Getting Ready For Exams – 10 Things You Should Keep In Mind

With the looming exam season, we thought we would give you a couple of tips that you can keep in mind ahead of the upcoming exam period.

#1 – Make a study schedule

Compile a realistic study schedule. Not everyone works and studies at the same pace, keep this in mind and don’t always measure your schedule to your friends’. If you allocate too much time you might end up procrastinating and too little time can add even more pressure during exam time.

#2 – Ensure you have a good study environment

Prepare a good environment for you to use while you study. Ensure you will not be distracted and that you will have everything you need at hand. Avoid areas where your friends or siblings can distract you and if there are too many distractions at home, choose to study in a study room at school, college or university or use your nearest library. You know which environment is best for you!

#3 – Ask for past papers

Using past papers is a good way to get the hang of how teachers or lecturers approach the topics. Ask your teacher, lecturer, librarian, friends or siblings for past papers and ensure that the curriculum has not changed since these exam questions were set. These will also give you a good idea to gauge how much you still have to study or on which sections you might need to spend some more time on.

#4 – Ensure all your admin is up-to-date

Ensure you complete all necessary forms and submit your applications if you are applying for any further studies! We have opened our applications for 2014 study loans to allow you to pay all your administration fees well ahead of the exam season, to ensure that you avoid further stress.

#5 – Set yourself realistic goals

Set yourself daily goals. These will ensure that you feel like you are reaching benchmarks daily, especially if you have a large volume of work to study. When you reach your goals, be sure to reward yourself! Good examples of goals can include:

·         Study chapters 1 – 6 before lunch

·         Complete the mind-map for World War II today

·         Achieve 80% or more on a Mathematics past paper by Thursday

#6 – Give yourself some time off

Make sure you schedule some time off. You might find that taking regular breaks can benefit your concentration, but be realistic. Don’t reward yourself with an hour TV after every 30min of studying. Time off ensure that you have enough rest to function properly when you do study.

#7 – Exercise

The benefits of physical exercise, especially aerobics, have positive effects on the brain function. The increased blood flow will ensure your brain has the blood it requires to function at its best! Besides, getting out will give you a break and ensure you spend some time with family and friends too.

#8 – Use Colour

Don’t be shy to use colour while you study. Although few people have visual memories, colours can help you quickly identify common topics and it can even just make your studies more interesting.

#9 – Manage your stress

Don’t take on more responsibilities when you are in exam-mode. More responsibilities can contribute to more stress. We would also advise that you avoid unnecessary or stressful situations. Focus on the task at hand and take control or manage the stress before it takes control of you!

#10 – Don’t cram

It is never a good idea to leave studying till the last minute. Cramming might mean that you can spend time on other things, but cramming can also mean that it is easier to forget or can also contribute to even more stress.

Good luck for the upcoming exams!