Inappropriate Study Habits to Avoid In order to Pass all Exams– Are you Preparing for Jamb and University Aptitude Test Examination? Here are Top 10 Study Tips for all Students
Cramming: Cramming to many, does not work. It often proves unsuccessful for the simple fact that the subject matter of the year-long or semester-long courses, for which the student is now cramming, has already been crammed or condensed into three hour lectures and into even shorter outlines by the review process. Consequently, students who cram, in effect, are merely touching the surface of an already superficial treatment of an area of law. It will not work for most of them.
READ ALSO:Students’ Guide for Examinations Success’ Common Terms to Note
Passive Learning: Another way in which the adequacy of a student’s preparation is undermined is by the way in which they study. Many students still engage in ‘passive study’. They will simply read the materials or listen to tapes, one or more times, believing this process will result in retention. Studies have shown, however, that a more ‘active’ learning approach results in greater learning. Active learning requires ‘handling’, ‘shaping’ or ‘manipulating the information read’ Example, reading and outlining, summarizing, or answering questions about what was read. Students are thereby accorded the opportunity to discern what they know from what they do not, and they do so in time to make needed corrections. Successful exam attempts are often the result of this key preparation component. There are other study habits which are best unlearned for the exam and there are others to be adopted. Whatever the habit, successful ones are those which result in consistency of study and ability to concentrate. If a student is studying evenly and effortlessly, then the study habit employed is the right one.
Unproductive Exam Anxiety: A little anxiety is a good thing. It keeps people motivated and alert. Too much, however, may result in dysfunction. As such, a student’s appreciation of the need for preparation and productive study habits may be undermined if he or she is too anxious to sit down to engage a consistent study program. Yet, it is when we are alone that some of our deepest fears and anxieties surface. In the exam context, to avoid the fears, many students avoid the situation. They take jobs they do not really need. They obsess over matters that are either not within their control, for example a friend’s martial problems, or over matters within their control, but for over which they may procrastinate. With either situation, students lose valuable time and energy needed for successful exam preparation, while there are fears and anxieties best dealt with by mental health professionals. Many of those of the typical exam candidate stem from one main source.
The best way to address this fear is head-on. First, students must recognize that it can happen. They must then put the thought out of their heads and give the exam effort 100%. The worst that can happen in any event is that the student will have to take it again. If passing the exam is the goal, then the student will take it as many times as is necessary to achieve it.
RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ALL STUDENTS:
