Hi!
I’ve discovered how tough preparing for exams can be, the mere thought of it brings its own stress! Hold your fears, as I’ll be sharing with you some practical tips and methods that have seen me through. As it is my usual style, I’ll be breaking this down into different categories to drive the message succinctly.
A few weeks before the exam
It’s three weeks before your major examinations and you’ve seen your timetable. Anxiety sets in, as the timetable is a testament to the fact that this exam is really going to happen. The first thing I’m going to tell you is to BREATHE. You’ve been attending classes regularly and you still have enough time to get that “A”, so just stay calm.
Secondly, break down the topics into days, giving you a clear goal of what you want to achieve. I’d advise you to tackle the tough topics first, followed by the easier ones you easily understood during lectures, then the past questions last. When you’re trying out the past questions, be strict and sincere with yourself and don’t keep looking at the answers when you’re still attempting the questions. Also, put yourself under similar exam conditions that you’re going to face, especially when it comes to timing.
Thirdly, make use of mobile apps like Quizlet. Using the flashcard method, it helps you remember terms and definitions.
Lastly, I would advise you to have a reading buddy or even organise mock exams with colleagues on your course. There is an exception to this, as some people will prefer to study alone rather than with others.
The day before the exam
It’s the night before the exam and you’ve put a lot so far into this paper you’ll be writing tomorrow. Again, the first thing is to BREATHE. Yes, you’ll need to remain calm despite the uncertainty surrounding tomorrow’s exam, so make a list detailing the tasks you still need to accomplish and set realistic time restrictions. You have to give yourself a good night’s rest. Don’t even think of pulling an all-nighter, I’ve had a number of experiences of how this goes and none of them ended well.
On the day of the exam
Depending on the time of your paper, wake up early and leave early. Read just your summary notes on your way – no point reading through the lecture notes at this point unless necessary. You’ll need to look through the key points you’ve listed to be sure you’re not missing out on anything important.
After the exam
This section is almost as important as before the exam, as it mostly affects the state of your mind and how miserable or not you’ll be until you see your results. Don’t discuss with friends asking what they wrote and try comparing it to what you wrote in yours. If you choose to discuss, it shouldn’t be more than 30 minutes. There’s also a tendency to keep checking your notes to make sure you got every word right. Don’t do it as this could set you in an anxious mood.
Remember you still have other papers left and you need to give it your best, do yourself a favor and relax. You most likely would have made mistakes when preparing during your last paper (mostly due to habits), this is an opportunity to improve in those areas and give yourself another shot so don’t waste it. I wish you success!
