Habits that can help your child ace the dreaded exams! (and guarantee success)

In the competitive world we live in, no one, including children, have it easy. Buried under exam pressure and the constant comparison with their peers, kids are often stressed about their studies. Often, a lot of parents fail to understand that all kids are unique, and have their own capabilities, yet the pressure to succeed dwarfs all of that. On the other hand, some students, despite their knowledge and intelligence, fall behind in exams, since they lack the tools required to ace one. Here are some tips from students who have excelled in exams...

One of the best habits of students who excel in exams, is that they manage their time in the best possible way. This translates into dividing their syllabus much in advance, and allocating slots for each and every subject. Often, students put all their energies into one subject only, ignoring the rest, which results in unequal distribution of time and resources. Hence, it is important to manage their time in an organized fashion.

Last minute preparation for any exam is unlikely to give great results, as the student has only mugged up facts, and not taken time to understand the basics. A student has to start planning their preparations much in advance, months to be precise. This will not only give them enough leeway to make mistakes and practice, but also to gauge where they are going wrong, and how they can correct those mistakes. This also gives them time to attempt multiple mock papers as well.

No matter how well you are prepared for any exam, it never hurts to revise and revise more. Except for on the day of the exam, where you might be confused and nervous, students must keep aside adequate time for revising, at least the big, and main topics. For this, it is important that they wrap up their course on time, which will give them enough space to brush up on their knowledge. However, like pointed out earlier, last minute revision must be completely avoided, as it may confuse the student.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy - this adage holds true water for students. However, the kind of breaks a student takes makes all the difference. While it is important to take breaks, it should be equally important to note that these breaks should be 'mindful' and not 'mindless' - While the former includes playing outside for a bit, listening to music, and meditation, the latter includes being glued to the phone or TV. Make sure that your child is being relaxed in his break, and not simply whiling away his time.

While it is not uncommon for students to cut down on 1-2 hours of sleep per night, anything less than that can have adverse effects on their health, that in turn can hamper their preparations. Sleep is not just for resting the body, it also calms the brain, and vis-à-vis studies, it helps one retain information better. If your child insists on pulling off all nighters everyday, explain to him/her the importance of sleep, and work out a schedule for him/her to get enough rest.