There’s so much you can do to make exam time easier. Preparation is truly the key to exam success, yet the reality is, many students leave revision until the week, or night before the exam itself.
Here are a few common strategies to help get you in the zone:
Before the exam
Plan out your time using a study planner or time management app.
Try to remove distractions so you remain focused.
Make notes and then make notes of notes.
Find out what type of exam it is and if there are past papers you can look at.
Check where and what your exam is and note the details.
Check Blackboard for notes or guides from your lecturers on what to study.
Eat healthily and sleep well, also try to limit your alcohol intake.
Exercise and look after yourself.
Study with friends.
The night before the exam – pack the things you need in your bag: pens, pencils, calculator, water, student ID, snacks and briefly look over your notes. Set an alarm and then allow yourself time to relax.
On the day of the exam – leave home early, take your bag, and remember to breathe.
During the exam
Read all the questions and if allowed, mark the ones you are confident answering.
When allowed, write down anything you can think of in bullet point form while reading the exam paper.
Look at how much questions are worth, allocate your time, and answer accordingly.
Work logically through the questions you know you can answer and then work on the remaining questions.
Don’t get distracted by other people. They have their own strategy for answering questions, so you shouldn’t compare yourself with them.
Check out QUT’s guide for preparing for exams to access more resources.
