How Should a Student Prepare for Competitive Exams Step by Step?
Is there a competitive exam dangling over your head that you wish to crack? Well, it might seem as difficult as nailing jelly to the wall in the first place, but if you learn how to study for it without being stressed out, then the process of the preparation will become comparatively easy for you. Before anything else, you need to believe in your own potential that you can solve complex problems within a particular time limit. With the right positive attitude, proper planning, and smart learning strategies & methods, the whole process becomes manageable. In this blog, we will help you ace the prepare for competitive exams by providing you a detailed guide on how to do the study preparations. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How to do Prepare for Competitive Exams
Understand the pattern and syllabus of the exam
First and foremost, you need to know about the defined syllabus of the exam that you are going to take. Apart from that, go through the previous year’s papers to understand the exam pattern and structure. It will help you get clarity on the types of questions being frequently asked in the particular type of competitive exam. Nowadays, everything is available online. Simply search for what you’ve been looking for and you will get the most feasible solution. There are different types of study material and guides available to help you prepare for exams. You can find them online and in the physical book stores as well. Make sure you buy the recently published books by famous authors. Get the updated ones after researching the best books that can meet your requirements.
Follow a proper time table
Now that you have all the study material handy, the next step is to prepare for the exam by creating a time table so that you become more focussed and disciplined. To keep yourself on the right track, time management is an essential tool without which you won’t be able to achieve your targets and goals. Thus, schedule your study sessions according to the hours when you find yourself most productive and energetic. If you are not a morning person, then don’t be too harsh on yourself by trying to wake up at the crack of dawn. If you think that you can learn better during late night hours, then let it be. Make sure you allot more time to studying topics that you find tricky to deal with and never stretch your study hours. Don’t forget to take short breaks in between to refresh your tired mind.
Take a practice test to evaluate yourself
Even if you think you are studying well for the exam, it is important to test your knowledge by solving sample papers and practice tests. It will help you identify those areas that you need to work upon. The study guides and preparation books consist of diagnostic practice tests to help you know the sections and topics that require more attention and focus. Once you are done with solving the paper, take the help of the answer sheet, and look for the mistakes you have committed. Understand what went wrong to not repeat the same error again. We suggest you give more time to study the difficult concepts. If you need assistance from a subject expert, then there is no harm in clarifying your doubts by asking questions.
Keep distractions at bay
You have already set up a study routine, but it’s no use if you often get distracted from cell phones and television. Whenever you sit to study, make sure you remove all the distractions that can break your concentration and ruin your ability to study well with complete focus. Request your family members to give you some space and not disturb you at all. In addition, never fix a particular space to study on a daily basis. Try to change your location as it keeps you alert and breaks the monotony. Whenever you think you are losing momentum, change the room you generally study in.
Eat well and do some exercise daily
The whole world knows that a healthy body and mind can help you study better and efficiently. Thus, make sure you take a proper diet in order to feel active and energetic throughout the day. If you are physically and mentally fit, then most certainly you will be able to learn the concepts quickly without feeling drained out. Eat veggies and avoid junk food during exams as they have a negative effect on your memory. In addition, do any form of exercise for 30 minutes to keep your mind stress-free and optimistic. It will also tone down your anxiety levels that generally strike students who are preparing for competitive exams.
Revise the topics thoroughly
This step is the most important cog in the wheel for preparation. However, many students make the mistake of learning new topics at the eleventh hour instead of going through the familiar concepts. By doing so, they do not get enough time to revise the old topics. It can put them into stress, thereby causing difficulty in paying attention. Eliminate your fear and anxiety by continuing to revise what you already know and have studied meticulously. Simply brush up the subject matter without giving any unwanted pressure to your mind.
Following these useful tips will surely help you excel in the competitive exams. Trust your abilities and continue to study hard until & unless you pass your exam with flying colors.
We wish you good luck!