Exam Preparation: Ten Study Tips
Preparing for exams? Give yourself the best chance with these top ten study tips, and try not to let the stress get to you! Remember: you've got this.
Give yourself enough time to study
Don't leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute cramming, it's widely accepted that (for most of us) this is not the best way to approach an exam. To help sort out your time management, set up a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.
Organize your study space
Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight?
Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, this may mean almost complete silence, for others, background music helps. Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.
Use flow charts and diagrams
Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. At the start of a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic - and then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Getting your ideas down in this brief format can then help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.
Practice on old exams
One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and - if you time yourself - can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section.
Explain your answers to others
Parents and little brothers and sisters don't have to be annoying around exam time. Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.
Organize study groups with friends
Get together with friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.
Take regular breaks
While you may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counterproductive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day. Likewise, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.
Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or, if you're more productive at nighttime, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening.
Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks. Remember Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain.
Snack on brain food
You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don't have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus, so keep away from junk food. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries. The same applies on exam day - eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but your energy levels will crash an hour later.
Plan your exam day
Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam - don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize you don't know the way, or what you're supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time. If possible, do a test run of the trip. If not, write down clear directions.
Work out how long it will take to get there - then add on some extra time. You really don't want to arrive having had to run halfway or feeling frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates, as long as you know they're likely to be punctual.
Drink plenty of water
As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.
Good luck!
Good Time Table
Before starting with the studies, students should design their own time-table which directs all the material that has to be covered and tells them how much is needed to be studied each day. A schedule of every subject should be made with different priorities. Tough subjects and the ones in which a student is weak should be given more hours, and easier ones should be given less hours with sufficient intervals between each subject. The timetable should very importantly have breaks in between.
Loose that Fear
Fear and stress are one of the major factors which tend to become an obstacle in getting high percentage. One should loose all the fear and free his mind.
Approximating a certain score to achieve is beyond our control .This fact also needs to be understood by parents, who should not pressurize their children but rather boost up their confidence.
Approximating a certain score to achieve is beyond our control .This fact also needs to be understood by parents, who should not pressurize their children but rather boost up their confidence.
Don't Cram, Make Notes
Students should let go off the cramming part as it is not a good method of studying. Instead of this, they should make short notes while studying. Cramming everything can result in forgetting everything and making brief notes can help in remembering all points while revising the subject.
Where to Study?
If the big question of where to study confuses you, the answer to it is very simple-study in a place where you feel comfortable, relaxed and where you can concentrate properly. If you can, study early morning, head to a library or any place where you find a quiet ambience.
Trust God and Yourself
Students should meditate or pray well before the exam as it helps in relaxing their mind and also provides immense energy and peace to the mind. And it is much important that you are confident about yourself of producing splendid result.
Sleep and Eat Well
The biggest mistake students commit during exam time is that they don't sleep and eat well. They think sleeping is a waste of time. They should believe in the fact that they need to sleep between 6-8 hours a day. They also need to take care of their diet. They should try and avoid eat junk food, and instead include food which supplies continuous energy to their brain for a longer period of time.
Time to Study
Time is possibly the most important factor. According to a research conducted, human brain is in its most active state between 5 am to 8 am in the morning and in the evening between 7 pm to 11 pm. Therefore, students who study during these timings have the maximum retention power in comparison with others.
Use Creative Techniques
If students find their subjects boring, they can convert their chapters into various types of games such as repetition, flash cards and mnemonics. Students should sit with their notebook and write over and over, draw flash cards with information on them and go over them regularly, design funny rhymes or word associations to help remember the points.
Never Cheat in Exam Hall
Students should always be advised by their parents as well their teachers as to not use any kind of malpractice in exam hall as it may prove to be harmful for them and their future. If an answer is not known by them, they shouldn't attempt it as they have to prove no one but themselves.
Write Neat and Present Well
When students write neatly and present their answer sheet in a proper way, they have more chances of securing high marks. Many times the teacher is not able to read all the answers but if she gets impressed by the way it has been presented then it would definitely lead to less deduction of marks.
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