~ Guide to preparing for examinations ~

Nitin D. Parekh
CA, CFA, MBA (IIM, A)
CFO, Cadila Healthcare Ltd

The preparation aspects for examinations can be divided into four sections like
Substantive Preparation, Material Preparation, Physical Preparation and Mental Preparation.
Substantive preparation refers to learning the material which is the subject matter of the exam.
Material preparation refers to the physical items to be taken for the exam.
Physical preparation refers to specific care about food, sleep and rest.
Mental preparation refers to the attitude and self responsibility, avoidance of tension and
stress and being motivated and charged to take up the exam.

Substantive Preparation for examinations

1. What to read? : There is so much to read on any subject like textbooks, study guides, reference
books, suggested answers etc. Read all text books and prescribed reading.
2. How to read? : How to read addresses issues of methodology of reading and various reading
practices. One technique is that of faster reading by not reading word-to-word and not going for
re-reading called regression. Faster reading saves a lot of time. Amongst many techniques aimed
at better reading, SQ3R is one of the most powerful techniques. This technique is very effectively
used by me from 12th standard to Chartered Accountant, IIM MBA and CFA course. This technique
is the basic foundation of my academic success leading to consistent rank holding career and
I would very strongly recommend to all students. The full form of SQ3R is survey, question, read,
recite and review. Let me explain this technique in brief as under:
a) Survey: Survey the reading material before you actually start the reading. Here you are doing
study of the title, main sections, going through preface to the subject and thereby creating
your mental framework as to what are you likely to read. Here you are making broad review of
reading material. This is also referred to as Mind mapping process.
b) Question: While you undergo the first step you would be able to recall everything which you
might know about the subject. Now from this prior knowledge and survey think of the questions,
which you think would be probably answered by reading. The headings and titles may lend
useful hints in framing such questions. This step brings the purpose and prepares you mentally
to have a meaningful focused reading.
c) Read: With the purpose in mind now read carefully one section or topic at a time. Find the
main points and also understand the relationship of one sentence with another. Understand
the order of the sentences and try to tell your mind how you get convinced not only with the
individual sentences but even the inter relationships of different sentences.
d) Recite: After you are through with a particular topic of reading, close the reading material and
try to recite all the main points aloud or write them down. This is the most important stage of
study. I always followed the method of writing down the main points in this step. Unless you do
recital, you will forget 50% of what you have read in one day.
e) Review: You have now completed reading and recital successfully. Now review the entire
chapter to ensure that entire reading makes sense to you and you are able to remember the
order and sequence of the material. If you are not satisfied, review again. Such review process
should be carried out first time after 24 hours of study and then on a weekly basis to strengthen
the memory. The research reveals that most forgetting occurs within 24 hours and thus recital
and review help in preventing the evaporation of knowledge. As per Mr. Pauk, the only one
minute of review after learning can double your retention.
3. When to read? : Different students find different times convenient for reading. Some like morning
hours, some like evening to late night reading and some do not like anytime for reading! My
personal experience is that early morning reading is better as compared to late night reading for
better reading comprehension and understanding as well as memory. However during the days of
exam it is advisable to have night reading compared to early morning reading.
4. Time management : The students must properly prepare their study plan by preparing daily,
weekly, monthly and annual time tables, possibly in a reverse order. The most important enemy of
time management is procrastination, meaning tendency to postpone the tasks in future-which may
never be completed as tomorrow never comes! Regular adherence to time tables and continuous
revision of the same based on experience and exigencies are must. Set the targets, list down
the time, specify reading materials and other resources required to achieve the same, get the
resources in time, use them as per targets and chase the targets religiously. Be realistic in your
planning. You should provide for some free time or free days so that you take care of exigencies
and have time for other activities. Time management is an art and can be a separate subject in
itself.
5. Writing skills :
a. Writing speed: Speed of writing is extremely important in exams. It is also necessary to
understand that those students who are well prepared for the exam take less time in
thinking about the answers and are immediately able to start the answers and thus they
are in a position to complete the test paper.
b. Orgainse your reading by making notes
c. Prepare list of all calculation formulas: Make it a practice to go through this list at least
every week to be completely aware of the same and a day prior to the exam.
d. Solving test papers: You should solve a number of test papers of previous exams to gain
confidence in exam and to understand whether you are able to complete the paper in
time.
e. Good handwriting: Good hand writing creates good image in the eyes of the test paper
examiner. Try to write in at least legible words.
f. Make use of various memory techniques: Make use of various techniques like association,
visualization, link method, mnemonics etc. while trying to write down the points to
remember.
6. Study environment : Study environment has to be conducive to good study.
a. Watching TV or playing games or talking at the time of reading is to be totally avoided.
b. Though breaks of 5 minutes at interval of one hour are desirable, there should not be
frequent interruptions which can distract your mind.
c. The temperature in the study room should be comfortable for reading.
d. The chair should be comfortable and conducive for study. The writing table should be
comfortable in terms of length and height to facilitate writing.
e. The room should have good ventilation and light.
f. You must organize your study room or study space in such a manner that you are able to
find your required textbooks, notebooks or other study materials easily.
Material Preparation : Material preparation refers to all the requirements of materials related to the
examination. We may consider the following important aspects in this regard:
1. The test material items can include many items depending on the subject of the examination
and type of examination. Some of the most commonly used items are as under:
a. Fountain pens or ball pens with additional fresh refills. It is experience of many
students that roller ball pens provide smoothest writing.
b. Pencils- dark or light as per the requirements and properly sharpened. Unless
specifically asked pencil writing should be avoided because in comparison to pens
the speed would be lower.
 c. Erasers, Sharpeners, Calculators-if allowed, Calculator batteries.
d. Ruler, Instrument box, Protractor, if required, Log tables, if allowed.
e. Watch, Identity card, Examination slip.
f. Colour pencils or marking pens, if allowed.
g. Water bottle, Poker to put holes in sheets for tying them together.
h. Strings and/or stapler to attach supplementary sheets.
2. The students must make it clear as to which items are allowed and not allowed in the
examination room and decide the items accordingly.
Physical Preparation : Physical preparation means being physically fit to take the test. There are
several aspects of physical preparation as under:
1. Food:
a. Eating a balanced diet is a must for students
b. Avoid junk food, too much of cold-drinks, ice-creams, sweets, chocolates and
packed food.
c. Avoid taking heavy meals as you would feel drowsy and would not be able to
concentrate properly.
d. Don’t skip your breakfast or other meal under examination stress or anxiety.
e. Avoid excessive use of tea or coffee.
f. Use plenty of water.
2. Sleep:
a. For all students at least 7-8 hours of sleep on a daily basis is must to keep them
physically and mentally fit.
b. The sleep should not be reduced even during examination days. Many students
are prompted to reduce their sleep during and before examination days. This is a
very risky step and must be avoided under all circumstances as the ability to learn
and remember gets reduced with fatigue and stress.
c. Fix up your bedtime and rising time and adhere to the same under all conditions.
d. You may get better sleep if you take a warm bath before going to bed.
e. If possible, maintain required comfortable temperature in your bed room. Make
sure that your bed is comfortable enough for good sleep.
f. It is better to keep your bed little away from your reading table.
g. You may switch off the lights when you go to bed to avoid any distractions.
h. Taking heavy dinner or drinking more cups of coffee or tea before sleep is best to
be avoided.
i. Avoid alcohol or sleeping pills even if you are too anxious to sleep and do not get
sleep easily. Taking such things is likely to make you dull and lead to memory loss
in exams.
3. Exercise : Do regular exercise to keep your body and mind healthy and fit. Exercise helps in
burning extra calories and also provides a good medium for relaxation from study activity.
Mental Preparation : Mental preparation of examination involves being mentally fit for facing
examination with full confidence and with out test anxiety. This involves several aspects as under:
1. Attitude and self responsibility : Believe that exams are must and you would put up excellent
performance and achieve best results. Ultimately you are the boss of yourself. If you think so, then
take responsibility for both good and bad situations in your life.
2. Building self image and confidence : The students must have strong will power and confidence in
their abilities to perform well in the exams.
3. Avoiding test anxiety and stress: The mentally fit student for examination should not have stress
and tension of examination, though it is said that some tension of exam is good to keep the
students focused on their responsibility.

General Tips for exams

At the examination centre : The following points should be remembered:
1. Go to your exam centre the previous day and inspect your seating place in terms of comfort,
ventilation and availability of air depending on season.
2. Reach to the exam centre well in advance.
3. You may not carry any reading materials with you for reading between your home and exam
centre.
4. Don’t reach at exam centre too early.
5. At the exam centre outside the class you may find some students engrossed in reading or discussing
what would be there in the question paper etc. Avoid talking to them as they would create anxiety
and stress in your mind.
6. Don’t get into discussions with your friends and colleagues.
During the Exams :
1. Go confidently to your examination room.
2. Take your seat well in time. Avoid thinking about what will be asked in the test paper.
3. Relax and don’t think about the exam. Take deep breaths and relax your hands by stretching.
4. When the test papers are being distributed maintain cool and calm position with out getting nervous
or anxious.
5. Read all instructions of the test paper carefully before starting any answer.
6. Read entire question paper before starting any answer. While you read the questions also judge
the question paper in terms of length, difficulty level, type of questions etc.
7. While reading all questions of the test paper also analyse the type of test paper in terms of
essay type questions, short-notes, fill in the blanks, true-false, multiple choice questions, reading
comprehension, charts etc.
8. While glancing through the entire test paper start paying attention to the total number of questions
and the amount of time which will be required to complete the same.
9. Read directions for all questions and understand what are the optional questions, if any.
10. While going through test paper, if you are provided options, mark with pencil the questions which
you would like to attempt.
11. Decide the order in which you would like to attempt the questions.
12. You may also circle the questions which are most difficult and you would like to attempt at the
end.
13. You should break-up the difficult or complicated directions into smaller sentences to make correct
meaning out of them.
14. Understand the allocation of time to different questions based on total time available and time
required to be allocated to some specific difficult or essay type questions.
15. You may do quick listing of some formulas or points related to questions asked while reading the
questions if you apprehend that you may forget them.
16. Now do your own time budget for different questions and develop your choice of questions to be
attempted, if you have any options.
17. The allocation of time need not be in proportion of marks only.
18. Fill in the necessary details in the question paper and in the answer book like your identity number,
roll number or any other information which you may be required to write down. Never take chance
that you would complete these details at the end.
19. Before you begin your first answer you may think of outline of all the answers which you are
required to answer.
20. Start with the easiest but best answer first. You may decide to answer all objective type questions
first. These may be completed in relatively lesser time so that you have enough time to answer
other questions.
21. Your first answer should be well presented in a legible handwriting and must be the best possible
from your side. Your first impression should work out well.
22. It is quite common for many students to give disproportionately more time to first question. This
happens as you have just started. To avoid this start with budget time adherence from the beginning
by not concentrating too much on good handwriting.
23. Start every new question on a separate page of the answer book. If the question relates to a chart
or graph it would be better to put chart on the left side of the answer book so that it becomes easy
to write on the right side of the page without every now and then turning the page to understand
and interpret the chart or graph.
24. Constantly keep your eyes on the watch so that you don’t spend disproportionately more time on
any questions.
25. Use all supporting materials which are allowed to be used in exam.
26. Mark or circle all the questions and sections of the questions which you have already attempted to
make sure that you do not forget to attempt any one and also to avoid spending unnecessary time
to check many times what is attempted and what is pending.
27. If you do not know the right or full answer to a particular question, make it a last choice to
attempt.
28. If you are not very clear about the answer and are in two minds, concentrate on the key words in
the question to get some clues to the correct answer.
29. You may re-read the directions to ensure that you have attempted all the questions required to be
attempted.
30. If you find the test paper very difficult genuinely or in comparison to your expectations do not get
nervous.
31. If at all you get diffident and find things not working out to your expectations, quickly gather your
strengths, remember your career goals and get to the work again. Believe that this is a necessary
trying and testing period to reach your ultimate career goals.
32. If you feel nervous in the exams do small relaxation exercise like stretching your hands and legs
and close your eyes for half a minute taking deep breaths.
33. You may take a glass of water during the exams. If allowed in the exams and you really feel like
taking you may drink a small glass of fruit juice.
34. Keep full concentration on your test paper.
35. If you get stuck up in answering a particular question or get memory loss half way through your
answer, try to recall your memory by taking deep breathing and relaxing for 30 seconds. If you do
not succeed do not get panic, leave space for the answer and go to next question. Try to save time
to come back to this question later on.
36. If you find that you are likely to miss one or more question for want of time, it is advisable to shorten
your answers in terms of length rather than allow some questions unanswered.
37. If at all you are in a situation wherein you are going to miss answers to one or more questions,
you may only write the outline answer and mention that though you know the complete answer
you have not been able to do the justice for want of time. It is not to convey that this will allow you
to get full marks but it will definitely help in maintaining your good reputation and can work in your
favour.
38. When you use particular type of serial numbers and sub-serial numbers, use them uniformly in the
entire test paper. For example, if you use 1, 2, 3 etc as the main points and a, b, c etc as the sub
points follow the same pattern through out the test paper. This is also a testimony to your attribute
of consistency in smallest things.
39. Request for a supplementary sheet when you have at least one page to write down so that by
the time you get the supplementary sheet in your hands you do not have to wait and waste your
valuable time.
40. Don’t forget to write down all required particulars including supplementary number and your
identification number and other details on all supplementary sheets.
41. Don’t forget to tie up main answer sheet and all supplementary sheets. You may use strings as
well as stapler pin if allowed.
42. You must plan your test paper in such a way that you save at least 10 minutes to make complete
revision of your answer book.
43. Make complete revision of your answer book. Be sure that you have written what you desired
to write and have not forgotten anything and have not written anything incorrect to the best your
knowledge.
44. Use total time available for exam.

After examinations :

1. When you come out of your exam room you should avoid talking about your performance to
other students.
2. During exam days do not make any attempt to think about your performance and expected
marks when other subject tests are yet to be taken.
3. After all exam papers are over you should evaluate your now expected performance vis-à-vis
your original expectations for all subjects.
4. After exams of all subjects are over, you may go through all your question papers and put
estimated marks against all the questions in each subject and estimate your subject wise
marks and grand percentage to decide your overall expected performance.
5. If you feel that you are not in proper health, you need not immediately decide to take drop
from the exams as appearing for exams second time itself can become a matter of losing
confidence.
6. You need to reward yourself after the exams are over. How about a picnic party or a movie?
Don’t forget me!
7. Even when you get your results you must make comparison with what you expected and then
find out what possibly would have gone wrong. You would have some ‘if’ and ‘then’ kind of
scenarios with you like ‘if I had not given so much time on question number 3 then I would
have more time for rest of the questions.’ Make use of such learning for future exams.
8. When you are pursuing studies and are yet to undergo further exams on the subjects you
should remain on the task. It is said that a successful student is either taking a test or preparing
for another test.

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