Preparing for Exams - Forget cramming. Try these tips!

Exams are coming up soon.  Have you opened your books?  Whatever you do…

For years, studies have shown that cramming is not an effective studying strategy

As I’m sure you all know, the lead up to exams can be a stressful time. But with a little preparation, you can set yourself up to achieve the best possible results. So forget cramming, and try these tips instead.

Organize your study space

Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight?

Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, this may mean almost complete silence, for others, background music helps. Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

Start studying well in advance

Leaving things to the last minute will only lead to unnecessary stress, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to study. If you can, find out what material will be included in the exam so you can focus your efforts.

Have a study friends

Studying with friends is a great way to test your knowledge, and share it! Just make sure you stick to one topic at a time and ask each other as many questions as you possibly can – it’s possible they have some of the answers you’ve been looking for.

 Visualize

Reading straight from a textbook is bound to put you straight to sleep, so instead, try something a little more visual. When revising for a topic, identify the areas you need to focus on then condense the information into a diagram, chart or picture. You are more likely to remember an image than a clump of text.

Take some break

While you may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counterproductive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day. Likewise, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.

Everyone's different, to develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or, if you're more productive at nighttime, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening.

Plan your day

There’s no point in all this study preparation if you miss the bus and don’t make it to your exam in time. Before the day arrives, make sure you’ve got everything you need ready to go, your timing sorted, and your transport organized. Arriving barely on time and frazzled isn’t the best mindset to start off with.

Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam - don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize you don't know the way, or what you're supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time. If possible, do a test run of the trip. If not, write down clear directions.

Eat well

Energy and focus are key during exam time, and even though a big serving of sugar might seem like a good idea to help you power through, you’ll be better off snacking on healthy brain foods and drinking plenty of water. Check out some healthy eating ideas from my previous post: Planning to succeed: A student’s guide to healthy eating.

As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.