The Sunday Mail
June is the start of the exam season right through to December and it is critical for students to prepare adequately.
Below are 14 study guides to preparing for an examination:
1. 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. Set out a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organise your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.
2. Organise 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 organised 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.
3. 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.
4. Practise 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.
5. 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.
6. Organise 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.
7. 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!
8. Snack on “brain food”
Keep away from junk 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.
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, yoghurt 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 it won’t help when your energy levels crash an hour or so later.
9. 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 realise 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!
10. 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.
11. Deal with your anxiety
Try to determine the source of your test anxiety. If it stems from a lack of preparation on your part, your anxiety is considered a rational response. However, if you believe that you are prepared for the test, but are still panicking or overreacting, this may be an irrational response. Either way, it can be very helpful to know how to work with their effects.
12. Prepare for those tests and
assignments
This is the best way to minimise anxiety. Here are a few tips for preparing for an exam:Avoid cramming for a test. Cramming can produce high levels of anxiety and is not helpful in trying to learn a large amount of material.
Instead of trying to memorise all of the intricate details from an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings, try combining everything and learning the larger, main concepts first.
When studying, try to create questions that could possibly be asked on the test. Try integrating ideas from lectures, notes, books and other readings.
If it is impossible for you to cover all of the material for the test, choose one portion that you know you will be able to cover and present well.
13. Change your attitude
It can help to change the way you think about taking tests. A test will not predict your future success or determine yourself worth. Changing your attitude can actually help you enjoy studying and learning. Here are some ways you can work on changing your attitude:
Remind yourself that it is only a test and there will be others.
Reward yourself when the test is over.
Think of yourself in a positive way. Think of all the hard work you have done already or think of what you do know.
Plan ways to improve next semester
14. Don’t forget the basics
Don’t forget about yourself and what you need. This means thinking of yourself as a total person, not just as a test taker.Maintain proper nutrition and exercise, and continue some of your social or recreational activities. It is ok to take a break once in a while.
Make sure you get plenty of sleep. You can’t function at your best if you are tired.Do something relaxing when you feel adequately prepared.
Again, try to do something relaxing before the test. Cramming minutes before can produce anxiety. Get to the test early.
This way, you can pick out your seat away from anxiety-ridden classmates and other distractions. — topuniversities.com/albany.edu.
