As the end of first semester quickly approaches so too do the dreaded middle-of-year exams. For many learners, sitting for an exam or test creates feelings of anxiety, stress, fear and/or dread. Overall achievement levels and positions are often determined by the performance of learners in exam situations.
It is essential to develop effective exam preparation strategies and habits to:
- keep the butterflies away from tummies;
- have clear, calm thinking;
- be adequately prepared over time thus avoiding the ‘last minute cram panic’; and
- to have optimum brain functioning through good hydration, nutrition and appropriate amounts of sleep.
Fruition Exam Preparation Tips
Fruition recommends the following steps to success to prepare you for upcoming exams:
- Keep a calendar of assessment dates in a prominent position in the house. Regularly talk about upcoming exams for good planning and preparation but avoid creating a ‘countdown’ scenario. Begin preparation for exams early by doing just 10 – 15 minutes extra per night on top of homework to review, summarise and to list and discuss main points. Rotate study through the main subjects and increase the study time once assignments and homework have been completed.
- Cramming often results in short term memory activity where it is possible to forget information quickly especially under pressure, so develop long term memory and understanding of concepts by regular revision of classroom work and homework; this ‘study’ technique over times helps the learner to feel like they really ‘know’ the information rather than them trying to ‘remember’ the information and this will help them feel more relaxed.
- Be informed about the format of the different exams. Is it multiple choice, short answer or an extended writing task? Approximately how many questions will there be? How many parts will the exam have? How many chapters or topics will it be testing? Make sure you check with your teachers that you are studying the right units and topics and try to gauge which parts are more important than others.
- Know how you learn best and use study techniques that help you remember more easily, for example:
Visual learners will remember things they have seen, so make lots of flow diagrams, charts and flash cards that represent the key information in patterns or groups so you can easily ‘visualise’ and remember the key points; display these around your room or on a notice board to act as visual prompts
Kinaesthetic learners learn and remember best by doing, writing and talking things through, so making lists and flash cards, summarising information and talking to yourself as you learn, even walking around as you recite things and pointing to key words on charts, will assist your brain absorb and retain the information
Auditory learners learn well by listening, so making a recording of the information to listen to can be helpful and so can talking quietly to yourself.
- Be well hydrated by drinking plenty of room temperature water the days leading up to, before and during exams; did you know that 97% of headaches is caused through dehydration and that once you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated?
- Get a good night’s sleep. Learners should pack their bags the night before, making sure all stationery items and other equipment is included. While a late night cram session may seem like a good idea, clarity of ideas is achieved through a well rested brain.
- Eating healthy food in regular intervals through each day is also linked to improved brain functioning.
- Visualise the events of the day. Imagine all the steps involved from getting to the right venue with the right equipment through to checking the answers. Visualise walking out of the room with a smile on your face!
A little bit of excitement or adrenalin is not necessarily a bad thing but real anxiety and stress can be avoided for learners and their families by following some of these success steps for exam preparation.
By being well organised and well prepared you can kick those butterflies to the curb!
Ask your friendly Fruition Team to help you prepare well for these upcoming exams.
You can download and print the homework tips pdf here.