Have you ever wondered what separates the toppers from the rest of the students? All students have exams. And they get the same date-sheet, timings and facilities for the exams. And it is a fact that most of the students study quite hard for the exams. In fact, they do the same things yet they get different results. Every one of them plays the game. Some win, some lose and some simply give up. While the rules of the game remain the same for everyone, winners often have their own set of rules and tools which help them race ahead and beat others. Because in the game of exams and ultimately in life, not just the fittest but the smartest person WINS!
Do you know why? And how? We know that some students study less than others and some students study a lot more than others. But they all study. And they all want to score good marks. But then, why do most students end up being average and only a few are able to score great marks and make a mark? You may say it is because of different intelligence levels. Many people believe that students blessed with better brainpower will leave the rest of us in the dust. However, many studies have shown that intelligence plays a small role in success. And while hard work is important, it is not sufficient to ace the exams.
What we often fail to realise is that the difference between a topper and an average student is not just because of difference in levels of their intelligence, hard work or knowledge of the subject. That is why labelling mediocre students as lazy, dumb and careless doesn’t serve any purpose. Blaming students does more harm than good. It takes a toll on their self-confidence and as a result, their results further deteriorate. But then, what exactly is the secret of a topper? How is he able to produce such good results? Well, the key success mantra of a topper lies in his approach towards the exams. And the right approach automatically leads to effective study plan and good results.
Building the right approach towards the exams is not easy. Exams are dreaded by all and loved by none. And it is particularly difficult to remain uninfluenced during the month of the board exams which are wrongly touted as the most important exams of a student’s life in our country. During the exam season, everyone has a piece of advice to offer. From the near and dear ones like parents and teachers to the distant relatives, everyone wants to advise the student. While unsolicited advice does more harm than good and often backfires and causes more anxiety, the right advice from the right person can make all the difference in the world. This is exactly what this book aims to do. It contains interviews of the current national toppers to inspire students and help them prepare for their upcoming exams. These interviews, which I took for a special segment of The Student’s Digest, made me realise that there is no better guide than the students who have just conquered the board exams and came out with flying colours. And the results of a subsequent poll “Are peers better influencers than elders?” proved my hunch right.
The aim of this book is to make you realise that you already have the potential to excel in exams. It won’t preach you to study hard; rather it will just show you how to study smart. The study and exam tips presented in this book come straight from the horse’s mouth. Even these toppers went through everything that you are going through, but they were able to overcome it and achieve outstanding success. After reading more about their success journey, you will find that your path to success is a lot easier than you believed. It is totally achievable and doable. Now let’s begin your journey to becoming a topper and learn from the best!