Saturday, January 5, 2008

improve memory

Anyone can improve their memory by following a 3 step process:

Paying attention
Applying constructivist methods
Making information easy to remember
Paying attention

Take an active role in learning.
Memorization is sometimes needed but is not enough.
Review information and quiz yourself for true understanding.
Stop being passive in class and when studying.
Many students equate going to class and hearing the prof. with real learning.
LWI can be dangerous. (Listening While Ignoring)
It gives the impression that are trying but you can’t remember anything later.
Thus you feel you did your job but couldn’t explain anything when asked.
Constructivism

Constructivism deals with correlating new information with old information.
Thus, one constructs new understanding by fitting new information with prior understanding or experiences.
Rather than memorizing random facts, try to relate them to prior knowledge.
Think about new information and draw comparisons to other things you know.
Think about similar information learned earlier.
Draw analogies between old information and new information.
This allows you to see the big picture and not get swamped with new information.
Identify main points.
Think about how these fit in with what you know from other experiences or classes.
Make information memorable

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
Read it, Write it, Say it, Explain it, Draw it, Ask questions about it…..
Break down words by prefix or suffix. (Hydro relates to water)
Use memory tricks:
Mnemonics for lists:
ex. taxonomy of living things

King Philip Chops Onions From Grandpa’s Supply

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Make silly rhymes or sayings to remember lists.
Use silly analogies to remember examples.
Humor is a powerful memory trigger; the dumber the better.

Removing Anxiety

If you've got this far and you still feel that concerns you have about being anxious have not been taken care of, then it is time to consider how you are thinking about the exam. First, put the exam in perspective. Determine the value of the test or exam in terms of the course grade from your syllabus. Try to calculate your existing grade in the course and determine what grade you require to reach a certain objective in your course. Assume you will continue at least as well as you have so far in the course and calculate how much will be required to get the grade you would really like. Try to get a sense of where you're likely to be after the exam if you continue with your present level of achievement. Sometimes exams are worth relatively little compared to the total for the course and so it may not be worth getting overly worked up about this exam. (Some exams, of course, are worth relatively more and should be approached accordingly, with greater time carefully self-testing in preparation.)Working with AnxietyAfter calculating their existing grade, some students actually find out that they are doing better than they thought they would. Some find a concrete goal in terms of a grade to shoot for on the exam and this helps them focus and begin study with better concentration. Remember that exams measure what you can demonstrate about your learning thus far in a course of study, not your worth as a person.Know that you know what you know. Much of exam anxiety comes from a fear of poor performance. If you can test yourself adequately prior to an exam and go in with the knowledge that you do know your stuff, you might find your anxiety diminished.Some anxiety is normal in an exam situation. In fact, some would say that to a degree, anxiety is facilitative of sharp concentration and alertness. When anxiety begins to impede your ability to perform to your ability, then it may be time to seek further help with it. If you find your anxiety to be extreme and accompanied by headaches, nausea, feelings of despair, shaking and trembling, or blanking out, then it might be worth looking into services for reducing stress and anxiety at your campus Counselling Centre. The relaxation strategies and exercises provided take time to develop and will probably be most productive for exams a few months down the road, given a few months of diligent practice.Symptoms of stress or anxiety can be worsened by drastic changes in sleep and eating routines, but they can be diminished with some physical activity like walking, swimming, or skating.Breaking the study into smaller, one hour, or half hour, time units and inserting a break in between the sessions of study can be helpful in maintaining productive activity and providing a much needed rest or time-out. The few minutes break offers you a chance to stretch, it allows you to focus and concentrate on a reasonably sized package of information, and allows for some sense of progress on a regular basis.If you're very short of time, you might try focusing the bulk of your time on areas that need work rather than on those which you already know and can remember well. This way you can cover more of the course material. Though some people experience a little anxiety from working through the hard stuff, many feel that this strategy offers a chance for greater effectiveness and course material coverage.Beware the frantic student! It is hard sometimes to establish a controlled outlook for an exam, but it is easy to lose this outlook when you come into contact with somebody who is very highly anxious. The natural habitat of this kind of highly stressed individual is the main entrance to the exam room, just before an exam begins, trying to learn those last bits of information before the exam. If this is you or if this scenario seems familiar to you, then you might want to be aware that this may raise your anxiety at the worst possible time. Beware of picking up on the concerns and stress of other students. Probably we pick up more stray anxiety than we need to. If you review minutes before the exam and this helps you, then you might want to do so just out of range of the exam room.Try to eliminate negative self statements such as "I'm going to fail this exam for sure because I'm such a big dummy." Whether negative statements are accurate or not, they work to convince us that they are accurate and this has an impact on our behaviours and self concept. This negative thinking may limit our ability to perform to standard on an exam. Replacing negative statements with genuine positive statements like "I'm studying hard and I did passably well during the term, I should do similarly well on this exam." may help curb anxiety and bolster your sense of confidence.Try to focus on the task at hand. That is, focus on the activities of studying for and responding to questions on the exam rather than on potential negative consequences. Catastrophizing - ie., focusing on grim forecasts of future jobs, lifestyle and so on, are more likely to raise anxiety than to help you control it.Improving ConcentrationSome people like to keep a pad of paper nearby as they work so that they can jot down or write out interruptive thoughts and distracting ideas. By doing this you don't risk worrying that you will forget about these tasks, and you acknowledge that the concerns are important enough to warrant attention, but not so important that they must come before your work.It is often a good idea to "park" ideas that are bothersome and tend to distract. This idea involves setting a time when you will deal with a particular problem or concern and leaving it behind temporarily while you focus on other things.Try to determine a clear goal for what you want to accomplish for the learning session. This may assist you in focusing your attention on the specific tasks at hand, one by one, and provide you with important feedback about your progress.Try to focus on the task at hand and avoid looking into the potential longer term consequences of doing well or poorly which often leads to catastrophizing. .do the most important tasks first so that you can know that anything else that comes to mind as a distraction is less important than the thing you are doing.Try to maintain an "I'll try to do the very best I can under the circumstances" attitude rather than an "It must be perfect" one.Learn to recognize when a distracter is more important than the task you're presently doing. Deal directly with the cause of that distracter whenever possible. Sometimes by removing the cause of a major distracter, it is possible to save time that would be wasted worrying later on.

Try to maintain a regular place for study which is free of your bigger distractions, such as the TV, the fridge, and so on.

Keep your work space free of clutter and try to keep it dedicated to the task of study. Sometimes this reduces distractions and assists you reaching a better state of concentration. Reading on the bed, for example, is probably not a good idea for good concentration. Working at a desk that you always use for such purposes will support better concentration.

Try to work for a set period of time so that you know an end point is in sight. Restlessness sometimes gets worse when it seems that the work you are doing has no end in sight.

Try to have all your books, notes and working tools available. Needing to get up to search for lost or misplaced items can add to distractions.

To reduce the anxiety associated with preparing to study you might begin by organizing your books and work space to aid you in keeping your desk free of distractions and on focussing on the task at hand. You might also plan time for "warming up" as part of your study routine. To do this, begin with something that's familiar to get started. As well, it sometimes helps to review the good results of the past to put yourself in a confident frame of mind.

To reduce anxiety associated with the time following a study session, you might take a physical break to help you reduce the symptoms of stress and to peak your alertness and energy. You might also want to end each study session with an overview of a section to boost your sense of completion and confidence. As well, you might find studying early in the term to be less anxiety-provoking because of the reduced amount last minute study you have to do.

Identify your areas of concern early in the term and check them out. Often those who feel uneasy about exams are those who have discovered that they have gaps (large or small, few or many) in their understanding. By examining concepts which are unclear as the course proceeds, you reduce these gaps and build your confidence along with the knowledge of the course.

Discuss your course work with other members of the class. By discussing the course focus and ideas related to the course, you are likely to determine some fairly common ground regarding the important aspects of the course to be tested. This may also give you an ideal chance to discover other points of view about the course ideas and focus. Group study is an excellent way to work actively to study.

If you feel anxious because of the poor state of your notes, you might try borrowing a friend's notes to fill in where there are gaps in your notes or use a tape recorder to keep up with professors who don't allow questions or who move too quickly. At all times try to keep your notes organized by date and look for the main ideas for each lecture as they relate to the course outline. Notes that you make from the text should reflect the organization of the ideas presented in the text. Consider using the Cornell style of notes which includes a margin for questions, comments, and key words which are used to trigger larger chunks of information. Finally, don't leave your notes until the end of the term to find that your notes are incomplete: instead, review the notes regularly through the term to clarify and complete them and then review the portions which are not clear with the Prof. or TA or a classmate.

In general, test and exam anxiety is often marked by a generally negative point of view. As you are working, try to repeat positive affirmations. Remind yourself of the positive experiences you may have encountered thus far in the course and tell yourself that your hard work will pay off. Tell yourself you can do it. You might find it helpful to remind yourself of the elements of the course that you do know; focusing on what you are not sure of only raises your anxiety.

Reducing Anxiety in the Exam Room

Some students feel anxious only during the exam or test. Some ways of reducing anxiety during the test follow:

Peruse the whole exam to discover which questions you are able to do with relative ease and plan to do these first. The result is likely to be a little more confidence and the comfort of knowing that there are no easy marks that you missed on the exam.

Examine the marking scheme of the test or exam and plan to divide your time evenly among the available marks of the exam; e.g., spend ten percent of your time on ten percent of the marks for the test. While you may not stay strictly with this limit, it is worthwhile to know how many minutes you should spend per percentage point in the exam. Following this guideline gives you a sense of progress and feedback about how you are doing. It is important to keep track of your time so that you have an opportunity to answer all questions: after all, it is better to give a 75% answer on all questions than perfect answers on 50% of the exam.

Some students even find it helpful to set mini-breaks at specified points during the exam during which they close their eyes, relax their hands and do deep breathing exercises. Even thirty seconds can help bring down your symptoms of stress if you use one of the various relaxation strategies.

At all times try to focus on the process of answering the question rather than on the end result.

how can i score better marks in exam


study harder Studying more, takin better notes from the class, asking the teacher about the things you dont understand and asking for tips to classmates that already have taken that class.study harder aiight..there is no two ways to it.. Cover the whole syllabus on the night before the exam ;-) You'll always score 100% on your exams if you:

1. Read and understand the questions.

2. Select the right answers.

The best way to do this is to STUDY! STUDY! studing helps the most(you know it or you don't) But you need to know how to gess good as well. Either you start to learn how to learn, or how to cheat without being noticed : ) STUDY STUDY N STUDY MORE First, figure out WHAT kind of learner you are. Do you do well visually, orally, or are you a hands on learner? Once you figure that out you can study more effectively. For example, if you are a strong VISUAL learner, use colored flash cards or make up a visual story in your head to remember concepts. If you are a hands on learner: make up specific hand or body motions to help you recall information.Stop goofing off at Yahoo! Answers and STUDY! Oh yeah and take out the trash. 1) Get ahead, Read some of the material before the first class that discusses it, thus you'll have some understanding before being taught in the first place and can ask better questions.
2) Interval studying, 60 min two days in a row with good sleep in between is much better than a two hour cram the night before.
3) Eat a good breakfast, and maybe add a high calorie candy bar & caffinated soda prior to class. Do some good breathing exercises maybe some jumping jacks/push ups to get the blood flowing and be very alert / pumped up.
4) In the test focus on the questions, skip the ones that look the hardest and come back to them. This gives your brain some time to consider the question while you are answering the easier ones.
5) Find out if wrong answers cost more than not guessing at all. If wrong answers don't cost you more than leaving blank, eliminate obviously wrong items then make best guesses.
6) If you're done early go back through the questions validating / looking for silly mistakes.
7) Before and After the test express interest to your teacher, teachers will give better grades to students who care, and sometimes better grades to those who indicate a understanding of the topic even if they made a mistake on the exam, and will actually overlook the silly mistakes / alow for timely corrections etc.
8) Evaluate your test results, look for paterns.
9) Get a good amount of sleep up to three nights in a row, prior to the test. Avoiding the tendency of youth to stay up all night on friday / saturday and have jet lag for deys.
10) Work with others / get help. Have them test you, test them. Testing others expresses deeper understanding of the topic. Do you KNOW the subject material or just think you know it?ASk help from your teachers so they will encourage you on your weak spot Really comprehend it. Like Read the book over again..okay?? And write down the vocabulary and the IMPORTANT THINGS down. Then just read over them and cover them up and answer them.study. study. study.

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The most crucial, yet memorable days of one's life need the right kind of support and guidance to lead to a successful career and an enriching life. Though studies form a major part of a student’s life, it will be unwise to be indifferent to numerous other potentials and talents that lie dormant in each of us. This section attempts to bring together elements to allow all round development of student life, exploring the limitless possibilities of extra-curricular stimulation, while giving due importance to academic pursuits. This corner is exclusively designed for students', which not only provide online NCERT books and syllabus right from the primary education to the level higher secondary education but also previous years’ question papers along with sample question papers of CBSE. It also provides a list of universities and institutions spread across the country offering variety of courses including distance education streams to choose from. Sections such as career guidance, scholarships and awards, professional courses, study abroad, etc. will help students' in numerous ways to pursue their career further. Now one need not visit pillar to post to know about their Exam Results, instead, one can view the detailed marksheets sitting in the comfort of their homes by visiting the section 'Results on the Net'. Moreover, information on Libraries, National Book Trust, National Bal Bhavan, NCC, Employment News can also be browsed. Note: India is one of the most populated countries in the world, second after China. With a workforce of more than 440 million, a fast-growing economy, the need for employment opportunities has increased drastically. The Government is doing its best to bring about a better matching between the demand and the supply of work opportunities. Register here to receive mail alerts from Employment News (it requires two weeks to complete the process).

सीबीएसई गेस पेपर

CBSE GUESS PAPERS


Syllabus for Classes I – XII


Online NCERT Textbooks for


Results on the Net


CBSE Previous Year Papers


CBSE Sample Question Papers


Scholarships and Awards


Recognised Universities and Institutions

Professional Courses

Distance Education

Career Guidance

Study Abroad

Latest Results

Libraries

National Book Trust

Workshops & Programmes (National Bal Bhawan)

Activities Provided by the National Bal Bhawan

related links

The most crucial, yet memorable days of one's life need the right kind of support and guidance to lead to a successful career and an enriching life. Though studies form a major part of a student’s life, it will be unwise to be indifferent to numerous other potentials and talents that lie dormant in each of us. This section attempts to bring together elements to allow all round development of student life, exploring the limitless possibilities of extra-curricular stimulation, while giving due importance to academic pursuits. This corner is exclusively designed for students', which not only provide online NCERT books and syllabus right from the primary education to the level higher secondary education but also previous years’ question papers along with sample question papers of CBSE. It also provides a list of universities and institutions sJustify Fullpread across the country offering variety of courses including distance education streams to choose from. Sections such as career guidance, scholarships and awards, professional courses, study abroad, etc. will help students' in numerous ways to pursue their career further. Now one need not visit pillar to post to know about their Exam Results, instead, one can view the detailed marksheets sitting in the comfort of their homes by visiting the section 'Results on the Net'. Moreover, information on Libraries, National Book Trust, National Bal Bhavan, NCC, Employment News can also be browsed. Note: India is one of the most populated countries in the world, second after China. With a workforce of more than 440 million, a fast-growing economy, the need for employment opportunities has increased drastically. The Government is doing its best to bring about a better matching between the demand and the supply of work opportunities. Register here to receive mail alerts from Employment News (it requires two weeks to complete the process).

General Rules for Taking Exams

General Rules for Taking Exams
An obvious but often overlooked rule of test taking is to make sure you get enough rest. Never think that pulling an all-nighter will get you a good grade. A good night's sleep is essential to taking the exam and not making stoopid misteaks.
Ditto for eating well. The brain needs fuel just like a race car.
Arrive early so you don't feel rushed trying to find a seat, it's an unnecessary distraction.
Scan the entire test first. Are all the pages there? Is there an answer sheet? Then you can budget your time as you go.
Put your name on the exam and/or answer sheet. It's easy to forget and cause problems for later.
Read each question carefully. Be sure to understand what each question is asking. If unsure, ask. Don't let shyness cheat you out of a better grade. Sometimes instructors are positive the question is clear when it really isn't.


Most importantly: Remain Calm! Panicking only leads to misteaks. If you studied well the answer is in your head somewhere. It may take a little concentration to retrieve the required information.



Since some exams at Penn State involve many students taking one at the same time, a common exam form is the Multiple Choice exam. There are some very important tips for taking these types of exams.

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Expert tips to prepare for exams

Expert tips to prepare for exams

Final exam time can often be stressful and nerve wracking. While some stress can actually be a positive motivator, being too nervous or tense can be problematic, especially if it interferes with your test taking performance. With less than two weeks left in the semester, it’s time to focus on what you can do to get yourself through this demanding time.
Here’s some advice to help make the end-of-the-semester experience less stressful. These tips are offered by Dolores Cimini, PhD, director of Middle Earth, UAlbany’s Peer Counseling service.

Deal with your anxiety:
Try to determine the source of your test anxiety. If it stems from a lack of preparation on your part, your anxiety is considered a rational response. However, if you believe that you are prepared for the test, but are still panicking or overreacting, this may be an irrational response. Either way, it can be very helpful to know how to work with their effects.

Prepare for those tests and assignments:
This is the best way to minimize anxiety. Here are a few tips for preparing for an exam:

• Avoid cramming for a test. Cramming can produce high levels of anxiety and is not helpful in trying to learn a large amount of material.

• Instead of trying to memorize all of the intricate details from an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings, try combining everything and learning the larger, main concepts first.

• When studying, try to create questions that could possibly be asked on the test. Try integrating ideas from lectures, notes, books and other readings.

• If it is impossible for you to cover all of the material for the test, choose one portion that you know you will be able to cover and present well.

Change your attitude:
It can help to change the way you think about taking tests. A test will not predict your future success or determine your self worth. Changing your attitude can actually help you enjoy studying and learning. Here are some ways you can work on changing your attitude:

• Remind yourself that it is only a test and there will be others.

• Reward yourself when the test is over.

• Think of yourself in a positive way. Think of all the hard work you have done already or think of what you do know.

• Plan ways to improve next semester

Don’t forget the basics:
Don’t forget about yourself and what you need. This means thinking of yourself as a total person, not just as a test taker.

• Maintain proper nutrition and exercise, and continue some of your social or recreational activities. It is ok to take a break once in a while.

• Make sure you get plenty of sleep. You can’t function at your best if you are tired.

• Do something relaxing when you feel adequately prepared.

Again, try to do something relaxing before the test. Cramming minutes before can produce anxiety. Get to the test early. This way, you can pick out your seat away from anxiety-ridden classmates and other distractions. Now, you’re ready to take the test…Good luck!

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