CONQUER
STRESS
Children
face many hurdles in getting a good score in board and competitive exams.
Usha
Albuquerque lists remedial measures that can help students.
Stress
is what most students are experiencing nowadays, especially those who are on
the verge of appearing for the board examinations.
There
are several reasons that add to stress load among students. In today’s fast
paced competitive world students have to ensure that they consistently score
good marks in order to be able to make it not only to the next class but more
so, to qualify for admissions to college. With increasing numbers competing for
limited seats in the better known and recognized
institutions, those who are unable to cope, or slacken in their studies in any
way, feel the pressure of competition. This is particularly so near examination
time, when the course has to be completed in class, tutorial work continues
alongside and there is anxiety of exams looming ahead. Students who may not
have covered all the portions to be revised feel the pressure as it gets
intensified during this time:
There are certain
tips that are worth keeping in mind, in order to cope with stress:
- Preparations for examinations should
begin at the beginning of the year. Continuous revision and practice on
sample papers is one way of keeping pace with the work being done in
school.
- It is also important to keep one’s
expectation realistic. Not everyone can make it to the top institutions or
courses. Yet the same time it is good to be aware of other alternatives,
opportunities and courses for students who are unable to meet the cut off
requirements. And parents and teachers must understand this and be as supportive
as possible.
- The immediate hours or day before an exam
should be kept purely for last minute revision. This is when you can work
over the sections which you have found tough during the earlier
reviews and tests. It is not the time for study of new materials, as your
anxiety will work against retaining anything new. It is, therefore,
important to complete all the revision well in advance.
- You will have to make drastic changes in
your daily schedule cutting down on all distracting activities. You don’t have
to cut off all these activities completely, but curtail these sufficiently
to get you some extra hours each day. You must however, give yourself
break times when you can relax with
a book, movie or TV show. Make sure you also maintain an exercise
regimen, as physical exercise is know to enhance mental performance.
- Ensure that you stay healthy. You cannot
afford to fall sick during exam time. All the year’s hard work will be
wiped out it you fall sick. So get enough sleep, eat sensibly and at
regular hours(eating out at wayside
dhabas and junk food exposes you to infections of all kinds- avoid them)
and make sure you get sufficient relaxation- take a break every couple of
hours. Better 5 minutes break after every 30 minutes’ study. Your
time-table should also include meal times, relaxation periods, exercise
and sleep. Taking a walk, running or playing a sport will help you return
to studies more refreshed. Also, make sure that you do not lose out on
your sleep. You must make it a point to get at least 7 hours of sleep
every night. And don’t be over ambitious. Make a realistic schedule.
Trying to do too much will only you frustrated and more anxious.
- Parents and teachers can play a very
vital role in helping student cope with stress. Parents should help to
create an environment suitable for study.
A separate part of the house where the students can have peace and
quiet is essential. There should be limited number of distractions, and
parents should ensure that the child gets sufficient relaxation period.
- If examination phobia is making your
child ill, worried, stressed, then you need to talk to your child about it
and encourage him/her to rationalize the problem and come to terms with
the anxiety. Parents can help students concentrate on preparation rather
than worrying about marks. If the anxiety is more acute, however,
professional help should be sought.
- Most important however, is for parents
not to transfer their anxieties on their children, nor to burden them with
unrealistic expectations.
- Teachers, on the other hand, are the best
guides for help before examinations. They are experienced and have seen so
many other students through this difficult period and know the problems
they may encounter.
- Most importantly, students must learn to
relax. If you are an anxious kind of person, take long deep breaths every
time you feel nervous. This will calm you down. You can also start by
sitting for one mock exam every day from now on, keeping the same timing
as will for the real test.
- Make sure you arrive for the exam well in
time, and that you have all the required material with you, ready and
available, if possible, the night before. Once you sit with the question
paper, spend extra 15 minutes to read it carefully and understand each
question clearly before attempting the answer – underline key words and
instructions. Tick the questions you intend to answer. Make a rough
timetable, allocating equal time to equally weighted questions- and allow
for about 10 minutes at the end for a final review. Answer the easiest
questions first and save the most difficult one for last. Finally, if
there are certain questions you feel you cannot answer, move on to the
next and answer well those you know.
- Relax- exams are just the pebbles on your
road to success. Tactful manipulation of the questions effectively will
enable you to racing ahead to victory.
-
The writer is a career expert.
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें