Most students are afraid of facing exams especially if they are unprepared. If preparing for exams is anything to go by, the process starts once the student enters the lecture hall. In other words, every day that a student goes to listen to a lecture is a way to prepare himself for the upcoming exams. However, the mentality of exam preparation is different among students. They believe sitting down an reading everything when they know the exam is around the corner adds up to preparation. Some of them go ahead to cram everything with the aim for passing the exam.
However, there are two important aspects that the student needs to understand. First, there is the ability to study and gain understanding, and the other one is to pass exams. Some students are more concerned with the latter than the former. They cram everything as a way of preparing for exams. Ask them any question right after they are done writing their papers and most likely, they will not give any definite answer. Why? Because they crammed for exams and not for understanding.
When a student studies to gain understanding, it does not matter if the exam is around the corner or not. He knows what he is doing with his studies. He is ever ready, and at any point in the semester, he can sit for an exam. He understands exam preparation tips and knows how to approach the exercise. He can answer any question during and after the exams. If you compare the two students, the crammer might have a better chance of getting good grades because he has memorised the answers, but the other one is more adept with his knowledge that he will retain for the long term. They both apply different ways of preparing for exams.
One if the most important exam preparation tips are to refrain from starting the last minute. Some student may thrive during this time, but it is not the best way to approach preparation for final exams. You need to have good time management skills and to always have exams at the back of your mind by the start of the semester. In essence, you receive the semester timetable early enough, and you know where the exams are likely to fall within, and as such, you have to plan accordingly.
As a way to start preparing for exams, you can write down the number of papers that you will do and the days that you will take to sit for them. In fact, the number of units you are doing in a semester is an indication of the number of papers that you will sit for. Once you know the number and the days, you are then ready to plan for it accordingly. You want to give you preparation adequate time for personal preparation as much as possible. You have to find the right balance between your classes, personal studies, assignment writing, and preparing for exams. If you strike this balance, there is no exam that will give you a sleepless night.
Now let us focus on the exam preparation tips that will help you in your quest for a better grade.
This task can seem daunting, but if there are smart strategies in place, the process becomes more manageable. As a way of preparing for exams, you can get an online test preparation material for the specific test you are about to do. Then, take a diagnostic practice test to see what you need to practice and then come up with a timeline and an online for your study plan. You learn to learn other exam preparation tips for studying, relaxing, and keeping health because they are essential for your holistic preparation. Let us start with the exam preparation tips:
Considering your options
Enrolling in an in-person course
Some institution gives in-person courses that benefit students greatly because it gives them a sense of accountability that they do not get from a traditional class setting. These classes can vary in length. If you want to enrol, you only need to access the internet and search for a website course that you want to take and enter your details and the dates you are interested in taking the exam.
Enroll in a test preparation program online
As a way of preparing for final exams, you can register online websites that offer exam preparation programs. Some of them are free whereas others come at a cost. This depends on your preference. The preparation exams will keep you engaged for the upcoming exams. However, you must ensure that the schedule does not interfere with your normal classes.
Purchase study materials and study them on your own
Different study guides are available for purchase depending on your need, and this is the same with another test. You can get critical books if you are trying to improve your scores irrespective of your strong or weak areas. Subject training books are also essential as you embark on preparing for exams and especially you want to focus on a specific grey area that is likely to be tested. For instance, it can be Math, English, Reading, and so on. You can purchase books for top scorers if you want an extra push to get your scores to the next level. There are also books for poor performers. Most importantly, you can avoid the 5-hour type short study guides not unless you want to improve your score by a small margin.
The materials can be purchased from bookstores, online or checking the library. You can also research the best study guides if you are preparing for a specific test to ascertain if it meets your needs.
Being healthy and fighting stress
Other important exam preparation tips go beyond sitting down and reading to extend to the physical aspects of a student. You might have been preparing for exams well, but your mind and body are not functioning optimally. You need to ensure that you are in good health and free of stress especially the night before the exam. Your performance in an exam also depends on your health, and as such, you have to employ a holistic approach to preparing for exams.
Get adequate rest the night before the study days as well as the exam
You need to get an 8-hour sleep before you sit for your exam. If you have a bad night sleep, it can water down all the efforts your efforts of preparing for exams and this will reflect on your test score. If you do not get a good night sleep regularly, it may cause stress of getting sick more often.
You can do backward planning to know when you need to go to bed or get up
Backward planning can help you get to bed on time. You can start from the time that you want to be in the exam room or studying the next day. Mentally go through the things you will do leading up to that tie. Backward planning will help you in figuring out when you need to be in bed and get enough sleep. Consider how long it will take to fall asleep and ensure that your account for that time. You can add some cushion time in your planning for the rest of the day in case something pops up. This is one of the excellent exam preparation tips.
Eating brain food and complex carbs
Some students immerse themselves in the efforts of preparing for final exams, and they neglect their diet. This can affect the body negatively, and the efforts of preparing for exams will go down the drain. As such, a student should consider good eating habits. It is important to eat complex carbs for brainpower. Hunger is a distraction, and if it happens during the test, it will be hard for the student to focus. To avoid this, you need to eat food high in proteins because type will stick in your stomach for a long time. Eat them before you start your studies or before you head to the exam room. If you have a break between your tests, you can pack a snack and it then to remain alert.
Develop an exercising habit
This is essential in maintaining your mental health as well as your physical fitness. You can have several hours of moderately intense exercise into your schedule per week. This will not only help you to relax, but also it will enhance your concentration in your efforts of preparing for exams. For those students interested in sports, there are times when you can play or do some exercise. If you feel, there is no time, go for a few minutes’ walks around the campus if you need a break. You can also jog in the mornings to get more energy. You do not need to exercise going out of your way. It only needs to be something that will maintain your physical and mental health to enable you to sit for a paper.
Of all the essential ways of preparing for exams, this one carries the weight. Studying is mandatory if you want to improve your test score and go beyond your expectation. It involves several steps:
Taking a diagnostic practice test
Most competitive exams have different parts, and if you want to do targeted preparations, you need to practice for it. If you can take a practice test, it will help you in determining the areas that you need to put more effort. As you go through your books preparing for exams, you will find diagnostic practice tests. You can also use websites that have practice tests for competitive exams. You only need to take the practice test under exam-like conditions.
Practice the essay-writing portion of the test
Some exams involve a lot of writing, and one of the important exam preparation tips is that you can practice writing your essay every day within the time it has been allotted. Ensure that you have an outline and planning what you are going to write about during your practice as well.
Give your study plan a structure through an outline
You need to come up with a realistic study plan based on the test that you are taking. This should also include the amount of time that you will invoke in preparing for final exams. Take your study material and sit down to outline the major areas that you need to study for the upcoming test.
Backward plan for the areas that you need to study and the duration it will take
Time is an essential aspect when it comes to preparing for exams. You need to have a plan and stay consistent with it. Study and do a targeted practice because they are essential for an improved test score. You have to block considerable time in your schedule to study. According to the outline that you have created, break down the material that is necessary for every study session. You can start with the most important material and work your way towards the less important ones. Ensure that the most important one is covered adequately before the test.
You can use your calendar or calendar app to make your schedule
You can create a schedule on your calendar or calendar app on your mobile device. You can keep it updated as you continue with your efforts of preparing for exams. Put reminders in your schedule for anything important that you need to do for your exams. You can also revise your schedule as needed. If there is something that pops up and you are unable to study, you can look at your calendar and revise your study plan.
There are many ways of preparing for final exams, and the most important aspect here is consistency. Exams are arguably never hard, but it depends on the preparedness of the students. As such, the above tops are the starting point of the journey toward successful exams.
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