By Munyaradzi Zindi Chikomba
–What you need to do:
–How to do it:
1. Information Gathering
Gather all the information sources be it books both e-books and hard copies, syllabuses, past examination papers, articles, audios, and videos.
This will help you to understand the task at hand.
2. Syllabus Knowledge
Knowledge of the syllabus is also of paramount importance because it gives a clear picture of what is going to be asked. A syllabus is a handbook that will guide you so for every subject you will write look for the syllabus.
3. Knowing the structure and nature of the examination
– Knowing what is most likely to be asked in the examination is already halfway to passing the actual examination.
– Theory question require one to major on definitions.
-Solving cases require case studies.
-Numbers require knowledge of formulas.
-Essay questions require analytical skills to separate black and white.
-Detailed questions do not require summary studying they require in depth knowledge.
4. Studying efficiently
-Study the most important topics thoroughly which comes with the biggest number of marks because it is a game of numbers.
-The minor topics are very important also because they complement however the most important topics should be known thoroughly.
-If you are not understanding or getting a hard time to understand a topic or chapter skip it and go to the next topic so that at least you don’t waste time on one topic neglecting the others.
-When you finish study get back and restudy those that were giving you a hard time.
5. A planner
-A planner is a detailed formulation of a program of action.
-The easiest way to formulate a good planner is to go on the syllabus or text book contents page and analyze your topics.
-The analysis will be on what you know in detail, what you have an idea of and what you don’t have more information on.
-This will be a guideline for you to what to major on and what to just peruse. There is no point for vigorously reading what you already know because it is a waste of time.
– Most of the time should be focused on the things you don’t have knowledge about.
– Try by all means to prevent a situation where you have to read or do intense study in the last 72 hours before the actual exam.
– The last 72 hours should be channeled for instance revision, it may be too late to grasp new concepts, try as much as possible to do intense studies when you still have time.
6. Time of study
-Study time is very important in preparation for an examination.
You can study in the morning, afternoon and in the evening .
Early Morning(2-7am)– Researchers say that the morning is the most effective time for intense study because the brain will be fresh and most healthy. Before you engage in anything your brain will be fresh and no disturbances are likely to affect you.
Late Morning & Afternoon(9am-5pm)– The late morning and the afternoon are best for practicing and writing examination questions because you will definitely write the exams in the afternoon and late morning. So practice makes perfect the more you practice the more you get used.
Evening(7pm-12pm)– Evenings are best for revisions and winding up what you would have studied. The brain will have be exhausted with the daily routines so intense studying may be a bit difficult.
7. The environment effect
-The type of environment you choose to do your study is of paramount importance.
-Unfortunately many of us do not afford to have libraries in their homes so we have to compromise but try as much as possible to study in a quite convenient place.
-Less noise helps in concentration, try to shun away from media and radio when doing serious study because the brain is designed in such a way that in can fully function when it is doing one task at a time.
-That is why most prefer late evenings and early mornings so that they create a quite environment which is convenient for studying.
N.B- PREFERENCES DIFFER FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER. SO DO WHAT SUITS YOU BEST, WISH YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE.