“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” — Michael John Bobak

Every year millions of students appear in competitive exams like JEE and NEET. Still, only a fraction of them manages to secure their spot in top colleges. As per the data released, a total of 1,55,538 students appeared in both papers (1 and 2) of the JEE Advanced Exam 2022, out of which only 40,712 candidates have qualified for the exam.

Every student works hard to achieve their goals; the difference lies in preparation, study techniques, and consistency that separates toppers from the lot. Some students implement effective study techniques and score success by studying only for 6-9 hours daily, while others spend 10-14 hours and still get dissatisfactory results. If you are amongst the latter, wondering how to study effectively for competitive exams. In that case, we present ten effective study tips you can utilise to crack competitive exams like NEET and JEE.

Top 10 tips to Study for Competitive Exams and advice from ALLEN Overseas’ experts:

1. Make a schedule and stick to it:

One of the most effective ways to Study for Competitive Exams is to create a well-planned, realistic and productive study schedule. Plan every hour of your day, allotting specific hours to each subject and topic and completing your work before moving on. It is better to write your study schedule on paper and stick it on your wall or somewhere visible to you. It will be a constant reminder of what needs to be accomplished in a day.

2. Set up your study area:

Set up your desk before you begin studying. Sit in a quiet and comfortable place with adequate lighting and space for your stuff. Remove distractions, switch off your mobile phone, and clear the clutter. Keep your study space clean and organised. Take everything you need, like notes, textbooks, practice sheets, and stationery, to save time.

3. Revise and re-revise:

Revision is the most critical study technique that could make or break your results. Revision improves your ability to retain and recall information during the examination. Of course, you can spend more time on complex topics, but revising everything (your complete syllabus) is advisable without leaving anything behind. Revise what you’ve learned every day before going to bed, and re-revise your whole week’s syllabus on weekends.

4. Make your own SMART notes:

Just reading and re-reading information won’t cut for top-level competitive exams like JEE and NEET anymore. Smart study techniques involve making SMART notes in your own language. Write down short summaries, and create flashcards, mindmaps, flowcharts, diagrams, bullet points, etc., to better understand the information. For equations and important formulae, use flashcards and keep them with you so you can revise them whenever you have spare time.

5. Take refreshing study breaks:

Instead of long and exhaustive study sessions, effective study tips involve studying in small sessions divided by regular and refreshing study breaks. It allows you to study for long hours without getting tired. Also, taking a small break after a rigorous study session provides enough time for your brain to retain that information better. Therefore, take a short 5-minute break after every 25-minute study session and longer 15 minutes break after 2 hours, and do something productive to re-energize your body and mind for the next session.

6. Test your knowledge:

It is equally important to apply your knowledge by taking regular tests. Practice as many questions as possible, and solve previous year’s question papers, question banks, and daily practice sheets to ensure that you understand the concept and its application correctly. In addition, take regular topic-wise and major tests of the complete syllabus in real-exam-like conditions to learn effective time management and evaluate your performance to rectify the gaps in your preparation. This will also acquaint you with the exam pattern, boost your confidence, and help you strategise your approach accordingly.

7. Set realistic study goals every day:

Qualifying for competitive exams is not an overnight thing. It’s a long-term process of persistent efforts, hard work, and effective study practices that will take you toward your goals. Therefore, you must set daily study targets for each subject and ensure you achieve them before retiring. For example, decide that you’ll study Ohm’s law in the next hour and practice all its relevant questions. Remember, for your journey towards success, every day counts.

8. Study before bed:

This may seem a little weird but scientifically proven to be one of the most effective study tips. Studies suggest that when you sleep, your brain refines and reorganises the information you’ve learned to retain it better and recall it when required. That’s why rather than pulling up all-nighters, revise all your notes or important concepts before you go to bed.

9. Learn to teach someone:

You must learn and understand something thoroughly to teach it to someone else. Therefore, it is recommended that when you are learning something new, try to think about how you would explain this new concept to someone else. What examples would you use, how is it connected to your previous topics, and how can you define its application? This technique will help you invent your own style of learning and understanding new information for quicker recall.

10. Ask for help:

Lastly, if you are stuck somewhere, and can’t understand something, any topic, equation, numerical, or concept, do not hesitate to ask your teachers or mentors for help. Leaving your doubts unsolved can cost you your whole year. Therefore, ask for help and guidance whenever you need it.

These are the top 10 study tips that you can use to accelerate your journey toward success. If you need more help and guidance, contact our experts with your queries, concerns, or problems and receive the best career advice for unparalleled academic excellence.

The post Study Tips: How to Study for Competitive Exams? appeared first on ALLEN Overseas.

As exams are quickly approaching, you cannot afford to lose focus and concentration, hence it is vital to follow a healthy routine to keep your body and mind in tip-top shape. Taking adequate sleep, eating nutritious foods, exercising and yoga is the best way to improve memory and concentration for studies. In the current scenario, where students’ minds are plagued with thousands of uncertainties, 10-15 minutes of mindful yoga can do wonders for your health, improve memory and concentration to ace your exam preparation. Several research results have concluded that yoga and meditation improve memory and concentration for students and thus are considered as the best way to focus on study.

As a matter of fact, research conducted by professors of Wayne State University, Detroit, USA, in 2013 found that doing Hatha yoga daily for 20-minutes has significantly improved memory and concentration of participants for tests/exams. So now the question is…

How does yoga help in boosting concentration and memory?

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that gives you the best of both worlds by not only restoring your physical fitness but also improving your mental health. Practicing yoga daily will help in calming your mind by eliminating all the worries, distractions, and fluctuating thoughts. This way you attain a state of calm, equilibrium, and peace that in turn help you to better focus and concentrate on your studies. A calm mind will be able to better concentrate and focus than the pre-occupied mind.

So if you are looking for the best concentration boosting tips to nail your exam preparation, here we present 7 easy and effective yoga asanas that are scientifically proven as the best way to focus on study by improving your memory and concentration.

Best yoga asanas to improve memory and concentration for students:

1. Salutation Seal (Yog Mudra)

This particular yoga asana is topping the charts of almost all concentration boosting tips. As simple and convenient this pose is, the benefits are equally wonderful to escalate focus and concentration for studies.

How to do it:

• Sit in a cross-legged position and join your palms together in front of your chest.
• Keep your spine straight, elbows sharp, and take deep breaths.
• Close your eyes and focus on just your breathing.
• Remove all stressful and distractive thoughts from your mind.
• Do this every day for 15 minutes and you’ll notice a significant difference in your memory and concentration.

2. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

It is one of the most prevalent Hatha yoga that helps in relieving pain, tension, and stress from your body. In addition, it also improves your overall body posture, strengthens your thigh muscles, stomach and buttocks while improving the flexibility of your spine.

How to do it:

• Start in a standing position with your feet a few inches apart and hands straight by your sides.
• While exhaling, slowly shift your body weight to your toes while stretching your legs and raising your hands upward.
• Keep your spine erect, hold this position for a few seconds and then slowly return to the starting position while inhaling.
• Do this every day for 10-15 minutes to gain better focus and concentration.

3. Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

This is another best way to focus on study. While performing this pose, you get to stretch your whole body and as a result eliminate all the numbness. This pose will calm your mind and nerves, thus helping you to build better confidence, concentration, and self-esteem.

How to do it:

• Start in a standing position with your feet a few inches apart and hands straight by your sides.
• Slowly put your left leg above your right knee, bring the sole of your left foot as high as you can on your right inner thigh.
• Raise your arms high above your head and join your palms together.
• Stay in this position for a few seconds, then slowly lower your hands.
• Then lower your left foot and return to the starting position.
• Repeat this process with your right foot.
• Do this asana every day for 10-15 minutes to improve memory and concentration.

4. Corpse Pose (Savasana)

This is one of the most effective yoga poses to release tension, stress, depression, and fatigue. It not only improves your memory and concentration but also your sleep quality by calming your mind. It is also beneficial for people who are suffering from neurological disorders, asthma, diabetes, ingestion, and constipation.

How to do it:

• Lie down flat on your back.
• Keep your hands and feet straight and aside.
• Now take deep breaths and focus on your breathing and body.
• Stay relaxed for 10 minutes, then resume your studies.

5. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)

This pose is yet another extremely effective pose for calming your brain and nervous system, thereby reducing stress, tension, anxiety, and depression. It also helps in stretching your spine and neck, thus improving the blood circulation of your brain.

How to do it:

• Start by lying on your back, bend your knees by putting your soles flat on the floor.
• Keep your legs hip-width apart and close to your buttocks and your palms flat on the floor.
• Then press down firmly on your hands and legs while lifting your hips (pubic bone) slowly, inhaling.
• Then broaden your shoulder and clasp your hands on the floor under your back.
• Tuck your chin inward and use your hamstrings to lift your hips even higher.
• Take a few deep breaths while staying in this position.
• Then exhale, unclasp your hands and slowly lower your back to the floor.

6. Bee breathing (Bhramari pranayama)

This pose serves as an instant remedy to reduce anger, frustration, agitation, and anxiety. It improves blood circulation and oxygen levels in the body in addition to boosting confidence and concentration levels.

How to do it:

• Start by sitting cross-legged on the floor, keep your spine erect and close your eyes.
• Now place your index fingers on your ears, right at the cartilage.
• Now inhale deeply and gently press the cartilage with your index finger as you exhale.
• Make a loud humming sound like a bee while you press the cartilage.
• Repeat this process about 3-5 times for better results.

7. Seated Forward Pose (Paschimottasana)

This pose should be performed on empty stomach or after 4 hours of having a meal and is very beneficial to improve memory and concentration while studying. It reduces stress, agitation, and mild depression by calming your mind and stretching your spine.

How to do it:

• Start by sitting on the floor with your legs stretched out front.
• Now flex your toes towards you while keeping your arms by your side.
• Then stretch your arms up while inhaling.
• Exhale and bend your torso forward. Hold your feet with your hands keep your head on your knees.
• Stay in this position for a few seconds and then slowly return back to the starting position.

All those above-mentioned yoga poses will help you in calming your mind, boost your blood circulation, and improve memory and concentration by reducing stress, anger, distractions, and anxiety. Find out which pose works best for you and do this every day for 10-15 minutes for amazing results. In addition, don’t forget to maintain a healthy routine, take adequate sleep, eat 3 nutritious meals per day, drink plenty of water and strictly follow your study time-table for desired results.

In case you need any assistance regarding your exam preparation, tips, or advice, ALLEN Overseas is here to help you. Reach out to our experts with your questions and concerns and get the best career advice to ace your examination. In case if you have any queries, comments, or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us, we will gladly assist you.

The post Does yoga help to boost concentration in study? appeared first on ALLEN Overseas.