10 Top Tips To Get You Through Your Exams

It wasn’t too long ago (May 2011) when we, (founders of Smart-Pig), were cramming like mad for our exams! Everything looks easier in hindsight and it's much more obvious what we could have done better when we've had time to reflect.

Anyway, we thought we would share some useful, tried and tested advice for your exams. We know from a lot of our customers that they’re just around the corner, so get revising and stay calm.

1. Prepare your study area

Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Is Minecraft out of sight?

Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people (including me), this may mean almost complete silence; for others, background music helps. Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment (my room looked like a bomb had hit it…). Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

2. Give yourself enough time

Don’t leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute ‘cramming’, it’s widely accepted that for most of us this is not the best way to approach an exam. Set out a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then, organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.

3. Use flow charts and diagrams

Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. At the start of a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic – then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Getting your ideas down in this brief format can help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.

4. Practice on old exams

One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and – if you time yourself – can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section. Find out how many past papers are available, and plan time to do all of them – twice. Uni academics can be lazy setting questions, so there is a good chance something familiar will get you some safe points.

5. Explain your answers to others (and to yourself!)

Parents, little brothers and sisters don’t have to be annoying around exam time! Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.

It may seem obvious, but when you find yourself repeating answers verbatim, pause and think about what they actually mean. Do you really understand what you’re talking about? Good exam questions will try to challenge your real understanding, not your short term memory.

6. Organize study groups with friends

Get together with friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.

7. Take regular breaks

While you may think it’s best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counter-productive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn’t try and run 24 hours a day! Likewise, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge taking regular breaks really helps. BUT, if you do take planned breaks, no cheating. Break time is break time, study time is study time.

Everyone’s different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or if you’re more productive at night time, take a larger break earlier on so you’re ready to settle down come evening.

Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks. Remember – Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain!

8. Snack on ‘brain food’

Keep away from junk food! You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don’t have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory such as fish, nuts, seeds, yoghurt and blueberries. The same applies on exam day – eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but it won’t help when your energy levels crash an hour or so later.

9. Plan your exam day

Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam – don’t leave it to the day before to suddenly realise you don’t know the way, or what you’re supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time. If possible, do a test run of the trip; if not, write down clear directions.

Work out how long it will take to get there – then add on some extra time. You really don’t want to arrive having had to run halfway or feeling frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates, as long as you know they’re likely to be punctual!

10. Forget water…Mix up some squash

As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. But against popular belief, don’t drink plain tap water. Instead, mix up some orange squash (The sugary type, NOT diet!). Squash (non-diet versions) actually hydrates you quicker than water. Secondly, having a stable supply of sugar is good as your brain consumes a lot of calories during studying.

From Tom and me, the very best of luck to you all in your exams and assignments – we’ve got our pig tails crossed for you!