Effective Study Techniques to crush any exam

Preparing for competitive exams such as JEE, UPSC, GATE or studying for college semesters can get quite hectic. You have to go through a lot of material and remember it. It will be very easy if you have proper study techniques in place.

Studying the material

Make a note of the important topics. Study the portion first which is most difficult and would consume the maximum time. It is not wise to spend more time on the topics which you already know/are confident of. This will also help in quicker revision and build your confidence. If it is a theoretical topic, make brief summaries of the key points in form of cheat sheets which will be useful later. Solve relevant problems from past examination papers.

Remembering the material

Once you have covered a section, explain it to yourself or a friend (if possible). Write down the difficult parts such as equations, diagrams etc. During this time, you can identify the part which has not been covered well and go through it again. This is known as Feynman’s technique. Click here to know more about it.

Building the focus

Make a habit to sit at one place and study for an hour or two at a stretch. It may seem difficult at the beginning but once you get used to it, you can cover topics very quickly. If you cannot focus for a long time, taking a break of 5 minutes after half an hour of study also helps. DO NOT keep extending the break. You are only losing the efficiency. Make sure you have slept properly. An optimum sleep of 7 hours helps in remaining focused and going through the drill.

Tips for de-stressing

Continuing the above schedule for a time period of 10-12 months or even 2 years(when necessary) is possible only when you are fresh throughout and not burnt out. When you feel saturated, make sure you to relax by listening to your favourite songs, doing exercises, watching movies. Talk to your parents, closest friends if you are facing any problems and sort it out.

Avoiding distractions

While you are studying, do not keep checking the social media notifications in between. It is best to keep your phone away as it takes only a moment to get diverted. Attending calls, checking notifications or any other activity harms your efficiency. Stay true to yourself so that you do not regret later.

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