| Katie Hunter
For many pupils, the exam season is very quickly approaching. The pressure is building and those sitting exams want to give themselves the best chance they possibly can. There are a number of ways to maximise study time and to do your best during this important time.
1. Make a Study Plan
It is important to maximise the time you spend studying. In order to do this make a study timetable and allocate time to each subject. This way you won’t have last minute cramming before the exam. Spend more time on the areas you struggle with in order to consolidate your knowledge and make sure you have a balance that you are comfortable with.
2. Find a Study Environment
Find a place to study that is quiet, with few distractions and room to spread out your books. Turn your technology off (unless you are using it to study) and end conversations with friends that could tempt you to lose focus. Research suggests studying the same stuff in a different place every day makes us less likely to forget that information. Every time we move around we force the brain to form new associations with the same material so it becomes a stronger memory.
3. Take Regular Study Breaks
It is important to take regular breaks in order to maintain a high level of concentration. Having breaks gives you something to work towards and gives yourself some time to recover. A study break can take the form of a walk, a trip to the gym, a chat with a friend or making a hot drink. Find the right balance between study and leisure.
4. Use a Variety Of Study Methods
One way to memorise lots of information is by making notes over and over again. Visual aids can be useful when revising. Write down everything you already know about a topic and the highlight where the gaps are. Once you get nearer to the exam put your revision notes into a one page diagram. This can help you quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.
5. Test Yourself
Testing yourself with regular quizzes is a great way to mentally prepare yourself for the pressure of having to remember key dates, facts, names and formulas. Using flashcards is a great way to do this. Ask people around you to test you and give you feedback (as long as it isn’t your annoying brother or sister) Also practice using past versions of exams to help you understand the format of questions and helps you practice spending the right amount of time on each question.
6. Find Study Partners
Select a couple of friends who you know you work well with and who are motivated to achieve good marks. You can get together every few days to review the material. Put one person in charge of delegating tasks and keeping the group on target with its goals.
7. Do Regular Exercise and snack on “brain food”
Research has found just half an hour of aerobic exercise can improve our brain-processing speed and other important cognitive abilities. In addition always choose nutritious foods that help the memory such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries.
8. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
All-nighters have been linked to impaired cognitive performance and greater sensitivity to stress. In the days leading up to the big exams, aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep so sleep deprivation doesn’t cause you to make stupid mistakes.
9. Drink plenty of water
Being well hydrated is a must for getting your brain to work at its best, whether that be when revising or on the
exam day itself.
Good luck everyone!
