Take the bull of exams by its horns – Stop cramming, study smart

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By Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui,

It is examination season before the summer season. Students in India and the Arabian Gulf countries, where Indian syllabus is followed, are sweating it out to get the much needed scores and grades to go up the educational ladder. Indian education system has not evolved into its own, from the British system which aimed at creating or producing only the clerical cadre during the British Raj. Generation after generation is perfecting the art of cramming. On top of it, there is parental and peer pressure to perform or perish. It is not surprising to see news in the media about the fall out of such an exercise – students’ suicides before and after the examination results are out.

The western education system emphasizes on practical assignments and group work to prepare for actual life experiences and worthy of employment. The Indian universities have never figured among the top 100 or even 200 because of the ‘disconnect’ between the actual demands and needs of the industry. Surveys have pointed out that many engineers are unemployable because of the lack of necessary skills. The same holds true in many other sectors. A set syllabus and the age old cramming system test knowledge only. They do not test understanding and application of the content.

The art of studying can be a scientific task. Prof. Henry Roediger, Prof Mark McDaniel at the Washington University and author Peter Brown condensed the best study knowledge, based on scientific papers over the past few years, in a book titled – Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. These are considered to be the best ways to retrain new knowledge for the long haul of life.

Take notes by hand. Prof Roediger says that handwriting is slower, so students have to think harder about the material to distill it. It might seem painful to put pen to paper in class, but students can save study time later. If material is taken in long hand or long sentences, it makes revision at home difficult. The best way is to write in chunks as notes. A cursory glance at home will remind the students of the lecture in the class. Notes can be handy to hold too.

Practice rather than study. Re-reading the same topic 20 -30 times will reduce actual time of study and makes the brain search for what the student is trying to remember . Take a test instead. Those students who take small tests are more likely to do better on a subsequent test than those who studied. Tests will take away the examination fear as it may not sound intimidating due to the frequency of tests. It will be like a new bride entering a new and unfamiliar household.

Pace learning. Do not try to learn everything at one go. Human brain has capacity to take limited amounts at a time. Do not force yourself to choke with extra bits of knowledge, which can wait till the brain is fresh again.

Sleep well to read and write well. Many students have a night vigil, a day before the examination. It disturbs the biological clock and hinders in recalling the material learnt the night before and it can induce sleep in the examination hall. All the alertness is needed during an examination. A tired brain may snore away the scores or marks.

Prof Roediger asks the students to make up practice tests and take them repeatedly during the course of study. This way, students learn to work on what they need. Do not test physical endurance. The best way, I would say is that under no circumstances skip your breakfast. The brain needs proteins to think. An empty stomach inhibits mental activity. Take the bull of exams by its horns and put your best foot forward. I set aside my political column to give a boost to your examination preparations. All the best for your exams! Make your parents and our beloved India proud.

Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui is a senior journalist, political analyst and columnist. He is widely followed in Asia, Africa and Europe.

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