It's that time of year again, the dreaded exam season where students across the country begin to feel the pressure of the education system. This year it's slightly different for me as I am taking my first university exams, which is a little scary as they're so different from what I am used to at school. Being someone who gets extremely stressed over exams and revision I have found it quite hard to keep focused on my work and getting used to the style of exams to expect at university. However, after a long stressful chat to my parents I have realised that you can only do your best! I mean I can't be that awful at exams otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this far.
I thought I'd share with you some of my exam preparation tips that I have used over the years to get me through this dreaded season!
Firstly, the main thing that helps me at this time of year is to have something to look forward to. Be it a summer holiday after exams, or a revision break at the weekend doing something fun. Having an end goal after all the hard work really does motivate you and keep you focused on what is to come, which of course is extremely important when it comes to exams.
It's also important to remember to actually get out of your study space and get a change of scenery. I defiantly know how easy it is to not leave the house for days on end during this time because there aren't enough hours in the day to do all the work. However, in most cases this really doesn't help your productivity. Even if its just a short walk to the shops, just getting outside and having some fresh air can really help.
Always remember to drink plenty of water during exam season, not only to keep hydrated but to also improve brain function. In addition to this try and keep your revision snacks healthy, such as fruit because it is far too easy to get through a lot of junk food when your bored revising, which of course isn't too good for many reasons! Of course it's all about balance though so having a treat after you've finished your revision for the day might be a good thing.
From the start of my GCSE exams in 2011 I have always used mind maps as a revision tool, which have been very effective for me having something stuck up on my bedroom wall to look at. Making these also makes revision slightly less boring as you can get creative and use different colours or drawings to help remember key facts. As well as this I always think it is a good idea to look at past papers and practice questions or topics that could come up with your notes. This way if a similar question comes up in the exam you will have already prepared an answer previously that you can try and remember the key points from.
Finally, I think it is always helpful to make yourself a revision timetable so that you know what you are doing each day. Revision can sometimes feel never ending so having a set plan for the day can make the process a little less painful, and then at least you know you will have covered everything before the exam.
I hope these tips are helpful and that your exams go well!
Thanks for reading.
