Students, learn to study smart

By Nikhlesh Mathur

From Boards to entrance exams to higher studies - subjects and levels may change, but one thing that remains is the attitude and pattern of study. Everything that is planned in the right perspective gets implemented with minimum failures. Students also need to plan their studies intelligently. Such a plan should include the following:

1. Analyzing to find out which mode of study suits you best: It is not necessary that you also cram up things by heart if your friends can do it. Studying through the ‘process of writing' may suit you better. May be you take longer time to understand certain theories and take comparatively lesser time for certain other topics than your co-students. You have to set the pattern and the time frame of the studies according to your own personal requirement and your own personal mental level. You yourself have to analyse and find out. Parental guidance can be of great help here.
2. Find out the difficult topics: In any subject there will be things that are difficult and others a cake walk. So the best way would be to sort out the difficult ones and spend extra time with a fresh frame of mind to understand them. This will help you stay on track and not get de-motivated closer to the exams.
3. Set goals and for completing topics within a subject: You have about 720 or 744 hours (maximum) in a month. You cannot devote the entire time to your education, this is also a fact. So carve out a timetable for your studies depending upon your capabilities. Find out if late night studies are proving to be counter-productive by keeping you drowsy till afternoon. May be morning study is better for you.
4. Understand the capacity of your mind: You don't have to burn the midnight oil everyday because just giving more time to studies might not mean you are preparing well. Whatever time you give to your studies has to be quality time, with full devotion. If your mind cannot accept on a particular day after certain hours of sitting, it is of no use keeping the books open in front of your eyes. It would be better to take rest or engage in recreation to freshen up the mind.
5. Keep the objective alive during selection of subjects and studies: The ultimate objective should be clearly defined. If this is selected correctly you would realize that it is not the marks but the real knowledge that you should aim for. Education can be compared to a game of test cricket. If you have the keenness to develop the knowledge of the game and if you are determined to stay at the wicket, the runs are bound to come. The same concept holds true about marks in an exam.
6. Learn to discuss with your friends: Analytical discussions about your subjects can bring out your deficiencies. It is a good exercise to know the areas you are lacking in. Proactive discussions act as internal examinations.
7. Learn to study in a piece mill manner: Never try to understand or learn many things at the same time even if you have the confidence and the mental make-up to do so. Take only one matter at one time and if you are confident of knowing it well you may give it lesser time. Remember that a mountain is climbed only with the help of small steps and not by running towards the top. If you run, you might just be able to reach only half distance huffing & puffing all the way.
8. Be radically positive in your approach: A good approach to anything would place you a few yards ahead on every occasion. Let your approach be positive and motivational to your own self. Learn to garner confidence from whatever you have learnt from the past.
9. Have high self esteem: Never lose your self esteem even if you fail to fetch as good marks as you expected. There is always a way out. In the worst case there might not be any examination attempts left for you. But then you can always be determined and finally excel in whichever field or occupation that land on your way. A bend in the road is not the end of the road.

About the author:

Nikhlesh Mathur is an MBA as well as a chemical engineer from NIT. He is trained in Malcolm Baldrige model of business excellence.

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