These past few weeks have been quite exhausting with all the exams going on. Being in the first year of university, the exam results are almost crucial for us to be able to get an offer for a summer internship next year. I know the competition is tough, but I keep reminding myself that I must never lose sight of what is important to me. When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
So, I thought to myself why not write a blog post in celebration of the end of exams? Here are my ten tips and tricks for exams from my own personal experience.
- Start your revision early!! I find that the earlier I start my revision, the better I cope with all the stress just before the exams. I start my revision at least 2-3 months early. Also, revision is a process. Don't stuff your brain with a load of information in one week and then do no revision for the rest of the following weeks. That won't be very helpful.
- There is no such thing as a 'best' revision technique. Everybody is different so everyone's brain processes things differently. Use a revision technique that suits you best. There are loads of revision techniques you can choose from such as writing notes, drawing mind maps, listing things, writing model answers to questions, etc.
- Sleep well!!! This is very important! I know many students who cram their brains the night before the exam and expect to do well the next morning/afternoon. We are all human after all. We all need sleep! Just like our body needs rest, our mind does too. When we are asleep, our brain processes and goes through all that it learnt. It helps us to memorise better. I would personally suggest at least 8 hours of sleep.
- Eat healthy and drink lots of water. Again this is as important as sleep to keep our body and mind healthy. Eat a balanced diet and avoid eating junk food, at least the day before an exam. Also, eat well before an exam and make sure you are full but not too stuffed. The last thing you want while giving an exam is a hungry and noisy stomach. Believe me! There is nothing worse than you being conscious that other students may hear your stomach growling in the middle of an exam. Save yourself the embarrassment! Also drink plenty of water one hour before the exam starts. I usually, don't drink any water after that.
- Practicing past exam questions always helps. I feel that practicing exam questions is as important as memorising the concepts and ideas you were taught. It allows you to put all that you have learnt to practice and also gives an idea of how you should write your answers in the exam.
- Take regular breaks in between your revision sessions. I have read somewhere that an average human's attention span is 30 minutes. So, take breaks of 10 minutes every 30 minutes when you revise. This helps in memorising and also prevents your brain from overheating. Think of your brain like a computer's CPU!
- Choose an appropriate place to revise at, somewhere where you won't get distracted. I try to choose a quiet space and avoid using any electronic gadgets. I would also suggest going to the library. I don't know if this happens with anyone else but when I see other people studying hard in the library, I get motivated to study hard too!
- Apparently using blue ink helps with revision because your brain picks up things written in blue more easily. So, it helps you to memorise better! Personally, I do prefer writing in blue because I find that when I read something written in black, it looks quite formal and a bit boring. I also used to write in blue ink till Grade 7 so I am kind of attached to it, if that makes any sense... However, it could all be down to personal preference.
- Leave the day before the exam for light revision. Don't go heavy on that day. You must give your brain some rest before that dreaded day so that during the exam, you can give your best performance. Also, you could use the day before the exam to make sure that you haven't missed anything. Preparation is key!
- Last but not the least, don't forget to believe in yourself! Always be confident and positive! :)
With 14 years of exam giving experience in the bag, I hope that I have been able to give you guys some useful tips and tricks to prepare yourselves for the next batch of exams. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog post!
Always keep smiling and shining bright!
Ambika.
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