Tips on How to Excel In Examinations

Though I may still be a Fourth Former studying in Chung Ling High School, anxious parents love to come at me, asking questions about how to do well in UPSR and PMR. Kids, of course, will feel the pressure when these examinations come. Even I felt butterflies in my stomach when I did my major examinations. However, you just have to calm down and just treat these as your normal school exams. Oh well, some will definitely tell me that it is easier said than done.

There are some do’s and don’ts when preparing for examinations, not only for UPSR and PMR. Since I have time to blog, and nothing exciting to blog about, I decided to offer some B-Tips (B for Brandon, duh!) to my fellow readers. Please don’t mistake me for being too arrogant.

Do’s

• Do your revision from Monday to Friday. If you have PS2 or Astro at home, you may want to bar yourself from these, because if you don’t have the discipline or determination to succeed in examinations, you will surely not obtain favourable results. Revise on what your teacher taught you that day, so that you may recall what you have learnt.
• Do play some games during the weekends. As the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Make sure you have done your weekend homework before you start playing. If you can, try to play more educational games in your computer, or for instance, Tales of The Abyss in the PS2. This game is super fantastic, not only can you train your brain to work as you solve the puzzles, you can learn a lot of English from the game too. Limit yourself when playing games.
• Do study groups. It is better if you can form a study group of 3 to 5 friends. Make sure you don’t turn this study group into a chatting group. You won’t benefit from a chatting group, trust me. It is better that you ask questions to your friends, and vice versa. Focus on what you are revising with your friends by dividing tasks.
• Do sleep early. This is the main problem why students fall asleep during examinations. If you are done with your daily homework and revision, go to bed. If you are a drama addict, like me, make sure you revise your subjects before indulging in the movies. Sleep early so you’ll stay alert.
• Do eat healthily. When exams are around the corner, eat more nutritious food, exercise more and take good supplements. If your parents urge you to eat Tunex or Spirulina, they are not wrong. These supplements are good for your health. Avoid oily foods.
• Do more practice with reference books. If you are worried about the inaccuracy of reference books from the syllabus, then it is up to you to decide whether or not you should buy them. Attend tuition classes if you can’t cope with your studies.

Don’ts

• Don’t try to burn the midnight oil. If you revise your materials in the earlier days and months, you will have nothing to worry about. Of course, UPSR will be a lot easier than PMR, and the PMR will be easier than SPM. So don’t stress too much about UPSR and PMR because they are simply not life-changing matters. However, you must excel in UPSR and PMR.
• Don’t ask for free tips from anyone. Sometimes it is good to ask a little hint for the upcoming exams, but it is not good to ask too much. Teachers who actually give away real tips about what’s in the paper are considered to be irresponsible teachers. Cover the syllabus given for the exams, that is your best tip.
• Don’t attend tuition just because your friends are doing so, or to meet up with girlfriends. Hello? Are you awake? Tuition classes are for those who can’t cope with their studies, not to meet or flirt with girls. If you are mingling in the tuition classrooms, not only do you not benefit at all from the teaching, you are also wasting your parents’ money. Sit in front of the classroom to pay more attention to the tuition teachers.
• Don’t play around during exam periods. Some of you may say, “Aiyoh, exam nia ma!” That statement is false! Treat exams as an evaluation of your studying skills. Don’t peek during exams, unless you want to be booted out.
• Don’t give up! If you flunk in one of the subjects, don’t let that dampen your spirits. Be determined next time that you can obtain better results to redeem yourself. Never feel a lack of confidence in exams, have faith in yourself.

Pray to God, that He can give you faith, courage to yourself, and dispel your fear during exams. I experienced failing in subjects and I felt really sad that I could get only a 52 or so. You just have to get over it, and be tougher because school life is only one part and parcel of your life.

I hope these encouraging tips can help you all and me to go through exam periods…

Till then, God bless!

 

P/S The author scored 7 A’s in his UPSR and 8 A’s for his PMR exams. I would like to thank Mr. X for proof-reading this post.