Mistake 8

Jumping Straight Into Answering a Question without Proper Planning:

You read a question and you know the answer. Do you immediately raise your pen or pencil and start writing away? If yes, how many times have you encountered the following scenarios?

• You are halfway through your answer and then you realise that your answer is wrong!
• You are penning a new paragraph when you realise that it should have come before a previous paragraph!
• You are halfway through a point you are trying to make before you realise that you have already written it in a previous paragraph!
• You are writing about a new idea and then you realise that it should have been discussed together with another idea that you have already written!
• You realise you have left out an important point in a previous paragraph but there is no space for you to insert it! Therefore, you are forced to write this point in the margin of the paper or somewhere away from the paragraph. Then you draw a long line to connect this sentence to the paragraph.
• You have finished the answer but realise that the paragraphs need to be rearranged! Therefore, you resort to numbering the first paragraph as (1), the second paragraph as (5), the third paragraph as (2), and so on so forth.

If you have encountered any of the above scenarios, and are still running into such situations, would you want to avoid them in future?

The solution to the above problems is proper planning. Proper planning ensures that you have considered all the major aspects of the question before you start to write your answer. It would save you much time later when you write the answer. A carefully planned answer would also get more marks than an unplanned or poorly planned answer.

Below are the suggested steps in planning an answer to a question:

1. Always spend a minute or two thinking through a question.
2. Underline the key words in the question and ask yourself what kind of answer the question demands.
3. Make quick notes in point form as you brainstorm for all the relevant points and ideas that come to your mind.
4. Group all the related points and ideas together into main ideas.
5. Ask yourself whether you have enough main ideas. A long question typically requires at least three main ideas in its answer.
6. Ask yourself whether you have too many or too few points for a particular main idea.
7. If more than half of your answer is about one main idea only, while the other main ideas make up the rest of your answer, you are most likely paying unequal attention to each main idea and your answer will be lopsided.
8. Finally, plan how you wish to approach the question and structure your answer accordingly.

Mistake 7

Starting with the Most Difficult Question:

Some students attempt their test and exam papers in a less efficient way. They start with the most difficult questions.

"What is wrong with that?" you may ask.

For one thing, attempting a tough question is a bad start to a paper. Your mind gets stumbled at the very beginning of the paper. You rack your brains trying to come out with the answers for that agonising question. You begin to feel exasperated. You mind loses its calm. You cannot think properly. And you lose precious time while you are stuck with the tough question.

Before you know it, you only have half of the time left. Now, you rush to answer the other questions. But your mind has got so entangled with that tough question that it cannot think properly. You have forgotten the answers to the easy questions! You can’t believe it! And we can’t believe why you even began with that tough question!

Always start with the easy questions. First, it makes you feel good about the paper and boosts your confidence. Second, you are assured that you will get the marks allotted to these questions. Third, if you manage the easy questions properly, you will be able to answer them quickly and allow yourself more time for the difficult questions. Last but not least, you may be able to attain the answers to the difficult questions after you have solved the easy ones. It has happened to many people many times!

ICAR AIEEA

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) invites applications from Indian Nationals, in the prescribed format, for ICAR’s 21st AIEEA-UG-2016 and AIEEA-PG-2016 to fill 15% seats (100% RLB CAU, Jhansi) for Bachelor degrees and 25% seats (100% seats for ICAR Deemed-to-be-Universities, viz IARI, IVRI, NDRI and CIFE) for Master degrees at ICAR accredited colleges under Agricultural Universities; Central Agricultural University Imphal; Central Universities with Agricultural faculty (B.H.U., Viswa Bharati, Nagaland University, A.M.U. (for PG only) and the SHIATS, Allahabad for the academic session 2016-17 (This examination does not include admission to Bachelor degree programmes in Veterinary Sciences). All India Competitive Examination for centralized admission to 25% seats in AUs (other than IARI, IVRI, NDRI & CIFE) and the award of Senior Research Fellowship (SRF-PGS) to pursue Ph.D. degree programme in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sciences will also be conducted along with AIEEA-PG-2016. For details, visit ICAR website (www.icar.org.in).

The applications will be submitted ONLINE only. The procedure for online Application has been described in the respective Information Bulletins. For submitting application Online, a provision has been kept to deposit the application fee either through

(I)                 Bank challan of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur or

(II)               Credit/debit card using Payment Gateway of the Canara Bank or

(III)             NEFT.

1.       Dates of Examination:

UG: Saturday, the 21st May, 2016 (10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.)

AIEEA – UG 2016
Date and Time of Examination – UG	21.05.2016 ( Saturday ) 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM ( 2 ½ hours)
Commencement of Online Application submission	15.04.2016 (Friday)
Last date of online Application	30.04.2016 (Saturday up to 11:59 PM)
Last date for successful final transaction of fee applicable for online application registered on or before 30.04.2016	02.05.2016 (Monday, up to working hours of the banks)
Last date for receipt of hard copy of computer generated conformation page of online application (from non-remote areas)	30.04.2016 (Saturday)
Last date for receipt of hard copy of computer generated conformation page of online application (from remote areas)	04.05.2016
E – Admit card information (On ICAR website)	By 2nd week of May, 2016
Declaration  of result	25.06.2016 – 07.07.2016 (Tentative)

2.       Commencement of online application:

UG (Online only) 15th April, 2016

Last date of online application: 30th April, 2016 (11.59 Pm)

3. Eligibility:

3.1. Age:

For AIEEA-UG-2016:  Not less than 16 years as on 31st August, 2016. (For UG admission)

3.2. Qualifying Examination:

For AIEEA-UG-2016: (Other than Veterinary Sciences)

Must have passed and obtained not less than 50% marks in aggregate for admission under General, UPS (Under Privileged State) and OBC categories or 40% marks in aggregate for admission under SC, ST and PC categories in 10+2 examination or equivalent with PCM/ PCB/ PCMB/ PCA/ PCH subject combinations/ Inter (Agriculture).

4.       Online Application fee:

AIEEA-UG-2016: Rs.500/- for General, OBC and UPS categories and Rs.250/- for SC, ST and PC categories.

In addition, Bank charges + service tax, as applicable, shall also be charged. To get the details, please see the respective Information Bulletins on ICAR website www.icar.org.in.

The last date for the receipt of hard copy of the computer generated confirmation pages of online application in the office of “Controller of Examinations (Agril. Education), Room No. 216, ICAR, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-II, Pusa, New Delhi–110012" for UG examinations is 30th April, 2016. For the candidates belonging to certain remote areas like NE Region, J&K, Lahaul & Spiti district and Pangi Sub-division of Chamba district of H.P., A&N Island and Lakshadweep, the last date for receipt of hard copy of the computer generated confirmation pages of application will be 4th May, 2016. Applications received after the last date shall be rejected and the ICAR will not be responsible for non-receipt of application within the time schedule due to postal delay or any other reasons. It is the sole responsibility of the candidate to check his/her eligibility for admission before applying. ICAR will not be held responsible for refusing admission to any non-eligible candidate at the time of Counselling or later. All disputes relating to the conduct of these examinations or any matter connected with this advertisement shall be in the jurisdiction of DELHI COURT only.

For further details: http://notifications.myrank.co.in/notification.php?notice_id=55

Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune

D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth

The admissions to MBBS and BDS shall be done on the basis of the merit as ascertained from the performance of the candidates in All India Common Entrance Test - 2016 (AICET-16) and their respective preference (s) given in the Application Form.

Application Procedure:

The candidate is advised not to submit the application form for AICET-16, if he/she does not fulfil any of the eligibility requirements. If a candidate fails to fulfil the relevant eligibility requirements, he / she shall not be considered eligible for seeking admission to the course, even if he/she is placed in the merit list of the AICET-16.

A candidate, desirous of appearing at the AICET-16, is required to complete the prescribed application form appended to this brochure and submit the same to the Registrar of the University, on or before the scheduled date.

Application Form can be obtained: 

(A) from the Vidyapeeth office on payment of Rs. 500/- (for super-specialty programmes Rs. 1,000/-) in cash or D.D.

(B) Through a requisition letter with the name, of course, opted for, detailed correspondence address with contact no. and e-mail address, along with a demand draft of Rs. 600/- (for super-specialty programmes Rs. 1,100/-) drawn on any nationalized bank, in favour of “Registrar, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth", payable at Pune

(C) By downloading from the Vidyapeeth Website – www.dpu.edu.in. (The downloaded form shall be submitted along with a demand draft covering Form Fee + Test Fee + Postage Rs. 100/-).

Fees should not be sent by Money Order. The Vidyapeeth shall not be responsible for any postal delay or loss in transit. Late Fee for all courses shall be Rs. 250/-.

Eligibility:

Only the candidate, who satisfies or is likely to satisfy the following eligibility requirements for admission to the courses shallbeconsideredeligibletoappearfortheAICET-16.

Nationality and Age:

The candidate, seeking to appear at theAICET-16 shall be an Indiannationalandshallhavecompleted17yearsofageonor before 31st December 2016, i.e. he/she should have been born before1 January2000

Dispatch of Application Form:

Application may be submitted personally or mailed (by registered post/speed post/courier) to The Registrar, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Sant Tukaram Nagar, Pimpri, Pune – 411018. The application shall be accompanied by a Demand draft of the amount of the test fee i.e. Rs. 2000/- (or Rs. 2250/- for late submission) drawn on any nationalized bank and payable at Pune. Those who submit the application in person, may pay the test fee either by a DD or in cash. The candidate is advised to obtain and maintain proof of demand draft and dispatch of the application form. This may be useful for obtaining duplicate admit card, if required.

The application must reach the University on or before the last date mentioned in the Calendar of Events.

The University shall not be responsible for any delay or loss of the application / admit card / or any other communication in transit. Such a delay shall not be condoned

Mode of the test:

Thetestconsistsofonequestionpaperof200marks.The question paper consists of two hundred objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), 50 each on Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. The duration of the test is 3 hours.

Important Dates:

Courses	Day and Date of Test
MBBS & BDS	Saturday, 14th May 2016
B. Tech. (Biotechnology)	Sunday, 26th June 2016
B. Tech. (Medical Biotechnology)

Issue of Admit Cards:

The Admit Card will be made available online seven days before the entrance test.

1. It can be down loaded by entering form No. and date of birth of the candidate

2. In case of down loaded form, the form No. will be allotted by Vidyapeeth on its arrival and scrutiny. An e-mail / sms of the form No. will be sent to the candidates.

Please ensure that an appropriate E-mail ID is mentioned on your application form.

3. Please enter your mobile number accurately for any communication through calls/SMS.

The candidate shall not mutilate the admit card or change any entry made therein after it has been authenticated by the University authorities.

For further details: http://notifications.myrank.co.in/notification.php?notice_id=47

How to Attempt the Exam Paper in Four Ways

 There is not enough for a complete knowledge of the subject, reproduce the answer sheet in an efficient way to increase a lot. Order and systematic presentation of questions and answers is a must-read to make a good paper. Exam papers to see your best, here are some tips to help you take more values:

1.       Priority: Scale that can pass through the questionnaire thoroughly, you have to answer the question effectively. Answer a priority, in order to launch their first answer booklet. It makes a good impression on the examiner. Please write by hand very well. Avoid many of the cutting and washing response. Keep your answers neatly and nicely formatted.

2.       Highlighting: Highlighted is the question-and-answer session and a very important figure sequencing. You have to keep in mind the perspective of the corporate auditors. If you try to facilitate as much as possible, you go for the examination on the paper. It amused him. Write questions and answers in bold numbers, we highlight it.

3.       Avoid Long paragraph: Please try to avoid the answer in the long paragraph. It interferes with the examiner. Each examiner must go read most of the hard copy and paragraphs. So instead of a paragraph that you have the corresponding points. You too, you will be able to select them in the subordinates and to bold them. As they become ambiguous, leave a line or two after each point.

4.       Diagrammatic Representative: Chart is a good way to pick up a lot of character. If possible, try to explain by example appropriate, also to explain your answer, please try to answer the graph, or table. This, the auditor could have thought to have a good understanding of concepts the students.

Mistake 6

Failing to Allocate Time for Each Question:

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." So wrote George Orwell in "Animal Farm". The same holds true for test and exam questions. Some questions deserve more time than others. Some questions require less time than others. And some questions don’t even need to be considered if you have a choice! This happens when you can choose your questions, say 3 out of 5.

Always allocate your time to each question based on the number of marks it is worth. For example, if a question is worth 2 marks out of 100, while another question is worth 10 marks, you should allocate more time to the latter question.

In addition, if a question requires much drawing or graph plotting, and if you are slow at it, then you should leave it to one of the last questions that you would attempt.

And remember to bring along a watch or clock to time yourself. But make sure your clock does not tick loudly or ring its alarm suddenly!

How to answer exam questions

Pay attention! These quick tips should be common sense but many students who are under exam stress fail to see their mistakes. We’re going to help you avoid a major exam disaster by pointing you in the right direction.

Here’s our top exam writing tips to help you understand how to answer exam questions:

1. Practice Past Papers:

There really is no better way to get exam ready than by attempting past papers. Most exam bodies should have past papers available online but your teacher will get you started on these in class.

This process isn’t just about preparing an answer for a specific question, it’s about understanding how you approach a question in an exam, how to structure your answer, the timings you should assign and what information will get marks.

If you want to create an easy way to test yourself with past papers, try the Go Conqr online quiz maker:

2. Read All Questions Carefully:

The stress of the situation can cause you to misread a question, plan your answer out, start writing your response and then realise you made a mistake and wasted vital time. Even though you generally won’t be writing answers to every question on the paper, reading all questions thoroughly will ensure you make the right choices and can highlight how much you know about the topic.

Don’t forget to attempt all questions that you have selected. However, be careful of MCQ questions with negative marking. If you’re not sure of the answer you could cost yourself some valuable marks.

3. Manage Your Time:

This is where you need to be strict on yourself. Once you have assigned a time limit for each question, you must move on once you hit it or you won’t be able to give the next question your full attention.

Remember to leave yourself some time at the end to go back over your answers and add in little notes or pieces of information about the topic. You never know, this could help bump you up a grade!

4. Structure Your Answer:

Don’t just jump into writing your answer. Take the first few minutes to plan the structure of your essay which will save you time when you are delving into meaty parts. Always stay on topic; if you’re discussing the role of women in society as portrayed by the author in Of Mice and Men, don’t digress and start outlining other themes in the book for example.

Most essays should have an introduction, three main points and a conclusion. A lot of students see a conclusion as a final sentence to finish the piece off. A strong conclusion give an A grade student the chance to shine by bringing everything together and fortifying their opinion.

5. Explore Both Sides of an Argument:

Building your argument in the main body of your exam answer will give your overall opinion credibility. English language questions, for example, encourage you to explore both sides of an argument and then conclude with a critical analysis of your answer.

Many questions you approach will look as though they seek a straightforward answer but in reality they want you to fully outline a structured essay. Don’t fall into the trap of providing a one-sided view, get your hands dirty and open your mind to other possibilities.

6. Review Your Answers Thoroughly:

Smart students can still make the mistake of handing their answer book in without checking through what they have written. Proofread your answers as much as you can to correct any spelling mistakes and add any extra comments you think are worth mentioning.

You will be surprised what you can spot in those last few minutes. This is your last chance to throw in that quotation, list other relevant points or even draw a quick diagram. Now is not the time to drop your game, show the examiner what you’re made of!

Remember, the exams are not designed to trick you. Don’t panic on the day of your exam or this brain freeze could mean that you get a lower grade that you truly deserve. Convince yourself that you know how to answer exam questions and your almost there.

Mistake 5

Failing to Scan Through the Questions Once:

You receive the paper. The teacher says, "You may begin now!" Do you immediately turn to the first page and answer the first question straight away? If yes, stop! You are making another common mistake most students make!

Always scan through a paper before you begin writing. Give yourself about 2 to 5 minutes to read through all the questions. Put a tick against the easy questions and a cross against the difficult ones. 

Check every page of the paper to make sure that you do not miss any question.

Then, proceed to answer the easy questions first! Always leave the difficult questions to the last. This ensures that you would have answered most of the questions in the paper should you run out of time. It also gives you more time for the difficult questions, as you would need relatively less time for the easy ones.

Studying for the Test

Take a diagnostic practice test:

Most competitive exams are composed of different parts. For example, the GRE is comprised of math, verbal, and essay components. In order to do targeted studying and practice you need to best prepare for the test, you will need to take a practice test to determine which areas of the test you need to focus on the most. In your test prep books, you can typically find diagnostic practice tests.

·         There are also many websites, like collegeboard.org for the SAT, which provide practice tests for competitive exams. These online tests will score your tests for you.

·         Take the practice test under test like conditions. This means time your test, put away electronics, refrain from listening to music, and sit in a desk/space that will be similar to the environment of the test.

Practice the essay portion of the test:

If your test includes a writing portion, be sure to practice writing your essay in the time that will be allotted. Make sure you practice writing an outline and planning what you will write about during your practice as well.

Make an outline to structure your study plan:

You will need to make a realistic study plan based on what test you are taking, and the amount of time experts say you will need to do to prepare. Some competitive tests like the GRE take months to prepare for, for example.

·       Sit down with your study materials, and make an outline of the big topics/areas you need to study for the test.

Backward plan which areas of the test you will study and for how long:

Having a plan and staying consistent in studying and doing targeted practice are going to be key for success on competitive exams. Typically, you will need to block off large, regular chunks of time in your schedule for studying. According to your outline, break down how much material you will need to study per session, approximately.

·         Start with the most important material and work toward the less important material to make sure the important content gets covered before the test.

Use a calendar app like Google Calendar to make a schedule:

You can sign up for a Gmail account if you do not have one and want the app. Go to your Calendar app located in the apps directory in the upper right corner of your Gmail account. Go to "Create" and schedule an "Event" to put the study schedule on your Calendar app. Check and update your calendar regularly to remind yourself of your study schedule.

·       Google Calendar has an email reminders option that you can use to remind yourself of your schedule.

·       Revise your schedule as needed. If something comes up and you are unable to study, look at your calendar and revise the study plan. Make room in your schedule to study at another time so that you can cover the material and keep on pace in your studies.

Clear your plate of obligations:

In order to gear up for taking a competitive test, you should carve out room in your schedule for you to study regularly. Explain to your friends and family that you will be concentrating on preparing for a test. Take whatever steps you need to give yourself the time and space you need to focus regularly on studying.

Keep track of your progress by taking practice tests:

Every couple of weeks, or as often as recommended, take a practice test, and then go back through and look at the questions you missed. If your answer sheet tells you what kind of question it was, take note. If not, do your best to determine what kind of problems you are missing, and look for patterns in the mistakes you are making so that you know what to focus on in your studying.

·         When testing, don’t consider each question unique.  There are different types of questions that recur in tests. For example, on the English portion of the ACT, test questions come from these categories: grammar & usage, punctuation, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style.

Study the areas you are weak in:

Take more time studying the concepts that you are having trouble with. For example, if you are having difficulty correctly answering the questions about sentence structure in the ACT, use your practice book to study lessons on sentence structure. Consider getting help from someone who is strong in the area you are struggling in, like a teacher or a friend.

Stay focused on your outline:

The stress that comes from studying for competitive tests can be overwhelming at times because of the amount that you have to study. Make sure to combat that stress by concentrating on studying one lesson at a time. Remind yourself that you have to go through this test prep one step at a time, and don’t let yourself worry about mastering the whole test in a short period of time.

·         Do not try to learn everything at once, cramming will not help you deeply understand the content you are learning.

Mistake 4

Arriving Late For a Paper:

Most of us are punctual, especially for important occasions. However, some of us may have a habit of being late. Even if you are a punctual person, there may be times when things just suddenly crop up and you end up late for an appointment.

Late comers are the norm rather than the exception for many major examinations. Just ask any examiner. If you are the unfortunate latecomer, you may sometimes be barred from sitting for that particular paper. Even if you do get to sit for the paper, much precious time would have been lost. On top of that, your mind would still be reeling from the rush. You would not be calm enough to attempt the paper before you.

What can you do to avoid being late for a paper? Be there early! Give yourself enough time to travel to the venue of the test or exam. Spare yourself at least half an hour at the venue. Use this time to familiarize yourself with the place and setting, so that you know what to expect when the paper starts.

For example, if you could know in advance that the air-conditioning is very strong, then you would be mentally prepared for the cold. If you have brought along a sweater, you could then wear it and be able to sit through the paper comfortably.

How to Prepare for Competitive Exams???

Preparing for competitive exams can seem daunting, but if you employ strategies to prepare for the exam, the process can be much more manageable. To begin, you have to buy or find online test preparation materials for the test you are taking. Take a diagnostic practice test to see what you need to practice, and then make a timeline and outline of your study plan. Learn tips for studying, relaxation, and keeping healthy to help you prepare for your test holistically.

Considering Your Options:

Enroll in an in person course:

There are in person classes that you can take that are given by the Princeton Review for the ACT, for example. These classes are great because some students benefit from the sense of accountability that you get from a traditional class setting. These classes can vary in length, but for the Princeton Review course, it lasts 6 sessions. To enrol, you go online and find a website for the course you want to take, enter where you live, and the dates you are interested in taking the class to find a class near you.

·       The Princeton Review course gives 4 practice tests so that you can measure your progress and target your problem areas. Most other test prep courses will offer something similar for you to chart your progress.

·       These classes tend to be expensive but will often include the cost of the study materials that you will be needing.

·       Do the homework associated with these courses in order to score the best you can.

·       If you live in a rural area, you may need to commute to a city to take the tests.

Enroll in a test preparation program online:

There are many online websites, some of them free and others at a cost, you can sign up with that will prepare you for the test you are taking. For example, for the ACT, there is a website that prepares you for the ACT through videos, text lessons, practice tests that simulate the real test, and games to help you study and keep you engaged.

Buy study materials, and study the material on your own:

For the ACT, for example, there are different kinds of study guides you can buy depending on your need, and this is the same with many other tests. The following are different types of study materials for the ACT: critical books are study guides are for anyone trying to improve their scores, regardless of skill level or areas of strength/weakness; subject training books will help you focus on one specific area of the test, for example, English, Reading, Math or Science; books for top scorers are for those who want an extra push to get their score to the top; and last, books for people who score low and/or only want to work for a short amount of time. Avoid these 5 hour type short study guides unless you only need to improve your score a small amount.

·       Purchase your materials from book stores, online, or check them out from a library.

·       Research the best study guides for the specific test you are preparing for and your needs.

mistake 3

Panicking Before or During a Paper

Do you worry that you would not have enough time to complete a paper, even before it starts? Are you very afraid that you would not be able to answer most of the questions in the paper, even before it starts? Does your heartbeat increase when you enter the exam hall and your hands sweat when you receive the exam paper? Are you at a loss of what to do for the rest of the paper, when you realize that there is one question that you cannot answer?

If you experience any of the above, or other symptoms of anxiety and panic, you need to check yourself. One of the worst things that you can do before and during a test or exam paper is to panic. Once you panic, your mind is in a frenzy and you cannot think properly. How can you attempt the paper calmly when you cannot even think properly?

Always tell yourself not to worry too much before a test or exam. Below are some good ways to reduce or eliminate your anxiety and worry:

1. Clarify all your doubts at the end of each lesson, so that they will not snowball into a big bag of questions before your test or exam.
2. Always prepare for a test or exam well in advance.
3. Don’t study every minute while you are awake. Busy yourself with some mundane household chores to take your mind off the upcoming test or exam.
4. Have a good night’s sleep before the date of the test or exam.
5. Keep reassuring yourself that you can do it. Once you stop doubting yourself, you will stop panicking.

If all else fails, comfort yourself that it is only a paper. It’s not the end of the world even if you don’t do well for just one paper.

Mistake 2

Cramming Too Much Information into Memory:

You have memorized every word in all the chapters from your textbook that you would be tested upon. You see a question in the paper that begs an answer you know is found on page … Oh, no! You can’t recall the page! And so, the answer escapes you!

As you try fervently to recollect that page, you realize it becomes harder! Meanwhile, the minutes pass away and you lose valuable time!

If you are one of those students who try very hard to memorize everything in your textbooks, stop! Unfortunately for most of us, our brains can often only retain 10% to 20% of the information that we read. More unfortunately, we cannot control what will be that 10% or 20% of information that we will remember!

So, instead of trying to recite every word from page 1 of your textbook to its last page, you should concentrate on understanding what is written in those pages. If you can understand what each topic in your textbook is about, why would you even need to memorize all those pages? You should be able to explain them in your own words!

You can improve your understanding of any topic, reinforce what you have previously read and increase the amount of information that you can remember by:

1. Taking part actively in classroom discussions and activities about the topic.
2. Discussing the topic with your friends.
3. Reading alternative books or chapters about the topic.
4. Watching video tapes and video compact discs about the topic.
5. Listening to audio tapes about the topic.

This is because our brains can remember what we have said and seen more vividly than what we have read.

Mistake 1

Spotting Questions:

Spotting questions is by far one of the most common mistakes many students make when preparing for a test or exam paper. It is also the worst mistake you can commit before sitting for a paper.

For subjects that require much memory work, such as History, Geography, Biology and Economics, many students try to take the easy way out by trying to spot what questions would appear in the paper. Such students believe that they can read their teachers’ or examiners’ minds. Are you trained in telepathy or fortune-telling? We don’t think so.

Spotting questions is a problem that is at times made worse when the teachers themselves actively encourage their students to spot questions. As students who had sat through GCE "O" Level and GCE "A" Level papers ourselves, we can attest to that.

Some teachers are also known to deliberately drop hints to their students before a test or exam paper about what types of questions to expect. That happens quite often in the local polytechnics and universities too. We know because we, our friends and our siblings have studied at the local universities and polytechnics. Sometimes, the questions actually came out in the test or exam papers. Sometimes, they never did!

Instead of spotting questions, you should spot topics if you must. For example, instead of trying to prepare for a History question that reads, "Why did Singapore break away from Malaya?", you should prepare for the History topic "The breaking away of Singapore from Malaya".

That means you should know the why, when, how, who and consequences of the breaking away of Singapore from Malaya. This would ensure that, should you be asked about "What were the consequences for Malaya after Singapore broke away?", you would still be able to answer it.

Beware of making these mistakes while taking a test

How many times have you walked away from a test or exam paper thinking or saying aloud?

• I wish I had more time!
• Oh, now I know the correct answer! Why didn’t I think of it just now?
• I shouldn’t have spent so much time on that question!
• How could I have missed the last page of the paper?
• Why didn’t the questions that I prepared so hard for appear in the paper?

If the above sounds familiar to you, then you are not alone.

Top 20 Mistakes

Here, we describe the top 20 mistakes that most students make when attempting a test or exam paper, and how to overcome them.

1. Spotting Questions
2. Cramming Too Much Information Into Memory
3. Panicking Before Or During A Paper
4. Arriving Late For A Paper
5. Failing To Scan Through The Questions Once
6. Failing To Allocate Time For Each Question
7. Starting With The Most Difficult Question
8. Jumping Straight Into Answering A Question Without Proper Planning
9. Misinterpreting A Question
10. Producing An Incoherent Answer
11. Poor Writing Style
12. Not Sure How To Start Or End An Essay
13. Writing Too Much Or Too Little
14. Failing To Answer All The Unanswered Questions In The Last Few Minutes
15. Writing Illegibly
16. Reading And Writing Too Slowly
17. Forgetting To Answer Unanswered Questions
18. Failing To Check Your Answers
19. Failing To Bring Along Required Stationery Or Items
20. Forgetting To Write Down Your Names And Other Personal Particulars