Key 2 : MAKE A SMART STUDY PLAN

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

Making a smart plan is the same as sharpening your saw before chopping the wood! It ensures that you can achieve more in less time.

To make a smart plan, first make a list of all topics by subject on a separate sheet in four columns. Put the topics you find EASY to understand in the first column, MODERATE in the 2nd column, DIFFICULT in the 3rd coloumn and DON'T KNOW in the 4th column.

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
"It's not enough to visualize a positive result; it is much better to plan
how you're going to get there."

What is your revision strategy?

Sharpen your saw before chopping the wood! First make a detailed strategy and a plan of action before starting the revision process. This will take time. Ultimately, however, if you do not take the time to sharpen your saw first, you will eventually spend more time and chop less wood. This means, of course, making a strategy and a plan of action for your revision process is extremely important before you begin going through the motions of preparing for an examination.

Making a plan and developing a strategy will ensure that your efforts are more targeted. Most students find themselves running around in circles and being very nervous because they lack the time to do all they need to do before an examination. They are unable to find the time to plan and to strategize first. This is a terrible mistake. Better planning is especially useful when time is limited because it allows you to accomplish more with the same effort.

How to Make a Smart Study Plan?

Allocate a day or two to simply strategize and plan.Your plan can be in the form of a wall chart or in a notebook made especially for planning.

• Make a list of all the topics you need to know in each subject.
• For each subject, make three columns on a page (suggested format is provided for ICSE mathematics at the back of this book along with a template you can use for any subject).
• Put the topics you find EASY to understand in the first column, MODERATE in the 2nd column, and DIFFICULT in the 3rd column. You can make a 4th column DON'T KNOW. By EASY is also meant those topics you feel you can cover quickly.

Topic Wise Planning

Additionally, to the extent you can fill this now or otherwise as you go along with the review of the past papers, you should be able to add other information regarding each topic, such as marks generally allocated to the questions from this topic, whether it is in the compulsory section or not, and how much time do you think you will allocate to revise this concept for the first time.