Student-giri: How to study?

Since this series is about addressing the struggles of being a student, I thought that I should begin by answering the toughest question we have all asked ourselves- How to freaking study?

I think that before proceeding I must both- assure and warn you. I have always been one of the toppers, so clearly the following advise has worked in my favour; Yet, sadly it is not a perfect formula that will work perfectly for everyone.So with that being said, lets begin.

1.) KNOW HOW MUCH YOU KNOW.

Everyone is different and has different capacities. This is a fact. It is also a fact that some of us are master procrastinators while some of us are over-prepared. The key to studying effectively is knowing exactly where you stand. Do not lie to yourself- just go over your syllabus sheet and find out what you have to work with. The sooner you accept your reality- the sooner you will be able to do something about it.

2.) MIND MAPPING

Mind mapping is a trick that has been scientifically proven to help remember and understand things better. This is something that you should start doing as and when you cover a topic. It will not only help you to understand things better it will also aid revision.

How to do it- Basically start by writing the names of different chapters in a particular subject at the top of the page. Below each topic write down the main topics, followed by the sub topics under each. Remember that this is only for giving yourself a structure of the chapter and help in familiarizing yourself with it.

3.) KEYWORDS

As we move to higher classes, our syllabus just keeps on increasing in size. The biggest problem people face with this is remembering answers. A simple solution to that is remembering only the keywords and the gist of the explanantion.

Eg- If your question is to list the factors affecting the amount of working capital required by a company- Memorise only the main headers and a gist of their explanation. In this case that would be-

*Manufacturing cycle-time taken to complete production process

*seasonal variation- the demand and production variations in each season ..so on and so forth.

4.) ACRONYMS AND GROUPING

It is easier to remember a bunch of headers in the form of an acronym. Eg- VIBGYOR stand for the 7 colours of the rainbow ie- Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.

Similarly it is also easier to relate the things you are studying to something that you already know or have studied.

5.) COMMON POINTS

Often there are certain common points in different answers. Wherever you spot this, keep it in mind. This will slightly lighten your burden.

6.) WRITE IT DOWN

No. I do not mean copying down your entire text book in your notebook. I simply mean keeping a pen and paper handy. Just keep scribbling something on there. It need not be organised. Trust me it  will help you remember stuff much better.

7.)STUDY BUDDY

Group studies are a sham. They have never worked for me.(If they do work for you, then go ahead) But the one thing that I highly recommend is a study buddy. Find a friend who will motivate you to study. Compare your progress and quiz each other. After finishing your portion, call or Skype each other and solve some question papers.(Alternately tell the answers).

8.) REVISE

This is an important step that many of my friends often skip. I know it seems like a waste of time, but believe me it makes a difference. After finishing each chapter go back and recap everything you have studied in that chapter. After finishing all the chapters, go over everything once again. Revision is not meant to be detailed. Just quickly brushing through works. If you don't remember a part, you can go over it again and if you remember everything, it will boost your confidence.

9.) QUESTION PAPERS

I am from India. This applies mostly to Indian students. It is extremely helpful to solve the papers of the preceding years. This helps you understand the pattern of questions and also helps to figure out the important questions.

10.) DO NOT SKIP CHAPTERS

Skipping of chapters is extremely risky. you must at least know the gist of the answers in case the need be.

TIPS FOR ANSWERING PAPERS-

• Presentation and structure are extremely important. The neater and more logical the flow of answers, the better the marks.

• DO NOT LEAVE A QUESTION UNANSWERED. Atleast write something you know about the topic. Even the most general answer will do.

• BE CALM. It is important that you do not panic, cause that would only lead to a further waste of time and energy. Take deep breaths, collect your thoughts and focus on what you remember.

• DO NOT WASTE TIME ON ANSWERS YOU DON'T REMEMBER. If you don't remember something, leave space for the answer and move on. You can come back to it later.

• Read the question paper properly and select the correct questions. Utilise your reading time efficiently.

• Check whether you have attempted all questions.

• Self help is best help, if you know what I mean. Its better not to rely on anybody else.

Remember, its not only studying hard, but also studying smart that is required in order to score well. Give it your best and the rest is beyond your control. Our marks do not define us, but they do have an impact on our future.

Hope this was helpful! Leave a comment down below if you have a question.

Au revoir,

Joy.

HOW TO STUDY- PART 2.