As time marches on in Clydeview Academy in what is another busy year for us all, we are now approaching the dreaded exam season. The first set of prelims are for National 5 students and are currently taking place which are then followed by the Higher/Advanced Higher prelims which take place in January and February. Prelims are always a stressful time for any student, so in line with Stress Awareness Week, some of our S6 pupils have given you their best exam tips to counter that feeling we get when everything is getting a bit too much. We hope this can provide some support to pupils of any school and want to remind everyone that they can always speak to a pupil, teacher or any trusted adult if the stress is getting too much for them!
– Callum Charteris, Head Boy
1. Keir’s Top Planning Tips!
Planning and organising is very important when it comes to your exams. Make sure you have a set study plan so you are consistently revising and do not have to cram any study in last minute before an exam, as this can be extremely stressful! The SQA study plan app is very good for staying on top of your studying.
– Keir A, Study Skills Ambassador
2. Ailsa’s Awesome Advice!
Hi there, my name is Ailsa and I am this year’s Head Girl. Exams can be extremely stressful especially if you’re like me and often over catastrophise the situation. My top tip to help you remain calm is to understand that doing some revision is better than doing none. I, like many others, am notorious for my procrastination and that only leads to me feeling more stressed. It can be incredibly difficult knowing where to start when it comes to being prepared for an exam because it can often feel like the pile of knowledge you’re expected to know is endless, that’s why even if you only have 10 minutes to spare use that time to begin formulating a plan on how you will tackle your revision- it’s better to take one step towards the end of that pile of knowledge than none at all. By continually picking away at what you need to know it will ease your stress levels because it will allow you to feel more in control of the situation. However, make sure you also take time for yourself and don’t for one second feel guilty for taking a break if you need it. Although exams are important, they are not the be all and end all and there will always be other options so remain calm and just try your best.
– Ailsa Russell, Head Girl
3. Holly’s Helpful Insight!
Hi, I’m Holly M, and I’m one of the Health and Wellbeing Ambassadors. My top tip for dealing with stress when exam time comes around would be to make sure that you are taking time for yourself by finding a good balance between studying and downtime. Make sure that you are getting out to see friends, taking wee breaks from studying and doing things you enjoy as this will help you maintain good mental health throughout exam season, which is crucial!
4. Zoe’s Knowledgeable Guide!
Dealing with stress during exam time can be hard, some of the things that helped me stay calm were:
- Taking breaks to do something that distracted me from exams- last year between past papers I liked to draw or paint to help level out my stress.
- Being productive helped me a lot- the more I achieved the better I felt about exams, not overworking myself but doing enough that my mind was at rest, and I knew I wasn’t going to be stressed last minute.
- Starting to study as early as possible- starting to get ready for exams as soon as you can will really limit stress nearer the time.
- Getting enough sleep and keeping a healthy routine- it was so important for me to keep a good routine and have set times to study, eat and sleep just like I would during school terms. This helped me stay balanced and feel better.
- Exercise- going on walks or runs every day and making sure to move enough and get fresh air helped me a lot.
Zoe A- Clydeview Connect Blogger
