No need to fear exams

Wonder why it seems so hard to take an exam?

            Most of the time, this is because examinees come to an exam with a wrong purpose: to get a high score in the exam…

            This focus takes part of one’s mind/brain away from becoming ready for the exam, robbing oneself of some of the resources needed for the exam. The wrong focus on the desired score usually leads to various uncanny ways of preparing for an exam with undesirable consequences. One that is becoming very popular is trying to foreknow the possible questions that will be given in the exam. This is a hit or miss approach because the examinee can only answer if the question reviewed will be given in the exam, otherwise it’s a matter of luck hence it does not really prepare him for the exam. To increase the chances of passing, one needs to know more of the “expected” questions. This often results to overdoing the preparation for the exam… which tends to tire out the examinee too close to the day of the exam eventually leading to the undesirable result of the exam, the very outcome being avoided in the first place!

            Your mind should be relaxed and ready (fully-charged, so to speak) when you come to an exam and this will not be the case when you fill it with such concerns like I need to get 90% in this exam; or there are still some things I’m not yet very familiar with; or some other apprehensions. Needless to say, the part of your brain used for these concerns will not be ready-for-use in answering questions during the exam.

            The best way to approach an exam is to take it as it is: as a test! Paradoxical as it is, it works! In this, examinees need to look at an exam as a means of evaluating one’s level of knowledge for a particular subject/topic, as a measuring tool and as such, they should be ready and willing to accept the result of the exam.

            When you come to an exam ready to accept whatever the result will be, having let go of any concerns which are outside your control, your mind will be wholly free to tackle the test. One hundred percent of your mental resources will be available for use in the exam. Thus, people who are willing to discover and accept at what level they really are at a particular time have greater chances of passing an exam than others who are afraid to ascertain themselves.

            Having a crash review works only when there is already a base knowledge to which the review will add upon. Otherwise trying to get a passing score simply by cramming during review is tantamount to fooling oneself… which makes it hard even for the self to believe, much more to actualize… Because it denies one’s present level of knowledge, the starting point for moving on is lost in the process. On the other hand, people who are not afraid to discover the truth of their present level of knowledge can use the result of an exam as the starting point for moving on in their journey for development. It is better to let go and when the results reveal an undesired state, commit to improve yourself so you can pass the next test.

            Preparing for an exam is quite simple: master the basic principles applicable to the topic or subject matter of the exam, know the possible variations in their applications, and practice applying them… ask questions when in doubt! This should enable anybody to answer and pass exams, a by-product of your becoming better!

            Passing an exam should not be considered as the fruit of your efforts to grow and develop or to become better. It should rather be likened only to a picture of the fruit… because the fruit is your growth or development. The fruit is something in you! Passing a test/exam only attests to that growth in a document form.

            Grow... develop yourself… and then passing exams with flying colors will just be a breeze!

~ Sir Magi

 

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