Examination days are an opportunity to show case labour put into studies during the academic session. These are testing times not only for students, but for parents too. Hence preparing for examinations is no solo task. Guardians role here is important and indispensable. They can encourage children by right advice, help and cooperation, and enable them to secure better marks. For after all parents have just one overriding concern—total success for their sons and daughters.
This is a test for you too
When your children are busy preparing for their exam, you too are under scanner. This is but natural. As exams draw near, anxiety goes up. Children, during these days, passes through stress of myriad kinds—psychological and physical. Hence any hostility of parents can add to their problems. Rather, parents should contemplate on how best they can help their ward towards their examination.
In this context, ambiance of household is significant. Try to make it joyous, serene and friendly. Any kind of tension, overt or covert, can mar child’s concentration in studies. Most congenial household atmosphere is one where family members are free, fearless and eloquent about their view points.
At times we take our exhortations for granted, heedless that they could be irksome for children. This is paradoxical. Your exhorting them for superlative performance—for place in competitive merit list—is okay. Yet it is unbecoming of you to compare your ward with other students and make him/her prone to inferiority complex. Habit of wistful fault finding, and reviling them, is also despicable. Those parents who are ever poking their nose into children’s affairs, and pass unsavoury comments on them, know not what harm they are doing to their loved ones. All acts of such nature tell adversely on child psychology.
Be child’s companion, not custodian
Some parents have a fetish for taking their children to task, even though there may not be a tangible aim or objective behind it. This may be a habit picked up from peers, or an extension of their own parent’s misdemeanour towards them during their childhood days. Suffice here to say that you would be more effective with children as a pal rather than as a policeman.
No doubt, parents should make sure that children make good use of time. They shouldn’t be wasting their time loitering aimlessly with their friends and acquaintances. TV, films, picnics and parties shouldn’t be driving them crazy. Indeed this calls for astute observation and guidance. Parents who generously spare time for their kids—become their best friends. Such children need not to pine for a pack of playmates. Even when overly busy, guardians can snatch time to enquire about their studies. Even a tinkler of phone call—‘Tinku how in your studies?’ will convey your affection and stir a child. Youngster gets a feeling that you do care. When you reach home in the evening, talk to children in a friendly manner. Ask them what they did the whole day long. And when a child speaks up, ask him/her questions on related issues. This will be revision exercise for children as also a booster of their self confidence. The drill will enable children to deliver goods. As children’s friend you have an easy access to their heart and mind.
Examinations
Thorns loose their power to prick only when kept under foot and smothered. What use is success or failure if fear of examination derails physical and mental health much in advance.
—Mahadevi Verma
Remain cool, for children’s sake
Some parents believe in packing up their television sets in the month of December itself. It is indeed an exemplary act of assistance and abnegation to set tone for pre examination preparatory days. It helps children study without distraction. Even as it may not be feasible to put idiot box in lock and key, it is practicable to set time for television watching and ensure strict compliance of such time schedule. Same can be done for carnivals and festivities. Don’t take children to places where they are not required. This apart, keep strict eye on children’s gamut of activities, their food and relaxation, during examination days.
Judicious use of time
Circa 1920, when Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar was in London for his studies. So intense was his love for learning that whenever he found time, he would pick up books. In London he shared a room with Asnadekar who was surprised at Ambedkar’s tenacity for reading and writing. Once he got up at mid of night only to find Bhim Rao deep in studies. He posed, ‘How long will you study? It’s late night, go to bed.’
Ambedkar answered in earnest—‘Mr. Asnadekar, where do I have the money for food and time for rest? I have to put every single available second to best of use.’ Saying this he again turned to pages.
This young man, Bhim Rao Ambedkar was decorated with Bharat Ratna award and went on to become veteran leader of Indian masses.
Do’s and don’ts for the board examinees
For the benefit of students appearing for board examination of 10th and 12th standards, following tips are significant.
❑ You should first of all size up the quantum of time available to you. Reach your examination centre a day in advance lest you are held up on way and suffer eleventh hour fuss.
❑ While attempting question paper, calibrate time lest you leave out some questions unattempted. So, remain tuned to your wrist watch. It is better to pen down whatsoever little you know rather than omitting a question altogether.
❑ Stick to the size of answer specified in question. It will save you time as well as penalty of superfluous writing.
❑ Be equipped with all necessary accessories like your admission card, pen, geometry box etc. lest you cut a sorry figure in examination hall.
❑ Be disciplined at the examination centre. Go placidly to your allotted seat. This would bring you into good books of invigilating staff, and prove helpful to you.
while attempting your question paper
❑ After every answer, ever if it addresses only a part of major question, draw a line and leave out space of two-three horizontal lines in answer copy. This would make your answers more clear and cogent.
❑ It creates better impression to underline/highlight important lines and words in answer. Use green or yellow ink for such marking. Red ink is exclusive privilege of examiner checking your answer sheet. So, never use red ink. Blue ink should be used as the principal writing material.
❑ As far as possible answer questions in chronological order. Albeit, hard questions may be left out to be attempted at the fag end. If omission relates to a sub-question—a tentative space may be left out in the running—to be turned to and used a little later on when you finish up with what you know best. Yet, it wouldn’t be advisable to mess around too much with order of questions as set by the examiner. This can be irksome for evaluator, and hence go against you.
Remember
❑ It’s no use fussing over what you have done once you walk out of the examination hall. Such post mortem is useless. Hence, ‘Do it and forget it’.
❑ With every question paper completed, you go a notch higher in your ability to plan time and present answers in better shape. Use this experience to better your future performance.
❑ Take good care of your health. Sleep well, eat well, avoid tension, be patient and don’t panic. Your hardwork and elders’ blessings are your forte—you will definitely succeed.
❑ Who knows
Whether you reach moon and stars.
But do remember,
Dust and earth, on your high flight.
No doubt,
Problems aren’t solved
Without hard work.
But remember
That destiny too,
Has to pass
Through examination.