Study Advice for Acing Your Mid-year Exams
Mid-year exams are approaching fast, and for many students, this is a time of stress and anxiety. It’s particularly difficult for those who feel like they’ve fallen behind.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to catch up and make sure you’re prepared. The key to achieving good results is consistency.
Follow these steps to ease anxiety and ace your exams.
Seek Help
If you’re feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, or you’ve fallen behind, the first step is to ask for help. Your teachers will be able to determine which areas you might need additional revision in. They can also recommend resources and offer advice about study techniques.
A tutor is another excellent option as they can help you with revision, organisation and study skills, based on your personal learning style.
Be Proactive
You can save yourself a lot of time and worry by finding out what will be in your exams. This allows you to focus closely on what you need to know. Take a look at past papers to get an idea of what to expect.
When teachers discuss what to study for mid-year exams, listen closely and take notes. Ask questions if you need more clarity. Now is also the time to put up your hand if there are things you still don’t understand.
Plan Ahead
If you sit down at your desk to study with no plan, you’ll end up feeling unmotivated and discouraged. A productive study session requires careful planning. You need to work out your priorities and decide what you’re going to focus on before each session.
It’s a good idea to have a weekly planner outlining your goals for the week, and a daily planner which is updated after each session. Make sure you vary your study techniques to keep it interesting.
Start Small
Ideally you should already be doing a small amount of revision each night after you’ve finished your homework. This way you can simply increase your revision time as exams get closer.
If you haven’t been revising regularly, launching straight into epic study sessions is not recommended. Start by increasing your revision time each day so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Set small goals for yourself and tick them off after you achieve them, as this builds confidence.
Remove Distractions
It’s easy to be distracted by your phone when you’re revising. Unless you need it for study, put it away. When it’s time for a break, resist the urge to get it out and take a walk instead. This is a more effective way to clear your head.
Some students go as far as deleting all the social media apps from their phones while they’re studying, as this helps them to focus. You can also set timers to block your access for a set period.
Study Together
Studying doesn’t have to be solitary. It’s very helpful to discuss ideas and concepts with others as this makes it easier for your brain to retain information.
If you think this would be beneficial for you, find a classmate or small group to study with. You can take turns explaining concepts and giving each other pop quizzes. Not only is this productive, it will make study more enjoyable.
With some planning and discipline, you’ll sail through your mid-year exams.