it no matter what. Your study plan should have a fair idea of what you need to study and the time allotted for it. To reap the fruits of success, it is advisable to put around six hours of effort outside school hours. Take short breaks of 15 to 20 minutes in between to enhance your retention power. In addition to this, here are some tips that can help you prepare better:
Seek guidance: While it is impossible to have the syllabus at the start of your preparation, it is best to clear doubts in difficult topics from your teacher at regular intervals.
Concept clarity: Keep away from learning by rote as much as possible. Apart from memorising formulas, adopt an understanding of the basics.
Notes: As you complete each chapter, it is important to make brief notes summarising the content and listing the formulae. This would ease your work at the time of revision.
Sample papers: Although you cannot always predict the changes that may occur, it is necessary to go through the previous years' question papers to observe the type of questions to be expected in the upcoming exams. Note that the quality of preparation matters and not the quantity.
Mock tests: Mock tests help you gauge your abilities by giving you a feel of real exam and boost your performance by
giving you an extra edge when confronted with the actual exam.
Time management: This is the most crucial aspect of preparation because you need to give equal time for all your subjects. The paper duration, pattern and the number of questions you need to take up within that given span of time are not something you can afford to decide on your examination day. So, to ensure that you do not waste time on the day of the exam, practice some past papers.
During the exam: Start and solve the questions in a way you are comfortable with. Stay calm and embrace a systematic approach while dealing with the paper.
Remember your path of preparation would not be smooth. At times, you would feel impatient and discouraged. Yet the true spirit lies in holding on to your dreams in the midst of all odds that comes your way by sheer confidence and optimism. Your persistence would surely yield desired results. Although these exams are quite demanding, they are not that difficult either.
With these tips in hand, sailing through these exams will not be as challenging as you may have once thought.
(The author is chief executive officer, BASE)