Dr. P K Dash
Almost every student wants to score good marks in exams, but many don’t know how to study in the right way. Some keep studying for long hours without results, while others get distracted, feel stressed, or leave too much for the last minute.
The good news: you don’t need to be a “genius” to score high. You just need smart methods.
Below are 10 powerful, practically workable study hacks, carefully chosen and refined to help you prepare better, remember more, and stay confident during exams.
1. Start with a Clear Study Plan (Instead of Studying Randomly)
A lot of students sit with books and “decide on the spot” what to read. This wastes time and creates stress.
A study plan gives you:
• Clarity: You know exactly what to study today.
• Control: You can see how the full syllabus will be covered in time.
• Confidence: Every day’s work adds to your progress.
How to do it:
• List all subjects and chapters.
• Mark them as easy / moderate / difficult.
• Divide them across days or weeks.
• Keep revision slots and mock test days in your plan.
• At the start of each study session, quickly review what you did yesterday.
Even a simple handwritten timetable or a notebook-based plan is enough. The key is to follow it consistently, not perfectly.
2. Understand Concepts Instead of Blind Memorising
Rote learning (ratta) may help for a short time, but it fails in:
• Application-based questions
• Long answer questions
• Competitive exams
When you understand a topic, you:
• Remember it longer
• Can handle new or twisted questions
• Don’t panic if the question looks different from the textbook
How to build understanding:
• Ask yourself: “Why does this happen?” , “How does this formula work?”
• Break big concepts into small steps.
• Use simple language to explain the idea to yourself.
• Watch short explainer videos or take help from a teacher/tutor if a topic is confusing.
• Relate topics to real-life examples (e.g., physics laws to daily life).
If you focus on understanding instead of just memorizing, your marks improve naturally, especially in Maths, Science, and practical subjects.
3. Use Active Recall & Self-Testing
Many students read the same page again and again and feel like they have “studied.” But in the exam, they can’t recall.
The problem? They never practiced recalling.
Active recall means:
• First you study.
• Then you close the book and try to remember the main points without looking.
How to use it:
• After finishing a topic, close your notebook and write down what you remember on a rough sheet.
• Say the main points aloud, as if you are explaining to someone.
• Use question banks or flashcards to test yourself.
• After checking, fill the gaps and correct mistakes.
This is exactly what your brain has to do in an exam: retrieve information without help. So the more you practise recall, the easier the exam feels.
4. Solve Previous Year Papers & Mock Tests Like Real Exams
If you don’t practice with real-style questions, you might:
• Misjudge your preparation level
• Take too much time per question
• Panic when seeing the question paper
Why mock tests and past papers work:
• They show the pattern and weightage of topics.
• You get a real feel of time pressure.
• You discover which topics still confuse you.
How to do it:
• Take one past paper or mock test.
• Set a timer according to the actual exam duration.
• Attempt the paper seriously, no breaks, no mobile.
• Check your answers honestly.
• Mark mistakes and revise those specific topics.
Doing this even once a week during preparation can greatly boost your confidence and your marks.
5. Make Your Own Notes—Don’t Depend Only on Others’ Material
Downloading notes or getting photocopies may look convenient, but your own notes are far more powerful.
When you write in your own words:
• Your brain processes the information deeply.
• You highlight what you find important.
• During revision, your notes save time.
How to make effective notes:
• Don’t copy the book word-for-word.
• Write key points, formulas, keywords, keywords in bold or underlined.
• Use headings, bullet points, and small diagrams.
• Leave some space to add extra points during revision.
During the last few days before the exam, these personal notes become your biggest asset.
6. Use Visual Tools: Mind Maps, Diagrams & Flowcharts
The brain remembers pictures faster than plain text.
Visual tools like mind maps and diagrams help you:
• See the “big picture” of a chapter.
• Connect different ideas.
• Revise large chapters in a few minutes.
How to use them:
- For theory-heavy subjects (biology, history, geography, and business studies), make:
- Flowcharts of processes
- Diagrams of systems
- Mind maps for long chapters
- Use arrows, boxes, and symbols.
- Keep them neat and simple. You don’t need to be an artist.
Before the exam, quickly looking at your mind maps is much more effective than re-reading the entire chapter.
7. Focus on Weak Areas, But Also Use Smart “Scoring Sections”
Students often keep doing what they are already good at and avoid difficult topics. This feels comfortable, but it doesn’t increase marks much.
You need two parallel strategies:
a) Improve Weak Areas
• List topics you find difficult.
• Set short, focused sessions for those topics.
• Ask doubts from teachers, friends, or tutors.
• Don’t try to “master” everything in one day: keep small realistic goals.
b) Strengthen Scoring Sections
• Identify chapters or question types that are usually easier and carry sure-shot marks (like 1-mark questions, definitions, diagrams, etc.).
• Practise them till you can do them with speed and accuracy.
This combination ensures you don’t lose easy marks and steadily reduce your weak spots.
8. Study in Focused Sessions with Short Breaks (Pomodoro Style)
Long, unfocused study marathons lead to:
• Tiredness
• Low concentration
• Frustration
Instead, use focused study blocks.
A simple method:
• Study for 25–40 minutes with full concentration.
• Take a 5–10 minute break, walk, stretch, drink water.
• After 3–4 such cycles, take a longer break of 20–30 minutes.
Rules during study block:
• No mobile, no social media.
• Only one subject or task.
• Keep everything you need on the table before you start.
You’ll notice that you actually get more done in less time when you respect your brain’s attention span.
9. Protect Your Focus: Limit Smartphones & Social Media
Even the best study plan fails if every 5 minutes you:
• Check WhatsApp
• Scroll Instagram or YouTube shorts
• Respond to every notification
These “small” distractions break your flow and steal hours from your day.
Practical ways to control it:
• Keep the phone in another room while studying.
• Use apps that block social media for a fixed time.
• Decide a fixed time slot to check messages (for example, once after lunch, once at night).
• Turn off non-essential notifications.
You don’t have to quit social media completely, but during exam preparation, your focus is more valuable than your feed.
10. Take Care of Your Body & Mind (Sleep, Food, Movement, Calm)
High scores are not just made at the study table, they are supported by a healthy body and a calm mind.
Sleep
• Target 7–8 hours of sleep.
• Avoid very late-night study just before the exam; a tired brain makes silly mistakes.
Food & Water
• Eat light, home-cooked food as much as possible.
• Include fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
• Drink enough water; even slight dehydration can reduce concentration.
Movement & Relaxation
• Take short walks or do stretching between study blocks.
• Simple breathing exercises or 5–10 minutes of meditation can reduce anxiety.
• Avoid comparing your preparation with others all the time, focus on your own progress.
Remember: A calm, rested mind always performs better than a stressed, exhausted one.
Conclusion: Small Changes, Big Results
You don’t need to change everything overnight.
Pick 2 or 3 tips from this list and start applying them from today:
• Maybe you begin with a proper study plan.
• Or you start solving one mock paper every Sunday.
• Or you decide to keep your phone away during study time.
These small steps, if repeated daily, will quietly build your confidence, clarity, and marks.
The views expressed by the author in this article is his/her personal view. As one method does not fit for all, readers are suggested to verify the effective ness of the methods/techniques suggested as per their personal wisdom. These blogs are general in nature and meant for awareness only.
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