Here are a few tips to help you through exam season. It is important to look after yourself when preparing for exams and to keep a healthy mind, so you can study effectively.
Start early
The earlier you start, the easier the load will be to manage, and you’ll avoid the last minute panic. Lay out a plan of what subjects you need to focus on most and create a plan of how you will tackle this with the time you have available.
Take regular breaks
While studying for exams, people often try to study for long periods of time so that they can get it all done, but this isn’t effective. After concentrating for a certain amount of time, the brain switches off and it’s extremely hard to concentrate. The best way to avoid this is to take regular breaks and space out your revision, allowing the brain to relax in between processing large amounts of information.
Make it visual
One thing people always forget is that revision doesn’t just have to be reading a textbook over and over again. A great way to help your brain take in information is to create things like colourful posters, cue cards and diagrams.
Practice old exam papers
A great way of knowing what to expect from an exam is to practice old papers. These can be found on the exam board’s website. Doing this will make you more aware of what to expect when the real exam rolls around, plus you can identify the topics that you need to work on.
Organise study groups
Although studying alone can sometimes be more effective, it’s also a good idea to change things up and study in a group. This allows you to be able to explain your answers to each other as well as learn things from other people which you might have missed out if studying alone.
Drink plenty of water
It’s always important to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, but even more so during exam season. Drinking lots of water throughout the day will improve your mood and concentration and is far better than trying to stay energised with energy drinks.
Snack on healthy food
The temptation to reach for an unhealthy snack while studying is usually much higher than usual, but this will only make you more tired and less likely to concentrate. Making healthier choices with food will help you keep your brain switched on.
Get plenty of sleep
As well as making healthy choices throughout the day, it’s important to ensure you’re getting enough sleep each night so that you are fully rested throughout the day. It’s a good idea to get into a habit of going to bed at a good time, and waking up early to start your day.