Preparing for any Exam on the previous night generally means revision. So, it is not about going through each and every page of your textbooks and notebooks, but it calls for some smart work. And when it comes to the subject ‘Mathematics’, then obviously just reading won’t help you much. You need to devise a strategy over here.
Mathematics is not a theoretical subject. Also we all acknowledge that, this is one of those subjects, where students usually come out of the Examination Hall saying,
The paper was lengthy
I could not finish all questions
I applied the formula correctly, but I seriously doubt answer that I obtained
Oh! I made a silly mistake in that question
I studied this, but I just could not recall its formula
I did it twice, but don’t know something went wrong
And the list goes on and on.
Here are 8 master strokes that guide you to make the best usage of the night before the exam.
- Segregate topics –
Revisit your syllabus and divide it into three categories.
- Category 1: Topics that you have studied reasonably well
- Category 2: Topics you have practiced and are quite confident in
- Category 3: Topics in which you performed another revision and consider yourself an expert
Your aim should be to revise, in fact, to practice as many topics of ‘Category 3’ as possible. While revising, do not look at the formula chart. Rather try to do the problems without opening the solutions and formulae list. This will check your hold on the typology of questions. Do not try out new problems on the night before your Math exam. Once I triedthis, and it was utter failure.
- Focus on weightage–
You surely have the knowledge as to which are those chapters that carry the maximum number of marks in the exam. It is always a good exercise to devote the maximum time in revising the maximum weighted chapters first followed by those that have a relatively lesser weightage.
- At a glance –
Give an attentive look to the formulae, charts, theorems and all titbits you noted down as a revision and for referring to while solving mathematical problems. If you tend to forget some formula, you may devise a mnemonic for yourself. That would help you to remember the formula if not for a very long time, and then at least till the time you write your exam paper.
- Keep your examination bag assembled –
Remember to keep extra pens, pencils, eraser, and mathematical box. It is always a good habit to keep your bag ready on the previous night before exams.
- Mock papers –
The mock papers on the night before exam should only be the sample papers that you solved, not the new ones that you have never seen. Also, the previous years’ papers should be practiced as mock papers. There are certain typologies of questions that do repeat, especially when talked about Calculus, Matrices, Permutations and Combinations and Linear Programming.
Also, if you think you are completely prepared for the exam, take a mock test to ace your preparation further. If you attempt to do so, try to finish the test 15 minutes before the actual allotted time.
- Avoid silly mistakes –
Remember 3 + 3 is not 9. So, avoid all silly mistakes. Also, if you know that there are certain types of mistakes that you usually do, avoid that as well. You can do so by increasing your attention to all minute details along with a revision of the formulae the last night before your exams.
This will ensure that in the exam hall you do not write (x-y)2 as x2 – y2, rather you write it as x2 + y2 – 2xy. While practicing, do make it a practice of doing the rough calculation on the same page and not at the back. This way you will arrest errors that happen when you copy down the calculated values from the rough portion to the fair one.
- Eat well and sleep well –
It is very important to have a healthy body and a peaceful mind to write well in the exams. So, cut down on all junk foods and have a balanced diet. Keep your body hydrated by having water and fruit juices. Have a complete sleep and do not stay awake very late in the night.
- Stay stress-free–
Stay away from all distraction and disturbances. Keep yourself calm. If you already have written some exams before and those were not up to mark of your expectations, it is very important to stop worrying about these. So, focus only on the exam that you have on the next day.
- Have a positive thought –
Believe in yourself. Take a breather, and stay full of positive spirits.
Follow these simple tips, and ace your preparation further.
All the best!