by Layla Link
Just fitting in time to write this before getting some shut-eye for a long day of revision tomorrow. I would like to take this opportunity to give you some exam tips and specifically stress how extremely important sleep is. Do not stay up all night studying because it will not help you.
Trust me. I have first-hand experience of the pain.
No matter how little you think you know, if you stay up past midnight cramming furiously you will know even less in the morning than you did when you started. Without sleep your body cannot function properly and in the exam you will struggle to remember key dates and will mix up fact and fantasy. Your eyes will swirl all over the pages and the clock will start to move slower and slower. This is not how you want your exam to go.
However, if you do end up oversleeping on a study day, don't see things in black and white and say "Well, that's it. The day is wasted. Start again tomorrow." This attitude doesn't work. Sometimes, life gets in the way of your plans; just be flexible and adjust.
Secondly, before you manage your exam content, make sure you manage yourself. Check that you're eating reasonably healthily (cookies at break won't kill you; don't worry) and getting enough exercise. Make sure your mental health is a priority, too; just sitting on your bed and not doing anything at all (yes, that's right - nothing) for two minutes a day can really make a difference to your focus.
Now it's time to get yourself organised. Make sure you know every point in your specification and then apply this knowledge to past papers. The more you do, the better. However, try to do them online so as not to kill 800 trees like the Maths department. Even if you're leaving your revision until the last minute, there's still time to organise.
Finally, don't over-stress. I know it's easy to say but, honestly, if you go into an exam frantically memorising flash cards, you'll muck up the first question straight away. Go in with a clear head. Hope these tips were even a little bit helpful.
Good luck, everyone!
Trust me. I have first-hand experience of the pain.
No matter how little you think you know, if you stay up past midnight cramming furiously you will know even less in the morning than you did when you started. Without sleep your body cannot function properly and in the exam you will struggle to remember key dates and will mix up fact and fantasy. Your eyes will swirl all over the pages and the clock will start to move slower and slower. This is not how you want your exam to go.
However, if you do end up oversleeping on a study day, don't see things in black and white and say "Well, that's it. The day is wasted. Start again tomorrow." This attitude doesn't work. Sometimes, life gets in the way of your plans; just be flexible and adjust.
Secondly, before you manage your exam content, make sure you manage yourself. Check that you're eating reasonably healthily (cookies at break won't kill you; don't worry) and getting enough exercise. Make sure your mental health is a priority, too; just sitting on your bed and not doing anything at all (yes, that's right - nothing) for two minutes a day can really make a difference to your focus.
Now it's time to get yourself organised. Make sure you know every point in your specification and then apply this knowledge to past papers. The more you do, the better. However, try to do them online so as not to kill 800 trees like the Maths department. Even if you're leaving your revision until the last minute, there's still time to organise.
Finally, don't over-stress. I know it's easy to say but, honestly, if you go into an exam frantically memorising flash cards, you'll muck up the first question straight away. Go in with a clear head. Hope these tips were even a little bit helpful.
Good luck, everyone!
Hey Layla, great article, this has really inspired me to crack on with my revision!
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