We all dread exams and the pressure that comes with them, especially when the outcome could mean your future career plans.
With this in mind, it’s important to remember that preparation is key to achieving success on any exam—no matter how difficult it seems. So, how can you ensure you are well prepared before you even sit down to take the exam? Here are some clever tips to help you study smarter and better for your next exam.
- Start by Checking the syllabus
Before you set out on your preparation, it is important that you have a look at your syllabus and find out what exactly needs to be covered in order to prepare well. As announced by NTA this year, CUCET exam will broadly cover the 3 sections, these are-
- Section IA – 13 Languages
- Section IB – 19 Languages
- Section II – 27 Domain-specific Subjects
- Section III – General Test
- Understand the Exam Pattern
Next essential thing is to understand the exam pattern, such as the total no. of questions, time frame, negative marking etc. will help you prepare the strategy for the exam.
The CUCET Exam is conducted by The National Testing Agency (NTA). It is an online exam, which will have 180 questions. Each question will have four options with one correct answer. Every question has three marks and there will be a negative marking of 0.25.
- Prepare a Timetable
Having a timetable is critical for an organized student. Set aside time in your timetable for every subject. Focus on one subject at a time and give yourself a set amount of time to complete your study, such as 2-3 hours per subject.
- Prepare Handwritten Notes
Making your own study notes is an excellent way to prepare for exams. By taking your own notes while studying and reviewing them later on, you can build up a much more comprehensive framework. Your hand-written notes will also give you room to include comments, extra examples and other helpful information during the revision phase.
- Take mock test
Preparation is key, especially when it comes to tests like CUET. That’s why it’s important that you take as many mock tests as possible before your final exam. These will not only help you assess where you stand at present but also give you some idea of what kind of questions are coming in your exams.
- Set targets – weekly, monthly
Setting targets and evaluating your progress can help you stay motivated. Try setting weekly or monthly targets, such as a certain number of hours spent preparing for exams. Keeping track of how many questions you answered correctly will also help keep you prepared well for the exam.
- Practice Previous year Question Papers
Previous year question papers help you to get familiar with exam pattern, difficulty level and type of questions asked in examinations. It is an excellent way of knowing your preparation level and getting a sense of how much time you need to finish exams. Practice previous year’s question papers a day before the examination.
- Prepare a list of Books
Make a list of books and other material that will be useful for studying for CUET. At least refer to 2-3 books for the CUET preparation. You can also refer to 11th and 12th NCERT books to prepare well.
- Concept Clarity
Always try to avoid Mugging up answers while preparing for the CUET exam because in the end your clarity towards the concept will help you to clear domain specific and language exams.
- Focus More on Difficult Subjects
It is always tempting to prepare easy subjects and leave difficult ones till later. However, it is advisable that you focus more on those that you find hard and as a result spend a little less time on your favorite subjects.
- Do not Forget to Exercise
People who exercise regularly tend to do better in their classes and perform better on exams. Exercise helps you improve your focus and concentration, which are essential skills for passing any test. Plus, exercising boosts memory by increasing blood flow to key areas of your brain.
- Eat healthy & take proper rest
Eat healthy and make sure you’re getting enough rest. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many students don’t get enough sleep before an exam. And it makes sense—under-slept and overworked students will feel lethargic, stressed out, or distracted during exams.
- Make Vocabulary List
By making a vocabulary list students will be able to learn synonyms, antonyms and understand the meaning of difficult words. Review the list at least once daily so that your vocabulary will become good and you will ace the language tests easily.
- Revision
Revision is the key to ace any exam. With the vast syllabus of CUET it is important to revise the syllabus at least twice or thrice before the exam. This will clear your concepts
- Prepare for Passage
In order to get good grades in your CUET exams, you must prepare the passage intelligently. It will save time to solve the comprehension easily in the exam. In order to excel in this section, students should read the books, solve passages, and highlight important lines which will boost their vocabulary as well.
- Read Newspapers
To prepare for CUET Students must read newspapers. This will help them understand different types of writing styles and learn new words that are daily used in our day-to-day life. Also, they should try solving previous year question papers by using these newspaper articles. In addition, questions on current affairs and Indian history will be asked from newspapers in these exams.
- Stay Calm
One of the best ways to avoid stress is by staying calm. There’s always going to be tension before the CUET exam, but try your best not to freak out. Work on taking deep breaths, take a few minutes outside and just relax in your bed—whatever it takes!
- It’s Never too late to start
It is common for students to think it’s late to prepare for an exam. However, if you have the right tools, guidance and material you can ace the exam easily. Joining an institute or attending Online lectures will help you prepare for the exam in this situation.
- Double Check the Answers
Always double check your answer before submitting. Keep this in your habit from the time of practicing. So, while attempting mock tests and previous year questions it’s important to double check the answers.
- Skip Difficult Questions for the End
Don’t let difficult questions trip you up. Always remember you have limited time and have to complete the exam within the fixed time frame. Thus, it is not a wise decision to spend too much time on difficult questions, skip them and focus on an easier one first!
- Set Time Limit to Solve Each Question
The best tip to clear the CUET 2022 exam is to divide the entire time and set a particular time frame for each question. This will help you keep a close watch on timing, speed and other factors that will help you clear the exam.
- Do not Forget Grammar Rules
Even if students think they know a lot of languages, it isn’t always enough to pass the reading and writing section of the CUET exam. According to the CUET, the reading and writing section uses a standardized approach to grammar, so learning the rules is beneficial.
- Stay Positive
Lastly, stay positive and learn to recognize and change negative thought patterns, which will help you become more confident, successful, and happy. It’s time to clear your head and your exam – with the power of positivity!