tips to get ready for exams

Don't leave it until the last minute. While some student do seem to thrive on last-minute cram, 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 revise. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then manage your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so discover a sense of balance that you feel comfortable with.

Make sure you have sufficient space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got as much as necessary light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight? Try and get rid of all distraction, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, 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 atmosphere. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

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

One of the most useful 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 sum of time on each segment.

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

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.

While you may sense it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can truly be counterproductive. 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. Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study improved in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or if you're more creative at nighttime, 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 imperative for a healthy brain!

Keep away from junk food! You may consider 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, yogurt 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.

Make sure you get everything ready well in proceed of the exam don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize 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 emotion frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or social group, as long as you know they're likely to be on time!

As a final tip, keep in mind that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking abundance of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.