The best 10 ways of nailing your exams

Are you anxious about your exams?

National academic co-ordinator for ADvTECH Schools Division, Dr Beverly Evangelides and life-orientation teacher of Trinityhouse High School Randpark Ridge, Avril van der Velde came up with the 10 best ways of preparing well for you exams.

• Firstly, learn to recognise when you are stressed out. Don’t be afraid to take a break and have a conversation with someone who knows about the pressure you’re under. This will allow you to put things into perspective.

• Put together a study timetable, focusing on the times of day that you are most alert. We all have slightly different body clocks, so decide if you work best as a night owl or a dawn lark.

• Plan in advance. Draw up a realistic revision schedule that could turn your heavy workload into something manageable that will ultimately also help you manage your nerves. We all have different revision styles; some of us like to sit at a tidy library desk while others prefer to sit on the floor with their laptop. Wherever you feel calm, in control and comfortable is the best place for you to work through your revision schedule and in so doing, alleviate exam stress.

• Build rewards and treats into your timetable – anything you can look forward to, for sticking to the timetable. Plan something exciting to celebrate the end of the exams with your friends and family that will make you even more motivated.

• Never cram your work into one day, as this will add fuel to the tension-and-stress fire. You will not remember your work and your brain will strike a blank when it comes to the exam.

• When studying, take regular breaks – every 45 to 60 minutes is a good time frame within which to work. Breaks must at least be 10 to 15 minutes long. During your breaks, do something relaxing, such as reading a book or going for a short walk. Taking your mind off your current work will help you come back to it feeling refreshed. It can also help if you reward yourself after each revision session.

• Eat healthily by eating fresh fruit and veggies while studying. On the morning of the exam, have a proper breakfast. Fuel your brain as well as your body – no one can think straight on coffee and chocolate, so avoid the caffeine.

• Ensure that you get eight hours of sleep before your exam. Wind completely down before you go to bed and don’t revise under the duvet on your bed, this is your sanctuary, not your desk.

• You need to remember that although this test feels like the most important thing in the world, it isn’t worth the physical strain that you’re putting on your body. When you’re feeling the effects of exam anxiety and your brain feels blank, take a drink of water and breathe deeply and slowly. This will allow your body to rehydrate and to stop the effects of the stress response.

• Ultimately, don’t lose sight of the fact that there is life after exams. Things might seem intense right now, but it won’t last forever.