It feels like only yesterday that exams were months away, yet here we are staring at the pointy end of T1. If your exams have accidentally snuck up on you, it’s best to get cracking! Use these tips to help get yourself sorted.
1. Don’t Waste Any More Time
Try to postpone your commitments or meet ups til after the exam, although there might be situations where you will need to be away from your desk. Instances such as part-time work and society meetings will probably be hard to move around. Fear not though, as long as you utilise the time you have efficiently, you will most likely walk away from that exam feeling great.
Disappear off the grid for a week. This means using Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat very minimally. No scrolling and definitely no accidental Friends marathon on YouTube.
2. Plan Out Your Study for the Next 7 Days
I use this study approach if I am short on time, although different schools may require varying approaches depending on the nature and amount of the work load requirements. This would apply moreso to business and social science subjects as these were the subjects I was required to complete for my uni courses.
Day 1-2
Use this time to speed through lectures, chapter readings and try your best to understand the required content from a conceptual and theoretical standpoint. During this time, keep note of important concepts or formulas required and make a concise set of notes that you can refer to over the next week.
Day 3-5
Start applying the theory by completing past papers, lecture, tutorial and textbook chapter questions. From here it is about completing as many questions as you can, shifting your focus to what the course has emphasised will be on the exam.
Day 6-7
Use these two days to iron out any elements of the course that you are not familiar with or require extra revision for.
3. Make a List of Important Formulas and Concepts
I have found it quite useful to have a little book or typed document covering the relevant material that I could always refer to throughout my intense week of revision.
A format I generally like to use is:
Week’s Topic -> Formula/Concept -> Example of Formula Use/Definition of Concept
This is definitely not the only way to go about making a formula/concept book, with many variations possible. Make sure you use a format that is easy to refer to and makes sense to you.
4. Sleep Well Before Your Exam
Make sure that you sleep well the day before your exam to ensure your mind is at its peak performance for the exam. If you are choosing between studying more or sleeping more, choose sleep!
