Issue 9 | 13 Jan. 2007

HELPLINE FOR STUDENTS

Sri Prathvi Uthaiah, education counselor with a MBA and PG in Maths, has vast experience in advising students about their studies, subjects and other matters concerning them. He has written several articles and a book on memory techniques. Sri Uthaiah will answer all queries of students in this Students Helpline Column. Best Question of the Month will win a cash prize of Rs 100/-! Those who want a postal reply may attach a self-addressed envelope adequately stamped, and send it to #129, 6th Cross, 6th Main, Malleswaram, Bangalore-03, or they may mention their email ID, to get the answer by email. 

1. I study for about 5-6 hours a day apart from college and tuitions. However, I manage to get only average marks in exams. Is it because I am dull, and do I have any scope for further improvement? - Naresh Gopal, National College, Basavanagudi, I PUC (PCMC).

2. I revise my books 5 to 6 times every year. However I only get 50% to 60% marks.

Is it because of poor memory? Is there any way to improve my performance? – Archana, X Std, CBSE.

Dear Naresh and Archana,

Reading and revising the entire book several times is a traditional way of learning. It makes you very knowledgeable. However, it will generally fetch you around 45-55% marks only.

The new approach to study is one that helps you to recollect the right answer at the right time for enhanced performance. Here’s how you do this: After reading one paragraph, close your eyes and try to recollect its contents in your own words. Repeat this till you can recollect the essence of one paragraph completely. Repeat this for the next paragraph and recollect the contents of both the paragraphs together. Repeat this till you are confident and only then go to the next para.

About 6 to 10 paragraphs can be remembered in a 40 minutes session using this method. This means you can cover one important chapter in 4 to 6 sessions, at the end of which you can recollect it completely. If you really work hard (which you are!), you can cover the entire book this way; yes, you can recollect the entire book!

Once you adopt this method of learning, you don’t require the text book for revising. You don’t even need a reading room! You can practise to recollect wherever you are – in the playground, in a bus, and even in the exam hall!

Learn 8 important chapters this way for a start, and it will fetch you around 50% in your final exam. Use this method for all chapters, and you could end up topping your class, and score “out of out” too!

For more help on how to apply this method of studying, feel free to contact me on Ph 23466050, 98450-03053, email prathviuthaiah@hotmail.com)