Q&A

How do you have good time management before exams?

Sonia’s Answer: It is important to start studying early, at least a couple of weeks before mocks/exams. This way, you know that you will have time to go over everything, instead of feeling stressed closer to the exam period. Before studying, I like to write down everything I need to complete, starting with the highest priority. This way, more time is dedicated to the most important thing. I take lots of breaks while studying to help me stay efficient and focused (rather than long periods of continuous study that feel draining), which saves time.

Annabel’s Answer: I make sure to get started early and make an outline of all the different things that I need to revise. This helps me to ensure that I make sure to spend time on everything that I need to. It’s also important to start early so that you aren’t cramming everything at the last minute, and so that you have time to let things sink in and go over them multiple times. If you’re really busy, try and designate just a little bit of time each day to study. Even a little bit of study is much better than nothing, and it’ll help you to feel much more on top of things and organised.

Do you have any advice for dealing with anxiety and nerves on the day of an exam?

Sonia’s Answer: It is ok to feel a bit nervous before exams–it can actually help by keeping you alert! First, accept the nerves and understand that it is normal. Take some deep breaths and make sure you’re hydrated. Before heading into the exam room, tell yourself that the most important thing is to do your best. When the exam starts and you’re concentrated on your work, you will feel less nervous.

Annabel’s Answer: Nerves can actually be helpful before an exam, as they can help you to stay focused and do your best. However when nerves begin to completely take over it can inhibit your performance. Different people cope with nerves in different ways, but personally I like to read or listen to some of my favourite music. It’s also important not to try and stress yourself even more, so try not to overthink things right before the exam. Unless there’s something very simple that you forgot to learn, try not to pour over notes or test yourself directly before an exam. This will only make you doubt yourself even more. Instead take a few breaths, maybe go for a short walk.

How do you stay motivated even when you have a lot going on close to exams?

Annabel’s Answer: When I have a lot going on before exams, I break up my revision into small, manageable goals. This means that I can use any small pockets of spare time that I may have to be productive, rather than just discounting it because I feel that it’s not enough time to do anything. Often when I lack motivation, simply trying to plan out my study or get started will give me some. If you really can’t motivate yourself to do lots of study, set yourself one small goal at a time, and reward yourself when you reach it. Sometimes that hardest part is simply starting, and once you’ve made yourself do a little bit of study things will get a lot easier and you’ll gain some motivation.

Sonia’s Answer: Studying for all the subjects can feel overwhelming close to exams, which can lead to stress and burn out, leaving you feeling unmotivated or distracted. If you have been busy with commitments and are simply too burnt out, make sure to not push yourself too much and study in small chunks, as Annabel suggested previously. This helps you focus on one small thing at a time, and you feel a sense of accomplishment more often to motivate you further. You can also adopt on a mindset such as, ‘10 minutes of study is better than no study’ to get yourself started.

How do you set a good study schedule during study leave?

Sonia’s Answer: There are many different study schedules which work for different people. I personally find that a calendar style planner works best for me, as I see it as ‘part of the day’ (like eating a meal) and something I must get done. Try out different study schedules to see what works for you. For example, I’ve tried the retrospective study timetable and it didn’t work for me. In general, a study schedule should be realistic and achievable. It should fit in with your daily life and extra-curricular activities e.g. if you have sport on a certain day, plan for a shorter (or no) study time and split the time across days when you are not busy. During study leave, make sure to take lots of breaks to keep refreshed and prevent burn out. The study content should also concentrate on subjects you feel less confident in.

Annabel’s Answer: Different schedules work for different people, but personally I do a goal based study schedule. This means that I will set myself a couple of study goals for the day, and will spend as much or little time as I need meeting these goals. This prevents me from procrastinating, or wasting time on ‘pointless’ study just to fill up time. It also forces me to prioritise what is most important, and focus on what I really need to focus on.