We cannot avoid an exam because n matter how much we try to escape or run away from them, we get challenged and tested by another kind of exam. Thus, exams are an unavoidable part of a person’s life. And where education is considered, exams become vital for students to grow, learn and contribute to the world. Students of CBSE, especially class 10 and class 12, always remain terrified of their impending Board exams. Exams do stress students out, but if viewed in the right and practical sense, these can actually enhance everything that students work to achieve in their lives.
One proper way to overcome the extra burden that studies impose on students, and the rush to cover the syllabus, lies in the habit of taking effective notes whether it be in lectures or while studying. These short and crisp notes written in abbreviations and student-friendly language go by the name of revision notes. Revision notes play a very significant role in the effective use of study time and study material, that is, they act as an effective strategic approach in cracking exams. This note-taking has to be done properly to ensure that students reap all the benefits of actually making these notes. Note-taking requires skill on the students’ parts as these are to be used as good and effective last-minute revision materials.
Some tips and methods that actually are effective in taking as well as making notes are shared below. These also constitute some of the most effective methods that students have to use not only now, but throughout their learning years:
- Method of preparation matters:
There are two methods of preparing notes: digital and handwritten. Digital notes are made using laptops preferably with the Times New Roman font. This font should be used while making notes because this is easier and more legible to read when compared with other fonts. Handwritten notes on the other hand do not follow any specific font or format because they are based on the students’ handwriting. The only thing that should be emphasized here is a clean and clear presentation of the notes prepared.
- Follow a pattern:
Notes should be prepared in an organized manner because they are made specifically as a revision material for exams. So, these can be printed and made into a small book if done digitally, else usually notebooks are preferred while taking down notes. Making these organized notes help students be in possession of their own organized revision plan.
- Short and summarized:
Note-taking is all about creating short and summarized notes. Their purpose is a last-minute breeze through on all the topics, so lengthy sentences are out of the question. Keywords and personalized abbreviations can be created to easily fly through and revise the topics.
- Make it colorful:
Colour coding is an effective way to appeal to the brain such that the concepts are retained in the memory. Highlighting keywords, and using different colours, both in digital and handwritten notes can make these notes fun and interesting to learn.
- Use graphs, illustrations, and drawings:
Flow charts, graphs, mind maps, drawings, and other simple illustrations are pictorial representations of data and information. These have a higher chance of being remembered by the brain because pictures are remembered even by little kids. These drawings can also give life to the dull and dry notes to make them look attractive.
- Additional reference materials can be useful:
Besides textbooks, reference materials that are similar to the subject textbooks can offer additional information which is usually not given in textbooks. Thus, students can be filled with loads of details on the same topic, and making these into crisp points provides them with an effective way to answer questions in the exams. All they have to do is recollect the points and explain them.
- Time is not to be wasted in making these notes:
Time is a valuable resource, especially for students as they do not have hoards of it to waste because note-making can prove to be a very lengthy and time-consuming process. Sitting for longer durations of time, just for making these notes can prove harmful to the students’ brains as well as their bodies. Breaks should be taken when and as required and students should avoid overindulgence while making these notes. Rest is necessary and important, and it is the students’ responsibility to know when to rest.
- Things which are sweet are good in-between snacks:
Chocolate and other food items which are sweet can stimulate the brain. Students can grow lazy during the process of note-making as it is a very lengthy task. Sweet food items are a laziness-breaker and can boost students to work more efficiently.
- Sit at different locations:
Same surroundings, when sat and looked at, becomes monotonous and very boring. This can bring in another wave of laziness that can hit students. A change in location is actually quite refreshing as students could use the change in the air while writing.
- The background matters:
Music, a clean table, neat notebooks, proper ventilation, and other things which determine the ambience has a significant role in affecting the students’ working mentality. They can clear the brain of unnecessary deviations such that accurate and crisp notes can be made and taken down easily and quickly.
Thereby, students are left with a personalized weapon that they can use freely any time they want in order to beat the exams. Revision notes thus prepared can help students be confident about what they have learned and covered. Since these notes are short and crisp, revisiting and re-learning them becomes easy because students are familiar with the original concepts. All these different methods discussed are tips for both effective note-making and note-taking. They are absolutely beneficial to the students and the students should follow these at all costs and create their own revised notes. By interlinking all these elements, the personalized weapon that the students create empowers them and makes them confident in themselves. After all, a well-prepared person does reap the most benefits. So, good luck with note-making!
