By Charlotte Wass
When exams come around we often get so stressed and worried about them that we try our best to forget they even exist and put off revision for as long as possible. Procrastination comes in all shapes and sizes, be it tidying your room, taking up jogging or watching countless Netflix series. Unfortunately, none of these will get you that 2:1 that everyone’s aiming for.
By putting in the hard work and preparing well for your exams you’re going to make exam period a whole lot less stressful and put yourself in the best position to achieve the highest mark you can.
Here’s a few revision tips to help you prepare…
1. Before you start make sure you are clear on exactly what you need to know.
Have a look through the module syllabus of introductory lectures, as these will usually give you the key objectives or learning aims.
2. Don’t leave revision to the last minute.
This seems like an obvious one, but it’s so important!
If you cram all your revision into the day before your exam not only will your brain retain less information but you’ll also go into the exam feeling unprepared and flustered, which means you won’t be able to give your best performance.
3. Don’t waste hours making a colour coded revision timetable on Excel.
While being organised is key don’t use it as a way to procrastinate.
Being organised is important so do plan your revision, thinking about how much time you need to allocate to each module or subject. Write up a quick timetable and then get on with the hard graft!
4. Don’t just read over your notes.
You have to write things down in order for your brain to properly take things in and learn them.
While using different colours can help you to remember things don’t spend hours making your notes “pretty”. Spider diagrams and flowcharts are good tools as they are visually memorable.
5. Fuel yourself with healthy food, not junk.
You need to eat healthily to give yourself the energy to concentrate properly and to make sure your immune system can fight off any illnesses. Taking an exam when you’re feeling under the weather is not ideal!
6. Get together with some friends on your course and go over something as a group.
This is not a chance to waste time chatting and planning your post-exam treat, but is a great way to consolidate information or get clarification for something you are unsure of.
7. Do any available past papers.
Past papers are so worthwhile doing as you’ll get to know the language of the questions and you can test yourself to see how much you really know.
Furthermore, if your exam is essay based then practising writing exams under timed conditions will mean you know how to approach the essay on the day. By using the marking scheme to self-assess your work you will become familiar with the marking criteria so you will know what the examiner is looking for in your work.
8. Do take regular breaks and get out of the house.
Hoarding yourself up in your bedroom during the weeks leading up to your exam is not healthy and your progress will be slow.
Getting out in the fresh air for some exercise is a good way to take a break as it gets the blood flowing, carrying oxygen to the brain so it can function properly.
9. Stick bullet point notes up around the house such as on your mirror, in the bathroom or beside your bed.
If you read over them each time you brush your teeth or wake up, for example, then you’ll become so familiar with them you’ll be able to remember the information much more easily. (Just don’t go too overboard with the post-its!).
10. Do plan something exciting for after your exams to treat yourself.
