HOW TO STUDY

For
Students
OF
PLUS TWO
in
Tamilnadu,
INDIA.

a SIMPLE guide

By
S.NARAYANAKRISHNAN
Chennai- 600042
This is particularly for the students of Plus Two of Board of Higher Secondary
Education, Tamilnadu, India. In this Board all questions in the Board Examination
will be from their Text Books only and that too as given in the Blue Print issued to
them. The mark they score in their Board Examination will decide their future
education in professional courses. Though there seems to be no suspense in their
question papers, the students find it difficult to score high marks. They join private
tuition classes paying exorbitant fees torturing the over anxious parents more. Though
the students are given maximum support in their schools, they still have fear, anxiety
and examination related confusions. They must avoid all these which stand as hurdles
to their achievements.
◉ SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND AND FOLLOW TO SCORE HIGH
MARKS ◉
֩ Find a good study location in your house. Take into account noise level, lighting,
ventilation and possible distracters like phone, TV etc. Once chosen, don’t change it
throughout this year.
• Good and bad place to study is a matter of personal preference. But one place to
certainly avoid is your bed. Most people, even those with the best of intensions,
end up falling asleep.
• Don’t sit in an overly comfortable furniture, because too much comfort leads to
sleepiness while studying. Don’t read with a book in your lap. It can cause neck
pain and eye strain.
• Whenever you have a test or an assignment to be completed, tell it to all in the
family. They will be less likely to provide distraction if they know you have
important work do.
• Make a conscious effort to tune out distractions. Concentrate on not looking up
when a door opens or a voice is heard from outside or a phone rings. After some
days ignoring interruptions will come naturally.
֩ To fight boredom and burnout, try varying your subjects. Spend 45 to 60 minutes
only on one subject. Then switch to another subject.
• Take a short break.
• Get a drink of water.
 • Walk around a little.
• This will stimulate better blood circulation to your brain and relax you so that you
can study well.
• To avoid “eye glide” (looking at the page without taking in the contents), close the
book when you get to the end of each section and see whether you can recite /
recollect what you have just learned. If you find that you are unable to, then go
back and reread. Try adjusting your reading speed. Or try reading out loud.
• Take some deep breaths. Breathe with your diaphragm instead of your chest. This
allows more oxygen to get your brain, which in turn increases effectiveness in
areas involved with concentration and learning. This can be used during the class
also.
֩ Set attainable goals for you. Work to achieve. Consider rewarding yourself with a
study break or a special treat when you reach your goal.
֩ Do not postpone any of your work. Be regular in your studies.
֩ Have eye contact with the teacher. Get in the mind-set that you are having a
conversation with the teacher instead of just sitting in a class. In a conversation it would
be considered rude to stare off into space, sleep, or focus your attention on something
else. In fact a teaching class is no different.
֩ No instructor, no matter how gifted he/she may be, can teach you anything if you
are not actively engaged in, and responsible for, your own learning.
 LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES 
1) If you ever toss aside a test paper without looking over your mistakes, you are
committing another serious mistake.
2) In some cases, an error in judgement or memory might lead to a wrong answer, but in
others it could be a recurring problem in your work that needs your attention. 3) Learn
from your mistakes and you are sure to score more marks.
4) Get yourself corrected every time you write a test or submit an assignment during the
year.
5) Check your answers with the book. Find out where you have gone wrong. Try to avoid
it the next time.
6) Have a separate file. File all Question Papers and answer papers. This will help you
revise and correct all your mistakes. A guaranteed improvement in your performance
can be seen.
WHAT TO DO WHEN
֩Study all your subjects and make a proper time table for that. It has been seen that
students feel bore or sleepy when they start studying. It is due to the interest and type of
subject you are studying. When you are energetic and in full study mood then it is the
best time to give for what you consider as difficult and tough subjects. You will be able to
solve the questions even if they are difficult. You will also not feel bore as well. It is a
good thing for proper utilization of time. Do not try to study the difficult and hard
concepts when you feel lazy, bore and out of mood.
STUDY TIME
֩When you are trying to do homework or preparing for a test, many things can take
your mind off from doing it. It is easy to procrastinate! Try making some changes to
your routine and get the most out of your study time. How can you do this?
Turn off the music and TV before you sit down to study. Many students claim
they can concentrate while listening to music, but research disagrees. Turn off the cell
phone. If you really want to make the most of study time, you must sacrifice these. Avoid
friends during your study time. Avoid studying when there is a lot of noise around you.
Remember, if you change your study habits, you can avoid things that will
interrupt your thoughts and distract you from concentrated studies. Do not study when
you feel sleepy and inconvenient. Do not study immediately after taking food. Do not
study just immediately after watching a TV show or a chat with your friend.
֩MATHEMATICS֪
1. Never read mathematics.
Always adopt ‘PEN + PAPER’ method. Otherwise you will be simply deceiving yourself.
2. When the teacher teaches you, mark in the book the questions a) which you feel
difficult. b) which requires some special trick or method or step to solve.
This will be of greater use during revision before any examination.
3. You are expected to remember the basic and standard formulae of various branches of
mathematics which you had learned in the past. But often it is found that students are
not sure of the standard results in algebra, trigonometry, co-ordinate geometry, calculus
etc.
So what you have to do is to note down these formulae used in the problem in the
margin. (Use a different colour ink) While revising, this will attract your attention.
4. Revise daily that which is taught in the class that day. If you have any doubt, you can
note it. The next day you can consult your teacher and get your doubt cleared.
5. Regularity in the study of mathematics is an important key factor to score high marks
if not 100%.
6. Prepare a list of formulae in each chapter as and when it is completed by your teacher.
But don’t copy from a guide. This self preparation will make you more familiar with the
formulae. Read the list at least once a day. You can stick copies of it in bold letter in your
study room and can read it aloud once daily. (This can be practiced also for learning
equations in chemistry.)
7. The more you solve the more you gain. Copy the questions in the worked examples in
a note-book. Close the book. Solve them. Then compare the solution with what is given
by the authors of the book. This will give you a good amount of confidence.
8. Do all types of questions. Don’t make a selection.
9. Go through the Board Examination Question Papers. Mark in the book the year etc.
against the question. This will give you an idea of the area of importance in every unit.
10. Focused concentration, getting self motivated, interest in the subject, being receptive
to your teachers and elders and awareness will surely lead you to a centum.
Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. – Vince Lombardi.
֩ORGANIC CHEMISTRY֪
1) Organic Chemistry cannot be learned just the night before the examination. Do not
try this.
2) Do not be scared by the number of compounds, equations, names, reactions and
mechanisms.
3) No one can suggest a particular method to master the subject. What works for you
may not do so for your friend.
4) You must discover for yourself which way is best for you. Different students learn by
different methods.
 Some suggestions, which worked out in the past:
1) Study chemistry daily, at least for half an hour.
2) Do not simply see what are the reactants and products. Know how the reaction goes.
It will help you remember the reaction.
3) Pay enough attention to simple but important details like temperature, pressure,
catalyst etc. Keep them in memory. You have to mention them while answering.
4) Organic chemistry consists of some basic principles and application of these
principles. Be thorough in the fundamentals.
5) If you understand the common concepts and develop some skill in applying them
then organic chemistry becomes easier. You may not require memorization.
6) Practice of writing will help you identify where you might make those silly mistakes
that will cost you lot of marks.
7) Studying --- writing --- verifying --- rewriting if wrong.......... This process will make
you perfect and lead you to score a centum. It is better to avoid cramming chemistry.
Cramming will never help you score high marks in chemistry.
8) Keep the previous board examination question papers with you. Go through them to
get a clear idea of the way the questions are asked. This will guide you to concentrate
more in areas of importance.
9) N S I. Never Stop Improving. Devote to excellence by refusing to settle for good.
֩WHAT CAN BE DONE֪
Try to correlate new information with old information. Construct new understanding by
fitting new information with prior understanding or experience. Instead of memorizing
random facts, try to relate them to prior knowledge. Think about new information and
draw comparisons to other things you know. Think about similar ideas learned earlier.
Draw analogies between old ideas learnt and the new information. Identify main points.
Think about how these fit in with what you know from other experiences, sources
or classes. Make information memorable. Repeat... Repeat... Read it, Write it, Say it,
Explain it, Draw it, Ask questions about it….. You will learn easily.
♨ USE SOME MEMORY TRICKS ♨
Ø Make mnemonic lists to remember certain facts. For example, use “B B R O Y Great
Britain Very Good Wife”, for remembering “Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue
Violet Grey White”. This is for the colour code of carbon resistors.
Ø Similarly, “Hot Coffee” for flow of thermo electric current- Copper to Iron through
Hot junction.
Ø Use some silly rhymes or sayings to remember lists.
Ø Use silly analogies to remember examples.
Ø Humor is a powerful memory trigger; the dumber the better.
☺ FOCUS + DAILY IMPROVEMENT + TIME = GENIUS ☺
Successful students not only work hard, but also just happen to be at the right place at
the right time. Sure, timing makes a difference. Top rankers not only outthink their
competition but also they outwork them. Procrastination always leads to tension and
failure.
It is never that successful students had a smoother path and more lucky breaks. Not at
all.
The students who have achieved the most in their life are generally those who have
failed to be at ‘the top always’ in the school. Success is a number game.
A simple “Deal or No Deal”. Those who have reached the top are those who simply
refused to lose and turned every stumbling block into a stepping stone.
Successful students are mostly self-motivated. Motivation is a learned sport. To play it
to win and keep the fire in you burning require daily devotion.
The best students are up while the world around them sleeps, planning their days, weeks
and months and basically preparing themselves to deliver their best performance.
They refill the well of passion and inspiration daily.
Successful people are not usually geniuses. According to the latest research, genius isn't
a natural trait - it's a learned skill.
They are singularly focused on their chosen goal. Remember mediocrity occurs when
you focus on many things. You achieve mastery only when you focus on a few.
Commit to being brilliant at just a few subjects and cut out all the rest. Then work hard
on these obsessions daily. In time, you will be a master.
So genius is not the sole domain of a rare breed of person. Every one of you is entitled to
that label. And to play in that space if you so choose, focus on any area or skill with “a
relentless devotion to daily improvement and a passion for excellence”. As years pass on
you will be operating at a level of competence that people will just naturally call you a
genius.
 If you Think You Can, You Can!
You know well that the way you think affects you much, particularly your mental health
-- either positive or negative. If you feel you are unable to produce the results you
wanted, it may be that you have not been thinking in the right way. Put into your mind
thoughts which are only positive. Always try and be confident to expect to win more
than you expect to lose. First believe that you can actually change your thinking habits
easily. Then you really can. It is true that it is not going to happen overnight. But if you
start reconditioning your mind, the probability of succeeding in the near future will be
greatly increased. Try it with confidence. You’ll be surprised at the results. The next time
if you hear a voice in you, "You can’t do it!" shout at it to shut up and say,“ Yes, I can.”
After a short time, that voice will become quiet and you won’t hear it anymore. Start
believing in yourself. Keep on working on your goals. It doesn’t matter what challenges
you face. You’ll turn them into reality.
If you Think You Can, You Can!
You can be a total winner even if you're a beginner,
If you think you can, you can,
If you think you can, you can,
You can wear the gold medallion,
You can ride your own black stallion,
If you think you can, you can,
If you think you can, you can,
It's not your talent or the gift at birth,
It's not your bank book that determines worth,
And it isn't in the colour of your skin,
It's your attitude that lets you win,
You can upset Connors or Austin,
Or win the marathon at Boston,
If you think you can, you can,
If you think you can, you can,
You can profit through inflation,
You can redirect this nation,
If you think you can, you can,
If you think you can, you can,
It doesn't matter if you've won before,
It makes no difference what's the half time score,
It's never over until the final gun,
So keep on trying and you'll find you've won,
You grab your dream and then believe it,
Go out and work and you'll achieve it,
If you think you can, you can,
If you think you can, you can!
— Denis Waitley