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Getting ready for exams? Here are some useful tips and links to help you prepare
Here are some general things to remember – plus you’ll find more detailed help and revision tips on our general and specific subject links pages:
- Plan your revision time well in advance – leaving it until the last minute will only make it more stressful!
- Make a plan or timetable for all your subjects – use it to keep track of how you’re getting on, make sure that you stick to it.
- When planning, think about the best way of revising for you. By yourself or with a friend? Lots of short revision sessions or longer sessions?
- Plan to take regular breaks, or you could lose concentration and stop taking in information.
- Eat and sleep well – don’t spend all your time revising.
- Some moderate exercise (and/or relaxation techniques like yoga) can help clear your mind and make you feel more refreshed and less stressed.
- Try to avoid distractions during your planned sessions – ask your family or friends not to disturb you, and turn off that mobile or IM program!
Exam tips
Again, these are some key things to remember, but check out the various links we’ve sorted out for you as well:
- As you start the exam, stay calm and try not to worry. It’s understandable to feel nervous, but try not to panic.
- If you do start to feel stressed or panicky, take long, slow deep breaths for a little while. It can be better to stop thinking or writing and spend a moment or two calming down – you’ll be working better when you restart.
- You’ll be fed up with hearing this one – but read all the instructions for the exam carefully.
- And this one – read each question carefully before you start to answer. You need to answer the questions on the paper, not the ones you wish were there!
- If you’re choosing which questions to answer, read them all before making your choice.
- Plan your time so that you're not struggling towards the end.
- If you do start to run out of time, use your last minute or two to write clear notes showing the main parts of what your complete answer would have been.
