Exams and tests are one of the most important of all activities at school. They affect quite an amount of your overall grade for the year. If you're struggling with your previous exams and wish to achieve a higher score, this article will surely satisfy yourself.
Give Yourself Enough Time To Study
Time is the essence of exams. Studying early with focus (for more information, see the other blog post on 'How to study without any distractions') will ensure you to have top grades each time. Though some people thrive on cramming the test until the last minute, most of us favor studying beforehand.
Time Management
Time management is one of the most vital things to know when you are studying for exams and tests. Timetables may be handy in planning what you are going to do that week. Writing your tests and additional activities will surely help you study for enough time. View the first tip for further information.
Organize Your Study Area
Make sure you have enough space for your notebooks, notes, and all your study materials. Organizing your study area will undoubtedly ensure focus throughout your study hours. As suggested, visit our post on how to study without any disruptions.
Use Flow Charts and Diagrams
Flow Charts and diagrams are helpful when you're revising. Challenge yourself to record down everything you already understand about a topic - and then highlight where the gaps lie. When the exam approaches, Summarize your notes into some diagrams. Diagrams and charts benefit most people to understand situations visually.
Practice on Previous Tests
Practicing on previous tests is one of the most beneficial tips we could give you today. It is most likely for your upcoming test to be in the same arrangement. If you time yourself in each section, that's even better! Timing yourself will help you know how much time you spend on each section. It could also be an excellent way to make sure you spend enough time on each subject or else you might not finish at the end of the test.
Organize Study Groups with Your Friends
Get together with your friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.
Take Regular Breaks
While you may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can be counterproductive. For example, if you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day. Likewise, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks helps.
Develop a Study Routine
No one is identical. So while you may follow a recommended study routine, it may not be the most beneficial for your use. Create and adapt to your study routine because yours is guaranteed to be the one for you.
Snack on brain food (a.k.a comfort food)
You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don't have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus, so keep away from junk food. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt, and blueberries.
On the day before the exam, eat some fish, greens, and healthy carbohydrates such as rice or whole wheat pasta. Try fruit or dark chocolate for dessert. Even if you're doing some last-minute studying, avoid drinking coffee late as it will affect your sleep quality and ability to fall asleep.
Plan Your Exam Day
Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam - don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize you don't know the way, or what you're supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time.
Work out how long it will take to get there - then add on some extra time. You don't want to arrive to run halfway or feeling frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates (as long as they are reliable).
We hope that you found these tips as helpful as possible. If this doesn't work out, try surfing the internet or ask someone for advice. Good luck on your exam 😃!