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Sid’s Top Tips to Ace Exams

11th June 2018

Whilst most will enjoy the summer – going on vacation, going out with friends or just relaxing, for many, it is an intense period of non-stop exams and revision. It may seem like a boring procedure but in the end it is all worth it, and hard work will pay off.

It is tempting to just cram everything the night before and indeed I am currently guilty of this. However, the key to ‘acing’ your exam lies in your ability to revise well rather than revise a lot. Studies have been taken that show no conclusive consensus on the most effective method of revision, though it is certain that if one wants to maintain their physical and mental health, whilst achieving personal goals, one should create a fine balance between work and relaxation.

Essentially, what this means is that you should revise for a set period of time, then reward yourself with a small break to relax, before getting back to revision. To relax you should do something that makes you happy. Gaming is okay but once you start, you tend to lose focus. A more preferable activity would be to do something physically active; for me this is going cycling, though it can be anything from a simple walk to playing some sports. You could also just simply have something to eat or drink. Finally, it may be beneficial to devote one day a week towards non-academic activities.

As aforementioned, there are numerous ways to revise. Past papers are essential for pretty much all subjects but for maths especially, it is extremely helpful, as going through past papers and marking them gets your mind familiar with the exam format and the type of answers they are looking for. For recall-based subjects such as biology, history, geography, economics etc, flash cards are a good choice, though you should ensure you spend more time using the flash cards than making them look nice. Unless you are using the computer for revision (watching subject videos etc) it is advisable to keep electronic gadgets such as smartphones, laptops and gaming consoles away, in order to prevent distractions. Leave checking social media for the aforesaid break times. If you have like-minded friends who wish to do well, revising in groups can be great, but do not let this distract you.

I hope you do well in your exams and if things don’t go as planned, it isn’t the end of the world.

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