By Moya Ellis - 4 minute readExams are getting close so any study you do now is way more valuable than anything you've done in the last few months. Here's 10 things you should be doing in the last 10 days.
The night before the exam is not the time to be sorting out piles of notes. Get a folder for each subject and get rid of anything that is not relevant to the actual exam. Try and plan exactly what you will revise the night before the exam. Without wasting too much time, try summarising your notes onto single sheets covering just the main points to trigger your memory.
For most Year 12s years school is now finished. This means you need to reorganize how you plan your study schedule. Try to draw up a plan for the last week before the exams. Ideally you will scan every topic one last time. Try to avoid staying up late into the night as you'll change your sleep cycle so that you'll feel very groggy come the actual exams. Try and stay in the same rhythm as school by getting up early and try to avoid studying after 10pm. You can print out a study timetable here.
Rather than sitting for hours on end reading passively, try to study in sets of three 40 minute bursts with each 40 mins being devoted to a particular subject or topic. Make sure to take a good break preferably with exercise between each 2 hour session.
By now hopefully you will have covered almost all topics so now it's time to test yourself by doing real past exam questions. Research shows that if you study with a question in mind rather than just scanning a topic you will be more likely to remember it. Studyclix is built to help you do this as quickly and as easily as possible. Upgrading to a PLUS account can prove a wise investment.
It's an obvious thing to say but often students fall into the trap of endlessly reading over and over the same notes. This is fine but in the last week, it's all about filling in the gaps. Doing exam questions will show you what things you still don't know. Go and learn them!
This might seem obvious, but keeping hydrated can really help you to concentrate. Try keeping a water bottle or glass of water beside you when you're studying so that you can keep yourself hydrated easily.
Make sure you're familiar with how the paper will be structured. Many students waste lots of time in the exam figuring out what questions they should be doing.
Never study hungry, now's not the time to diet. Your brain needs a constant supply of glucose to work for you. This doesn't mean stock up on sugary sweets. Slow release carbohydrates such as cereals in the morning are good brain food. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of non-caffeinated drinks and take lots of short breaks. Doing exercise when you're feeling drained will actually leave you feeling energized.
When you have spent hours on end studying alone, group study sessions can be a great way of testing your knowledge and seeing what you need to work on. Go through an exam paper and take turns explaining to each other how you would answer any question. It's amazing how much more you will remember when you've explained it to someone. Make sure you choose people to study with that you work well with. Your best friends may not be the best people to choose. Remember you are there to study so make the time count! Just be careful to stay focussed.
For most students, doing the exams will be the most traumatic thing they ever do. It can also be an exhausting time. It's really important to try and keep some level of perspective and normality in your life. If stress levels are getting a bit much for you, the best thing you can do is to talk to others. Chat to fellow classmates, friends or family, or even discuss your feelings on the studyclix discuss forum.
