It's exam time again. The worst part of any academic year. University exams seem like they're designed to make you feel as though you're drowning in revision and it's a secret, until you look at past papers, just how horrific your exams will be.
Stress around this time is something that 99% of people can't avoid,and there is often a fine line between a revision break and intense procrastination.
-I find that one of the best ways to make myself get on with revising is going to the gym. It's by no means something that everyone will enjoy or do,and truthfully it bores me to no end. But the feeling afterwards is worth it!Getting up before lunch is a new thing, but waking up early then revising,and going to the gym when I need a break seems to be fixing my atrocious sleeping pattern and putting my brain in gear. Exercise also increases the level of Brain function, so when I come back more of what I'm doing actually sinks in. If you don't like going to the gym then do something else, as long as it doesn't end up with you just sat on Netflix for the rest of the day.
-For gamers, the key thing is to take any game discs out of your laptop or hide your game console controller from yourself. Give it to a friend and tell them not to return it for a certain amount of time. Sims is not your friend!
- The thing that most people don't bother doing or find the hardest to do.....Turn your phone or at least your internet off!! It will surprise you just how much you forget it even exists ,by putting it somewhere out of sight.
-Revision should never be left until the last minute,something I learned way too late at A-Level. The key to not over stressing about exams is to feel prepared. Its better to start a bit early and revise however much you feel you can most days,than to cram the day before your exam.
-Your friends can help you revise and as long as you don't distract each other,working in the same room can be productive. Telling them what you've just learnt,regardless of what course they do, is one of the best ways to retain information.
-Taking breaks to rest your brain is key,but your breaks should never be longer than the time you've spent revising. If after ten minutes worth of revision you take an hour or two break,you may as well have shot yourself in the foot for your exam. Breaks should be short,evenly spaced and you should take yourself away from where all your work is...otherwise you won't feel like you're having a proper break.
Not to freak anyone out ,but there are so many ways you can make exam time less stressful for yourself,all it takes is a little bit of control. Think in the long term how you'll feel if you fail and how resits just make life so much harder! If you fail,it's no good blaming a lecturer or tutor, they're not paid to spoon feed you and if you think they are then you probably shouldn't be at Uni.
There's no reason why you can't revise and revise efficiently. All you need is to consider why you're doing exams in the first place and how doing well benefits you!Any student knows there's no better feeling in an exam than getting a question you feel like you can answer.Getting the grade you want is just a matter of motivating yourself, revising is the easy part compared to that!
'It always seems impossible ,until it's done' - Nelson Mandela
J x
Stress around this time is something that 99% of people can't avoid,and there is often a fine line between a revision break and intense procrastination.
-I find that one of the best ways to make myself get on with revising is going to the gym. It's by no means something that everyone will enjoy or do,and truthfully it bores me to no end. But the feeling afterwards is worth it!Getting up before lunch is a new thing, but waking up early then revising,and going to the gym when I need a break seems to be fixing my atrocious sleeping pattern and putting my brain in gear. Exercise also increases the level of Brain function, so when I come back more of what I'm doing actually sinks in. If you don't like going to the gym then do something else, as long as it doesn't end up with you just sat on Netflix for the rest of the day.
-For gamers, the key thing is to take any game discs out of your laptop or hide your game console controller from yourself. Give it to a friend and tell them not to return it for a certain amount of time. Sims is not your friend!
- The thing that most people don't bother doing or find the hardest to do.....Turn your phone or at least your internet off!! It will surprise you just how much you forget it even exists ,by putting it somewhere out of sight.
-Revision should never be left until the last minute,something I learned way too late at A-Level. The key to not over stressing about exams is to feel prepared. Its better to start a bit early and revise however much you feel you can most days,than to cram the day before your exam.
-Your friends can help you revise and as long as you don't distract each other,working in the same room can be productive. Telling them what you've just learnt,regardless of what course they do, is one of the best ways to retain information.
-Taking breaks to rest your brain is key,but your breaks should never be longer than the time you've spent revising. If after ten minutes worth of revision you take an hour or two break,you may as well have shot yourself in the foot for your exam. Breaks should be short,evenly spaced and you should take yourself away from where all your work is...otherwise you won't feel like you're having a proper break.
Not to freak anyone out ,but there are so many ways you can make exam time less stressful for yourself,all it takes is a little bit of control. Think in the long term how you'll feel if you fail and how resits just make life so much harder! If you fail,it's no good blaming a lecturer or tutor, they're not paid to spoon feed you and if you think they are then you probably shouldn't be at Uni.
There's no reason why you can't revise and revise efficiently. All you need is to consider why you're doing exams in the first place and how doing well benefits you!Any student knows there's no better feeling in an exam than getting a question you feel like you can answer.Getting the grade you want is just a matter of motivating yourself, revising is the easy part compared to that!
'It always seems impossible ,until it's done' - Nelson Mandela
J x
