Studying Tips to Help You Survive during Exam Weeks

Sincerity

Studying any subject in any field requires total sincerity. It is not only sincerity in the beginning, that discontinues in the middle of the course. But it is sincerity that should be in the beginning, in the running of the course and at the end. Sincerity is to seek the knowledge to please Allah SWT and a determination to apply that in our actions. It is never to seek knowledge to be known as knowledgeable, a scholar, or a famous teacher. As students of Islamic Studies, it is even more important for you to constantly check your intentions, because shaytan is at his highest stamina to make you discontinue your studies and break the bridge between you and your deen. By destroying your sincerity he will either make you lose your motivation, or he will make you do the work with a completely different intention. Hence, the journey of sincerity is never-ending, constantly remind yourself why you are studying, and keep checking your intentions.
Tip for gaining motivation – Think about the consequences you have to face if you are procrastinating. You may never get the opportunity to study again as life keeps changing so drastically, or you may get so busy with other priorities in life that you may not have the same amount of time and thus you may not be able to go as much close to Allah as you could have. Thinking of those moments of regret can be a super motivating factor for you.

Tip to protect your sincerity - While stuying remember that Allah is surely watching you. Feel that connection with Him. In sha Allah, this will help you protect your sincerity.

Time

Be prepared to give enough time to your studies. While you give it, think it as an investment. For you get what you give. If you give the required time and effort, Allah will give you the required result. Set aside a fixed time for daily studies and make it fixed. It should not be moved due to any work of less priority. With that said, make sure that you study on a daily basis. Move slowly and steadily like the turtle, but make sure you do move! This helps you avoid piling up too much studies for the last moment, that results in nothing but loss.




Study place – Just the way you have a specific place for sleeping, eating and cooking, likewise you should have a place for studying as well. It is just not the best thing to study on your bed or dining table. You should have your own table to study surrounded by all the study materials including pens and books so that whenever you need something you can reach it easily. Having your books close by help you research more and refer to more different books.

Remembering Allah (zikir) dispels anxiety and pressure

If something is too difficult for you, then pray to Allaah to make it easy for you. Whenever Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) found something too difficult to understand, he would say, “O You Who taught Ibraaheem, teach me; O You Who caused Sulaymaan to understand, cause me to understand.”        

Start by answering the easy questions which you know - Then move on to the questions which carry high marks, and leave till the end the questions to which you do not know the answers, or which you think will take a long time to produce an answer or which do not carry such high marks.