Desire of great marks can make students do crazy things. If you thought studying hard is enough to score well in school exams, think again. SMITA KUMAR learns a few mantras of pleasing the exam god, if there is one

Magic pen

Notes: check, books: check, stationery: check. Wait, something important is missing. Shubham Kumar, a Class XII student of Patna Central School, does not leave for exam without his lucky pen. It’s the same pen he used in the Class X exam and scored good marks. “The Class XII exam too has gone as well as the Class X test. I used the same pen (of course with a new refill) that I used two years ago. I am sure I will get good marks,” says Shubham.

He admits he studied hard for both the exams but gives the real credit to his pen. Seems the pen is mightier not just than the sword, but IQ as well.

Ruler rule

Ashish Ranjan, another student from Shubham’s school, has no issues with his pen. Rather, he banks on his 15cm transparent ruler to fetch him high marks in exams. Interestingly, Ashish does not use the ruler for any purpose in the exam, but it’s an essential item in his instrument box. “I ensure that the ruler never breaks because it is very lucky for me,” says Ashish. So what if India is a democracy, the Class XII student loves to abide by his “ruler”.

Curd blessing

For Nupur, a Class XII student of DAV, BSEB, Lactobacillus bacteria decide if her exams are going to be good. On exam days, Nupur avoids milk, as she considers it inauspicious, but makes sure she has a bowl full of curd for breakfast.

Her exam preparations are not limited to food choices, though. Nupur takes bath on the first day of the exam and if the paper goes well, she decides to follow the same routine on other exam days. Well, if that’s not enough, Nupur chooses her companion carefully, depending upon what “luck the other person brings to her”. “My mother saw me off to the centre on the first day of the exam this time (Class XII) but the paper didn’t go quite well. So, I preferred to go to the centre alone on other days,” says Nupur.

We are sure Nupur’s mother will not agree with her daughter’s notions.

God’s grace

Achint says he isn’t superstitious but circumstances have forced him to act otherwise. “No one likes to get less marks. Whenever I look back, I see myself scoring less than my friends. These failures made me superstitious and I started putting my favourite God’s photograph on my desk during the exams. Last year, when my exams were on, a cat crossed my way while going to school. As I was in a hurry, I neglected it and my paper went really bad. After this, my belief became stronger and this exam, I even started putting a tika on my forehead hoping that God will come to my rescue. Even if my friends laugh at me I don’t take them seriously,” says the Class XI student of Patna Central School.

Photograph, tika, we wonder what would be Achint’s next step to score well.

Dadi darshan

For Darab Tanweer, a Class X student of Don Bosco Academy, his grandmother is his lady luck. “I ensure that I meet her on the exam day before leaving for school,” says the loving grandson. Darab is also very “religious” about his exam preparation. “I offer namaaz on the exam day. It gives me mental peace and confidence that I will do well in the exams,” he says.

Nupur may take some exam preparation tips from Darab.

Fishing for marks

Prachi Pandey, a Class XII student of Notre Dame Academy, has a strong belief that if she sees fish before the exams, her paper will go well. “I make sure that the route I take on the exam days is through the fish market. Spotting fish elevates my confidence that my exam would go well,” she says.

Wouldn’t having an aquarium at home be a better idea, we wonder.

Identify this famous actress

Answer: Meryl Streep

She won the Best Actress Oscar this year for portraying former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the The Iron Lady

The readers who gave the correct answer are:

Shashwati Chakravorty
Class VIII D, DPS, Patna

Pranay Kumar
Class VII, St George’s College Mussorie

Vikash Jha
Class VIII Madonna English School Darbhanga

Akshay Kumar
Class IX Nazarerh Academy Gaya

Md Sami
Class VIII D DAV Public School, Munger

Aastha Ananya
Class IX B St Joseph’s Convent High School

 

Harshit Karan
Class VIII A Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sitamarhi

Kshitij Choudhary
Class IX C St Xavier’s High School

This week’s question:

Identify this politician

Clue: He recently presented the railway budget in Parliament

Readers can send their answers to ttbihar@abp.in