Help Exam time
Exams are something that most of us can’t avoid in our lives. In a recent survey, young people in Leeds voted ‘exam stress’ as the biggest issue impacting on their health and wellbeing.
Exams are designed to test us, literally, so naturally they can feel like a lot of pressure. And stress, worry and nerves can go hand in hand with that pressure. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Let’s look at some ways to prepare well for exams – while staying healthy.
Planning
Getting proactive reduces your stress levels. Making plans for where, when and how you’re going to study will help you feel much calmer, you’ll have more guilt-free time to relax and you’ll use your brain more efficiently.
A good study environment is crucial . This video will help you with setting up your study space.
Or follow our simple tips to create your own perfect space:
- Use the same space each time: this gets you in a good habit.
- Ideally don’t use your bedroom to revise. But if you have to, try to create different zones for working and sleeping/relaxing.
- Do not study in bed! Your brain will find it hard to relax when it comes to bedtime and it will want to fall asleep whilst you’re revising/working.
- Make it a happy, inspiring space – a quiet, comfortable, distraction-free zone.
- Have everything you need within easy reach, including a clock.
- Ensure you have good lighting to keep you alert and prevent eye strain.
Plan your study schedule. This video gives us good tips on creating an effective study schedule.
- Find out the exact dates of exams so when you make a revision timetable you know how long you have. Put these dates in your timetable.
- Prioritise your subjects by making a list in order of most and least important to spend time on. If you have most to do in maths and it’s your weakest subject, give it top priority. Give your confident subjects less time (but don’t ignore).
- Draw up a revision timetable (googling “revision timetable template” brings up lots of options you can use).
- Fill in your timetable with your subjects. Use your priority list to give important ones more time.
- Give yourself some variety (don’t do a whole week on one subject).
It can be useful to review how you currently revise and study. What you’ve been doing may not be as effective as you thought! Check out these videos on the best and worst techniques:
Finding exams too much?
It can be tricky to know when exam worries stop being normal butterflies and head into ‘too much’ territory, but it’s important to look out for yourself, and others around you. Check out some clues, as well as some ways to find help.
When exams get too muchPre-exam essentials
Looking after your body and mind before, during and after exam season wont just keep you feeling good, but is also crucial in helping you get the results you really want. After all, a healthy mind is better at concentrating (hello revision), not to mention at helping you to remember crucial information. Sounds good, right?
Sleep
A good night’s sleep helps with concentration and focus the following day. It even allows the brain to store and organise information more effectively – crucial stuff when exams are approaching.
Healthy eating
What we eat affects how well our brain works. In one study, those who ate only junk food for 5 days found it harder to solve problems than those who ate a range of food. Learn about healthy eating and making easy food swaps.
Exercise
Exam benefits of exercise include the fact that it helps to use up stress hormones, releases stress-busting chemicals, and helps us sleep better at night. Find out how to fit exercise into your exam or revision schedule (whether fit or not).
