We all have our own
little ways when it comes to exam preparation, and for some of us these
techniques have proven to be successful over and over again. Whether that
involves religiously scrolling through mountains and mountains of revision
notes right up until the exam itself, or whether it’s making sure that we have
our lucky exam socks on that haven’t been washed since the miracle success in
the chemistry exam of ’98!
However, for the
vast amount of us, we still haven’t quite worked out a routine which works best
for us individually when it comes to exam preparation. We may have all of the
knowledge around the theory that we need, but by the time the exam comes around
the corner, and the questions are in front of us, our minds just go blank…
For this reason,
I’ve compiled a short set of tips for people who may be unsure of how to
physically prepare during the last few days leading up to the exam.
Number 1: Brain
Food.
Often with
revision, students get into the habit of spending so much time on focusing all
of their energy into the study material, that they forget to keep fuelling the
body with the nutrients that your brain needs in order to focus to its full
potential.
More often than
not, a revision diet therefore consists of energy drinks, sweets, takeaway
pizza and that left-over blueberry muffin from the multi-pack that you promised
to yourself you would have as a treat for finishing your exams…
All of this is of
course understandable, as who wants to spend time cooking when they have to
pass an exam in two days?! However, there are a few alternative options that
are just as quick and easy, that also provide your brain with the right kind of
fuel that it requires to help you study more effectively.
Foods high in
vitamin C, E and zinc are excellent brain foods, and can include nuts, dried
fruits, berries (blueberries are brilliant) and smoothies; most of which can be
snacked on whilst revising so are very east options. Alternatively,
incorporating broccoli or sage into any meals have also proved to improve
cognitive power if you do get chance to cook!
Number 2: Stay
Hydrated.
During revision and
the exam itself, it is also important that you keep you brain hydrated as much
as possible. Resisting the temptation to indulge in copious amounts of energy
drinks and coffee is a good start when battling through the revision stage, as
they can lead to lower levels of concentration, especially if consumed
regularly. Instead just stick with a bottle of water. Water is by far the best
form of hydration that your brain can get as well as the healthiest!
Drinking water
during exams has also been proven to impact positively on cognitive
performance. A recent study of exam students at two Universities in London
Number 3: Study!
Perhaps the more
obvious of these tips involves the fact that you will need to do some degree of
studying before your exam (sorry, I don’t make the rules). However, perhaps not
so obvious to a lot of people is the amount of time that should be spent
studying in each sitting.
One of the most
effective forms of revision involves completing much shorter study periods of
20-30 minutes, with small breaks in between where your eyes can have a break
from whatever media of revision being used. This break can be used for making a
cup of tea, grabbing a snack or visiting the restroom after drinking all that
water! After a few minutes, your brain will be ready for more and you can get
your head back down.
It is also
important to ensure that when it comes to these revision sessions, you do not
have too much content to cover in a short space of time. Leaving revision too
late is a common factor, and the concept of “cramming” is all too familiar with
a lot of students…
Starting revision
early and having a revision plan is an invaluable technique to use in the build
up to an exam and will enable you to cover all of your revision notes in much
greater detail as opposed to rushing and scanning over them with just hours
remaining.
Number 4: Early Night.
One of the most
vital exam preparation techniques is being able to get a full night’s sleep
before heading to the exam.
Assuming that you
have stuck to your revision plan and have covered all areas of your notes
meticulously, there shouldn’t be the need for you to carry on studying into the
early hours of your exam date. Instead, it is much more important that you have
that much needed rest, as this will allow you to think much clearer come the
morning of the exam.
Even if you do
leave your revision a bit later than you had hoped, it’s worth making the
decision to put down your book, close your laptop and pack away your revision
notes, having a good night’s sleep and getting up a bit earlier in the morning
to carry on if needs be.
And finally:
Repeat.
Whether it’s for a future exam or whether it’s for your first day at work! Once you have figured out a routine that is successful,
keep using and developing it, ensuring that you consider the 4 points above.
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