It is almost time for exams! Instead of panicking and cramming it in all at the last moment, here are a few good tips for making the most out of your studying.
1. Get it done early in the day.
You tend to concentrate much better during the early hours of the morning and afternoon. If you get up at 7am and eat a light breakfast, you can easily knock out 4-5 hours of studying before you even have lunch, which means you can finish before the day is even half way over!
2. Don’t take a breaks often.
As odd as that may seem, taking breaks every hour will actually increase your risk of not studying as hard or effective as you are able to. As soon as you start of lose focus, take a quick breath, and start focusing again. Don’t go take a 10 minute break because those 10 minutes you spend on video games, TV, talking to friends, etc. may turn into 30 minutes, an hour, a few hours, etc., and before you know it, you have been distracted and wasted time when you could have just endured studying longer.
3. Study in a quiet environment.
One of the biggest distractions while studying at home is the TV and internet. Study somewhere you won’t have access to TV or the internet. If you can, try studying at your local library.
4. Emails, Instant Messaging, Facebook, Myspace – they can all wait.
Seriously, if you want to do well, you should avoid using any of these services I listed, and those I didn’t that don’t pertain to your studying. You’ll end up wasting time and getting sidetracked from your primary goal – studying.
5. Get a good night’s rest.
Sleep is very essential to normal brain functions. You’ll need at least 7-8 hours of sleep in order to be at your best for exams, so instead of burning the midnight oil the night before your exams, you should be resting.
6. Eat nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are full of so many goodies – vitamins, nutrients and most importantly, lasting energy. The natural sugars in fruit will provide you the energy you’ll need to stay focused, while vegetables will give you the proper nutrition for your body.
7. Drink lots of water.
While drinking a lot of water may require you to use the restroom more frequently, water will keep you alert and hydrated. Remember, a hydrated body = a focused mind.
8. Review your notes.
The key to remembering information for an exam is to review your notes on a more frequent basis. Review your notes after each class, and again a few days later to ensure that the information stays fresh in your mind. You will be amazed at how much more you can retain on test day.
9. Be calm, and don’t worry.
Exams are meant to be tough, but if you prepared efficiently, then you shouldn’t worry. All your hard effort will pay off.
I hope these tips have helped. The most important tip in here is to get preparing for finals and studying done as early as possible so that you’ll have time to memorize the information you need. Good luck on your exams, everyone!!
