Achieving Academic Excellence – 10 Useful Tips

Examination is a way of testing students and probably to ascertain that knowledge passed by teachers have been acquired by students. It may not be the best way to achieve the objective, but you can’t avoid them. This exam period is often tensed and dreaded by students who are ill prepared and have waited to the last couple to weeks to prepare.

The best time to prepare for an exam is not when the exam time table is out but from the very first day lectures or classes begin. I have been through the academic institutions from nursery to doctorate degree and have a fair bit of experience in the academic field, so much so I feel I have had enough for one life time.

Along the way I have devised some learning skills and methods that have helped me in the classroom to pass exams and I would like to share some with you perhaps it would be of help to you. Reading isn’t what I love doing, especially if it’s academic, but I’ll do all it takes to pass an exams legally even if it means reading through the night.
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1. Start Early

   Waiting for the last 2 weeks to prepare would mount pressure and you’ll have a lot to cover in a short space of time. You probably have sleepless nights, dring a lot of coffee to stay awake at night with you feet in a bucket of water. Plan ahead, have a personal study time table with time to socialise and you’ll never be caught off guard.

2. Listen attentively and jot down points

   In my opinion this is the most important. You can save hours of reading by paying attention in class and jotting notes. That way you can identifying the areas the lecturer/ teacher lays emphasis on which would be a good indication of possible areas that would be examined. Also ones a point is grasped in class you can readily recall it.

3. Take good notes

   Invest in buying quality notebooks, preferably hard back to take notes. Write in them as neatly as you can, as you are more likely to be interested in reading a well written note. Use different colored pens to highlight different areas and underline important areas. This way you can easily identify these points when revising and refer to them easily.

4. Catch up as soon as possible

   If you could not attend a class make sure you find out what was taught and the notes given. If left for too long you may forget and the backlog begins to pile up

5. Participate in group study when you can

   Studying in group has its advantages and disadvantages but I believe the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. In groups your can brain storm, exchange ideas and see issues from different perspectives. Each member of the group should be willing to contribute knowledge and not acquire knowledge. I believe the key to have a successful study group is to carefully choose the members of the group.

   There have been instances where some members joined groups just to find out what others knew and not contribute to the betterment of the group. Some joins groups to prove their superiority and intimidate others and some mislead others in a bid to having advantage in exams.

6. Know and believe in yourself

   Everyone is unique and have different rates of assimilation. It may take you 2 days to understand what it may take other person 10 seconds to grasp. By knowing yourself you can device ways to quicken your rate of assimilation and plan your time properly.

   I did not like art subjects like history, economics, literature etc because a lot of reading was involved and you need to memorize dates, events, quotations etc. I had to find a way around if I was to pass these subjects up to the stage when they would become optional. I devised various mnemonics, acronyms etc to remember events and points etc.
   Know yourself, your weakness and devises ways to overcome them. Believe you can understand. Never give up of profess negatively. You have an excellent spirit!

7. Practice makes perfect

   I love the sciences especially math because you just need to know the principle, formulae and or equations and you can solve lots of problems.

   For sciences subjects do a lot of worked examples and understand each step. In written exams show your workings as they would fetch you marks even if you get the final answers wrong. If possible get past questions papers and work though them. This also applies to other subjects as well.

8. Share willingly

   Do not without knowledge or understanding. The more you share and teach others the better understanding you get. I have been privileged to organize tutorials for my classmates in subjects where my strengths laid.

   By being able to teach others, my understanding increase. I found out that I never forgot the points I was able to pass across successfully.Verse not found.There was no verse found at Ecclesiastes 11:1 (KJV). Please make sure the book is spelled correctly and that the chapter and verse exists. Also, ensure that the version of the Bible you are quoting is available on this server.Verse not found.There was no verse found at Proverbs 19:17 (KJV). Please make sure the book is spelled correctly and that the chapter and verse exists. Also, ensure that the version of the Bible you are quoting is available on this server.

9. Access your progress

   After every tests of exams access your work when you get your results. Approach the teacher for solutions to areas you do not understand. Do not hesitate to ask a classmate who understands better to put you through.

10. Don’t use God’s time

    This is a No! No! No! In many occasions students skip church, fellowship meetings and become less involved in their commitments to the church or the things of God when exams are near.

    In my opinion, this is the time your commitment should be on the increase if you’ve planned your time properly. At that stage you should have read what you need no read and trust the Holy spirit to bring to remembrance all you have read.Verse not found.There was no verse found at John 14:26 (KJV). Please make sure the book is spelled correctly and that the chapter and verse exists. Also, ensure that the version of the Bible you are quoting is available on this server.Verse not found.There was no verse found at hebrews 10:25 (KJV). Please make sure the book is spelled correctly and that the chapter and verse exists. Also, ensure that the version of the Bible you are quoting is available on this server.

These have worked for me and have helped me. Do not hesitate to share your experience and what has worked for you so others can benefit as well. All the best in your studies.

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