Exam Preparation; Tips and essentials

Hey everyone!

As the end of the school year for 2015 is fastly approaching and many grades have pre-exams, in preparation/ practice for the final year 12 exams. My exams are coming up in 5 weeks and I am certainly nervous for them! This blog post is all about how to prepare mentally and physically for the exams and also some fun essentials!

Preparation:

1. My first tip is to study hard at least a month before the exams so that you have time to process new content and practice it so it becomes very familiar. Do not study a week before because you will not retain any information, certainly if you have other commitments such as sport. You do not want to cram it into the night before as the information will not transfer to the long term memory. (See more study strategies down below)

~Ensure you begin studying a month before the exams!~

1. My second tip is to always regularly contact your teacher to ensure you are on the right track with what you are studying and also some support. Ask lots of questions to ensured you are prepared.
2. Ensure to get lots of rest before the exams, eat the right foods and have the right attitude to mentally prepare yourself.
3. Usually you will be given a timetable with your exam times however if not, a good tip to staying organised is to create your own timetable- you can create this just about anywhere! I like to make a table with the subject, time start + finish, date and room number included. This is great to minimise stress on the day and keeps you confident/in the right mind set. 
4. Prepare your equipment required for the day- ensure that you check and find out the requirements. (More on stationary down below!)

Study Strategies:

1. Structure information

Trying to remember loads of information has been shown by many studies that it can have no effect. Using other methods to store information in your long term memory is a much better strategy to remember lots of content. Some helpful ways include:

~ Making notes of you notes

~ Practising writing your notes in the correct format

~ Relate notes to other materials (things that interest you that will remind you of the information)

2. Create a revision timetable

Creating a revision timetable creates structure to your revision and also allows you to prioritise/ organise your study time effectively. This helps you stay motivated and also ensures you are on track with your revision. It also minimises the risk of procrastinating. 

3. Revision cards

Creating revision cards is another study strategy that will help you structure information to allow you to remember it. Make sure to create one for each subject/exam and have the question on one side and the key information on the other. Carry your revision cards around with you so you can frequently and easily test yourself whenever you have a spare moment. 

4. Practise, practise, practise! 

Practising is really the only way your long term memory will retain lots of information for many different subjects. This will enable you to retrieve information quicker under stressful exam conditions. It is important to practice the following:

~ Format of exam

~ Question style

~ Time pressure

Practising writing an essay in the correct format under time pressure will ensure that your are prepared and slightly familiar with the exam format. Also set up an exam context room- A silent room where your phone is outside, no music, no distractions and you are under timed conditions. It also gives you an insight on what to expect on the day.

5. Use a mind map to connect ideas

Using a mind map to connect ideas is another great way to retain a lot of information. You can turn tuns of study notes into helpful/easy to read mind map. The mind map will associate familiar ideas by using bright colours to improve your memory.

~Create a mind map~

6. Create goals

Creating long term goals helps you stay motivated with your revision in preparation towards your exam. It helps you stay on track and also makes you want to do revision in order to fulfill those long term goals. If this is not entirely helpful, you could even print out pictures of what you are working towards (dream car, job, holiday etc.) 

On the day:

1. Ensure you receive a really good night sleep the night before.  Although you may think studying all night is a good option, you need to have lots of energy to ensure that you can remember all of the content! 
2. In the morning make sure to do something that will get your mind stimulating such as taking the dog for a walk, play a crossword or a word find or even just looking over your notes to refresh them in your mind. 
3. Make sure you are organised for the day. This could be from your stationary to your mode of transport; ensure you are familiar with the situation so you do not put more stress on yourself than necessary. 
4. Also make sure you're on time for your exam, sometimes they require you to be there 15 minutes earlier; make sure to check before hand so you are confident on the day. If you are late you will not be allowed to enter the examination room.
5. Make sure to stay hydrated and also eat a nutritious breakfast to ensure you have lots of energy to concentrate! However don't over drink- you don't want to be busting during the exam, it will distract your attention away from you exam paper.

Stationary:

Stationary can vary depending on the type of exam and also the requirements.  Some common stationary that may be required would be:

• Pencil (either mechanical or lead)
• Eraser
• Sharpener
• Calculator (for maths)
• Blue, black pen or red pen
• Ruler
• Highlighter

 Make sure to bring spares of each piece of equipment.  I would recommend to bring 2-3 pens, pencils to ensure you have extras in case they run out/break. For a calculator make sure to bring fully charged, spare batteries in case your calculator dies during the exam.

~Stationary I like to use~

Above is some stationary that I like to use;

One of them is mechanical pencils and for me they are generally more comfortable under stressful condition rather than a normal pencil. The Columbia Exam mechanical pencils are great as the button on the side easily dispensers the lead when required. They are 2B, 1.8 mm and are perfect for writing down notes or completing your exam if required in pencil. I also use a normal eraser and an Artline Vivix highlighter. I swear these are the brightest, well lasting highlighters I have ever seen! I also just have a blue/ black pen and also some white out (if allowed). This Artline white out has both liquid and tape- it is so handy! My last item is this seriously cute Maped rabbit pencil sharpener! As I use mechanical pencils, I don't need it in exams however if you were using a normal pencil this would be a must! When you sharpen the pencil the teeth move up and down- how cute! This is perfect in case your lead brakes during the middle of the exam.

I hope you found this blog post helpful and also an insight on how to mentally and physically prepare for exams at any grade/age! Comment down below what your exam experience is and some tips that helped you deal with the stressful time!
Make sure to stay tuned for more exciting blog posts coming up!

Hugs and kisses :0)
Emx