When exam time arrives for the majority of us, it is usually accompanied by tension and anxiety.

Perhaps it’s because we have high expectations of ourselves, or what our parents expect of us, or simply because we are afraid of the unknown.

” What kind of questions will be asked? or “could I possibly pass?”

 

 

Exam time can be extremely nerve-wracking for most individuals, but it doesn’t have to be that way!

The secret is to plan beforehand! “Failing to plan, is planning to fail,”  as the old adage goes.

There’s no reason you can’t approach your tests with confidence if you make sure you’re prepared, comfortable, and in charge.

Here are our top ten suggestions:

 

1. Make sleep a top priority.

Closing your books and going to bed may seem counterintuitive or even negligent, but research shows that getting a good night’s sleep improves your capacity to remember information. According to studies, our brain organizes itself and enhances new memories by storing them in long-term memory when we sleep. That means there’s a good chance you’ll recall what you studied before going to bed.

We recommend getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night in the days coming up to a major exam.

 

2. Take pride in the notes you’ve written.

It’s easy to write notes or draw arrows and stars all over the place. When you scribble down your notes, you may know exactly what you’re talking about, but when you go back and review them, it may not be as apparent. It’s critical to keep your notes organised and legible. When we’re reading jumbled notes and scribbles, our brains have a hard time focusing. Rewrite your study notes if necessary to make them clear and neat, as an organized notepad reflects an organized mind.

 

3. Color-coding can be helpful.

Feel free to highlight in different colours or write in different coloured pens once your thoughts are carefully written out. Adding colour to your notes, as long as they remain crisp and readable, may increase your visual memory and assist you to access material from your brain more quickly during an exam. Furthermore, having orderly, color-coded notes makes reading them so much more enjoyable!

 

4. Play a few songs.

Playing music while you study is another technique to make studying more interesting.

However, not all music is ideal for studying. Instead of interfering with studying, c lassical or instrumental music has been shown even to improve it. Background music can help you concentrate during extended study sessions, and if it’s pleasant, it can also help you relax and overcome pre-exam nervousness.

Many people prefer the soft background music of a library to the silence of a library or the background noise of an irritating brother or sister.

 

5. Hear some Recordings.

It is critical to use as many senses as possible in order to recall information accurately. As a result, in addition to reading and writing, students should aim to incorporate additional senses such as hearing. If possible, try to record some of your lectures while taking notes throughout the year.

It’s beneficial to listen to recorded lectures, especially if you’re reading notes at the same time. It’s a fantastic approach to reaffirm your knowledge and refresh some topics you may have studied months ago but forgotten about.

 

6. Make Your Routine a Little More Exciting.

A big page of text can be intimidating and, let’s face it, dull – until you try the Hansel and Gretel method. Doesn’t it sound like a good time?

This is when you lay a bite-sized piece of candy or any other item you prefer next to each paragraph on the page, such as a gummy bear, an M&M, or even a small cookie. You can reward yourself by eating that bite of food once you’ve finished reading each paragraph. Positive reinforcement is an excellent method for motivating and assisting you in your learning. Because you’ll be having so much fun on your food trail, reading each line will become an adventure rather than a chore.

 

7. Take on the role of teacher.

People claim that you don’t understand something if you can’t simplify it.

A teacher’s role is to take complex concepts and present them in a straightforward manner. This is more difficult than it seems.

You may train and prepare your mind to explain complex concepts by teaching a friend the stuff you’re studying. It also helps to emphasise any concepts that you’re having trouble with so you can become more familiar with them and quickly simplify them. If your final includes a speech or presentation, teaching a friend is even more beneficial because it allows you to rehearse.

 

8. Retake Past Exams.

When it comes to practice, the greatest method to prepare for an exam is to do so on a previous one. Save your old tests if you can — they’re fantastic for studying!

You can either retake previous tests to review the topic or focus just on the questions you got wrong previously.

 

9. Take Breaks Frequently.

Think about quality rather than quantity! While you may believe that studying for as many hours as possible is the greatest strategy, this can actually be detrimental. Taking regular pauses has been found in studies to help with long-term memory recall.

Try not to feel bad about spending your time outside instead of huddled over your textbooks. It’s crucial to remember that Vitamin D is necessary for a healthy brain.

 

10. Familiarize yourself.

If you know where your finals will be held and can study there, go ahead and do it. Taking a test in a familiar setting will help you remember the knowledge you’ve studied and will make the experience less stressful.

 

 

If you don’t know where the test will be or won’t be able to access it for studying, choose a setting that is comparable to the test day.

Some people are morning people, while others are night owls. Some people like to study with their pals, while others require utter silence.

To identify the most successful study strategy for you, try a few different approaches and then keep with it!

All the best!