Exam Prep? Just a few things to consider.

Considering the time of the year, it's a no brainer that a lot of you are preparing to sit your exams.

You are very likely to be stressed about the very little time you have left, worried about remembering all the facts from your revision notes and very close to getting a heart attack from all the caffeine you have consumed over the past few weeks.

I know EXACTLY how it feels, and although I am not sitting any exams this year myself, there are a few things that I hope will help you get in the right mind-set. OK, here we go!

1. DON'T SPEND A SINGLE MINUTE ON THE CONTENT YOU ALREADY KNOW! 

As an English tutor, I have come across many different individuals. Of course, we are all different. We learn at different speeds and there is only so much information we can take in at once. HOWEVER, I know how comforting it can be to go through the stuff we already know.
  

No matter, what it is, we unconsciously know that it gives us a sense of achievement and satisfaction, which is very important during such stressful time of the year. If you are in fact one of those people, then you may want to change your game plan immediately...

Start off with tackling the content you find the MOST DIFFICULT. Although, this may put you off at first, you will feel much more comfortable knowing that five days before your exam you only have a few things to brush over, rather than a an entire topic you don't understand at all. This will help you become more efficient with your time and remove the unwanted stress just before the exam.

2. HOW DOES YOUR BRAIN RETAIN & RECALL INFORMATION?

I'm no psychology nor biology teacher, but when it comes to revising, it is pretty handy to know how that brain of yours actually works! Without getting too technical here, if you need to remember something, whether it's a fact, a French word or a formula, the key is repetition.  This of course, may not work for everybody, especially if you study a Maths related subject, as in this case you require a lot of practice, which in a way is kind of similar.

Few weeks ago I had to attend an Assessment Centre for my Apprenticeship. In order to do well in the process, I had to know my role and the company inside out, the same as you have to know and understand the content of each of your subjects. The reason behind me being able to recall all of that information was simply through repetition. You can either use vocal or written repetition, depending on what suits the material you are working with. Vocal repetition is a great tool preventing us from memorising our answers word for word. Each time you do it, try to give the same answer using a slightly different explanation or example, until you know that you can explain it to someone with no knowledge on the subject.

Lastly, the reason why we remember certain events in our lives and not others is because emotion plays a key role in the remembering process. If we associate a certain fact or word with an emotion, we are much more likely to remember it. 

3. MANAGE YOUR STRESS.

Yes, you have heard this one before. I am sure that either your teachers or parents keep reminding you not to stress too much about your exams.  And as much as it is obvious, it is also very important.

Stress can affect our whole body, starting from emotional pain to physical pain. We feel exhausted, nauseated, we find it harder to sleep and our mood swings start to kick in. It also prevents the flow of information from our working memory to our short term and long term memory and we simply forget the thing we have read five seconds ago. 

I understand it can be hard to remain calm at this time of the year, but the more you worry, the less effective your studying is going to be. Try to bring more structure into your every-day life. Plan your day, get rid of all distractions, set yourself little goals and most importantly, give yourself a little break at the end of each day. When you go through everything you have learnt, remain calm even if you don't manage to remember it straight away. Just give yourself a chance. 

4. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND SMILE!

I'm not joking. Preparation is important, but so is positivity! I am not trying to take your mind away from the fact you have very important exams to pass this year, but I'm simply trying to tell you that you can only do your best. As long as you put the maximum effort into everything you do, you should be proud of yourself, regardless of the outcome. 

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I hope that you found this helpful, even if you have heard it all before. These are the key things I try to remember when preparing for an exam or a job interview. You might find other tips or techniques more effective, you just need to figure out what works best for you.

So just to finish off, best of luck everybody! Please leave a comment if you have any questions and don't forget to come back tomorrow! 💕💕