10 superstitions of students to ‘help crack board exams’

As the board exam season hots up, we ask students what they do to remain cool and ensure good marks. We draw up a list of popular rituals and traditions, which the tricity students follow during exams. Some are downright hilarious while some seem to have logic, but they seem to do wonders for these students.

1. Taking bath will wash out everything crammed last night

The most common ritual followed is going for the exam without taking bath. “We usually don’t take bath before exam as we feel it will wash out everything from the brain,” says Komal, class 12 student, on behalf of others at Government Model School, Mohali.

2. Warding off evil

Exam season is the time when stress level reaches its peak and any rough patch during preparation can conveniently be attributed to ‘buri nazar’. Although there is no scientific logic behind it, students can be seen wearing talismans to ward off an evil eye. Well, whatever works to pass the exam.

3. Hairstyle matters

For some students, things like hairstyle play a very significant role. “I feel I score well with braids and avoid ponytail for the board exams,” says Navjot, who just came out of her chemistry exam. “It went well,” she says running her hand through her plait.

“Before I leave the house for the examination, I make sure that I carry all the books with me in the bag. Even though I know I won’t be opening a single page to read, but it helps every time,” shares Mannik from YPS. (HT Photo)

4. Carrying books

Students often carry their books to the examination venue for revision but for some this may be more than a last ‘go through’. “Before I leave the house for the examination, I make sure that I carry all the books with me in the bag. Even though I know I won’t be opening a single page to read, but it helps every time,” shares Mannik from YPS.

5. Lucky cardboard

For Aashna Beri, class 12 Carmel Convent student, her cardboard is a lucky charm. “Whenever I carry this particular cardboard for my exam, I score well and whenever I don’t, irrespective of the fact that I study or not, I lose a lot of marks.”

6. Pen is mightier than studying

It is very common for students to believe that they will only score well if they write with their lucky pen. “I have been following this for a very long and it’s hilarious, but it helps me a lot. There are two lucky pens of mine since class 4 and I use them to write my name and roll number. In whichever paper I used them, I scored well,” shares Oshin Sandhu, class 12 commerce student.

7. Where words leave off, music begins

There is nothing like music to soothe a stressed soul and who could be more stressed than a student of class 12. “I need to listen to a catchy song before going for exam so that it doesn’t bore me much while writing and helps me concentrate even more,” says Mannik Singh of class 12 from Yadavindra Public School.

8. Set in stone

It is a common site to see students wearing their lucky stones on their exam day. Crystal experts offer different stones, for instance some are for tranquility while others for focus and success.

9. Oh My God!

“Naag devta mera physics bacha lena, roz ek litre doodh bhijwaaunga.” This dialogue from 3 Idiots is something many students can relate too. “We pray to god before the board exam. Normally, we just visit the temple, but on exam day give extra ‘bribe’ to god,” laugh students coming out from the board examination hall of government model school, Mohali. “I don’t follow any ritual as such but always pray to god prior to an important event, be it a game or an exam,” says Sanjeev Kumar, who gave his first class 10 board exam and happens to be a professional football player.

10. Beta yeh lo dahi-shakkar

This is an age-old custom where mothers feed dahi-shakkar to their children before an important exam. “I eat dahi with chinni before exams,” says Pratyush Dhiman, a class 12 student.

What experts say

“Some rituals have a scientific explanation behind them, for instance eating dahi-shakkar before an important event. Sugar provides instant energy and reduces fatigue. It boosts energy to perform well,” says Dr Gurpreet Bedi, a city dietician.

“Some convent students might religiously follow a particular ritual, but for many students, priority is to get passing marks,” says principal, government model school, Mohali.

“I don’t think that any ritual can help a student if he or she hasn’t studied,” says a Chandigarh-based government schoolteacher.