We know you probably don’t want to think about exams right now because just the thought of it pushes up your anxiety levels. Yup, we’ve all been there so just relax, breathe deeply… we are here to help you. We’ve got some great revision tips that will ease up the stress and prepare you to study well and ace those exams.
#1 Start Early
No matter what the word out there is, cramming is not cool and not very productive. You’ve got to start hitting those books early. Spend some time figuring out what you need to study and then organise it all into a study plan. This way you will know what you must study and when, in order to be ready for each exam.
All-nighters actually lower your grades apart from the fact that they are no fun at all.
Try and start studying early in the day when your brain is fresher. Early to bed, early to rise is a good idea during exams.
#2 Use the pomodoro technique
The pomodoro technique (named after the timer that was shaped like a tomato!) is all about time management. Break your work down into 25 minutes of study and then 5 minutes break time. This is very effective in helping you concentrate for those short periods knowing that a break is coming up. Don’t stay hunched over your desk for hours on end. That’s depressing for anyone.
#3 Make summaries of your work
This is a great way to learn. As you are making the notes you are learning and memorising. Your retention of information will be less by just reading a textbook. Use colourful highlighters, mind maps or diagrams as visual aids for remembering, or read your notes aloud if you’re an auditory learner.
Doodle Notes are great fun and a very effective way to learn. Search on Instagram and Pinterest for ideas and make your own doodle notes.
#4 Practice past papers
Ask your teacher for some past exam papers or find them on the internet. Using past papers helps you get used to the format of the questions and gives you an idea of how to allocate your time so that you can get to all the questions. If you have the memo, past papers can also be used to determine if you’re ready or not. It’s easy to think you’ll remember the answers when they’re in front of you but doing a past paper and then checking your answers is a good way to see what you’ll score in the actual test. If you score low, you’re not prepared yet!
#5 Enrol for extra tutoring
Having trouble with maths or science? Enrol with Master Maths and get the help that you need. We offer excellent tutoring where you are able to work at your own pace and get to grips with the curriculum. When you know you’re in the right place your anxiety will melt away and your competency will increase. Exams looming……no problem, you will be prepared.
#6 Create mental associations
There are various ways of doing this:
- Use rhyming words
- Break words down into sounds and attach images to those sections
- Connect concepts that you need to learn with vivid images – the more outrageous, the more memorable, the better
- Make up a story that connects facts together
#7 Organise study groups
The emphasis here is on study groups. This is not a convenient way to get to hang out with your buddies and catch up. Get together to discuss questions you have about the work you are studying. You might just find that your friends have the answers, and vice versa.
#8 Exercise
Exercise increase your heart rate which gets the blood pumping faster through your body. This has the effect of more oxygen reaching your brain to help it function better. Hey, we need all the help we can get! So, bust out those takkies and work up a sweat. Dance, walk, jog, weight lift – just do it 😊. You will find your energy increase and stress decreases. Very important!
#9 Reward yourself
I say this cautiously – leisure time is important. Now don’t interpret that as, “Yay, I can work for an hour and goof off for the rest of the day”. No, there must be a balance between revising and rewarding. Do reward yourself when you have worked well and accomplished your study goals, even if it’s just a chocolate. It’s something to look forward to.
There is no perfect formula for exam success. Ultimately, when it comes to revision, you get out of it what you put in!
Follow these few tips and you will reap the benefits and feel great about yourself. Good luck!