Exams: beating the stress and beating the scores!
You get through an exam and breathe a sigh of relief. You think, “School can be a load of fun - if only there weren’t exams to worry about!”
Exams are designed to encourage learning and ensure that everyone is benefiting from their education . But students usually view exams as plain torment and the bane of their life!
The good news is there are ways you can put those sleepless nights of worry and anxious pencil-chewing behind you.
Here are ten steps to ease your exam worries and help you ace the tests!
- Be curious
Pay attention in class and ask questions. Your teachers and classmates are there to help, so get their advice if you are feeling clueless about your work. - Take notes
Take notes in class and pay attention to keywords your teacher mentions as these are usually the important points that you should not miss out in your revision. Your notes will also be very useful to spark ‘ Eureka’ moments during revision – they’re sure to jog your memory and enhance your understanding of the subject! - Sleep well
Get at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Sufficient sleep has been proven to strengthen memory and boost your language learning ability. So have a good rest by tucking into bed a little earlier especially the night before the exams. - Manage your time
Mark your exam dates on your calendar and plan a timetable to study for the different subjects. Make sure you stick to it otherwise you’ll end up panicking at the eleventh hour. Don’t bury yourself deep into your books for hours. Break it up into manageable chunks and take a break to reward yourself every 45 minutes. - Form study groups
Study groups are great for comparing notes and helping each other truly understand the your subjects. Get your friends together and head to the library where it’s quiet, and you won’t be tempted to chit chat . - Digesting the knowledge
It takes a few tries to remember what you’ve studied so don’t be frustrated . Use special memory triggers where you link words to images or sounds, and summarise important facts and concepts on to flashcards for easy reference. - Stay healthy
Exam preparations can get stressful, so practice breathing exercises and calm your nerves. Set aside time for relaxation too: go for a walk, or chat with your friends. Skip the junk food and opt for healthier snacks when you’re studying. Forget about staying up the whole night with a cup of coffee as too much caffeine can cause anxiety and headaches. - Prep well the day before
The day before an exam is just as crucial as the big day so spend some time doing your final revisions and sleep early so you’ll be alert! Stay calm and make sure your pens aren’t out of ink! - On the actual day
Read the questions before starting and plan your time to complete all of them. It’s sometimes better to skip a question if it’s taking too long – don’t waste the opportunity to score on other questions that you can solve. - Tackling the questions
Different styles of questions call for different strategies to answer. For multiple-choice questions, think of the answer on your own before looking at the options. For essays, organise your thoughts by first drafting an outline. Start with a summary or topic sentence and follow up succinctly with points and keywords.
Good luck for your exams! Prepare early for them, but never be too harsh on yourself. The learning process is always more important that getting the highest score in class!
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