Juggling between the board and competitive entrance exams like NEET, JEE, AIIMS etc. is a battle for the students and only a few students win this. Though the syllabus, importance and difficulty level of boards and entrance exams are completely different, the pressure and anxiety to crack them remain the same for students. While entrance exams help you get entry into your dream college, board exams make you eligible to appear for the entrance exams, which means you cannot ignore any of these. You need to have an effective plan for board and entrance exam preparation.
Now the question is, how to effectively manage the preparation of both boards and entrance exams? Here we provide you with the answer with some helpful tips to strike a right balance between Class 12 board exams and medical and engineering entrance exams preparation.
Sooner the better
When you know that you have to cover the humongous syllabus for two different exams, you should not wait for the right time to start. You need to have the right plan from the start to utilize your time well. Start preparing for both boards as well as entrance exams right from the start. Starting early preparation of entrance exams will not just release the pressure during the final revision but will also help you ace the exam successfully.
Find a common ground
Trying to manage two different exam patterns, with different syllabus can seem like an impossible task at times. However, if you just take some time out to figure out the common elements present in the two, you can easily save time and still prepare better. The different entrance exams like NEET and AIIMS not only have a number of common chapters but also can be efficiently prepared for, should you play your cards wisely. The first thing to do is to filter out the chapters common to both. You only need to prepare for these once, instead of wasting your time preparing for the same thing twice, especially given the limitless syllabus you have to cover in a limited time period. This approach will help you save time and also prepare better by allowing you to dedicate adequate time to important topics.
Sort out your priorities
You must be aware of your strength and weaknesses. The topics you find easy to understand and the ones you need to spend more time on understanding. The important thing to realize about exams is that time is of the essence. So, the single most important thing to remember about preparing efficiently is to manage your time well. Prioritize the topics that require immediate and undivided attention and plan accordingly. This will help you prepare effectively and do it within the set time limit.
Further, you can also save time by joining online courses for the board as well as entrance exam preparation. Platforms like Aakash Digital provide specialized courses for class 12 boards, NEET, JEE and other school-level competitive exams. Not just the complete course, you can also choose subject-level courses for the board, NEET or JEE preparation to strengthen your preparation.
Customize your preparation
A well-planned preparation strategy will always be a personalized one. No two individuals can work most efficiently with the same generic routine. Figure out what works best for you, find out your learning style and use that to create the most suitable routine for yourself. Take into consideration the hours you feel most inclined to work – be it the middle of the afternoon or late at night. Frame a structure that helps you distribute your time as per the topics you feel need the most attention, followed by the ones you feel more confident in. And once you have this figured out, get down to work and follow it through till the very last day of your preparation.
Once, you know what is your learning style, you will also be able to choose the right study material. For instance, if you find reading a better option you can go for printed study material while for the topics which you find difficult to understand, you can opt for recorded video lectures with illustrations, 3D animations and real-life examples.
Read: How class 12 shapes the future of a student
Test yourself
As the exam dates creep in closer and you focus your attention more and more on revision, taking up mock test series is considered advisable. Not only do these tests get you in the habit of finishing on time, but also give you a true assessment of your preparation.
Your performance in these online practice tests can help you give your efforts the right direction. This not only helps boost your performance but also saves you from wasting your efforts on topics that don’t require too much attention.
Take a break
Yes, we get it. When preparing for two different exams, your brain works more on overdrive trying to cover the entire syllabus even as your body struggles to keep up with its demands. But, if you push yourself too hard, you will burn out even before the real battle has begun! And so, even as you brace yourself for what possibly could be the biggest battle of your life, take small breaks – have chocolate, meditate, or just listen to music that calms you down. These well-timed breaks will not only help you rejuvenate but will also help you work with improved focus and dedication.
We leave you with handy tips and wish you good luck for the upcoming 10th, 12th boards and medical and engineering entrance exams!
Nice read. I am preparing for upsc exams so some of the tips I found helpful like Customize your preparation and take a break.