Magazine - Exam Tips
Some handy tips to help you cope with exams.
Make a revision plan
A great way to start to organise yourself is to make a revision plan. Buy a diary and work out how much time you have left before the exam is due. You can then set out a realistic revision plan and avoid leaving things until it's too late.
- Buy a diary.
- Add in the key dates for exams or work deadlines.
- Allocate your revision periods across the time you have remaining.
- Allocate more time to those areas you feel are your weakest subjects or subject topics.
- Now you have your plan - try and stick to it!
Revision time
You can keep track of your revision in your overall plan but you will need to make the most of your availbale revision time.
- Find a suitable location that will avoid distractions.
- Ensure your friends and family are aware of your schedule and they try to avoid disturbing your revision periods.
- Try to avoid boredom by switching between subjects or topic areas.
- Make understanding the subject matter your focus rather than merely memorising.
- If you need to remember key facts or dates its useful to allocate a phrase that you can use to remember them by. For example, "Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain" for the colours of the rainbow (R)ed (O)range (Y)ellow (G)reen (B)lue (I)ndigo (V)iolet.
- Read and study around the subject instead of relying solely on your notes. Additional references might be available on the internet or down your local library.
- Give yourself a little treat at the end of a successful session.
What to avoid
If exams are coming up then you might find yourself getting stressed.
- Avoid making excuses for putting off your regular revision time.
- Avoid last minute revision, better to complete your revision plan early and get yourself relaxed.
- Focus on staying relaxed and calm.
- Don't rush the exam. Read the questions carefully.
- If you are worried that you will disappoint others if you fail then talk to them. This pressure is likely to be self-imposed and it's better to clear the air without causing you undue stress.
- Failing an exam doesn't mean that you are a failure in life.
Dealing with stress
The exam is likely to bring some degree of stress into your life but it need not be a bad thing.
- See the stress as a positive force. It can help you focus and stay alert.
- Learn to realise when you are getting too stressed out. Work out what will take the pressure off - a quick break, a walk or chat with a friend may be all that is needed to take your mind off things.
- If you feel yourself in a panic take a few moments to focus on your breathing. Having your breathing under control is the secret to staying calm and collected.
- Avoid debating with others how you felt the exam went. Learning how your fellow students got on may lead to worry about under-achieving.
- Things may be intense now but it won't last forever - there is life after exams to focus on too.