As the exam season is fast-approaching, private tutor Zoe shares 6 quick-fire tips to ensure you are well-equipped for the upcoming examinations.

As someone who has spent more time in education than out of it, I know how stressful exams can be. All that time spent studying has also taught me some helpful ways to cope with the stress that comes with exams.

1. Organise Your Notes

Before you start revising, it is so helpful to organise your work from throughout the year into neat sections. Not only will this get you in the studying mood, it will also make the task of revising the year’s workload seem much more manageable. Nothing is more stressful than getting lost in a pile of messy notes.

I recommend organising your work by subject and then by module and making a list of each topic that might crop up on the exam. Preparing for exams can often seem like a daunting and endless task but looking at a subject in bitesize chunks can be a helpful reminder that this isn’t the case.

2. Create a Reasonable Plan

Keep your revision plan realistic. Don’t fill it to the brim with study hours that will leave you feeling exhausted and defeated. It’s important to plan breaks and plan to study according to your concentration span.

Don’t tell yourself you’ll work for 5 hours straight in the library if you know that you can’t concentrate for that long – it’ll only leave you frustrated. Instead, spend a couple of days figuring out what kind of study schedule works best for you. Nothing is more stressful than trying to work to a schedule that doesn’t suit the way you learn.

3. Take breaks

Make sure you take breaks. It’s easy to let things you enjoy fall by the wayside during exam season, but breaking up your studying with things you enjoy can be a nice way to reduce stress. This will also give you something to look forward to that will motivate you through a stressful study period.

4. Create Space

If possible, try to have separate spaces to study and relax. It can be helpful to keep the world of studying and relaxing apart. If your bed is scattered with revision notes and binders, it’s likely that those will be all you can think about when you’re trying to unwind in your room after a day of studying. Having a routine where you go to a specific place to study, like the library, can also help you get into the routine of revising.

 

5. Avoid Comparison

It can be stressful to be in an environment where other people are also working towards the same goals as you. Try not to dictate your own success in relation to other people’s, everyone learns best at a different pace and in different ways. Figuring out how to revise in a way that works best for you is so important.

A lot of people will tell you the best possible strategy for scheduling your time, but different things work for different people. I know it’s tempting to compare yourself to your peers, but when the temptation crops up, try and remember that no one is the same.

 

 

6. Have Accountability

 

Is the way you’re studying working for you? Make sure to regularly check in with yourself and see if this is the case. It can also be helpful to check in with your peers, teacher or tutor if you’re feeling stressed. Friends will assure you that you’re not the only one feeling that way and your teachers and tutors are there to help you through this time. Talking to them about your stress and how you’re feeling can be helpful during revision time.
By Zoe M, private English tutor in London.

Do you need accountability and assistance throughout the exam period? Contact Us today to arrange to work with one of our inspiring tutors.