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.