Exam season can be stressful for a whole host of reasons, and even the most laidback people can find this time of year a little unnerving. We have put together a list of tips and advice to help you from revising to exam day. Let’s help each other stay positive and prepared!
Have a decent meal
Make sure you are eating 3 meals a day and stay hydrated. Eating a balanced meal will help you feel calm and energised for revision and exam days.
Make sure you have everything you need
Pens, highlighters, revision cards and sticky notes, whatever helps you revise, make sure you are all stocked up and prepared to revise. Need help with supplies? The library is giving out a limited number of stationery packs. Head along to the library and speak to one of the team for more information.
Exams:
Bring at least two pens with you to your exam, just in case one runs out mid-way through your paper. Plus, for exams such as maths, you might need additional items, including a pencil, calculator, etc. Yes, you can borrow this equipment if you don’t have it, but putting your hand up and waiting for it can waste valuable time.
Positive mantras
Now hear me out. Repeating positive affirmations to yourself can have a real positive impact on your mental health when going into an exam. Tell yourself, “you’ve got this” and make sure you are telling yourself that you are capable and that you are going to smash it. There’s no harm in trying!
Think about everything you are confident about, not what you feel negatively about! Also, remember to breathe, deep, slow breaths to help calm the nervous system. Let’s start the season calmly and positively!
The night before
Don’t spend the night before trying to learn new information. Instead, spend no more than an hour the night before going through your notes and then put everything away and do things that make you relax. Go for a walk, exercise and spend some time with loved ones. It’s also important to get an early night, sleep is so important to make you feel refreshed and ready in the morning. Rest strengthens memory – put those notes down, you have done enough!
Read all the questions carefully
This might seem like we’re stating the obvious, but so many people miss out on vital points because they haven’t read the question properly. If the question asks you to show your working, make sure you show it!
Stay for the entire exam
Leaving an exam early can be a wasted opportunity. Just because your mates are leaving the exam room doesn’t mean you have to. Even if you think you have finished, stay and read through your answers, again and again, to check you haven’t made any silly mistakes.
Don’t spend too long on one question
There’s nothing worse than opening the exam paper and getting stuck on the first question, but it happens to the best of us. Read the question a couple of times, and if you still can’t recall the answer, move on. If you have time at the end of the exam, then you can come back to the questions you’ve missed.
Don’t debrief
This just gives you anxiety and can cause extra stress, which isn’t helpful when you are about to go into another exam. Spend time in between exams hydrating, eating a snack, going to the toilet and getting some fresh air. Not debriefing and worrying each other!
