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GUIDANCEPLUS

Multiple-choice: apply your mind at every stage

How to marshal your resources optimally and bring out the best in you during an examination.

Last week we discussed certain aspects of objective questions. Now let us look at a few more aspects. In multiple-choice questions, different answers with truth in varying degrees would be given against the common stem. In such cases, we should select the `most' correct answer.

For example, if the question is whether a thermometer is used to measure heat, temperature, pressure, or humidity, a candidate in a hurry is likely to choose heat.

That strikes him/her first as the answer, since temperature has some relation to heat. Only if you have the patience to read the rest of the question also, would you come across temperature, which certainly is a better answer.

If there is the system of penalising candidates through negative marks for erroneous answers, never go for guesswork while choosing the answers. Mark an answer only if you are confident of its accuracy. However, you may speculate if there is no penalty for errors.

Open-book exams

There are open-book examinations. Candidates are likely to think that things are easy with a book in hand.

But you should remember that the examiner sets the questions with the clear understanding that the candidates have access to the permitted books, during the course of answering.

In the first place you should be thorough with the content, layout, and organisation of the books.

It may further be noted that there would not be questions requiring you to copy something directly from the text.

You will have to apply your mind and analyse a given situation using the information provided in the books. Time constraint is yet another factor. Facing school/college examinations -

Long-range perceptions:

Discard examination phobia

Keep your confidence up

Improve your vocabulary

Study the lessons well, following the right styles of learning

Use syllabus and previous question papers to guide you

Write out some of the answers to confirm your skills, including speed of thinking and writing.

Prepare a data sheet containing vital points of all essays, make suitable mnemonics, and write all of them in one single place

Note formulae and definitions in a single place

Just before the exam:

Confirm date, time, and venue of exam

Confine your studies to syllabus.

Revise the lessons using summaries, points, and mnemonics

If you find that you do not have sufficient time to study the entire syllabus choose certain specific areas that are the favourites of the question setters and study thoroughly

Arrange a watch, pens, pencil, eraser, instruments, calculator, all documents such

as hall tickets, etc. on the previous day. It is better to use a watch with moving needles;

the digital type may require calculations to know the remaining time at any moment during the test. Your pen should give a fine flow of ink. Keep a spare pen

Avoid quarrels, fights, and arguments that may

create stress

Do not sacrifice your time for sleep. If you stay up all night you will not be able to perform well in the examination.

If you are in the habit of

studying early in the morning,

do not forget to keep an alarm

clock to wake you up. If you

oversleep, you will miss the

opportunity to give final

touches to your preparation.

Reach the examination centre

at least half-an-hour before

the scheduled time of

commencement. If you make

a hurried entry to the

examination hall, you are

likely to forget many things.

Further, in certain

examinations latecomers are

denied admittance.

Avoid too much of discussion

with fellow candidates who

may bring forward topics you

have not studied. At a stage

when you cannot take up new

lessons, such talk would only

make you tense

Before entering the

examination hall, make sure

you do not have any slip or

paper with you that may

contain lesson notes. Also,

visit the toilet/washroom.

Enter the examination hall

with confidence.

Think about

what you know and not what

you do not know.

B.S. WARRIER

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