“I am preparing for my board exams along with entrance exams. I am unable to manage time between school, tuitions and entrance coaching. Can you help create a perfect timetable?”

“Can you please create a perfect timetable for me, which will help manage school studies with my entrance test preparations and extra-curriculars as well?”

Which teacher has not heard these statements and more, from their students?

Preparing for competitive entrance exams in India, such as JEE, NEET, CLAT or IPMAT, is a challenging task that requires dedication, hard work, and, most importantly, a well-structured study plan. A carefully designed timetable ensures that students cover the entire syllabus and manage their time effectively, helping them stay calm and focused throughout their preparation journey.

Understand Your Goals and Priorities

One size DOES NOT FITA ALL. Each students needs to understand that the right timetable is a highly personalised entity. The first step in creating a perfect study timetable is understanding your goals. Competitive exams in India are extremely demanding, so having clear, measurable goals will guide you in making the right choices about what to study and when. The first question you need to ask yourself is: What do I want to achieve, and how much time do I have left?

This is where you assess the time available before the exam date. Whether you are preparing for a year or just a few months, this will help you set realistic targets and make informed decisions. A student preparing for the JEE or NEET may need to focus on extensive practice and mastering a well-defined syllabus, while a student preparing for CLAT or IPMAT may need to balance studying vast syllabus areas with building specific skills such as Reading Comprehension or skill with Maths.

Once you know your goals, it becomes easier to prioritize topics, ensuring that you focus on the most important or challenging areas first.

Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Before diving into the timetable, take some time to evaluate your academic strengths and weaknesses. List down the entire syllabus which you need to cover, in detail. List down individual topics in each subject. Try to go in as much depth as possible. Identify which subjects or chapters you are more comfortable with and which ones need more attention. For example, if you are preparing for the JEE exam, you might be good at Physics but find Mathematics challenging. On the other hand, you might find Legal Aptitude relatively easier but struggle with Current Affairs for the CLAT exam.

Knowing your strengths allows you to allocate more time to the subjects you are weaker in, while giving yourself some breathing room with subjects you are comfortable with. This will help you avoid overloading your timetable with subjects you already excel at, ensuring that you maximize your study time effectively.

Set Realistic and Achievable Study Hours

Do not make the mistake of overburdening yourself with an ambitious timetable that leaves no room for any extra time. While it’s important to stay disciplined, overburdening yourself with too many hours of study can lead to burnout and fatigue. When planning your study schedule, ensure that you set realistic study hours based on your individual capacity.

There is no set standard as to the number of hours that you MUST study. Some students may require more time to grasp concepts, while others may need less. Importantly, you should account for breaks and leisure time, as studying without rest can reduce productivity and hinder retention. Aim for focused study sessions with short breaks in between.

Divide Your Time Wisely Among Subjects

The next step is dividing your study time among various subjects. A balanced approach is key. For example, the weightage of Maths in the IPMAT (IIM Indore) is proportionally higher. You may need more time to practice problems, if you are not very comfortable with numbers. On the other hand, a student who is very comfortable with Mathematics, may find that she needs more practice hours allocated for English. Allocate time according to the importance and difficulty of the subject, keeping in mind your strengths and weaknesses. Periodic assessment of your current level should also help you keep adjusting the allocated time for each subject.

Incorporate Regular Breaks

While it might seem counterproductive, incorporating regular breaks into your study timetable is essential for maintaining focus and preventing mental fatigue. Long hours of continuous study can cause a significant decline in productivity, leading to frustration and loss of motivation.

A good study timetable should include short breaks. I find that an intense study session of 50 minutes, followed by a 10-minute break, works wonders for me. These breaks can be used for activities such as stretching, walking, having a snack, or simply relaxing. In addition, ensure that you take longer breaks after every 4-5 hours of study, allowing yourself time to recharge.

However, you need to be disciplined enough to be mindful of not over extending your break.

Don’t forget to schedule time for meals and proper sleep as well. A well-rested mind is far more effective than a fatigued one, so aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, especially in the weeks leading up to your exams.

Include Time for Revision

One of the most crucial aspects of exam preparation is revision. A well-designed study timetable should not only focus on learning new material but also on revising what you have already studied. Revision helps reinforce your knowledge and ensures that concepts stay fresh in your mind.

Dedicate a portion of your daily study time to revision. You can set aside 1-2 hours each day for revisiting concepts from earlier topics or entire subjects. Additionally, plan for a longer revision session during the weekends or at the end of each month. Use tools like flashcards, summary notes, and practice papers to help you revise efficiently.

Practice and Mock Tests

For competitive exams, simply reading or understanding concepts is not enough. Practice is key to success. Make sure that your study timetable includes regular practice sessions. You can allocate a specific time each day for solving practice problems, taking mock tests, and reviewing them to assess your performance.

Mock tests are particularly valuable as they help you simulate the actual exam environment. They allow you to test your time management skills, build exam-day confidence, and identify areas where you need further improvement. Plan to take mock tests at least once or twice a week, increasing the frequency as you get closer to the exam date.

Focus on quality of mock tests. Blindly attempting a large quantity of mock tests, without taking out time to properly analyse them, will not be useful at all. Proper mock analysis is an essential tool in tweaking your timetable to optimise your performance.

Stay Flexible and Adapt

A study timetable is a living document, meaning it should evolve as your preparation progresses. While it’s important to stick to your plan, you also need to remain flexible and adapt to changes. Sometimes, certain topics may take longer to master than anticipated, or you may feel the need to revise particular subjects more frequently. If you find that some aspects of your timetable are not working, feel free to make adjustments.

A rigid timetable that doesn’t allow for changes can lead to stress and demotivation. Instead, view your timetable as a guide to help you stay organized, but allow room for spontaneity when necessary.

Maintain Motivation and Track Progress

Staying motivated is one of the biggest challenges students face during their exam preparation. To keep yourself on track, set small, achievable milestones and reward yourself when you reach them. This could be in the form of a break, a treat, or simply enjoying your favourite activity.

Additionally, regularly assess your progress. This can be done through weekly reviews where you look at how much you’ve covered, how many practice problems you’ve solved, and how confident you feel about each subject. Tracking progress will help you stay focused and ensure that you are moving in the right direction.

In conclusion, creating a perfect study timetable is an essential part of preparing for competitive exams in India. A well-structured timetable helps students manage their time effectively, reduce stress, and ensure balanced preparation across subjects. By understanding your goals, strengths, weaknesses, and setting realistic study hours, you can create a timetable that aligns with your needs. Remember, flexibility, regular revision, practice, and maintaining motivation are key to ensuring that your study timetable leads to success. With discipline, commitment, and the right approach, you can effectively prepare for your exams and achieve your desired results.

The post How to Create a Perfect Timetable! first appeared on N. Sathyanarayan.

Exams around the corner, and the biggest thing to tackle is not the exam, but how to tackle exam fear!

“Boss, I need to take a few days leave. It is my son’s board exams, and I need to be at home to help him prepare for the same.”

“I am sorry, but I won’t be able to attend the cousin’s wedding. My daughter is about to appear for her entrance exam, and I need to help her with preparations.”

“I am unable to tackle exam fear! I feel unprepared and think, I will fail!!!”

Such statements and more, are very commonly heard in many Indian families, where education often becomes the focal point for all activities. For the typical middle class parent, good education and admission to a reputed institute of higher education, often reflect a sure path to success.

As a result, right from their childhood, young students are encouraged to focus all their time and energy on studies. As they near the end of their schooling period, they are guided to wards entrance exam preparations for securing admission to top colleges.

The burden of having to do well rests heavily upon the young shoulders. There is an unwritten, unspoken rule of not disappointing parental expectation. The weight of expectations—both personal and societal—combined with the rigorous preparation, can lead to anxiety, stress, and fear. The art of “How to tackle Exam fear” is a key skill, nay, attitude, that is required to be learned!

Understanding Exam Fear and Stress – After all to tackle exam fear, you need to understand it!

Exam fear is a common emotional response triggered by the perceived high stakes of the examination. Fear often arises from:

1. Unrealistic Expectations:

   Parental, societal and self expectations are often set at unrealistic levels. The pressure to meet these standards is huge.

2. Fear of Failure:

   The idea of underperforming or not achieving one’s goals can cause significant stress.

3. Comparison:

   The “Sharmaji ka beta” phenomenon in India is real. Comparison with high achievers within one’s own family, friend circle or acquaintances can lead to feelings of inadequacy.

4. Lack of Preparation:

   Inadequate study or revision can make students feel unprepared, heightening anxiety.

Strategies to Tackle Exam Fear and Stress

A holistic approach is necessary to tackle exam-related fear and anxiety. One needs to address not only academics, but also other issues like health and life style factors.

1. Develop a Study Plan

• Set Realistic Goals: Remember that old question: How do you eat an entire elephant? One piece at a time. Break down the syllabus into manageable sections and allocate specific time slots for each.
• Take Breaks: I have never understood the fascination with studying for hours at a stretch with no break in between. Personally speaking, I find it better to study with complete focus for about 30 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. If I try to study for a long stretch with no break in between, my attention tends to waver.

2. Practice Relaxation Techniques

• Visualisation: Believe that you are a successful person. See yourself studying the institute of your dream. Corny as it may sound, repeated positive reinforcement can work wonders.
• Deep Breathing Exercises: There are a number of online resources to teach you different breathing techniques. Use any one of them to learn mindful breathing. Even a simple sounding practice like this can help steady your nerves.

3. Focus on Time Management

Learn to effectively manage time. Reduce last minute work.

• Set Deadlines: Writing down the work that you expect to see completed by the end of the day, week or month, can often motivate you to effectively utilise your time.
• Avoid Procrastination: This is easier said than done. However, learn how to motivate yourself to not delay things and try to complete activities before time.

4. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.

• Balanced Diet: Eat Healthy. I have seen young students fall into the habit of consuming the so-called “energy drinks” and depend on caffeine. Not good. While a young body may be able to handle them, they have adverse long-term effects on your health.
• Regular Exercise: Engage in activities like yoga, jogging, or even a short walk to release endorphins and reduce stress.
• Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7–8 hours of sleep daily. Sleep deprivation can impair memory, focus, and decision-making abilities.

5. Leverage Support Systems

It takes a village to raise a child. And crack exams.

• Talk to Parents and Teachers: Share your concerns with them; they can provide guidance and reassurance.
• Study Groups: Have the right kind of friends, who can motivate you and not distract you from your goal.

6. Learn to Control Exam-Day Nerves

Even the best-prepared students may experience anxiety on exam day. These tips can help:

• Arrive Early: Reach the exam centre with ample time to settle down. It is better to be early by 30 minutes, than late by 30 seconds.
• Read Questions Carefully: Read all instructions carefully. Take a few seconds to decide your approach.
• Start with Familiar Questions: Begin with questions you’re confident about to build momentum.
• Avoid Panic: If you get stuck, take a deep breath and move on to the next question. If you feel that the paper is tough, remember – it is tough for others too!

Importance of Perspective

Exams are significant. However, they are not the be-all and end-all of life. They are not the only indicators of success. Life will give you multiple opportunities. For the diligent student, when one door closes, multiple other doors open. Developing resilience and learning from challenges is key to long-term growth.

Conclusion

With high stakes, come high levels of fear, anxiety and stress. However, acknowledging the fear and managing with the right attitude and strategy is important. These things can be overcome with focus, discipline and self-confidence. Be prepared, be confident, and you will definitely be able to tackle exam fear!!!

The post How to tackle Exam fear, anxiety and stress! first appeared on N. Sathyanarayan.