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The Instruction Manual of Using a Guide for Exams

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This is the only instruction manual which you should endeavour to read; for it is muddled with the dos and don’ts of using your favourite reading material!

Exam preparation follows a repetitive trajectory: high hopes of finishing the syllabus, struggling to even commence with the schedule, and finally employing the controversial referencing of the guide books. It is an old story, the same story. For a major section of students, the semester knowledge begins and ends with these ‘help books.’ While the usage of only guides for studying calls for another debate on educational reforms, one can’t deny the fact they are not completely useless and obstructive to learning. How to extract its pros without falling prey to its temptation? Have a look!

  1. The productivity of guide books lies in the basic concept of limited usage. Designed to be the extra something to do before exams, they are the framework which can be followed for comprehending the expanse of the syllabus. Instead, we treat them to be the magic book which contains all tailor-made answers.
  2. Do not depend on the text of the guide and take it as the gospel truth. Time and again, educational content is known to vary between different books and authors, and the golden rule instructs you to abide by the information echoed within the four walls of the classroom. Hence, just because it is written in the guide does not grant it authenticity.
  3. The prime time to use this falls after your basic preparation has been finished and before you proceed to take your exam. The book can do wonders if one has to revise a concept or go over questions to solidify the foundational concepts. It can be the perfect revision manual to help you sort the myriad topics now assimilated in your head.
  4. Your indolence might prevent you from finishing this step, however, endeavour to achieve it this year. Cementing your concepts and inducing confidence, skimming through the past years’ examination papers is one of the many things your teachers shall reiterate over the semester. Ascertaining a basic idea of what may come and in what shape and form can help you prepare beforehand about the key pointers of your answers.

 

Image Credits: Sprowston High School

Saumya Kalia
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Exams

When in May: Of Nostalgia and Stress

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Welcome to the month of post-farewells and dreadful exams, when cheer is lost and nights are muddled with syllabus crams. Prepare yourselves; for the night is dark and full of terrors!

Home to innumerable panic attacks. The ground zero of anxious forebodings. The terminating station and commencing point of a plethora of journeys. For students within the college circumference of their lives, May is the month of examination woes and much more!

It’s a curious observation that a certain 31 days could be so diversely perceived by the populace, and can also be the foundational block of a confluence of emotions. Cut to the beginning of the month when the farewell fervour is slowly fading away, and everyone collectively (and unwillingly) makes an endeavour to return to the study mode. Waves of nostalgia and tears of goodbyes have been drowned in the expansiveness of the syllabus. The excitement of attire selection and the assimilation of the reality is slowly digested, as the first of May is reflected on our calendars.

For the seniors, the transition from bidding goodbyes to welcoming late nights perturbed by piling notes goes downhill by the incessant questions alluding to your future. Unwelcome concerns of “Job nahi mili abhi tak?” or “Aur padhke kya karoge?” have been consciously heard and ignored. The stress to ace the final annual examinations of your three-year journey, is however, met with a nostalgic familiarity. You might have appeared for your first semester exams unaware of the course and then slightly escalated the degree of preparation. And as you sit for tests which might have a bearing on where you end up in the next few months, the pressure to perform is higher than ever.

Let’s change the lens and visualise the April-successor month from the eyes of the first and second years. Exhaustion becomes them as they wrap up the multiple Department, Society, and College Farewells for the outgoing students. Weeks of relentless efforts to deliver a successful farewell are followed by weeks of stressing over the vast syllabus you’re oblivious of. While some may choose to dedicate the post-exam period to trips and generally whiling away time, others may begin an internship hunt in May to be able to land a good opportunity in the Summer vacations. The stress to score well is coupled with the woes of doing a rewarding summer internship, and hence, May becomes the focal point of worries.

As you prepare to board the plane to Examvillein the next couple of days, absorb the maelstrom of emotions capturing your heart and don’t surrender to the pressure. The innumerable memories which college presents you with is there to stay forever, and what you make of the next few weeks will affect you in varying degrees.

It’s going to be hot. It’s going to be worrisome. It’s going to be vexing. Are you ready for the showdown?

 

Image Credits: Clipart Panda

 

Saumya Kalia

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Arts & Culture

The Guide to Making a Study Schedule

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Lost in the maelstrom of books, readings, and incessant notes? Begin this journey with our manual and prepare a time-management device to save your lives!

With less than a month to go for the annual exams to commence and a dark pall of cover to hover over our lives, students can be seen squandering around photocopying notes and purchasing guides. The undeniable truth of a study cycle proclaims that once you kick-start the journey of studying, everything will fall into place. Thus, it is only the beginner’s bewilderment which poses questions of what to do, when to do, and how to do. Enter: Time Management. It is an art which harbours the ability to save lives, and many have tried and failed (yours truly!) But they say experience makes perfect, and the first lesson in the art involves pragmatic scheduling.

BE PRACTICAL AND REALISTIC

Your borderline anxiety and nervousness have led you to consciously manage your time, however, be rational in your approach. Don’t overestimate or underestimate your daily capability, and distribute the syllabus coverage in a systematic fashion. Also, refer to the calendar as you draw out your study schedule; accounting for weekends, coaching classes, or social commitments.

ASCERTAIN A FAIR IDEA OF THE SYLLABUS FRAMEWORK

If you haven’t endeavoured to explore the depths of your textbook or even purchase them, now would be a good time to complete these requisites. Scheduling requires you to have a foundational idea of what lies ahead. Avoid attributing a day for a chapter which requires greater attention or vice-versa. Have a sound estimation of the topics where you lack, and devote more time to them.

LIST EVERYTHING DOWN AND FILL IN THE BLANKS

Work on the aesthetics of the planner you shall be following for the next month. Usage of post-its, colourful pens, and other stationery items is highly encouraged to offer you a satisfactory experience. Mark in bold or italics the examination dates and work around them for syllabus allotment. List down the syllabus’ fragments that shall help you in the allotment. Don’t treat the Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course or the Generic Elective lightly, for they carry equal weightage. Leave a day or two before the exam for revision, and this should give you a helpful start!

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE DAILY TASKS

Fancy your preparation to be like a Jenga, with every entry in your schedule as the bricks. The failure to adhere to it might cause your Jenga to fall, and your examination aspirations shall experience a similar fate. It is a human virtue to minimalise the importance of things due to their lackadaisical attitude. Avoid the temptation to leave a certain chunk of your daily task or the whole work for the next day, for it has a domino effect on the subsequent targets.

What are you waiting for? Ready, set, schedule!

 

Image Credits: WikiHow

 

Saumya Kalia

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Post exam Delhi guide

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The only thing which motivates us to give exams is that they will end soon after! Here is a list of the things you can add to your post exam bucket list!

Go Cycling! – Honestly, winter is the loveliest time in New Delhi. It gives us the opportunities to go out in the open and do things which become rather difficult in the summers due to the raging heat. Hence, cycling in the winter is a great activity to do as a group or all alone. Central Delhi is an open, cycle friendly part of Delhi, where you can see numerous joggers and cyclers every morning. So, rent a cycle, take it out, and ride all across India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Lodhi Gardens, Connaught Place, Janpath and tread your own path back home the same way.

Visit Majnu Ka Tila – Winters also bless us with the opportunity to explore places in Delhi which we would find difficult to spend our time in during the summer. Near Delhi University’s North Campus, we can find Majnu Ka Tila, a Tibetan refugee settlement which boasts of great shopping deals and lip smacking food. Take time out and visit Ama Cafe for their delicious cakes, bakes and coffee. Spot the street vendors selling La Phing, and indulge in a comforting bowl of it. Taste amazing Tibetan, Nepali, Khasi and Garo cuisines and you won’t return disappointed!

Visit Chandni Chowk – I can tell you this much with certainty that most of the people living in Delhi have never been to Chandni Chowk and seen the whole complex. Winters is the perfect time to go to Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, The Red Fort and explore the sights around the place. Start with a morning trip to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib or Gurudwara Shishganj, pay your respects, and have some ghee dripping halwa. Then set out to explore the markets and get yourself anything you wish, Chandni Chowk markets boast to have ‘all that one may need’. Visit the Paranthe wali galli, have some Daulat ki Chaat, kachori sabzi and end it off with jalebis, kulfis and phirnis. A trip to Chandni Chowk and cover your whole day.

Visit the Daryaganj Book Market – And now, we have something for all you bookworms out there. Winter, again, is a perfect time to visit the famed Sunday Daryaganj Book Market where one can buy classics at a throwaway rate. Starting at Delite Cinema, the rows of stalls have everything that a book-lover or student could wish to find, dictionaries, NCERT books, second-hand books, manga, fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels; just name it. You might, however, have to really work to find a specific book. If you’re just on a visit, the range will lure you into buying a lot more than you planned to, so go prepared.

Happy Holidays! Go knock yourself out after exams.

Featured image credits: Pintrest 

Joyee Bhattacharya

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DUB Speak

TAKE NOTE! The importance of note-taking while studying

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As exams are on, it is tempting to abandon quality studying techniques and resort to merely reading whatever is in the tens of readings or books assigned to us. However, this technique will not get you very far, and instead you must resist taking the easy way out and focus on studying effectively.

The best way to take notes is to be precise. Read the entire paragraph, and then summarise it in a couple sentences or bullet points. Make sure to only write down what is relevant, and what triggers the content for you. Notes should encourage you to remember all the information through key words.

To make note-taking fun, you can try using different coloured pens or highlighters to make your work look pretty (and to feel more productive). In fact, colour-coding is a great strategy for when you have extensive notes and need to quickly access the crucial parts of them. People with photographic memory can benefit greatly from this, as the colourful notes will remain in your mind even during the exam. Post-its and flashcards will soon become your best friends. If you’re a stationery enthusiast, this is your chance to splurge guilt-free on supplies!

Keep in mind that notes do not necessarily have to be handwritten. While there are studies that show that writing by hand helps more in the registering process than typing on a computer, if you feel that you function better on the screen, then go ahead! Do what works for you best, and don’t shy away from using technology to enhance your prep.

There’s no use in making notes if you don’t revise them. Instead of spending all of your prep leave making notes, make sure to set aside around two whole days to go over those notes. It helps you recall the information and to collect your thoughts, which will make you feel infinitely more calm and confident when it comes to the day of the exam.

So, stop laying around in bed all day and mindlessly reading the assigned texts. Get your hands dirty and make notes that will make you feel productive and efficient, and will truly be your saving grace this exam season. Good luck!

 

 

Image Caption: Flashcards
Image Credits: Pinterest

 

 

Vineeta Rana

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Things Not to do While Preparing for Semester Exams

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As exam fever strikes the varsity, students find themselves overpowered by anxiety and frequent panic attacks. Time appears to be flashing away at double pace, and finishing the work burden within that period seems challenging. While focusing a lot on tips for nailing the same, we tend to overlook some important things that end up being detrimental for our scores. So, here’s a list of things that you should avoid, while you prepare to ace this semester.

Complaining and Procrastinating

That’s quite obvious that freaking out over abundance of course and limited time won’t change it in anyway. It might just waste your time and make you more frustrated and stressed out then before. At the same time, unnecessary delays will just cause more tension and anxiety.

panicking

Pulling consistent all-nighters

Pulling all-nighters doesn’t even seem like a big deal when it comes to giving university exams. But that is actually not recommended as it increases the stress level and makes your brain and body tired. Furthermore, consistent all-nighters might result into various health issues as the body tries to cope up with stress, change of sleep pattern and lack of mental rest. In many cases, sleeping proves to be better than studying all night.

all-nighter

Using social media platforms during breaks

It’s an automatic reaction for us to grab our cellphones and laptop the moment we decide to get off our books for a while. Browsing Facebook news feeds, putting Snap Stories about exam stress and starting random conversations distracts our brain to a considerable amount. No wonder, we end up feeling that the break time passed too soon. Social Media Platforms use more of our time and attention without us realising it.

social-media

Watching a TV series

No one will disagree to the fact that TV series are one of the most addictive things that can happen to anyone. During exam breaks, an idea of starting a new TV series will kill your focus levels and waste enormous time.

tv-series

Stress Eating

With stress comes stress eating, and with that, come unhealthy habits. With a desperate attempt to stuff our brain with massive amount of information, we tend to munch on junk foods – high on carbs and sugar level. Such food items might provide temporary relief, but will end up causing lethargy and tiredness in the long term.

stress-eating

Thinking of post exam plans

Isn’t this one of our favorite topics to think about? While it seems like the sweetest escape from the brutal hell of exams, it ends up consuming a large portion of your time – making it even more hellish than before. No?

post-exam

 

We are all well aware of the aforementioned points yet end up ignoring them. A constant reminder to self is extremely necessary as you plan to perform your best and pass another semester – Like a boss!

 Feature Image Credits: youngplusmag.net

LovleenKaur
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DUB Speak

An exam guide on how to beat the cold and study

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Last month, I struck the following deal with myself: Let go and give in to the unavoidable October festivities, only to come back in full form and study hard from day one of November. But half of November was already over and my progress graph is a terrifying horizontal line. I didn’t study then, and I am unable to study now. The only thing that has changed over the course of time (last week of October and first week of November) is my enemy. While previously, I was battling the ‘levity’ induced by the grand festival of Diwali, now, I am struggling to keep my productivity high against the laziness-inducing ‘winter cold’.

But with less time on my hands to prepare for the semester exams, it’s time I pulled up my socks (to keep the cold away, too?) and got down to business.

After a lot of thought and research, I’ve put together the following strategy to boost my efficiency and effectiveness and tackle the present evil aka ‘winter cold’ that is thwarting all my attempts at studying:

1. Wake up early and exercise
The hardest thing to do during the winter is to pull yourself out of the warm blanket and get to work. But if you have a morning exercise regime scheduled, you can not only get a head start to your day, but also have the sweat you work up in the process keep you warm and enthused through the day!

2. Bathe and dress warm
I know, it is hard shedding layers in the cold. But a bath with warm water, followed by dressing up in snug woollens is the best weapon against this winter cold! Once you’re warm, you can focus on studying and not get affected by the bone-chilling cold around you.

3. Eating small meals at regular intervals
Appetite in winter goes off the roof! Tame your mind and hunger by keeping your tummy content with healthy and frequent snacking. Think nuts and fruits. This way, you’ll concentrate better as you’ll be giving your brain the necessary and regular supply of glucose it needs.

4. Skip the siesta
Afternoon (when it’s warm) is the time when the sun is up at its brightest best. Don’t let this golden period of productivity go by sleeping through it. Instead, study outdoors. And get your eight-hour shut eye by sleeping early at night (when it’s cold).

5. Drink up on warm fluids and beverages
Coffee, green tea, lukewarm water and the works: these are your best buddies through the cold winter nights as they not only keep you feeling pleasantly warm, but also bring about the much need mental stimulation!

With this list, I hope that like me, you feel adequately equipped to fight the ‘winter cold’ and salvage the semester!
All the best!

Kriti Sharma
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Image Credits:  blogdailyherald.com

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How to stay confident and hopeful in the exam preparation frenzy

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All our existential crisis falls upon us during exams, we tend to procrastinate more than we should and after that, we tend to over burden ourselves. The key to sail through the exam period smoothly is to not overwhelm yourself with too many tactics. Here we bring to you 3 simple ways to deal with exam tension!

Pick your Poison –

No, it does not mean what you think it means. However, the fact is that our body must be replenished with fluids at regular intervals. Drinking water is a necessity which goes without saying, but everyone has one other liquid substance they survive on, especially during exams. My personal favourite has always been Bournvita, and many others swear by coffee, hot chocolate or chai. Avoiding cold drinks and carbonated beverages is always a wise idea, but in case you do crave a Fanta now and then, mix it up with something healthier and tastier, like mix fruit juices, milkshakes or smoothies. If you dose up on coffee heavily, do remember that an overdose of caffeine in our body is also not the best option in terms of health. Stay healthy and hydrated!

Get to work; put that phone down for a bit! –

Flipping through our phones during study hours as a break is not much of an issue, however there is an issue with us calling up our friends to get a quick update on ‘Kitna karliya?’ ‘Kaunse chapters nahi kare?’ ‘Yaar, I’m toh pakka se getting a back this time!’ Honestly, this is the worst way to ruin your confidence when you prepare for exams. Stop caring about what others are doing. Once you focus on yourself and prepare according to your abilities, aceing the exams will be a much easier task for you.

Breathe and have faith in yourself –

You might be studying six, four or even two hours a day. But, you should always have faith in your capabilities. Try to manage your time by making your daily routine a mix of serious studying and short breaks. You must also learn how to put the books down for a while, go to the balcony with a cup of chai and breathe the fresh air.Don’t compare yourself with other students in your class; they have a different skill set than you do, cultivate yours instead of eyeing theirs! Don’t look at your enormous syllabus and lose hope on your capabilities, choose what you want to do and work on it. Don’t let your thoughts overwhelm you; let them empower you to do your best.

Keep your chin up, drink water, study well and ace this semester!

 

Joyee Bhattacharya

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Campus Central

10 lessons learnt after the end of first semester

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It is that time of the year when everyone is busy photocopying notes, pulling all-nighters to settle a decent score in internals and getting submissions done just before the deadline. From easy-going days, it looks like college has suddenly transcended into a war zone- clearly, the honeymoon period is over. The semester flew away way too fast and while I’m still trying to grasp how that can be, I have to admit that I find myself wiser than I was a few months back. I’ve learned a few hacks which I wish someone would have told me before.

Here are 10 tips I learned by the end of the first semester, that can make college easier.

  1. Maintain your finances– With College comes independence and with that comes responsibility which includes finance management. It may seem harmless to spend 30-40 bucks here and there on multiple kiosks dotted around the campus, but these seemingly small spendings will turn you into a broke while you will be cluelessly wondering where all your money went. Hopefully, the demonetarization scheme is making you a better budgeter.
  2. Prioritize- With too much going around, it’s important that you prioritize your life. Whether it is society rehearsals, assignments or socializing with friends, make sure one thing isn’t eating up all your time.
  3. Wear whatever you want- If you want to get all dressed up or simply want to live in sweatpants, it doesn’t matter. You can do whatever you want.
  4. Participate and involve yourself– College is about thriving and not merely surviving, so participate and get involved in different sorts of events, public meetings, festivals, seminars and sign up for internships and volunteer. Sometimes you’ll be successful and sometimes you’ll end up making a fool out of yourself, but ultimately you’ll gain experience and that counts.
  5. Swear by these essentials-

– Always keep your Metro card recharged.

– Don’t forget the headphones or else the 20-minute metro ride will feel like an eternity.

– Deodorant is very important. You don’t want to be that smelly kid.

  1. Be friends with the Class Representative– If you want to request your professor to change the extra class timings or want the notes that the teacher floated to be photocopied first, the friendship with dear old CR will come handy. Besides, if you are a busy person and don’t happen to attend classes regularly then the CR will be the most reliable person to update you about the classwork.
  2. Use the college resources- Make the best use of libraries, online database, computers, scanning and printing facilities, bus pass, massive open online course (MOOC’s) and of-cause the Wi-Fi. You will be surprised to know how much you can avail for free!
  3. Go to college no matter what- We may convince ourselves that by missing one day we will catch up on all the reading and complete the pending work. However, going by my experience I can tell that it’s not going to happen, so it’s better you attend the college and at least get the attendance.
  4. Lean to function alone– Okay so college is mostly about friends and togetherness, but sometimes you have to ride solo, so be prepared. It shouldn’t bother you to sit by yourself in the cafeteria or attend some seminar alone. Being alone doesn’t mean being lonely and you must learn to enjoy your own company.
  5. Sit back and relax- It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the negativity, sheer boredom or workload in college. You may feel that you’re not good enough. In that situation, it’s important that you sit back and relax before all the stress gets on your nerves.

 

Niharika Dabral

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Why November is the worst month to take exams!

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As many of us are busy gearing up for the semester-end exams, there are a few of us at debacle over nonchalantly skimming those textbooks or letting the reins free and giving up to the eternal conspiracy called fall. Care to pause?
Since we are halfway already, you might have as well perceived that November has a magic attached to it. It is a singular mystical month of vivifying charisma and enchantment. You may have realised why it has been aptly marvelled through centuries that this is a month of dreamy blends and ethereal transitions- The classical commixture of the growth with a pertinent hue of decline; fading elements of summer melting into the cajoling winter; the green canopies metamorphosing into the yellow perennial drizzle of leaves and the dryness of summer, restlessness of the rain all majestically making way for the calmness and with it, the silent hustles, the deepening melancholy. This is the time of the year which the fairy tales and dreams are made of. Think fall and you are reminiscent of the floating cloud, the faraway castles shrouded in mysteries, the vivaciously green meadows of some quixotically vivid shrubs dancing in the symphony of the western November breeze, the verdant mountains, the hills clad in the green blankets, the tranquil waters.. Lost, are you?
On the face of it, this is about what one identifies with the fall. This is about why November is a careless month.
But o the wretched fate, just when this euphoria starts caressing your minds, hearts and souls; the antidote of exam is waiting for you. What you just can’t help is giving yourself all those reasons which conclude that November is the worst time of the year for the exams. (P.S. I have no grudge against exams; I just have a fetish for November.)
First and foremost, this is the time of the year which, since eternity has been the most creative period in the eternal cycle of seasons. Come fall and the floodgates of ideas, dreams and visions are shattered open in a sort of conspiracy of the nature.

As Emily Bronte, observes, ” .. Ideas … have gone through and through me, like wine and water, and changed the colour of my mind.” It is only fair to conclude that if not for her ideas which conjured the withering heights, the world would certainly have been a less beautiful place.
So the examinations cruelly restrict the free play of the ideas. The opinions, dreams and ideas, before hitting their respective canvases, are sabotaged in the fear of the last week of November. The very existence of the acrid concept of exam lingering along the cobwebs in those unvisited vicinities of the mind, dissipate any parallel thought-process.

For the next reason, November is the best time for people among us who love to sleep. There, I said it. And believe me, it is a good enough reason, one of the best of reasons. Argue me if you haven’t felt your body surrender every time you close your eyes as much to a blink, to the fragrance of the invisible necromantic force as it sublimely lulls over you, narcotising you and hence taking you to its realms. And this happens invariably, no terms and conditions.

But now if you are done, get over. As the good ‘ol man used to say in schools, ”Go away. You have your exams.”

 

Nikhil Kumar

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