Fun: The Stages of Taking an Exam

 

A little (fun) insight from me on what happens before, during, and after any given exam paper on exam days, 100% based on personal observation.

• Before the exam:
  
  
  
  Basically a lot of last-minute cramming/review (whatever you call it) and a little chatter.The moment you step into the school yard, you will see people with books in their hands. Some just bring pages of self-made notes and speed-read through them, while others flip rapidly through the thick textbook hoping to refresh the brain with some hard facts.
  
  However I have this aching feeling that I long for doing before an exam, that is to calmly go through major/hard facts as a whole and relax the last 10 minutes or so before an exam, praying silently. I'm going to do that for STPM (hopefully) to reduce my stress level.
  
  
• During the exam:
  
  
  
  During the first hour or so, basically you can hear pencils and pens moving about on table surfaces, and the occasional cough or gust of wind that makes someone's papers fly all over the place.
  
  Towards the second hour or the 2 1/2 hour mark the scenario tends to be more relaxed. Depending on the paper, some people are finished and flipping over the pages to check their answers. There may (normally will) be a few people headed towards the toilet...to reduce stress perhaps?
  
  Of course some folks immediately can be seen with their heads flopped down on the table after finishing...(you know what I mean)
  
  From about 10 minutes to the minute the teacher says "Put your pens down", there's a feeling of anticipation in the air. Most people are done by now and can't wait for the exam to be over, some are still checking their answers and/or mulling over difficult questions, and there is whispering all about (I don't mean cheating here, just chatting)
  
  And then there are also some folks who are writing frivolously all the way until the last available second.
  
• After the exam:
  
  
  
  First a surge of relief comes over you - it's over! But until the very last day of the exam, this surge is quickly overcome with focusing on what's coming next.
  
  Then there's also the comparing your answers and asking around sessions for the recently over paper, which even though satisfies the "want to know" instinct but also leaves some disappointed over getting some of the answers all wrong (happens to me all the time)
  
  On the very last day of the exam, almost nobody worries about what's correct for the last paper much (until results are out...) because come on, it's over!
  
  As for the last day of STPM, well I think it'll be bittersweet because it's the very last day of high school in my life (no more school after this, at least after form 5 there is still form 6 but now...) and you won't see your friends much after that, but it's also sweet because it's the last I'll see of cram everything-into-one sort of public exams (uni exams are another story) and also a step into a new stage of life all together.
  

PS: Honestly my study notes are all in my head and cramming them all into the computer takes up a huge chunk of my time, so I'll keep them in my head for the time being and post study notes on specific subjects (like my Pengajian Am posts previously) after the exams end next Monday (I can post the trial questions here and corrections too after that).

Image sources: (1), (2), (3), (4)

7 (Little) Study Tips

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Today I'm going to share some study tips here. I'm not an expert but these tips, when used, have helped me so far. I hope they can be of help to you! :)

In no particular order:

• Get the lesson when it's taught.
  When learning something for the very first time, I make it a point to "get it". If there are things that confuse you, or if you didn't come the day a particular topic is being taught, do ask the teacher or more knowledgeable friends for additional explanations and demonstrations - until you get it.
  
  Even if the process of getting it may take a while, the rewards are reaped when you look at the topic and say 'Aha! I understand this concept, and I don't need to look at the textbook multiple times!'

• Use mind-mapping to remember conceptual knowledge.
  I suggest you do this for subjects that require thorough understanding of concepts such as business studies and economics. Breaking a topic into subtopics and sub-sub topics helps me see the whole picture and get into details at the same time, depending on the question being asked.
  
  I just use main keywords for mind-maps and tackle the detailed stuff later - if a mind map is too cluttered with information I find it rather stressful to read.

• Link ideas for subjective questions and essays, especially ideas that require memorization.
  This suggestion helps me to see the connection between ideas that helps in remembering related points. This method especially worked for me while studying history, where I remember the main points mind-map style and also try to link them.
  
  Linking can be following time (chronological, i.e point A led to point B) or related points that happen at the same time/have the same importance (besides A, B also contributed...)

• Practice questions very often.
  This applies especially for:
  - quantitative questions involving mathematics or scientific terms in any way
  - hands-on knowledge, such as practicals and outside school i.e cooking, playing music
  because practicing reinforces what is learned into 'doing' the thing right rather than relying on memory alone. After a certain number of practices, the skill is drilled into the brain.
  
  Practicing other forms of knowledge besides the two types above also helps you to familiarize yourself with the topic being learned and understand it better.

• Study in time chunks suitable for you.
  My usual study chunk is about 30 minutes to a maximum of one hour - after that I get restless and start fiddling around. Point is, study as long as your concentration span allows you to but not beyond that. Can you seriously study for hours non-stop without heavy eyes and yawns? After studying, do something else first that is unrelated to studying to get your mind off and rest.
  
  Get back to study later - but do get back. From personal experience, if I rested for too long I would inevitably start to procrastinate!

• Create a conducive study environment suitable for you.
  Many people say quiet reading in the library is the best way, but it does depend on your learning style. Personally I prefer discussing or teaching whatever I study with other people because that's how I learn best (I'm a mainly auditory learner, and I love it when we quiz each other as the challenge keeps me going). So study in a way that is most conducive for you. If you need to be in school/home/the park/the beach to study, do it.
  
  What if your ideal environment isn't available? Then try to make the best out of your current surroundings, for example going to a quiet corner, listening to some tunes, etc.

• Staying up all night, skipping meals and other things you won't normally do off-exam periods - don't bother doing'em.
  These are rather unhealthy habits, and they interfere with your ability to learn. Perhaps by staying up all night you may be able to retain some extra study time, but the fatigue of sacrificing much-needed sleep catches up sooner or later.
  
  Sleep at a suitable time, eat your meals (especially breakfast but I would suggest a light one so that you don't feel too heavy after that) and stay healthy and alert. It helps, trust me. 

I hope these 7 short tips can help you as much as it has helped me. Until next time...

Image sources: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8)