Exams - a survival guide
school; exams; examinations; panic; stress; coffee; caffeine; study;
Contents
You slowly open your eyes. Ah, another beautiful morning. You think to yourself, "It's great not to have anything to worry about". Worry about? That thought starts to bother you. Is there something? OH NO! Today is exam day and you haven’t studied enough!
How can you avoid a situation like this? How can you deal with the mountains of stress that exams seem to create? Read on to find out some useful study tips.
Pressure and stress
There are many things in life that cause us stress. One of the most stressful things is exams. Ever wondered why so many people seem to have that dream about going to exams and realising they forgot to put any clothes on?
The pressure to be successful at school is huge. This is why we feel such stress when exam time rocks around. It can seem like your whole life will be decided by how you do in your final exams. You want to do well but you are feeling so much pressure, it seems you can barely think.
Do exams really matter?
The answer to this question is 'yes' and 'no'. That’s not very helpful, is it?
Getting good grades does make it easier to get on at school, to get the future study courses you want, and that can lead to a good job in future…BUT…there are other ways of getting the work and life that you want later, when you are older. Of course you may still have to do some kind of exam.
If you break out into a cold sweat when you think about exams, then you need to get some help. Talk with your teachers about this as early as possible, so you don’t get to an exam in a real panic.
Preparing for exams
Where to study
- Where you study can be as important as what you study. It is best to set up a study space. This will become your quiet place for study, and once it takes on that meaning you will find it easier to study there. It is no good trying to study in front of the TV or on your bed.
- Clear off the desk. It is best to have the bare minimum in your study area. You do not need any distractions while studying.
- Choose who you study with. It is usually best to study alone, but if you need to go over notes with someone, choose the person carefully. If you think your friends will not take it seriously, don’t invite them.
Get into a routine
- If you get started early enough before your exams, you will find you don’t need to put in any all-nighters.
- One good hour of study is better than a whole night, struggling to keep awake.
- Find the time of the day that you study the best. Pick a couple of hours and stick to this study time.
- Get to know how you learn the best. Your parent may not like it, but if you study better on the floor, listening to music, or outside, then that is how you should do it.
Plan ahead
- Getting into a routine early and sticking to it is the best way to maximise your chances of good grades.
- You may have only limited time to study. In this case you need to make a schedule.
- Ask your teachers to help you make a list of the most important topics to study.
- Work out how much time you can spend on each before the exam day.
- Don’t get overwhelmed by the workload. If you stick to a schedule it will start to seem manageable.
- Make sure you have the syllabus for each subject or course. If you follow the syllabus there will not be any nasty surprises. Take it one step at a time.
- Remember: one calm hour of study is usually better than 6 panicking hours of study.
What to study
- We all have subjects we like and ones we can't stand. When you first sit down you generally do your best study. This time should be used for subjects you struggle with. Putting more time into your weaknesses will improve your over-all score.
- Work hard on the course work and ask your teacher for help if you don’t understand something.
Coffee and drugs
- You may hear that people study better while drinking coffee. Coffee is a stimulant and can make you feel more alert, but it can reduce your concentration and make you irritable if you take more than you usually do. Coffee can keep you awake, and you need to sleep and relax to cope with the extra work.
- Street drugs will not improve your ability to study or sit exams. As with coffee, stimulants will reduce your ability to concentrate.
- Depressants like alcohol will only reduce your normal ability.
Look after yourself
- A balanced diet is an important part of being in control of your study habits.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables will give you reserves of energy and increase your ability to concentrate.
- Avoid junk food and foods high in sugar.
- Sleep and relaxation. You may find you nearly fall asleep every time you sit down to study.
- Keeping a regular sleeping pattern is very important.
- Don't stay awake all night trying to study.
- Get a good night's sleep and try to study in the morning when you are fresh.
- If you are finding it hard to sleep, wait until you have calmed down before going to bed.
- Wind down after study and try some relaxation exercises.
- Exercise. Having regular exercise will keep your mind active, help you to sleep at night and is a great way to have a break when you find your concentration is dropping.
- Just jump on the bike, run around the block or take the dog for a walk.
- It is worth investing the time in exercise for the mental boost you will receive.
Reward yourself
Build some fun into your schedule. It will give you something to look forward to.
- If you have achieved a goal, let's say three hours of study, reward yourself with something you like doing.
Know what to expect
- Find out if the test or exam is going to be multiple choice, short answer or essay questions.
- If the questions are mainly multiple choice:
- Answer all the questions.
- Try to notice the slight variations in the questions. Often they will seem very similar. The teacher will often want a very specific answer.
- Trust your first instincts – they are often right, but not always!
- If the questions are mainly short answer or essay style:
- Plan each answer before writing it. A few minutes to make an essay plan can save a lot of time overall. Make use of the reading time at the start. If you are in the middle of planning an essay, don’t stop just because the reading time is over. Keep your train of thought and finish the plan.
- Clear and simple writing is best. If you try to fill empty space with unnecessary 'padding', it will take away from the main points you want to get across.
- Know what sort of questions will be asked. Ask your teachers before hand, if it is allowed.
- Find out if past exam papers are available. They should not be used instead of actual study, they but can give you an idea of the way the questions will be presented.
Assistance and resources
- Your teachers will usually be more than happy to meet with you outside of class times. Make appointments to meet with them as much as possible during the year.
- Don't waste their time, however. Plan what you want to discuss and have some questions written down.
- You should also make use of all the other available resources. Practise on past exam papers, but don't rely solely on them. There is no such thing as a short cut when it comes to exams.
- Free online tutoring is available in Australia. Many libraries and some schools are linked to this service - you can check out a list on the site. Simply enter your library bar code at: https://connect.yourtutor.com.au/entry.aspx
Helping your parents cope with your exams
Parents find it hard to accept that they cannot help you with your exams, and often will try to pressure you to do more, to turn off the radio, stop watching TV, etc.
Things that help them get off your back include:
- showing them that you have a plan, and that you will manage your plan
- letting them know that you will be taking breaks such as watching TV, but this is in your plan
- eating regularly
- getting out of the house for a bit of exercise
- cutting down on late night phone calls or games on the internet
- taking some time-out to be with friends, and then getting back to work.
Almost the only thing parents can think of doing to 'help' you is to nag. If you can feel sorry for them rather than angry, this can lighten the whole thing up.
Exam day
- Don't try to cram in the half hour before the exam. This time should be used to get your head ready. Try some relaxation techniques.
- Be positive. If you have stuck to a good routine, then chances are the information is at your disposal. There is nothing more you can do. All the hard work is actually behind you. Now you get the chance to show off all the knowledge you have built up.
- Read all of the instructions. It is amazing the number of people who answer too many questions or the wrong questions in exams. Check both sides of the exam paper.
- Stay calm. Read the questions slowly so that you don’t misinterpret any of them. Some people find they have to write the questions out onto their exam paper so that they do answer the right question.
- Answer the questions you feel most confident with first. This will give you more time for the harder ones later. But be very strict with yourself about time. Don’t spend more time on the easy questions, then run out of time to finish the exam.
- Take some water and lollies in with you if it is allowed. They can provide a way to regain your concentration with a quick break.
- Stay for the whole exam. Some people may think its cool to walk out early. How cool will that person look when the exam results are in? Go over your answers a couple of times. There may be something you missed.
- Stay calm after the exam. You may worry about how you did, or if everyone else answered the questions the same as you. Worrying after an exam is natural, but you have to remember: you did your best.
Mel says:
"Remember, planning is the key. The work you do long before the exam day is the most important. Stick to a routine and you will be able to go and celebrate with a light heart after the exams are finished.
If you find that exam pressure – before, during or after - is getting too much, it may be a good idea to see your doctor or a counsellor."
Resources in
South Australia
- The Second Story Youth Health Service (TSS):
Central: 57 Hyde Street, Adelaide
South: 50a Beach Road, Christies Beach
North: 6 Gillingham Road, Elizabeth
- Youth Healthline: 1300 13 17 19 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
General
- Free online tutoring is available in Australia. Many libraries and some schools are linked to this service - you can check out a list on the site. Simply enter your library bar code at: https://connect.yourtutor.com.au/entry.aspx
Foerde, K., Knowlton, B., Poldrack, R. Modulation of competing memory systems by distraction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006; 103: 11778-11783. Online (cited 22/1/07):http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/...
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).