Diya Maria Thomas, who achieved the top score in the ISC exams in Dubai with 99.25 per cent, highlighted the importance of taking breaks between studies to maintain focus and alleviate stress.

The 17-year-old said whether it’s going for a walk, grabbing a snack, or simply taking a few moments to relax and chat with a family member, incorporating breaks into her study routine and taking care of her mental and physical well-being during exam times has helped her to relax and stay calm.

“For me, taking short breaks really helps. But during these breaks, I wouldn’t be on my phone because that would distract me. I would just walk around or talk to my mother and then I'd come back and sit down to study again.”

During exams, she would allocate specific time slots to review online materials on her phone, minimising distractions from frequent phone usage.

“I limit my phone usage around exam time, by allocating specific time slots to review online material, allowing me to focus more on studying and less on distractions from my phone,” said the student, who now wants to pursue law at Durham University in England.

Diya pointed out the importance of not only establishing a strong foundation but also maintaining a consistent sleep schedule to ensure she stayed refreshed. “I slept enough and ate healthy meals.” She also paid attention to physical activity which is a proven way to reduce stress. “I tried exercising regularly. I would watch YouTube videos sometimes to exercise,” she added. “This is particularly important around the exam period because I feel adequate rest and exercise is crucial for optimal academic performance.”

Music, martial arts are stress busters

Similarly, Praneshwar Eswaran, who topped the Science stream at GMA during the ISC exams with a score of 98.5 per cent, stressed that extracurricular pursuits such as music and martial arts have served as effective stress busters, particularly over the past two years.

The 17-year-old said he wasn’t a conventional student who focused only on academics. He attributes his success to a more holistic approach that he adopted all along his student life.

Praneshwar added, “I wasn’t the most studious person, putting in a lot of hours studying. I think the one thing that really helped me was ECA. Although we do call it extracurricular activities, I really think it helps you even in your academic life, especially if you’ve pursued it over a long period of time. It helps in cognitive-processing skills.”

“I play the keyboard and I often release music on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music. This has been my passion that I’ve honed all along in spite of academic pressures and I think all these things have stood me good stead.”

Notably, though, some studies suggest that certain types of music, like classical or ambient music, might be particularly beneficial for cognitive tasks requiring concentration and attention, but not all studies establish a definitive link.

Praneshwar shared that another important element in his life was his commitment to physical activity.

The Dubai resident added, “I dedicated at least seven hours per week to playing badminton and practising Silambam, a traditional Tamil martial art. Despite all this, I maintained my academic focus without deviation from my routine. The supportive environments at both home and school were instrumental in facilitating this balance.”

Shedding light on his challenges and how he navigated it successfully, the young adult emphasized that he had been a high achiever all along until his disappointment with his Grade 10 marks.

“That prompted me the change to reduce pressure on myself. In Grade 10 when I took my board exams, I felt a lot of pressure. So, I did mess up in a few subjects because I was solely focused on achieving perfect scores. However, by Grade 12, I adopted a different approach. Later, I prioritised understanding my strengths and weaknesses rather than succumbing to pressure. My teachers played a crucial role in helping me identify these areas, and my parents provided unwavering support throughout my journey,” he added.

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