ALL ABOUT FACING EXAMS

A 6-hour sleep must before exam day, says Apollo doctor

Lack of sound sleep on the night prior to the examination will play havoc on a student’s performance, a senior doctor at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai has warned, adding that at least six hours of sleep every night is a must for the student community to keep doing well in the exams.
Speaking to Everwin PRO in an Interview few years back on wide ranging issues concerning the young minds in quest of knowledge, Dr.T.V. Devarajan, Professor of Medicine and Senior Consultant, Apollo Hospitals dwelt at length on the students’ power of memory and observation, the kind of food they ought to take, the environment they have to be placed in, their body language while studying and other relevant topics.
In particular reference to the students’ power of memory, Dr. Devarajan came out with certain startling revelations. Quoting the well-known adage “memory is the daughter of attention and mother of knowledge”, he said there was no such thing as bad memory . “It is all the problem of using and training our memory . An average person uses only two-thirds of his brain. One third remains dormant. The more one trains one’s memory the more powerful it becomes” the veteran Physician observed.
Citing instances where we falter in memories, Dr.Devarajan said despite looking at the traffic signals every day, many cannot answer where exactly the green light is located. Similarly, when asked whether the number six on our watch is Roman or numeric, our memory is in a pathetic state: we watch the watch one more time and answer.
These hardships relating to our memory are due to our lack of interest to observe things in totality. “If you see something, see everything in it” Dr.Devarajan goes on to stress. This is why a student can bring to memory how many centuries Sachin Tendulkar scored but cannot do so on how many battles Indian history has witnessed.
Acording to him, observation, attention, listening, association, registering and recalling are the steps to enhancing one’s memory. Attaching more importance to the factor of listening, Dr. Devarajan describes it as a precursor to registering things in the memory.
Enlightening the students on the intake of their food, he cautions against consuming heavy foods: take light food because during heavy eating more blood goes to the intestines and less to the brain. So it makes the student feel tired and sleepy, the doctor explains. He advised protein-rich food in common, eggs for non-vegetarians and dhal and cereals for vegetarians. Students can also take one multivitamin capsule every day.
A quiet surrounding and a clear mind will go a long way in building concentration while studying, the specialist doctor of repute said advocating that a child can study continuously for three hours and then go for a break before resuming again. “Study in a sitting posture with the light falling on the book from behind you. If the light falls from the front on to the books, it will strain the eyes”, he cautions.
Dr. Devarajan concludes that the disease of lack of talent is only because of not listening, preparing, concentrating and eqipping and wants the student community to gear up and work towards a life perfect in everything.

Prescriptions at a glance
*Use and train your memory. The more one trains one’s memory the more powerful it becomes.
*Have interest to listen and observe things and then register and recall them.
*If you see something see everything of it.
*Take light food rich in protein. Have eggs, dhal and cereals.
*Sleep at the least for six hours. Don’t take any drugs to avoid sleeping.
*At a stretch don’t study for more than three hours.
Have breaks in between.
*Always study in a sitting posture.
*Taking to simple yoga and other exercises will be of help too.


Three tests to memory
Listening: Listening is a precursor to registering it in memory. Example: You are driving a bus. At the next stop twenty passengers get in, at the second halt, ten passengers get in and five get down. At the third stop, twelve passengers alight and three board it.
Now can you answer the questions without reading the story again? How many people got down at the second halt? At how many places did the bus halt?” and What is the name of the driver?
Link System : Certain word or term may be difficult to remember. So at such times, try to link whatever you study.
Example : The word ‘believe’. Some people may be confused about whether the ‘i’ or the ‘e’ should come first. So link it in such a way that there is an inner word ‘lie’ in that word ‘believe’ . As such, confusion is solved for ever.
Training memory: Go to a room and observe the things in it for two minutes. Then come out of the room and write down all that you saw. This method of repeatedly recalling and writing will help in developing one’s memory.

‘Scoring the best in board exams’ - Experts discuss
Mr. B. L. Lakshmipathy, Headmaster, ICF Higher Secondary School, Mr. R. Soundarapandian, Assistant Headmaster, Sir M.Ct. M. Higher Secondary School, Purasawalkam and Mrs. Minibabu, an expert counsellor, were among the experts who interacted with Everwin School’s board exam students recently.

For the 300-plus Tenth and Higher Secondary students of Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School, it was much more than a ‘just-in-school’ day. They could get a bountiful of ideas from the experts as to how they could score the best in their public exams.

Mr. Lakshmipathy and Mr. Soundarapandian, the former well experienced in conducting board exams and the latter an author of text books in higher secondary, dwelt in length about how to present answers, how to impress those doing the valuation and how to prepare for the board exams.

Mrs. Minibabu touched on the psychological factors governing a student while getting ready for board exams.

Mr. B. Purushothaman, school Principal welcomed the expert speakers and assured the students that the school will organise many more programmes for their benefits.

Summary of points discussed
1. That ‘First impression is the best impression’ is a befitting statement in examination parlour. The evaluating teacher has neither the time nor the patience to scan every word or sentence. So, just by the turn of the first few pages of answer papers, he /she arrives at a conclusion as to how good a student is. Based only on this impression, he/she moves further. So, it is very important for the students to present accurate answers with a slow and good handwriting at least on the first few pages.

2. Handwriting and time do not go hand in hand. It is tough task to write more number of pages with a better handwriting. If you can’t boast of a good handwriting, never be bothered. Legible writing - without overwriting and frequent strikeouts - is as good as the beautiful handwriting. As already said, ensure good writing on the first few pages and then accelerate to cope with the time factor.

3. Margin may not be magic, but it certainly weighs in the minds of evaluating teacher. If there is no preprinted margin on your answer paper, draw it to a measurement of 4 cm in width. Better write the question number inside the margin, though there is no total agreement on this.

4. Putting the question number alone will not suffice. It in fact irritates the valuer. So, give a headline as to what the answer is about. For example, in Physics for the question, ‘What are the properties of sound?’, the answer has to begin with the headline ‘Properties of Sound’. Simply putting the question number and writing the answers without a title makes the valuing person consult the question paper to find what you have written about. Will it not irritate him/her?

5. Underlining the headings and subheadings is a must. Straight underlining for headings and curved underlining for subheadings can be given. Separate pen with ink of different colour should be used for underlining.

6. Don’t bid good-bye for unknown questions on a platter. Give it a try, if you are running short of choices. After all, empty pages will not be evaluated. The partly-right answers may get you some marks. But we reiterate that this can be done on the last pages and in the last minutes.

7. Draw a line, preferably with a sketch pen, in between answers.

8. Prefacing the first page with your religious symbol or quote must be totally avoided as it may anger the evaluating teacher who may not belong to your religion or, even if he/she does, may not like it.

EVERWIN PRINCIPAL'S 30 TIPS FOR THE PARENTS:

To make your child brilliant in all respects;

To do away with a violent young mind;

To nip in the bud the 'gun culture';

1. Watching your son's/daughter's activities each day is very important. See that your son/daughter goes to school on time and returns home on time.

2. Ask questions on what your son/daughter has learnt, seen and heard in the school each day. Make him/her talk a lot to give him/her courage and confidence in life.

3. Make sure that there is no disturbance or diversion of mind when your son/daughter is studying. Switch off TV and radio and avoid your own chatting with your relatives and friends at that time.

4. Mental rest is indispensable for all at every stage in life. Allow your son/ daughter to play for an hour everyday. Take him/her to a place of tourist interest nearby once in a month.

5. Right from the beginning, be very strict in your son/daughter doing his/her home work .Make your son/daughter clear each day's portion as and when taught. In any case, you must not do his/her work for him/her.

6. Encourage your son/daughter to cultivate the habit of reading. Remember, reading makes a man or woman to perfection. See that your son/daughter reads subject book, other general knowledge book , newspaper and also watches news and Current Affairs programmes on television.

7. Instill a sense of responsibility in your son/daughter right from the tender age. Make your son/daughter do some of the household works for you such as looking after the garden, switching on and off the lights and fans in rooms, buying things from the shops, helping your in cleaning the house etc.

8. Whenever your son/daughter does well in studies or other useful activities, never forget to reward him/her in some ways. Rewards and praises help your son/daughter continue to do well.

9. While never letting your son/daughter go out of your view, it is also important that your should not bore him/her with your over care. Maintain a perfect balance between these two.

10. Scolding and beating will never help in correcting your son's/daughter's mistakes. Don't always compare your son/daughter with the more efficient children in your family or in your neighbourhood. Correct your son's/daughter's mistakes gently and by continuous persuasion. Keep your anger in control when your son/daughter does not work up to your expectations. Your outburst only makes the matters worse.

11. Ensure that your son/daughter does not take long leave from the school and lose the 'school-going momentum' .Fix your family programmes as far as possible in the weekend and during school holidays.

12. Work is worship . Don'ts make your son/daughter take leave for visiting temples very often. Let him/her be more confident of himself/herself.

13. Do not talk of your son's/daughter's luck in everything he/she does. Luck is nothing and nowhere. Let your son/daughter understand that there is no substitute for hardwork.

14. While making your son/daughter understand your difficulties, do not, at the same time, fail to provide the essentials to him/her. Have two sets of uniform, dress up neatly and get all books and notebooks and other things required now and then. Keeping the books clean and bound should also be ensured.

15. Pay the school fees on time. If you are unable to do this approach the school authorities to get more time. Never create a situation where your son/daughter has to answer for your failure to pay the fees.

16. Observe certain formalities expected of you by the school .Send leave letter when leave is taken. Sign in the progress report on time and visit the school when called for. Remember that compliance with the school rules and regulations gets your son/daughter good name in the school.

17. Maintain good rapport with the school management and teachers. Visit the school at least once a month, meet the subject teachers and enquire about your son's/daughter's progress. This makes your son/daughter more responsive.

18. As soon as your son/daughter returns from the schools ask for the handbook and find out what has been noted in it - homework, message, invitation etc. .and act accordingly.

19. Know in advance about various competitions in school and prepare your son/daughter thoroughly. Find out what extracurricular activity your son/daughter is interested and efficient in and develop the same. Don't force your interest in him/her.

20. The class work notebooks of your son/daughter should always be under your observation . See whether your son/daughter is taking down answers regularly in them and the same is corrected by the subject teachers.

21. Watch your son's/daughter's performance in small written and oral test's being held in the class informally .This will be a forerunner for the major exams .Ensure that your son/daughter does better both in oral and written tests. He/she must not be let to be a mere writing machine.

22. Sound mind and sound body are both important .In the hustle-bustle morning, never fail to feed the breakfast to your son's/daughter. Send some snacks and sufficient lunch.Use fresh vegetable that contains rich vitamins. An egg everyday gives your son/daughter an edge.

23. Keeping off your son/daughter from the school celebrations such as Independence Day, Republic Day etc. is a bad habit. Never do that in future. Turn your son/daughter to be patriotic. Let him/her know what India was, is and will be.

24. The real danger for your son/daughter is his/her bad company. Advise your child not to have too many friends in the class and outside. Don't rely too much on your boy child. Girls are in no way inferior to boys. Don't let your boy child out in the evenings and spoil himself by joining hands with bad companions.

25. 'Early to bed early to rise' will be of big help. Even during exam times ensure that your son/daughter sleeps at least seven hours in the night.

26. Tell a tale everyday - just before your son/daughter settles to sleep. A story that leaves a moral or two will be of immense use to the child to become a good person.

27. Family quarrels among the elders - between husband and wife, between elder son and the father etc. right in the front of your son/daughter will show you in poor light with him/her who may follow the same in future.

28. Be alert and cautious while sending your son/daughter for private tuitions in the evening. There are many tuition takers in your neighborhood who do double duty and strike two mangoes with one stone - cooking chicken in kitchen and looking children in the hall read something for themselves. Your son's/daughter's precious time might be wasted in the process. Find a full-fledged tuition teacher, if at all tuitions are inevitable.

29. Inculcate good virtues in your son/daughter. Advise him/her not to seal anything from or to quarrel with the fellow students. Tell your son/daughter to hand over anything he/she finds not his/hers, to the school office.

30. No child is born dull minded. Every child is talented in one way or the other. So is your son/daughter. If he/she is a slow learner, never mind. Take steps to bring out the best in him/her. If you cannot get a doctor, engineer, lawyer or teacher out of your son/daughter better find an able business magnet in him/her who could earn more money than the above-listed professionals.
- (Conceived and written by B. Purushothaman, Principal, Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kolathur, Chennai)

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