Many can tell you how to get it right, but I can tell you how to avoid to get it wrong, following are the pitfalls of poor prep for exam:
1. POOR TECHNIQUE by not doing enough mcqs & not knowing examiners favourite topics in basic general medicine
2. INADEQUATE CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE Not knowing the basics of clinical management which could be obtained ideally by clinical experience but also possible with reading and really understanding what u r reading
3. LOSING HOPE as once u lose hope your brain and body will fail to give you your best possible performance
4. Try to go for exam once you start getting marks in practice q banks more than 70% as a whole or most imp subject at least more than 75 %
5.Most important of all