10 Tips To Help You Through Exams

It’s
the last semester, which also means it’s exam time, and stress levels at school
are about to go through the roof. However, the anxiety can be mitigated
if students are prepared. Here are some tips that might come in handy as both
students and teachers head into the business end of the scholastic year.
- Plan ahead
Find out the exam schedule and then create study timetable for each
subject. Create an online document where you can collect information about
each exam.
- Your teacher is your friend
Your teacher is not the enemy. Sure, they set and mark the practice exams
but outside of your family, the one person who wants you to succeed the
most is your teacher. Ask them plenty of questions, not just about the
exam but peripheral things like – how much is the exam worth for my
overall mark? Is it a multiple choice, essay or open exam? A teacher will
give you as much help as they can without giving you the answers, so take
advantage of their expertise.
- Ask for help
Many students think they have to do it all themselves. While the actual
exam is up to you, there are plenty of people you can turn to for help,
whether it be about exams, setting up timetables or advice on studying.
This includes teachers, family members and friends
- Practice exams
Ask teachers or search online for previous exams on the subject. Make sure
the exam is relevant to your year and what you are studying. Not only is
it habit forming about how to complete exams, sitting a practice exam will
show up your strengths, but more importantly, your weaknesses. Once you
have sat the exam, review your answers thoroughly.
- Take breaks
Don’t study for hours without taking a break. Your brain is not a machine.
Like the rest of your body it needs rest. Go for walk, do some exercise,
have a snack. You should take 5-10 minutes every hour of study time to
stretch the muscles and relax the mind.
- Memory reminders
Whether you like post-it notes, flash cards or short notes, memory
reminders help you remember long-form answers. You can use anagrams, key
words, word associations, or make up a song with catch phrases that help
jog the memory.
- Explain the subject to a third
party
Sit down and explain the subject to another person – ideally somebody who
isn’t taking the class. If you can get the concepts and ideas across to
them, then you are on the right track. If they are getting confused, then
you probably need to do more study, or rethink a new approach to getting
the information across.
- Stay Calm
Try and stay relaxed. It’s a hard thing to do. Try not to talk too much to
other students before the exam as this cannot be only distracting, but it
might cause you to second guess yourself.
- Exam Day
Have a good breakfast. Make sure arrive at the exam venue early and you
know where the exam is being held. Different people have different ways of
answering exams, but a few tips are; answer the easiest questions first as
this will give you confidence; make sure you know what each question is
worth; if you get stuck on an answer move onto the next question and come
back later to the one you were stuck on; and make sure you keep track of
time.
- Review Your Answers
Once you have completed the exam review your answers. Sometimes there
won’t be time, but if there is, look over what you have written down.
Start with the hardest ones first and also make sure that if there are
multiple parts to a question, that they have all been covered.