Focusing on improving the inputs and processes will lead to the desired outcome.

3 lessons that changed my approach to mock tests

I was obsessed that my score in prelims mocks should cross 100/200.

In many videos, I had heard from teachers and toppers about trying to get a 100+ score in prelims mocks. But my scores hovered around 60. This made me feel miserable after each mock exam.

I learned from this that focusing only on the goal will not suffice. I needed to make changes in my preparation process.

Be impatient with efforts and patient with results

Focusing only on results could lead to a stagnation of scores at around 60-70. You will not have a clue about what you need to do to improve. This can demotivate you from taking further tests.

Think of the exam as an experiment. When you don't get the desired result, you look at the inputs and process followed. Making changes to the inputs and process will influence the end result.

Here are the changes that I did to my preparation process. Note that each of these is an input metric.

#1. Categorize your mistakes

Unless you know what type of mistakes you make, how will you improve? I divide my mistakes into four categories:

• Knowledge Gap - "I have not read about this topic"

• Revision Gap - "I had read this topic, but forgot"

• Conceptual Gap - "I need to better understand this topic"

• Unforced Error - "Didn't read the full question; Overlooked the term NOT Correct"

#2. Strengthen your weakest link

The question paper is dynamic and hence, each subject should be studied well.

I had found that my scores in the History section are consistently low. Hence, I began to spend more time revising the basics of History. This helped me to improve my scores.

#3. Highest priority to revising mistakes

In the craze of taking many mocks, I failed to revise the solutions. As a result, I repeated my mistakes with no learning. Now, I try to revise the mistakes immediately after a test.

This approach is similar to Krishna's statement to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Geeta. The focus has to be on efforts and process (i.e Karma) and the result (i.e Phala) will be an eventual outcome.

Wishing you a purposeful day!

Satya

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If you liked this, you can check out my previous articles below:

An unplanned visit to a school opened my eyes to an important problem | Revue — www.getrevue.co

Kaliedoscope - Reading time - 4 mins

How To write your first Essay? | Revue — www.getrevue.co

Kaliedoscope - Let us overcome the resistance to write