Tips to plan well before an exam- revision techniques-Lawrence High School

Do read the first, second and third parts.

Preparation is always the key to cracking any exam. We have already stressed the need and significance of regular and everyday studying in our series so far and also handed effective tips towards the goal. However, when it comes to preparing for a particular exam, we need to accelerate and fine tune our studying technique.

As soon as the exam dates are declared, a detailed study time-table needs to be drawn out to put things in perspective. Each subject needs to be given due weightage in terms of covering all the topics well and also set aside a revision time.

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Every topic in each subject needs to be studied and revised. So starting with the most difficult topic is a good idea. Put your learning style in gear and go through all your notes in detail. Take the help of your teacher to iron out rough edges in the concepts learnt. 

As you approach the dates of the exam, it is a good idea to solve, as many as possible, question papers of the previous years. This will give you the much needed perspective on time management while solving the paper and will also serve as an introspection of your preparedness for the subject.

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Tips to enable effective note taking-Lawrence High School

Read the first and second parts here and here

Note taking is not about simply jotting down points dictated by the teacher mindlessly; only to find it largely incoherent at a later point. This is an art that is employed to retain whatever has been studied in a more effective manner. Taking down notes after you have finished with a particular chapter helps you to retain information and also helps you to recollect the gist at a glance.

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Also, while it may seem like an effort initially, if you take a moment to reflect on what the teacher has been explaining and only note down the gist of the concept in your own words, it can have a profound impact on how the knowledge is absorbed. This means you will really have to pay keen attention while the class is on and note down only important points.

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An effective method of note taking is the use of various colours, and diagrams to highlight key words and map the information in a concise yet coherent manner. This is also known as colour coding and mind map. Mind maps work out to be effective tools to summarize large chunks of information and help you collate the data in a simple manner. 

Use of different colours improves the recall time. Choose a specific colour for a specific theme or topic; the brain relates the colour with the particular information and it will be easier to recall the topics. This method can especially work when the subject is a little dry or boring.

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Lawrence School helps identify, nourish and foster unique talents and abilities that every child is endowed with. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/ 

Tips to enable thorough learning of concepts - Lawrence High School

Read first part here

When you pick up a chapter to read/study, it is important to keep in mind that your approach should be to master the concept rather than what is just given in the particular chapter.

The very basis of a sound knowledge of fundamentals is the habit of asking ‘whys and hows’. Never be satisfied by what is given in the books. Always, ask challenge your understanding by working backwards from a problem to see where it leads you. Every step should be conclusive and natural.

This means, you might have to, often times, resort to looking up at other reference material, apart from the school books. While, this may seem unnecessary at a lower grade, especially when you think of just the ’20 mark’ exam, this is a crucial habit that needs to be cultivated to have your foundation laid in concrete.

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Why the need to supplement textbooks?

Spoon-feeding by teachers and mugging a concept without full understanding of the subject will only probably fetch you the desired marks. However, the real test of the knowledge is when you are required to apply what is learnt and that is when you’ll feel inadequate if you have not invested time and effort to grasp the fundamentals.

How can you supplement textbook studying?

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It is an exciting time to be in school, since these days most schools have devised the concept of project work and assignments to encourage students to go beyond their school books and apply their knowledge. The internet age and the easy availability of books in school libraries make it interesting and simple for the students to augment what is taught in schools.

Lawrence School helps identify, nourish and foster unique talents and abilities that every child is endowed with. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/ 

Tips to enable effective knowledge absorption - Lawrence High School

Studying a course material should not happen just before a test or exam. The intention to study must be for gaining knowledge and not merely to pass or obtain a certain percentage. Keeping this in mind, Lawrence brings to you in a series of blog posts, tips to enable effective learning.

Before you get on to the task of studying, it is important to understand your learning style-what works for your friend need not work you and vice-versa.

An everyday routine: Any concept needs time to be assimilated into your system and this cannot be done with a hurried approach a few days before an exam. Therefore, design a day-to-day learning schedule that involves a slow and thorough approach to understand the given topic.

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Break down the lessons: Taking on a lot of information at one go can be overwhelming and could add pressure. Break down the chapter into smaller parts as per your capacity and time schedule. This way, the concentration and output will be optimum.

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Incorporate your learning style: If you are a visual learner, take down notes as you grasp the concept in a format that will help you recollect the gist at a glance. Remember, that this should not be a method to just learn by rote what you have studied, but only as an aid to help you retain what is learnt. If you are a kinesthetic learner, think of small-sized hands-on projects or get your teachers to help you with small assignments based on the topic. If you are an auditory learner, try reading out aloud or listen to recorded bits of your lessons.

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*The School could provide assistance by offering all kinds of material to benefit all kinds of students in the form of written notes, recorded tapes of lectures and ready assignments that can be taken up by the students as per their learning preference.

Let the information rest and then re-start: Try avoiding taking on a fresh concept immediately after the one before. Take some time to ponder over what has been learnt by attacking the concept/lesson/problem in different ways. Mulling over a newly-learned concept/lesson/problem also gives you time to let your mind smoothen the rough edges.

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These were some tips to get started. We will add more in the next few posts will elaborate on them.

Lawrence School helps identify, nourish and foster unique talents and abilities that every child is endowed with. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/ 

Top reasons why social media is good for the student - Lawrence High School

We are aware of enough reasons why young children, especially, students should keep away from the internet and social media. However, since they already spend a considerable amount of time on these anyway, maybe it’s a good idea to turn that into a positive idea. Here are topmost reasons how the use of social media can actually benefit:

It’s all about connections: We all know that having a Facebook or twitter account is the easiest way to get connected to people within and outside your group and social circle. There is a high possibility of interaction and resultant exchange of relevant news and information from circles with the same area of academic or career interests.

Networking helps: building connections leads to building networks and this is an age where networking is sometimes more important than the skills themselves. The kind of opportunities that fall your way can depend a lot on how you sell and promote yourself.

Instant exchange of data: if the school encourages it, the teachers could set up a virtual platform where notes, lectures, and relevant research articles on a particular subject can be posted and shared across the student community. This will enable better and active interaction from the students who have the unique advantage of not having to miss any of the important data.

Support groups: students with unique interests or with a particular learning problem find it difficult to find support in the real world. However it is easy to find online support groups to connect with people with similar interests or problems. 

Social-skills: while it may sound ironical, effective communication via Linkedin or Facebook is actually a key asset to place oneself in the right place at the right time. Key contacts can be found and developed, so this is a skill that should not be taken lightly.

Lawrence School believes in bringing modernity and relevance to education while holding on to core educational values. Do visit our website at http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/ for regular updates on the school activities.