Page 21 - IFV Issue 8_2023

Today’s Child

to adequately process the material. anxiety. Keep calm and focused. throughout the test to keep yourself
Avoid cramming at all costs. Cramming 6. BE CONFIDENT. Aim to do alert and energised.
does not allow you to process the your best in the test and don’t allow 10. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE
information, and often leads to negative thoughts to cloud your mind. CLOCK. As soon as the test starts,
students saying that they simply Focus on what you know and what note the time. Regularly check the
forgot the work, or experienced a you can do. Use positive self-talk to clock or your watch so that you are
block. Cramming also creates anxiety keep yourself on track during the test constantly aware of the time. It is a
because there is not sufficient time to don’t - ever tell yourself “I can’t do good idea to divide the sections of
prepare thoroughly. this”. If you tell yourself you can’t, you your test into test frames so that you
3. CHUNKING. Divide the study probably won’t. work to a schedule.
material into small, manageable pieces 7. QUESTION TYPES. Be familiar 11. KEEP CALM and don’t freak
so that you are not overwhelmed by with the different types of questions out. When you get flustered, your
the volume of work. Also, allocate and the expectations thereof, e.g. thinking brain switches off and you
a timetable to your study sessions. multiple choice, true or false, ¬fill- can’t easily extract the information you
When you are working from a in, short questions and essay-type are looking for. If a speci¬fic question
schedule, it is much easier to chunk questions. Each of the questions posed throws you off guard, close your eyes,
your time effectively. Work through to you requires knowledge of HOW take three deep breaths and carry on
each section, one section at a time. to answer it and it is essential that – if you don’t know the answer to the
Ensure that you understand what you you answer it correctly. Familiarise question, move on to the next one.
are studying so that you can commit yourself with the different types You cannot afford to waste time trying
it to long-term memory. Use a study of question words that are used in to ‘find’ the answers that don’t pop up
method that works for you and don’t tests, e.g. analyse, examine, explain, immediately.
try new methods amidst the study extrapolate, justify, etc., so that you 12. EDIT YOUR TEST. If you know
session as this will simply confuse you answer the questions correctly. your work and work within time
and eat into your time. 8. PUT THE HIGHLIGHTER frames, you will finish the test. Tests
4. DISTRACTIONS. Take action DOWN. There is no need to turn your are not designed not to be completed!
against possible distractions. Remove question paper into a luminous work Use the last 5-10 minutes to check
the distractions from the room so that of art. Students often go overboard your work.
you are not tempted to be distracted. with the highlighter which disputes The amount of time you put into
Alert the people in your home to the point of extracting the relevant preparing adequately for tests and the
your study schedule so that they are information. It can also be a very time- rules you follow on the day play a large
mindful of your activities. consuming activity. role in your overall performance. Be
5. READY-STEADY-GO. Ensure 9. POSTURE POWER. Maintain mindful of the expectation of each test
that you have had a good night’s sleep good posture whilst writing the test. in each subject so that you can go full
the night before the test and eat a Sit straight up in the chair with your throttle in answering the paper. Tests
hearty breakfast in the morning. Avoid feet flat on the floor. Try to keep your naturally cause anxiety and uneasiness
stimulants such as coffee and energy back straight. When you slouch, you amongst students, but if you are well-
drinks as they will simply spike your squash your internal organs and this prepared you will eliminate a large
energy levels temporarily. Arrive at the creates an uncomfortable work frame. portion of the nervousness.
test venue on time and avoid huddles Furthermore, avoid leaning your Back yourself and be
of people discussing the test as this head on your hand whilst writing as
could expose you to unnecessary it can make you sleepy. Drink water confident – you’ve got this!

The Villager • Issue 8 2023 • 19