Top 10 tips for taking
exams
You can work so hard
to study large quantities of information for an exam, but if you don’t prepare
yourself mentally and physically before that exam, all that hard work can sadly
go to waste.
When it comes time to
take your major exams, you really have to relate to yourself as a top class
athlete. You need to eat the right foods, have the right mental attitude and
let your body rest when it needs to leading up to your exams. These simple things
can make all the difference to your mental clarity and performance.
You may be thinking
‘this is common sense!’ but common sense isn’t so common. I see it all the
time, university students drinking energy drinks like water, getting very
little sleep and eating fatty convenience foods whilst cramming for their final
exams. I have to admit, I’ve also done this and I don’t recommend it. It’s a
recipe for disaster or at best, mediocre grades and a stressful, miserable
time.
Here are my top 10
tips for taking exams:
1. Get a good nights sleep
1. Get a good nights sleep
Studies have found
that if you stay awake for 21 hours straight, you have the mental capacity of
someone who is legally drunk (in terms of your ability to concentrate, memorise
and recall information, etc).
You can’t afford to
stay awake all night studying for an exam because you just won’t be effective
on the day of the exam. Make sure you get on average 8 hours of sleep a night.
2. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, everyday
2. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, everyday
I make myself to go to
the gym for 1 hour each day during my exam period, but 30 minutes of walking,
jogging, swimming, dancing, etc will be enough.
Often students stop
exercising when it comes exam time because they begin to think that they don’t
have enough time (“I must spend every moment studying!”). Big mistake.
Exercise helps us
study more effectively for various reasons. Firstly, it’s a great way to
relieve stress and anxiety. Secondly, it gets blood flowing to your brain
(supplying oxygen, antioxidant and glucose) which can help you to think more
clearly.
Think of daily
exercise as being an investment in your final marks.
3.
Drink plenty of water
Often when we can’t
think clearly and have a foggy memory, it’s because our brains need to be
hydrated. While studying and taking your exams, make sure you take regular sips
of water.
4.
Remember, your teachers want you to do well
Years ago, I started
thinking that my teachers and lecturers were out to get me and would mark me
down wherever they got the chance. As a result of this thinking, I became too
scared to write anything in one of my first tests for law! After receiving my
terrible mark, my brother said to me “Remember sis, your teachers want you to
do well. They will try to give you marks wherever they can. It’s in their
interest to do so”
Don’t worry about
writing a perfect answer. If you’re unsure, still put it down (even if it’s in
dot points). They may not give you any marks for it, but they won’t take marks
off. Just remember, your teachers really are on your side (despite all evidence
to the contrary).
5.
Focus on what you do know rather than what you don’t know
Chances are there will
always be something that you could have studied more thoroughly or don’t know
so well come the day of the exam. By that stage, you can’t do much about that,
so is there any point worrying about it?
You are better off
focusing on the fact that you now know so much more than you did before and a
large number of the exam questions you’ll be able to answer.
6. Eat a low GI, nutritious breakfast
6. Eat a low GI, nutritious breakfast
Studies have found
that students who skip breakfast experience a 20-40% reduction in thinking
skills (i.e. concentration, memory and alertness). You want to eat a low GI,
nutritious breakfast to feel fuller for longer, stabilise your mood and give
you plenty of energy for the day.
Here are some healthy
breakfast ideas:
· Raw museli or porridge
with nuts and chopped fruit
· Wholegrain toast with a
variety of toppings (e.g. baked beans, tomatoes, avocado, etc.) and a piece of
fruit
· An omelette made with
added vegetables (i.e. onion, spinach, tomato, and mushrooms)
· A fruit smoothy
7.
Avoid drinking caffeine (e.g. energy drinks, coke and coffee)
Caffeine is a
stimulant drug. It gives you a rush and makes you feel good in the short term,
but eventually it wears off and leaves you feeling cranky and wanting more.
It’s also a diuretic,
so it makes you urinate, which means you lose water, become thirsty and want to
drink more soft drink.
Studies have found
that when we slurp on our cup of coffee or can of coke, we are actually
inducing a state of stress. Caffeine drives the adrenal glands to produce
stress hormones that in turn produce the “fight or flight†response.
Why not consider
gradually replacing your caffeinated beverages with good old, simple water? If
you must drink something sweet, try drinking low GI apple juice with no added
sugar.
8.
Go straight home after the exam
How many times have
you stayed back after an exam to talk to your friends about what you put for
each questions? How many times have you felt anxious after doing so?
Whilst it can be
reassuring to know that you wrote the same answer as your friends, if you find
out that you wrote something different and you have another 4 or 5 exams to
take, this may throw you off your game.
The exam is over.
There’s nothing much you can do about it, so move on and focus on the next one.
9.
Take a few deep breaths when you get stuck
If you come across a
question you’re not sure how to answer in the exam, stop for a moment and take
a few deep breathes (in for the count of 3 and out for the count of 3). If you
are not sure how to answer it there and then, move on to another question.
The worst thing you
can do is start to panic, because as they say ‘stress makes you stupid’. You
won’t be able to think clearly.
10. Dealing with writer’s cramp/elbow
10. Dealing with writer’s cramp/elbow
I’m sure many of us
are familiar with writers cramp/elbow. This can be due to holding your pen too
tight. Loosen your grip or get a pen that you won’t have to press down so hard
on the paper.
The reality is, even
with a good pen, your elbow will start to hurt at some point if you’re taking a
3 hour exam. When it does hurt, have a rest for a few moments (yes, you have
time to do this!) and stretch it out on your desk.
